Hey guys, SRS here. I underwent Lasik Friday, so the "match ratings" through at least the early part of this week will be abbreviated. They will return to normal ASAP.
Bobby Lashley (w/ Hurt Business) defeated Sheamus
4.5/10
This will be a good match between Sheamus and Bobby Lashley. I know because we saw it last week. Bobby Lashley wins off of a little distraction. I don't know that Bobby Lashley should have needed constant interference and distractions to beat a guy who went winless in five matches in March, and Lashley feels the same way. He's mad after the match. I'm glad they're making sense of why Lashley would need help beating Sheamus, especially after Sheamus' match last night. McIntyre even made the save for Sheamus. MVP says they need to make it up to Bobby.
Backstage, Riddle annoys Sheamus, and Sheamus hits him with the scooter.
Asuka defeated Peyton Royce
5/10
They play Peyton Royce's promo before the match. Not a lot of chemistry here, sadly. They had some promising moments, but also a couple of spots where they're just not on the same page, and some weak looking strikes. They're giving Royce the opportunity here, but they probably should have given her more than six matches since December. Her modified Widow's Peak is really good.That match started off rough and it looked like they weren't on the same page at some points. It went all uphill from there and got good. They deserved that time. Asuka gets the win.
Rhea Ripley debuts after the match. Rhea Ripley challenges Asuka to a Raw Women's Title match at WrestleMania. Asuka accepts. I fully expect a (hopefully) cleared Charlotte Flair to stroll out and join the Rhea Ripley/Asuka match and I'm good with that. It'll be a great match. Wish they could have played up a "Ghost of WrestleMania Past" for her though. If Rhea Ripley wins, I wish they'd make her thing taking on everyon. She'll defend the title against anyone, because she got her chance by asking. Then she beats them all
Miz defeated Jeff Hardy
5/10
They're debuting "Hey Hey Hop Hop." Oh okay. But that's next week. Miz challenges Bad Bunny to a match at WrestleMania. Jeff Hardy wants Miz so send Morrison to the back. Miz ends up beating Jeff Hardy in a fine match. Afterwards, Bad Bunny cracks Miz with a guitar, accepts his challenge and calls him a bitch.
Kofi Kingston (w/ Xavier Woods) defeated AJ Styles (w/ Omos)
5.75/10
AJ Styles and New Day have great comedic timing. AJ doesn't know any of Omos' favorite things. If this is any indication of the short feud, it should be fun, though I have complaints about just showing up and getting title shot. That was the first time AJ Styles has been pinned in a one on one match since October 2. The match was fine, just wild that they cool off AJ Styles AFTER he gets a title shot and new program after weeks of protecting him when he had nothing.
If McIntyre Wins, Shelton And Cedric Are Barred From Ringside At WrestleMania
2-on-1 Handicap Match
Drew McIntyre defeated The Hurt Business
These "Drew" chants they're piping in are so fake and lame, and he doesn't need them. Not usually keen on tag champs/contenders losing handicap matches, but WWE added stakes to this match to make it more. I like that. Give me a reason to care! They did.
Lashley goes off backstage. He tells Ricochet, Lince Dorado, Gran Metalik, Humberto Carrillo, Drew Gulak and Akira Tozawa if any of them take out Drew McIntyre before WrestleMania, he'll give them a WWE Title shot. I loved this.
Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler (w/ Reginald) defeated Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke
4.5/10
Lana and Naomi are on commentary making their case about two teams they've lost to this month. Reginald does a floor routine before and during the match. Mandy Rose blocking the near arm of Nia Jax because she was close to the ropes and Nia could have grabbed them was good stuff. Nia wins with a terrible Samoan Drop.
Braun Strowman defeated Elias (w/ Jaxson Ryker & Shane McMahon)
SQUASH
Elias is getting a re-match because he didn't have time to prepare. Good for them explaining that, but that should be the rule, not the exception. He and SHANE sing a song about how stupid Braun Strowman is. Braun Strowman kicks Elias and Ryker's asses. There's now a train sound when Braun does the Strowman Express. For some reason Elias watched Braun barrel towards him. Shane hits him with a crutch and runs after the match, but Braun isn't hurt. Strowman challenges Shane at WrestleMania. Braun Strowman will just throw Shane McMahon off a bunch of stuff and I'm okay with that.
BULLSHIT ERA
Randy Orton says he's here to end the BULLSHIT. Alexa Bliss pops up and we see camera trickery that has The Fiend pop up. Orton douses Fiend in gasoline. Instead of throwing a match, he hits Fiend with an RKO. He stares at Bliss forever and Fiend wakes up to apply a Mandible Claw and a Sister Abigail. Alexa points at the sign. It's on for WrestleMania.
Rating Guide
10- Perfect, 9- MOTY Territory, 8- Excellent, 7- Great, 6- Good, 5- Average to above average, 4- Slightly below average, 3 or below: Poor
Each match starts at a 5 and slides up and down based on entertainment, execution, time, environment, reaction and stakes. The ratings are in no way an indication of a "star rating," which is a completely different system. A standard, non-offensive "TV match" lands at a 5. The gap between 5.75-6 is generally the largest, with anything reaching 6 being recommended viewing.
These are opinions, and incredibly inconsistent ones that may change upon a second viewing, or sitting on the match for a period of time. Don't take them too seriously, and have (and share) your own! If you get upset about them, you owe me three dollars. Read disclaimers.
