Welcome to Fightful.com's live coverage & discussion for WWE Stomping Grounds.
We'll be bringing you full, match by match coverage of every bout on the card and you can watch along with us, sending in your feedback on our Disqus boards below!
Following Stomping Grounds, remember to tune into the post-show podcast too. Link:
Match Card
Kick-Off
WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Drew Gulak defeated Akira Tozawa and Tony Nese to become the NEW Cruiserweight Champion
Main Show
RAW Women's Championship
Becky Lynch defeated Lacey Evans to retain her RAW Women's Championship
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn defeated New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods)
WWE United States Championship
Ricochet defeated Samoa Joe to become the NEW US Champion
SmackDown Live Tag Team Championships
Daniel Bryan & Rowan defeated Heavy Machinery (Tucker Knight & Otis Dozovic) to retain their SmackDown Tag Team Titles
SmackDown Live Women's Championship
Bayley defeated Alexa Bliss to retain her SmackDown Women's Title
Roman Reigns defeated Drew McIntyre
WWE Championship - Steel Cage Match
Kofi Kingston defeated Dolph Ziggler to retain his WWE Title
WWE Universal Championship - Special Guest Referee
Seth Rollins defeated Baron Corbin to retain his Universal Title
Live Coverage
Kick-Off
The kick-off show is underway, with our panel of Jonathan Coachman, Charly Caruso, David Otunga and Booker T running through tonight's match card. They then focused on the WWE Title match in particular, with Caruso and Booker stepping inside the steel cage to break things down further. Big E and Woods then joined the panel, saying that Kingston doesn't need them tonight but they have his back nonetheless. The discussion then shifted to Seth Rollins' recent conflict with Baron Corbin. In a backstage interview, Corbin then said that he has many options for tonight's referee role. However, his choice is a secret so he's not telling anyone yet.
The panel then previewed Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley as well as Ricochet vs. Samoa Joe. This led to Ricochet taking a seat alongside them for an interview, admitting that he's in for the fight of his life until Joe interrupted from backstage. Joe says that Ricochet knows nothing about this level of competition and while's he's an amazing athlete, that's never stopped the champion before. Elsewhere, Charles Robinson walks into Daniel Bryan and Rowan's shot, enraging the former as he dismissed their foes' comedic approach. Rowan says that Otis and Tucker as champions would be idiocrasy. Tonight, they are saving the tag team division from being a joke.
The focus then shifted to Reigns/McIntyre, with Drew interrupting Shane's introduction and saying that Roman is far too emotional, reiterating his intentions to "disfigure" Reigns.
WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Tony Nese (c) vs. Akira Tozawa vs. Drew Gulak
Gulak immediately took Nese out, landing a sharp kick but soon being halted by a striking salvo from the champion. Tozawa then cut him off though, being floored for his troubles as Nese combined offense for a double pin near-fall. A superkick followed but Tozawa then built his own momentum, hitting a trademark dive and then launching himself onto Gulak with a senton off the apron. The missile dropkick came next but Gulak broke up the pin. He was swiftly removed regardless as in the meantime, Nese fired back, forcing Gulak to halt another fall.
He was suddenly in control too, suplexing Tozawa onto Nese and leaving both of his foes floored. Gulak's time on top was brief though, with Tozawa snatching an Octopus Hold until Nese suplexed Tozawa out of the position before turning into a clothesline from Gulak. The Gu-Lock followed but in the meantime, Tozawa headed up top, crashing down with a senton on both men. Hurricanrana came next and then a crisp kick as well but Gulak kicked out at 2. Gulak soon evaded his foe though, being wiped out by Nese for his troubles as this time Tozawa broke up the fall.
That left him and Nese to go back and forth, trading strikes and fighting up top as Gulak seized, taking advantage and superplexing Tozawa. He evaded the 450 Splash too but remained in trouble as Tozawa hit shining wizard for 2 of his own on Nese. He then landed a heavy kick on Gulak too, trading pin attempts with Nese until the champion launched him into the corner. Gulak then seized, with Tozawa taking out Nese as he took advantage, hitting Torture Rack Neckbreaker on Tozawa and winning the title!
