Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns conquered Drew McIntyre with surprise interference from The Usos’ younger brother Solo Sikoa, Seth “Freakin” Rollins overcame Matt Riddle while Edge & Rey Mysterio took down The Judgment Day, only to be betrayed by Dominik.
BAYLEY IYO AND DAKOTA LAY DOWN A MARK IN THE WOMEN’S DIVISION
The WWE Universe faithful in Cardiff, Wales was fired up for this one, loudly reacting to every move and even singing Bayley a delightful tune, which riled up the recently returned Superstar.
The team of Bianca Belair, Asuka and Alexa Bliss had the momentum after emerging victorious against local competitors in a Six-Woman Tag Team Match this past Monday on Raw, whereas Dakota Kai and IYO SKY fell to Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah in the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament Final.
Belair, Asuka and Bliss delivered a triple suplex to all three of their opponents to light up the crowd, but Bayley’s group cut off the ring on multiple occasions and didn’t allow Belair to tag in.
When Belair finally got the tag, she was a house on fire, knocking Kai into SKY to send both tumbling to the ringside floor. Asuka and Bliss, with the help of Belair’s back, took out Bayley by executing a double suplex.
After Belair nearly put away Kai with the K.O.D., the incredible teamwork of Bayley’s group again paid off when SKY got Kai out of harm's way. Bayley then hit the Rose Plant on Belair, and SKY struck with the Over the Moonsault, allowing Bayley to pin the Raw Women’s Champion to once again take control.
GUNTHER RETAINS THE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP
History was on the line, with echoes reverberating of the superb Intercontinental Title Match between Bret Hart and The British Bulldog that happened more 30 years ago at the last stadium show held in the United Kingdom. The family of Davey Boy Smith and Hart himself were at ringside to witness this matchup.
Sheamus had Butch and Ridge Holland with him, but Gunther evened the odds by having the trusty Ludwig Kaiser and the debuting Giovanni Vinci at his side, reforming Imperium.
Just like a few weeks ago on SmackDown, Gunther and Sheamus maintained eye contact while the other members of The Brawling Brutes and Imperium clashed with each other. Once the bell rang, however, it was all business with the two hard-hitting Europeans going blow-for-blow.
Gunther delivered on his promise to chop Sheamus to bits, leaving The Celtic Warrior’s chest scarred with bruises. After all the punishment Sheamus received, he kept bouncing back, repeatedly hitting The Ring General with the Beats of the Bodhran.
With the Intercontinental Championship being the last title Sheamus needed to become a Grand Slam Champion, Sheamus poured his heart into this matchup, feeding off the energy that Cardiff, Wales gave him. Even a brutal Powerbomb from Gunther couldn’t quell the heart of The Celtic Warrior.
To the dismay of many, Gunther kicked out of the Celtic Cross, which nearly sealed the deal for Sheamus. Another Powerbomb and a wicked lariat finally put Sheamus down as Gunther retained his Intercontinental Championship.
After the match, Sheamus received a standing ovation and raised his arms into the air, the WWE Universe appreciating his valiant performance.
LIV MORGAN SUCCESSFUL RETAINS HER TITLE AGAINST BASZLER
The only woman who has pinned Ronda Rousey twice took on Rousey’s supposed best friend in Shayna Baszler in another test of Morgan’s young reign.
A Kirifuda Clutch right out of the gate nearly caught Morgan by surprise before she rolled through and into a pinning attempt. Baszler went right for the left arm of Morgan, which had been injured by Rousey in Morgan’s title defense at SummerSlam.
Even with the bad arm, Morgan showed fight, screaming while kipping up before connecting with double knees to the face.
As Baszler was about to break Morgan’s arm, Morgan countered with an armbar, almost capturing the victory in what would be a humiliating way to lose for Baszler. Survival was Morgan’s MO for the match, especially when Baszler applied the Kirifuda Clutch on multiple occasions.
Morgan shocked Baszler with another double knees, capping it off with the Oblivion to once more survive a tremendous SmackDown Women’s Title defense.
DOMINIK BETRAYS HIS FATHER AND EDGE
Edge and Rey Mysterio turned back the clock to 2002 when they teamed up to take on The Judgment Day’s Finn Bálor and Damian Priest.
Though he was perturbed when his father chose Edge as his partner over his son, Dominik Mysterio was still at ringside. Edge wore a mask in his entrance, signifying solidarity with Rey Mysterio, whilst the Cardiff, Wales crowd sang Edge’s song back to him.
