Reigns charged at Lashley on the floor, seeking his spear through the timekeeper's position, but the latter countered and delivered a belly-to-belly overhead suplex. Back in the ring, Reigns delivered a Superman Punch, but Lashley intercepted Reigns with a spear of his own to pick up the victory. Lashley going over was a necessary move in that he needed to announce to today's fans that he is a big deal.
Not everyone was around when he beat Umaga in the real main event of WrestleMania Not everyone remembers when he was tapped to be the next big thing in WWE. He was gone for so long that his connection with fans dissipated quicker than a Marvel hero at the snap of Thanos' fingers.
Beating the top star in the industry is a great a way to establish legitimacy and set up a competitor for a championship push. Reigns loses nothing in defeat. He is as bulletproof as there is on the WWE roster, and losing matches such as this is the perfect example of him using his star to help elevate others.
It is exactly what fans have wanted out of a top star for years. Something tells me that will not be taken into account the next time fans state their anti-Reigns cases, though. Mickie James accompanied Bliss to the ring, while Natalya seconded Jax.
All the while, Ronda Rousey watched from the front row, a paying customer as she continued to serve her day suspension. As predicted, Jax pummeled Bliss, utilizing kendo sticks and trash cans to dish punishment to the champion.
Rousey watched with delight as The Irresistible Force obliterated the heel, avenging her Money in the Bank cash-in from a few weeks back. Jax overwhelmed Bliss until the champion dodged a charge into the rope that ended with the challenger ramming her shoulder into a steel chair.
At ringside, Natalya attacked James, using a trash-can lid on the former six-time champion. As the heel turned the tide, Rousey jumped the guardrail and beat the ever-loving hell out of James, sending her over the announce table. Bliss attempted to run away from Rousey but found herself in the grip of the most dangerous woman in wrestling.
James recovered and blasted the former UFC star with a kendo stick, though, leveling her. A steel chair assault in the ring by both James and Bliss left Jax prone to a DDT by the champion, who retained her title.
After the match, Rousey hit the ring, but the champion and her accomplice escaped up the ramp. The match itself was ugly and disjointed at times but did just enough to give fans what they wanted in Jax pummeling Bliss. But this was not about Jax and Bliss having a great match. This was about Rousey jumping the guardrail, teasing getting her hands on Bliss and setting up their inevitable one-on-one showdown for the Raw Women's Championship. Taking that into consideration, a total success is the only thing to classify this as.
The crowd's reaction to Rousey sprinting around the ring to catch up to Bliss prior to the finish was indicative of just how eager it is to see the UFC Hall of Famer kick Little Miss Bliss' ass. When that time comes, the moment will trump any criticisms over match quality. Styles, seeking to take the trunk of his opponent out from underneath him, targeted the left thigh of The Bulgarian Brute. In turn, Rusev set the stage for his vaunted Accolade finisher by softening up the champion's back and neck.
Fighting through the pain, Styles launched himself over the top rope and delivered a forearm to the floor. He unloaded with a series of strikes and followed with a clothesline that left the challenger reeling. Attempting to take advantage of Rusev's injured leg, he tried for the Calf Crusher, but his opponent countered and sent him to the floor.
Rusev teased a suicide dive, but Styles blasted him with a forearm. The Phenomenal One tried for the splash but rolled through. He tried for the Calf Crusher again, but Rusev countered, nearly applying the Accolade. Styles escaped and tried another forearm, but The Bulgarian Brute caught him with a kick in midair. Styles applied the Calf Crusher finally and had Rusev moments away from tapping out as the pain became unbearable. From the arena floor, Aiden English pushed the ropes toward him, assisting his friend and partner in breaking the hold.
Styles turned his attention to English and paid for it, enduring a belly-to-belly suplex on the arena floor. Back in the ring, Rusev blasted Styles with the Machka Kick and scored a close near-fall but could not win the title. Another near-fall followed before Rusev attempted to apply the Accolade. His knee gave out on him, though, giving Styles a moment to recover. Applying a half-assed Accolade, The Super Athlete could smell championship gold.
Styles made the ropes, though, necessitating the break. English removed the turnbuckle on the top rope, a move that would backfire moments later when Rusev ran head-first into it.
A springboard splash by Styles scored a near-fall of his own, which prompted another loud "Rusev Day" chant. The Bulgarian's dreams of a title ended moments later with a Phenomenal Forearm as Styles retained his title in another show-stealing performance.
Styles and Rusev took a sleepy Pittsburgh crowd and had it buying into the late-match near-falls. That is a testament to the storytelling, the high spots and the talent of the performers. The psychology involved, including the Superstars selling their injuries to the point that they could not execute their trademark offense, was superb.
Perhaps nothing left a greater impact, though, than the frustration demonstrated by Styles. His inability to put away Rusev led to him lashing out at the official more than we typically see from him, while Rusev's gutsy performance only enhanced the love and support for the challenger.
Rusev's performance elevated his star and made him a much more sympathetic and popular competitor than he was entering the match.