Winner and NEW Champion: Drew Gulak
Finally, the panel concluded with a discussion about tonight's main card opener: Becky Lynch vs. Lacey Evans.
Main Show
RAW Women's Championship
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Lacey Evans
The champion immediately took control early, wrestling Evans to the mat and then chasing the challenger around ringside before dropping her face first in center ring. Evans soon fired back though, kicking Lynch into the announce table and then using a punch to the midsection as well. Lacey then used the ringpost too, yanking Lynch before slowing things down with a hold. Becky responded with a roll-up counter but strikes kept Evans in control, furthering her attack on Lynch?s arm. Becky soon fought upright regardless, catching an armbar out of nowhere as Evans got her foot to the bottom rope.
Lacey was back in control before long regardless, hitting her elevated bronco buster and taunting Lynch until she fired back, rallying with strikes and building momentum with her signature comeback. Evans stayed alive though, kicking out at 2. A wild exchange followed, with Evans landing a modified stunner and sharp kick for another near-fall. Lynch prevented Lacey from heading up top though, yanking her to the mat and forcing a submission via Dis-Arm-Her.
Winner and STILL Champion: Becky Lynch
A Mustafa Ali vignette followed, reiterating his purpose while elsewhere, Paul Heyman left Baron Corbin?s dressing room. Heyman hints at an appearance from Lesnar while afterwards, Corbin says he?s chosen an unbiased referee.
New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
Owens immediately flurried, landing a salvo of superkicks as well as Swanton Bomb for 2. Blue Thunder Bomb followed and then eventually, Frogsplash too but somehow, Woods still kicked out on both occasions. Stunned by their foe?s toughness, Zayn and Owens slowed things down while E returned to the apron in the meantime. His opponents remained firmly in control regardless, battering Woods and keeping him cornered as well. Zayn then applied the cross face but Woods countered, soon landing a sharp kick to create space. E was removed from the apron in response but Woods used a back suplex to reset things once more.
He avoided Owens? senton too, finally tagging in E as he run wild on all involved. That culminated with a big splash but Zayn kicked out at 2. E continued to flurry nonetheless, slamming Zayn to the mat and bringing in Woods as his shoulders provided a platform for E?s splash. Owens made the save but was dispatched for his troubles, with New Day thinking Midnight Hour until Zayn fought free and evaded E too. Helluva Kick followed as well as Pop-Up Powerbomb but E broke the pin at 2. Things then broke down, with all four landing strikes until no one was left standing. Once things continued though, E speared Zayn off the apron while in-ring, Owens pinned Woods via Stunner.
Winners: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
Elsewhere, Nikki Cross greeted Alexa Bliss with excitement. Alexa reminded Nikki of their tag team title loss, with Cross saying that Bayley showed her true colors, asking Bliss not to take responsibility and focus on tonight instead.
WWE United States Championship
Samoa Joe (c) vs. Ricochet
Joe is nonchalantly in control early, gaining the upper hand until Ricochet responded with signature offense, sending his foe to the floor. Joe fired back though, ramming Ricochet into the apron and then slamming him down in center ring. Strikes kept him in control too, battering the challenger but failing to close the show. He next slowed things with a hold, grounding Ricochet and eventually scoring a sublime sit-out powerbomb for 2. Another hold followed but Ricochet soon fought upright, stringing strikes together and flooring Joe as a result.
Hurricanrana came next and a springboard clothesline also, then chasing Joe to the floor with a dive. He continued to score too, concluding the outburst with a springboard moonsault for 2. Joe fired back in an instant, landing his snap powerslam for a near-fall of his own. The German Suplex eventually followed and then a violent clothesline also but Ricochet still kicked out regardless. He then avoided the choke too, dropping Joe throat-first on the top rope and heading up only to have his 630 evaded. He landed on his feet after Joe?s clothesline though, landing Codebreaker and 630 Splash for the win!
Winner and NEW Champion: Ricochet
Post-match, Ricochet is greeted by a group of superstars as well as Triple H while Heavy Machinery head to the ring.
