Sports Card Blogs

Follow along with me at 8PM EST tonight as Roman Reigns faces John Cena and Brock Lesnar faces Braun Strowman for the WWE Universal championship! Click refresh to update results.

Intercontinental Championship match: Jason Jordan vs. The Miz w/Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel (c)

The match starts out with Jordan getting a nice advantage over the Miz even connected with a nice stall suplex. Moments later, The Miz takes advantage of a distraction from Dallas and Axel. Miz gets the head on Jordan with a sleeper, but quickly makes a comeback and nails several suplexes. Later on as the Miz is outside, Dallas tries to interfere, but Jordan catches Dallas for a belly to belly into both Axel and The Miz which was a cool spot. Jordan sends Miz back into the ring fired up. Miz gets a brief advantage again, but is caught by Jordan as he goes for a turnbuckle clothesline and Jordan nails several suplexes including a nice double northern lights suplex with a bridge. In the end, as Jordan seemingly has Miz pinned with a small package, Dallas is distracting the referee. Miz pushes Jordan into the ropes and Axel nails him with a foream. Then the Miz connects with a skull crushing finale. Miz covers Jordan and gets the three count.

Winner: The Miz. A good opener. It’s clear that Jordan isn’t over as the crowd treated Jordan as the heel (booing him) and the Miz as the face (cheering the most unlikeable heel on the roster). WWE has some work to do on Jordan in terms of crowd connection, but otherwise this was a fun match.

Bray Wyatt vs. Finn Balor

The match starts with a vicious attack from Bray. He beats Balor around the ring and connects with a uranage onto the announcers table. Referee’s and officials come down to attend to Balor and assist him up (The beatdown wasn’t even close to bad). As they walk him towards the back, Wyatt gets on the mic and taunts Balor calling him a “coward” several times. Balor takes off his jacket and runs back down the ring and starts fighting with Balor. The fight goes outside and Balor gets the best of it with a front dropkick sending Wyatt to the barricade. He puts Wyatt back in the ring and seems to be setting up for Coup De Grace, but Wyatt rushes up to the turnbuckle and connects with a superplex. Wyatt takes over getting heat on Balor slowly beating him down. Balor is able to regain the advantage outside the ring and fires back with several kicks to Wyatt.

Moments later as Wyatt is lying on the ground, Balor goes up to the turnbuckle going for the Coup De Grace again, but Wyatt does his weird spider pop up taunt. Balor jumps down and Wyatt is able to connect with the uranage and get a near fall. Wyatt goes for a sister Abigail, but Balor is able to reverse out of it. Balor goes to the top of turnbuckle and Wyatt rushes up again, but Balor is able to knock him off. Balor connects with a Coup De Grace to the back as Wyatt was standing. Balor got a nearfall for that one. Balor goes for a bloody sunday, but Wyatt counters and gets the brief advantage. Balor is able to regain the advantage with multiple front dropkicks to the turnbuckle. Balor goes to the top rope again and connects with the Coup De Grace. He covers Wyatt and gets the three count.

Winner: Finn Balor. Good match and definitely a better match than there Summerslam encounter. There Summerslam match was a bit sleepy whereas this match had a bit more fire to it. Wyatt is still a heavily damaged character and honestly needs to go away awhile as the booking for him has been horrendous. There’s still value in Wyatt, but creative needs to sit down and figure out long term plans for the character.

WWE Raw Tag Team Championship: Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose (c)

Sheamus and Ambrose start off. Sheamus knocks Rollins off the apron and Ambrose does the same with Cesaro. Ambrose gets the better of Sheamus, sending him outside. Sheamus sends Rollins into the barricade. Ambrose goes outside and beats down both Sheamus and the Cesaro. He gets back in the ring and Sheamus sends Ambrose outside the ring. Cesaro sends Ambrose into the barricade hard and then swings him into the steel steps. After taunting, Cesaro sends him back in the ring. Sheamus and Cesaro take turns beating down Ambrose working on the arm.

After long heat, Ambrose fights off Cesaro and then tags Rollins. Rollins storms in and take down Cesaro with a springboard knee. He knocks Sheamus off the apron, and then connects with a blockbuster, then superkick to Cesaro. He covers him and gets a nearfall. Cesaro is able to regain the advantage and tag Sheamus. Sheamus works over Rollins back. Sheamus launches Rollins into Cesaro who connects with an uppercut. Sheamus covers, but Rollins kicks out at two. Sheamus tags Cesaro. Cesaro goes back to working on Rollins, but Rollins is able to counter and tag Ambrose. Ambrose runs in like a house of fire knocking down both Sheamus and Cesaro.

