R-truth VS King Barrett
I said in my prediction column “I wish there was a storyline reason for these two to be fighting” turns out there was. Truth wore Barrett’s robe or something on Smackdown (Who watches Smackdown anyway?) Truth seems to think he gets to be king now and I wonder if these two might be thrown together in tag team or something because that is what WWE does. Don’t know what to do with two superstars? They get to become a tag team now. Commentary seemed to be just a mess this match. Not sure if they were actually talking about a botched script read or if they just missed the joke. I always have to wonder if Barrett ever wins the first time he sets up the bull hammer. I want to say Truth winning surprises me but it doesn’t. Barrett really just has no character direction. Â And it may be because I’ve been binge watching Orange is the New Black this weekend but R-Truth reminds me a lot like Crazy Eyes.
Money in the Bank ladder match
Kofi going after the ladder right away was nice to see. There is usually one guy who does it at the beginning of the match, but it’s never been Kofi before. It was also a nice image to see seven guys trying to climb up one ladder. Everyone got their “will they win” spot with a couple of nice moves with the ladder; Sheamus mowing everyone down with the ladder, Reigns power bombing people onto ladders and other people. It defiantly got exciting towards the end when it came down Roman and Orton and the writing was on the wall. Reigns dodged a RKO, hit the spear, and climbed the ladder. Then Bray came out and cost him the match. Does Bray know how to start a feud without interfering in a match? He did it to Cena, Ambrose, and now Reigns. Sheamus takes advantage and wins the match. I don’t know what it is about Sheamus but I have not enjoyed him as much as I did when he first came back. Maybe it is because I think there are better guys to take the top spot. I’ll with hold judgment for now and see how he cashes it in. Overall, fun match but there wasn’t really a guy I would be overly excited to see win.
Nikki VS Paige (Women’s Championship)
This was a much better match than I anticipated. Nikki isn’t all bad. She has her good matches sometimes. Paige pulled out some unique moves, I love the flip from the apron to the outside. The crowd was actually behind Paige which was odd to hear. The WWE crowd into a women’s match? This isn’t NXT. Low and behold, the numbers do indeed catch up to Paige as she gets the pin on Brie after some twin magic. But the match continues as Brie wasn’t in the match, Nikki takes advantage of a distracted Paige.
Ryback VS Big Show (Intercontinental Championship)
This match started fast with a large number of power moves which works for these two guys. You just knew there wasn’t going to be a clean finish with Miz at ringside. I said Ryback was going to win somehow, I was half right anyway; he did keep the title. Miz being in the IC title picture sets up a triple threat down the line, which I love. A triple threat match is my favorite type of match.
John Cena VS Kevin Owens
Owens got the type of reaction that makes me think he will get a positive reaction anywhere he goes. How do you not respect Owens after that match? Sequels are almost never better than the original but I would be hard to pressed to say this was the weaker of the two matches. I expected some new moves from Owens but Cena pulled out the big match move of a hurricanrana and a move I can only describe as a floating power bomb (one of the many reason commentators need to start calling moves). Alas, after both hit their finishing move twice, it became a “next one to hit their finisher match which Cena was able to do and got a win after hitting his third AA.
The New Day VS Prime Time Players (WWE Tag Team Championship)
I feel like the first part of the match was cut out and they moved on to the “baby face beat down/hot tag” portion of the match. There was a move here or there that was impressive but this was a forgettable match for the exception that the PTP were able to pull off a surprise win and become your new WWE tag team champions.
Seth Rollins VS Dean Ambrose (WWE World Heavyweight Championship ladder match)
While the money in the bank match largely surrounded attempts at getting up the ladder, and big moves to stop those attempts, this was a match that had a lot more technical skills and in ring psychology. Rollins went into the match with a game plan to take away Deans key component of being able to climb a ladder (his legs) and executed it perfectly. Ambrose played his role perfectly as a street brawler using everything in his arsenal to knock out the champ. There were plenty of counters that really showed how well these two guys know each other, like Rollins throwing the ladder at Ambrose have the spring back off the second rope, and Ambrose swiping Rollins leg as he stood on the top rope. Instead of both guys taking their time up the ladder in obvious attempt to kill time to make sure they didn’t get to the top to fast, there were excellent reasons for why both guys had to move slowly to get up the ladder. The end of the match was full of false finishes that really had me on the edge of my seat. While the whole match was not a giant spot fest, it was still very memorable for all the right reasons. An all around refreshing ladder match with an ending I have never seen before. Both men grabbed the title but fell at the same time knocking the title out of Ambrose’s hands. Overall, one of my favorite ladder matches and Seth Rollins continues to impress me.