SmackDown Live Tag Team Championships
Daniel Bryan & Rowan (c) vs. Heavy Machinery (Tucker Knight & Otis Dozovic)
Following raucous chants of his name, Daniel Bryan tagged in, landing low kicks on Otis before being caught and thrown across the ring. That allowed Tucker?s entry, scoring a delayed vertical suplex for 2. A violent clothesline followed but Bryan kicked out again, evading his foe and tagging in Rowan. He immediately tackled Tucker to the mat, next scoring a drop kick before slowing things down with a hold. Now in control, Bryan re-entered, battering Otis? leg with the ring-post and using quick tags to keep him floored. Tucker soon evaded Rowan though, tagging in Otis who run wild on Bryan.
The former WWE Champion swiftly fired back, landing some of his patented kicks but running into a sit-out powerbomb for 2. Bryan avoided Vader Bomb regardless, using his famed YES kicks and only firing Otis up in the process. He eventually caught his foe?s kick, landing an explosive suplex and hitting the Caterpillar as well. Otis then catapulted Bryan into a belly to belly suplex but Rowan broke the fall. Moments later, Bryan avoided Tucker?s moonsault, tagging in Rowan who met Otis in center ring. They traded shoulder tackles until Otis caught Rowan, slamming him to the mat while in the meantime, Bryan made a blind tag.
He looked to seize but Tucker cut him off, landing a splash off the top on Rowan but being rolled up by Bryan as he returned to the ring.
Winners and STILL Champions: Daniel Bryan and Rowan
SmackDown Live Women's Championship
Bayley (c) vs. Alexa Bliss (w/ Nikki Cross)
A brawl got this one underway, with Bayley unleashing strikes early to take immediate control. Bliss fired back though, tackling the champion into the corner but being dropped face first into the turnbuckle. Alexa swiftly returned the favor though, launching her foe into the middle turnbuckle and gaining the upper hand. She then grabbed a hold in center ring, slowing things down and using a backbreaker to stay on top. Bliss was dominating proceedings but couldn?t close the show, with Bayley soon making a comeback. That included a crossbody but Alexa quickly regained control, slapping the champion across the face but then running into a clothesline.
Bayley was suddenly building momentum, flurrying with strikes but walking into a violent forearm out of nowhere. Bayley fired back, dropping Bliss on the middle rope and landing two sharp knees. Her dropkick on the outside missed though, with Alexa yanking her arm first into the post instead. Bliss now had a target, working over Bayley?s arm but soon eating a back suplex for her troubles. She then hit the sunset flip bomb into the corner, with Cross consoling Alexa and eating Bayley?s dive as a result. That distraction allowed Bliss to seize, landing her sunset bomb on the outside and then positioning Bayley in center ring.
As she headed up for Twisted Bliss though, Cross tried to intervene, distracting Alexa and allowing Bayley to fire back, hitting Bayley to Belly for the win.
Winner and STILL Champion: Bayley
A recap of the recent 24/7 title chaos followed while elsewhere, Ricochet was in the midst of a photo shoot as Gallows, Anderson and AJ Styles interrupted. They congratulated the champ but AJ told Ricochet that he?ll see him tomorrow night.
Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre
McIntyre met Roman on the ramp here, with a brawl commencing as Reigns gained the upper hand right away. He followed Drew to the floor too, hitting a spectacular dive and then chasing Shane through the crowd. That only ran him into McIntyre though, with Drew then using the steel steps to take control. He then grabbed a hold, slowing things down and continually cutting Reigns off. Roman fired back, countering with a suplex but Shane distracted him, allowing McIntyre to land a spinebuster for 2. A clothesline soon followed but Roman stayed alive, kicking out again. He soon fought upright too, landing a sudden Samoan Drop and eventually flurrying with clotheslines.
The big boot came next as Shane leapt to the apron, eating two Superman punches for his troubles. That allowed McIntyre to fire back though, hitting his Reverse Alabama Slam onto the announce table. He then slammed Reigns to the mat but Roman again kicked out at 2. A superkick followed but Drew remained unable to close the show. His next plan was Claymore but Reigns avoided, being floored by Glasgow Kiss nonetheless. Drew then jumped head first into a Superman Punch but kicked out himself. A wild strike exchange came next until Roman landed The Spear. However, McMahon halted the pin, yanking the referee out and thinking Coast to Coast.