Later on, Ambrose connects with a flying elbow to Sheamus and covers him. Sheamus kicks out at two. Sheamus tags Cesaro and both attempt a double team irish cross, but Rollins stops it. Rollins goes for a superkick to Cesaro, but Cesaro catches his foot and Sheamus knocks Rollins out with the borgue kick. Both Sheamus and Cesaro get the heat on Ambrose while Rollins remains out.  A nearfall happens after the double irish cross. Sheamus sets up for the white noise and Cesaro goes up to the turnbuckle. Rollins gets up to Cesaro and attempts a hurracarna ( a play off of the summerslam spot), but Cesaro blocks it.

Sheamus hits white noise on Ambrose and then Cesaro powerbombs Rollins from the second turnbuckle onto Ambrose. Sheamus covers him for a really good nearfall. Moments later, Cesaro knocks Rollins down on the apron and forces him to watch as Sheamus goes to finish off Ambrose. Ambrose counters and Sheamus accidently brogue kicks Cesaro. Rollins and Ambrose connect with their respective finishers on Sheamus and then gets the three count.

Winner: Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins. A strong match that’s arguably better than their summerslam encounter. Both teams worked hard and produced a damn good match. I don’t know who Ambrose & Rollins face next, but I wouldn’t complain If these two teams face each other in a ladder or TLC match next month. Of course, a good story would be good as well.

Fatal 5 Way match for the WWE Raw Women’s Championship: Bayley vs. Emma vs. Nia Jax vs. Sasha Banks vs. Alexa Bliss (c)

Chaos starts before the five women as they fight amongst themselves. Nia Jax pancakes Bliss in the corner sending her out the ring. Emma, Banks, and Bayley sends Jax out the ring with a triple team dropkick. Emma kicks Bayley, but Sasha slaps her and the connects with a arm drag. Bayley and Sasha have a stare down. They fight for a brief moment, but Jax drags Banks out the ring and slams her into the barricade. Jax comes in and bulldozers Bayley down. She covers her, but Bliss stops the pin. Bliss and Jax argue and then Bliss positions herself to get into her ddt finisher. Jax counters with a powerslam. Jax beats down both Bliss and Bayley for a bit. As Bliss is put onto her shoulders, Banks climbs the top rope. Jax goes over and puts Banks on top of her shoulders as well and then connects with a double samoan drop.

Later on, Jax is sent out the ring by Bayley, Emma, Banks, and Bliss. The girls fight amongst themselves. After a bit of back and forth, Nia attempts to suplex Emma off the apron onto the floor, but Emma counters into an attempted powerbomb on the floor. As Emma struggles Bayley comes over to help and then Banks and Bliss kicks Jax. Jax is powerbombed onto the floor. Actions resumes between the four and several finishers are traded from Bayley connecting the Belly to Bayley on Bliss, Banks hitting the bank statement onto Bliss, and even Emma getting her moment to shine.

Jax storms in the ring and takes out Bayley and Banks, but is outsmarted by Bliss and runs into the turnbuckle. Bayley is rammed into Emma knocking her off the apron by Bliss. Bliss connects with a ddt on Bayley and gets the three count.

Winner: Alexa Bliss. Another really good match. No Mercy is on fire so far with strong matches. The girls worked hard and produced a really fun match. I could care less anymore that Bayley took the pin. Bayley is truly damaged and she either needs a heel turn or months and months of rebuilding.

John Cena vs. Roman Reigns

Reigns get the better of Cena at first with a shoulder block. After some stalling, Cena decides to listen to the fans and leave the match (Yes, the babyface is walking out). Reigns runs after Cena and stops him from leaving. He sends Cena back into the ring. He connects with a back drop and covers Cena, but he kicks out at two. Reigns stomps on Cena a bit and then sends him outside. He taunts the fans. He goes out and looks to irish whip Cena to the steel steps, but Cena counters sending Reigns into the steps. Cena goes for another irish whip, but Reigns counters and sends Cena crashing into the steps. Moments later, Reigns connects with a drive by. He puts Cena back in the ring and covers him, but Cena kicks out at two. Reigns then beats down Cena and taunts for a good while. Then Reigns applies a sleeper hold. Cena gets out shortly thereafter and goes for his five moves of doom, but Reigns stops it short with an uppercut. Reigns runs from the ropes for a clothesline, but Cena ducks and hits his five moves of doom. As he goes for the five knuckle shuffle, Reigns counters with an samoan drop.