It bears watching if English's late-match mistake will necessitate the breakup of him and Rusev in the weeks to come. Rollins scored the first fall into the match when he followed up a buckle bomb with a roll-up that pinned Ziggler's shoulders to the mat.
The Architect took a lead after seven-plus minutes, delivering his stomp finisher to pin The Showoff and put the champion in a significant hole. Just as Rollins was tuning up the band, McIntyre entered and unloaded on him, drawing a disqualification and handing him a lead.
The Scot assaulted Rollins, leaving him lying in a battered heap. McIntyre was sent packing by the referee but not before destroying The Architect with the Claymore Kick. A superkick allowed Ziggler to move within a fall, the scoreboard sitting at The Zig Zag earned Ziggler his third fall in less than two minutes, as the score evened.
Ziggler gained his first lead of the match, catching a charging Rollins with a hard right hand and rolling him up, his feet on the ropes, for the win. Score for the champion. The pace of the match slowed as Ziggler worked a sleeper hold, keeping the challenger grounded and unable to score a quick fall to tie the score.
Rollins would recover and take the fight to Ziggler, desperately attempting to even the score. Asuka James Ellsworth suspended in a shark cage : Following James Ellsworth's interference at Money in the Bank and continued taunting of Asuka, it was only a matter of time before this was made official.
On the go-home edition of SmackDown, with Ellsworth continually becoming a nuisance, Paige announced that he will be suspended above the ring in a shark cage for the title bout. Roman Reigns vs.
Now the red brand is going with this as its lead match. As of right now, there's not a No. United States Championship -- Jeff Hardy c vs. Shinsuke Nakamura: Nakamura made himself the No.
Considering the title match did not happen on SmackDown after Nakamura was reportedly bitten by a police dog really , it was announced for the show. Some fans may be bothered that this is how WWE is using Bryan, but it's clear they are saving the Miz feud as long as they can -- likely until SummerSlam but possibly on the Road to WrestleMania B-Team: Many actually thought this match was on the Money in the Bank card despite it never being announced.
Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens Steel Cage Match : The continuation of this feud on Raw finally resulted in a stipulation match that appears to give Strowman the upper hand but may well be a way for Owens to escape with a victory without hurting the monster.
Finn Balor vs. Later in the night, she interrupted the Raw Women's Championship match between Ronda Rousey and champion Nia Jax , causing a disqualification, and cashed in her Money in the Bank contract to win the championship.
The following night on Raw , Jax invoked her championship rematch clause for Extreme Rules. Rousey was also suspended for 30 days as she attacked Raw General Manager Kurt Angle , who was trying to break up the fight between Rousey and Bliss.
On the July 2 episode of Raw , the match at Extreme Rules was made an Extreme Rules match , and Rousey stated her intentions to be in the front row for the match. The following week, Rollins won a rematch for the title by disqualification after McIntyre interfered on Ziggler's behalf.
Roman Reigns , claiming to be the "uncrowned champion" due to the controversial finish of his championship match at Greatest Royal Rumble , and Bobby Lashley , claiming to be the only person who could legitimately match Lesnar, were the first two participants confirmed for the match.
The following week, however, the match was canceled over contract disputes with Lesnar. Reigns and Lashley lost and in a rematch the following week, Reigns refused to tag in Lashley and Lashley abandoned Reigns to a post-match beat down by The Revival.
A match between Lashley and Reigns was scheduled for Extreme Rules. During the match Strowman threw fellow competitor Kevin Owens off a ladder through two tables. The next night on Raw , Owens attempted to befriend Strowman by saying he would protect him now that he had the contract. Strowman attempted a powerslam on Owens but Owens escaped. Over the next few weeks, Strowman continuously embarrassed Owens including flipping his car over in the parking lot, locking him inside a portable toilet and spraying him in the face with air freshener.
Eventually, a Steel Cage match between the two was scheduled for Extreme Rules. Two matches occurred during the pre-show. In the climax, Dallas performed an Elevated Whiplash on Hardy to win the title. In the end, Balor pinned Corbin with a small package to win the match. As Ellsworth unlocked the cage door by picking the lock, he became trapped in the cage, hanging by his foot; Asuka then attacked Ellsworth.
Production staff attempted to free Ellsworth only for Asuka to attack them, and continued to attack Ellsworth. Whilst the referee was distracted by Ellsworth being freed, Carmella shoved Asuka into the cage and pinned her to retain the title. After the match, Asuka applied the Asuka Lock on Ellsworth. Before the match, Nakamura attacked Hardy with a low blow. Once Hardy was ruled able to compete, Nakamura performed a Kinshasa on Hardy to win the title in six seconds.
After the match, Randy Orton appeared, making his return, and had a stare down with Nakamura, who was standing on top of the announce table. Orton attacked Hardy with a low blow before leaving. In the fifth match, Braun Strowman faced Kevin Owens in a steel cage match. Owens used handcuffs to handcuff Strowman to the ring rope and attacked Strowman.
As Owens attempted to escape, Strowman broke the handcuffs and performed a chokeslam on Owens off the top of the cage through an announce table.
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