While Mysterio and Bálor started off the match, the crowd erupted when Damian Priest, after being tagged in, pointed at Edge and goaded him into entering the match. The former WWE Tag Team Champions took it to The Judgment Day early, with Edge assisting Mysterio in a moonsault to the outside.
Priest was disrespectful throughout the contest, spitting at his former mentor. Edge was livid after the disrespect, and he hit an Edgecution on Priest before nailing a 619 on Finn Bálor. Edge kept up his attack by hitting Priest with a Spear through the ropes.
Dominik proved key during the match, distracting the referee as Bálor was about to hit Coup de Grace. Dominik doubled down by catching Bálor’s boots, leading to a 619 from his father and a Spear by Edge to put away Bálor and The Judgment Day.
After the match, Dominik shocked Cardiff, Wales as he betrayed Edge by savagely kicking him below the belt. Though his father tried to calm him down, Dominik soon responded with a vicious clothesline to his own father.
SETH ‘FREAKIN’ ROLLINS STOMPS RIDDLES LIGHTS OUT
In arguably the most heated matchup on the card, Seth “Freakin” Rollins evoked Elton John’s “Rocket Man” as he made his way to the ring to face Matt Riddle.
Riddle brought the heat early but was reprimanded by the referee as Riddle got in his face. Riddle was left reeling after a barricade version of the buckle bomb was executed brilliantly by Rollins.
Much like how the rest of the evening had unfolded, the WWE Universe in Cardiff, Wales was vocal, singing Rollins’ theme song throughout the contest. This serenade propelled Rollins to deliver a superplex, but Riddle countered the follow-up falcon arrow with a wicked fisherman’s buster.
Riddle followed up by hitting a Floating Bro to the outside, a Bro-To-Sleep and a gnarly high knee strike but could only garner a two-count.
Rollins fought back and hit a humiliating Bro Derek on Riddle, but Riddle kicked out of what would have been a devastating way to lose.
Rollins made the bout increasingly personal as he continually berated Riddle, calling him a loser and bringing up his wife. Rollins continued the vitriol by hitting Riddle with an Elevated DDT before mocking RK-Bro even more with a Randy Orton mat pound.
This was too much for Riddle, who viciously pounded Rollins with strikes and even grabbed a steel chair. Rollins moved out of the way, however, when Riddle attempted to smash Rollins with the chair while The Visionary was draped across the announce table.
Rollins then caught The Original Bro with a Stomp and a second Stomp from the top rope to claim the win.
AND STILL THE UNDISPUTED UNIVERSAL CHAMPION
All eyes were on the main event, with boxing legend Tyson Fury as well as Karrion Kross and Scarlett at ringside to witness the first main event at a stadium show in the United Kingdom in over 30 years.
Heading into the ring without The Bloodline, Reigns was perhaps the most vulnerable he had been in his historic two-year championship reign.
McIntyre let his emotions get the better of him as he berated Karrion Kross at ringside, which led to Reigns gaining the upper hand. In the middle of the match, Reigns grabbed the microphone, angrily telling Cardiff to “Acknowledge Me” before he was clobbered by a Glasgow Kiss from the challenger.
Reigns notched his first two-count with a Rock Bottom to McIntyre. Reigns then set up a Superman Punch but was countered with a Future Shock DDT. McIntyre tried to send Reigns to Claymore Country, but Reigns had a counter of his own, hitting the Superman Punch.
A colossal Spear by Reigns had the WWE Universe sure that Reigns would retain, but McIntyre shockingly kicked out. A second Spear by Reigns also could not seal the deal, as McIntyre showed incredible heart. An irate Reigns berated referee Charles Robinson until McIntyre Claymored Reigns into the official, knocking the referee to the outside.
To the surprise of many, Theory’s music hit as Mr. Money in the Bank attempted to cash in his contract. Tyson Fury, however, belted Theory to nullify the attempt.
As McIntyre was looking to finish Reigns after a Claymore, Solo Sikoa pulled the referee out of the ring. Sikoa’s shocking presence gave Reigns enough time to Spear McIntyre and retain the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
After the match, Fury shook the hand of Reigns, acknowledging him. Fury then helped McIntyre up, telling him he did his country pride before singing “American Pie” with the WWE Universe.
Source: WWE