Later on, Cena is able to get the STF on Reigns as he attempts a spear. Reigns is able to get out with a sitout powerbomb. He gets a two count. Both guys get up and exchange punches with Reigns getting the better of the exchange. Reigns runs from the ropes, but Cena catches him and hits the AA. Reigns kicks out for a good nearfall. Cena goes to the top turnbuckle and dives for a leg drop, but Reigns counters with a powerbomb. He covers Cena, but kicks out at two. Reigns goes back to turnbuckle and signals a superman punch. Cena gets up and Reigns connects with it. He covers Cena, but only gets a two count.

Cena is able to regain the advantage and put Reigns on top of the turnbuckle. He puts him on his shoulders and then connects with a super AA. Cena covers Reigns, but only gets a two count for a strong nearfall. Cena goes outside the ring and tears apart both announce tables. He brings Reigns out of the ring and onto the table. He puts him onto his shoulders, but Reigns gets out of it and spears Cena through an announce table. After moments of selling, Reigns gets Cena back in the ring and covers him. Cena kicks out for a strong nearfall. Cena is able to counter and get Reigns on his shoulder for AA and nails it. He then hits another AA. Cena covers Reigns, but still doesn’t get the three count. Cena is surprised and questions the referee’s count. Reigns is able to surprise Cena with a superman punch and then a spear. He covers him and gets the three count.

After the match, Cena raises Reigns hands out of show for respect.

Winner: Roman Reigns. Excellent match. One of the best WWE matches this year. Both Reigns and Cena were on top of their games and produced a compelling match. I still believe this match was put on too early (this should have been at WrestleMania), but it is what it is. Reigns continues to shine as a heel and I wish wwe would embrace it instead of ignoring it.

WWE Cruiserweight Championship match: Enzo Amore vs. Neville (c)

Enzo did is his usual routine on the ramp. Cookie dough and Keebler elf were brought up. Neville and Amore lock up several times with Neville getting the better of it. Neville wretches the arm for a submission. Enzo tries to counter, but Neville sweeps the leg hard. Enzo rolls outside the ring. Moments later he comes back in and bests Neville a bit. He goes for a ddt from the second turnbuckle, but Neville counters and rams him into the turnbuckle. He then dropkicks him to outside the ring. He then goes outside the ring and then rams Enzo into the barricade. The match consists of Neville getting the better of Enzo and taunting the crowd. Things finally changes after Neville misses the phoenix splash and connects with the flying ddt (called the ddg). Enzo gets a nearfall. Neville gets the better of Enzo again sending him out to the ring. As the referee is counting, Enzo grabs Neville’s title. He comes to the ring and threatens to hit him with it in front of the referee. The referee takes the title, but Enzo kicks Neville in the balls and covers him. He gets the three count.

Winner: Enzo Amore. Shameful match. Your babyface gets dominated for 95% of the match and then cheats with a low blow and wins. Couple that with weeks of burial to Enzo and this win damages the cruiserweight division even more. Great booking creative. Great booking.

WWE Universal Championship match: Braun Strowman vs. Brock Lesnar (c)

Lesnar goes right after Strowman, but he quickly overpowers him. Lesnar tries again, but Strowman swats him off. Lesnar is able to get a german suplex, but Strowman no sells it and then connects with a chokeslam. He then hits a powerslam and covers Lesnar, who kicks out at two. Strowman then takes his time beating down Brock. Moments later, Lesnar gets Strowman in the F5 position, but is able to connect with it. Strowman knocks him down with a clothesline sending him outside the ring. Strowman beats Lesnar outside the ring and puts him back inside. Once inside, Strowman charges towards Lesnar, but he moves out of the way. Lesnar applies the kimura and holds on for a while. Strowman is able to get out with a spinebuster. He covers Lesnar, but Lesnar kicks out at two. Lesnar is then able to connect with several suplexes, each one wearing down Strowman. Lesnar attempts the F5 again, but Strowman counters with the powerslam. He covers Lesnar and gets a nearfall. Strowman goes for the powerslam again, but Lesnar counters into the F5 and gets the three count.

Winner: Brock Lesnar. A disappointing match. It was too short to be memorable and it didn’t have the same fire as Joe vs. Lesnar. Not a terrible match by any means though. Strowman not kicking out of the F5 surprised me as I thought he would be more protected, but he wasn’t damaged by this match.

Overall a strong pay-per-view. Other than the clunker of the cruiserweight match, every match was good to great. The main event was disappointing however and Joe/Lesnar was better, but it was nothing terrible. Thanks for following me tonight.