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WWE Women's Tag Team Championship (On Kickoff show)
Asuka & Charlotte Flair (c) vs Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler My Prediction: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler What actually happened: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler I was right, but for the wrong reasons. Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler did regain the Women's Tag Team Championships, but not because of a Charlotte Flair turn on Asuka. Instead, we saw the Nature Boy, Ric Flair, aka Charlotte's dad, who has been feuding a bit with Charlotte through his um...interest in Lacey Evans, came out with Evans, who was wearing a Ric Flair style robe. Charlotte is distracted! The roll-up! ONE, TWO, KICKOUT. Nah. match wouldn't be over quite yet...It didn't end until the Nature Boy gave Lacey a foreign object (probably brass knuckles, but camera didn't show clearly), who then hit Charlotte on the head with it, knocking her out cold. We are either gonna get Charlotte Flair vs Lacey Evans at Elimination Chamber or Wrestlemania, guaranteed. It also helps to set up the Nia/Shayna vs. Mandy Rose/Dana Brooke feud I alluded to in the Preview thread. Grade: B for the match itself, dropped down to a B- for predictability. WWE Championship Drew McIntyre (c) vs Goldberg My Prediction: Drew McIntyre What actually happened: Drew McIntyre Yeah, this was a total waste of time. Goldberg was sweating already after making his entrance, he was gassed very early on, thank goodness this was a short match. The WWE really needs to stop bringing Goldberg back for these once-offs, the man is WAY past his expiration date. Grade: D Smackdown Women's Championship Sasha Banks (c) vs. Carmella My Prediction: No Prediction What actually happened: Sasha Banks This match wasn't officially announced. It was rumored to be on the card, but was never made official, so I didn't include it in my predictions thread. I gotta be honest here...I have a weird opinion when it comes to Carmella. Objectively, she is a decent enough wrestler, and can handle herself quite well in a wrestling ring. She is probably better than she really gets credit for. But on the other hand, subjectively, I hate her. I can't stand her. I never, ever want to see her on TV, because she annoys the hell out of me. Decent enough match though. Grade: B Women's Royal Rumble Match My Prediction: Bianca Belair What actually happened: Bianca Belair Decent Rumble match, but not spectacular. Bayley and Naomi entered first and second, with Bianca entering 3rd. I could go into the nitty gritty of the order, the eliminations, etc, but other than Bianca Belair getting pushed into the main event level status with the win, the real story of this Royal Rumble was Billie Kay. Since the last draft, when she was separated from her tag team partner Peyton Royce, Billie Kay really hasn't had much to do. She's kind of floundered around, not really having any direction. I think last night, she found her direction. Billie Kay is never going to be a main event singles wrestler. She is, however, going to be on TV a lot, as she was downright FUNNY. Like, Santino Marella kind of funny. Best moment of the Rumble was when Peyton Royce entered, and her and Billie had a moment...The sheer look of glee on both of their faces as they got to reunite for a few moments was adorable. Outside of Billie Kay, VERY impressive performance as well for Rhea Ripley, who may get her second shot at the main roster after that performance. She got elevated from NXT last year, and then the WWE completely botched her push to the point she got sent down to NXT again...Hopefully they get it right this time, because Ripley is going to be a future WWE Women's champion. She is too damn good not to be. Grade: B+ for the match, potential to go up to an A- or an A, depending on how they follow up with Belair, Ripley and Billie Kay's performances. WWE Universal Championship - Last Man Standing Match Roman Reigns (c) vs. Kevin Owens My Prediction: Roman Reigns What actually happened: Roman Reigns The outcome of this match was never in doubt to me, while it was a pretty good match in and of itself, I never felt while watching it, that any outcome other than Reigns keeping his title was possible. I don't think the WWE will even think about switching that title off of Roman Reigns' waist until Wrestlemania, so any title matches before that are really just for show. This match will probably be remembered for the botch at the end. Kevin Owens handcuffed Reigns low enough that he couldn't really stand...which, in a LMS match, would mean Owens wins. however, as the ref hit the 9 count, he got too close to Reigns, who then grabbed him, and pushed him into a prop to knock him out, so the countdown would stop. Paul Heyman would come out with keys to the handcuffs (they were the ones who originally brought the handcuffs out, Owens handcuffed Reigns only because he managed to beat Reigns to the punch)...Reigns was gonna do the exact same thing to Owens...Eventually a 2nd ref comes out, and starts the countdown again. However, Heyman was having some trouble getting the handcuffs open, so the ref got to 6 or 7, and had to "stop" to check on Kevin Owens...buying Heyman at least another 15-20 seconds to undo the handcuffs. The match, because it was a LMS match, also meant they were free to go anywhere in Tropicana Field...and part of the match took place around the 2nd ring. Lemme explain: The WWE already has a 2nd ring set up, on a different part of the field, with LOTS of space for chairs surrounding it, to be used whenever the state of Florida allows fans to return to sporting events in numbers. So, whenever that order comes in, they are already prepared to switch locations to the more open area, and have a more...traditional wrestling show. Grade: B+ for the match itself, dropped down to a B for predictability. Men's Royal Rumble Match My Prediction: Seth Rollins What actually happened: Edge Well, what can I say? I was close, dammit, LOL. I was correct about Rollins making his return, and he DID make it until close to the end...he was one of the final four left...Anyway...#1 and #2 happened to be Randy Orton and Edge, to allow them to continue their feud, just the two of them, for at least a little bit. More people come in, Randy Orton "injures" his knee, leaves without being eliminated to go see WWE medical staff. One of the surprise entrants was the returning Carlito Colon. That was cool. Honestly, Carlito, who hasn't been seen in a WWE ring for about a decade now, looked fantastic. He was in great shape, maybe the best physical shape of his career. If the WWE signed him to a short term, or even long term deal, and this wasn't just a one-time nostalgia act, I am fine with that. I mean, they brought back both Shelton Benjamin and MVP...and Carlito looks like he is still able to go... Another HUGE pop was when Christian made his return, and as soon as he entered the ring, he and Edge embraced. For those of you unaware, not only were Edge and Christian a long time WWE tag team together, but best friends in real life. Adam Copeland (Edge) and Jay Reso (Christian) have known each other since they were little kids, growing up together in the same Orangeville, Ontario neighborhood. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Christian will be sticking around, at least for a while, to provide support for Edge. Like Carlito, Christian had a very good showing in the match. Generally, one-off nostalgia acts get their pop, and get eliminated within a few minutes, but both Carlito and Christian got plenty of match time. Anyway, we get close to the end, and wouldn't you know it...the "injured" Randy Orton jumps into the ring, tries to eliminate Edge, only for Edge to reverse it and eliminate Orton... Grade: A- Ok. I should point out a few things. The WWE changed the rules to the Rumble matches this year. The time between entrants was shortened to 90 seconds, rather than the full two minutes. They likely felt that with a few of the other matches, the PPV would be too long if they went with the two minute timing. Not the first time they have done that, probably won't be the last time either. It does put a small asterisk on both Edge and Bianca's wins, meaning while they were early entrants who lasted, their matches were shorter than other Rumbles have been. Also, with Edge winning the title match at Wrestlemania, if Elimination Chamber sees Drew McIntyre defending his title in a rematch against Randy Orton, you can damn well be sure that I will be predicting an Orton win....Edge/Orton for the title is a LOT more interesting than Edge/Reigns or Edge/McIntyre is.
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February 2021
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