He landed it too, dragging McIntyre over for the pin as Reigns kicked out again! He then fired back too, landing a Superman Punch, dispatching Shane and pinning Drew via Spear.
Winner: Roman Reigns
WWE Championship - Steel Cage Match
Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler
A shoving match got this one underway, with Dolph smartly looking to climb the cage before being pulled down and landing a dropkick instead. He then attempted to walk through the door but was cut off, catapulting Kingston into the cage as he landed in position to climb. Ziggler swiftly pulled him down but ate a dropkick for his troubles. The challenger then evaded Kingston though, sending him head first into the turnbuckle and then nailing a neckbreaker too. Ziggler then slowed things down, grabbing a hold in center ring and grounding his foe. Kingston fought upright before long, creating space and springing off the middle rope with a dropkick.
The champion then flurried, stringing together strikes but soon being launched into the cage. Kofi returned the favor before long though, throwing Ziggler around and rolling him up for 2. Dolph stopped Kofi from exiting regardless but Kingston fought him off, climbing again before opting for more high risk offense instead. Moments later and Ziggler had turned the tide, climbing quickly until both men sat on the top of the cage. Kingston was hanging onto Dolph for dear life, pulling him back inside as both men collapsed to the mat. An exchange followed, with Kingston eventually landing SOS for 2.
Ziggler responded though, targeting Kofi?s leg and applying a submission in center ring. Kingston refused to submit though, climbing the cage but eating a superkick in response. As a result, Kofi almost fell through the cage door but Dolph held on, pulling the champion back inside with his submission intact. Kingston eventually reversed though, snatching his own Ankle Lock before being pushed off and falling into Zig Zag for 2. He then looked to escape through the door but Kofi pulled him back in twice, eventually leaping over Ziggler and retaining his title.
Winner and STILL Champion: Kofi Kingston
Post-match, Kingston expressed his respect for Ziggler but said that he did what he promised he?d do nonetheless!
Elsewhere, Shane McMahon announced that tomorrow night on RAW, Roman Reigns would face him and Drew McIntyre in a 2-on-1 handicap match.
WWE Universal Championship - Special Guest Referee
Seth Rollins (c) vs. Baron Corbin
Before Corbin could even announce his special guest referee, Rollins run him off, saying they?ll receive the same treatment as everyone else. Corbin then recovered the microphone, introducing his referee: Lacey Evans.
As she explained her authority to Rollins, Corbin seized, jumping Seth from behind and going to work with strikes. He then attacked Rollins with his own steel chair until Evans reluctantly took it away, finally ringing the bell. Corbin dominated immediately, slamming Seth to the mat and launching him around ringside. His patented clothesline followed, working Rollins over until a salvo of strikes came in response. Corbin fired back though, landing a sharp DDT and continuing to control things until a kick left both men floored. A strike exchange followed as Rollins then finally found some momentum, landing slingblade and dispatching Baron to the floor.
A knee off the top followed as well as a kick to the face but after Lacey?s delayed pin, Corbin kicked out. He then took advantage of a frustrated Rollins too, briefly regaining control until he was suddenly powerbombed off the apron and through the announce table. However, Evans took an eternity counting and eventually changed the rules, removing count-outs as Rollins dragged Corbin back inside instead. Baron avoided The Stomp though, catching Seth on the floor and slamming him onto the apron. A chokeslam followed but Rollins again kicked out at 2.
He then avoided Corbin as well, heading up top for a frogsplash that Evans again wouldn?t complete the pin for. The distraction allowed Corbin to retrieve the chair, battering Rollins as Lacey made this No DQ as well. Seth seized, hitting Falcon Arrow as Evans still didn?t count. With Rollins in her face, Lacey slapped him, landing a low blow as Corbin scored End of Days. Becky Lynch came out in response though, running Evans off and wiping her out on the floor. Corbin was suddenly without a referee, calling in John Cone as Rollins landed The Stomp out of nowhere, retaining his title.
Winner and STILL Champion: Seth Rollins
Post-match, Rollins and Lynch celebrated in center ring.
Thanks for following along folks and now be sure to check out our post-show podcast as well!