SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE MAIN EVENT TV REPORT
MAY 29, 2019
HULU STREAMING TV
REPORT BY MIKE F. MEYERS, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Announcers: Renee Young, Byron Saxton
REASONS TO WATCH…
- Good Brothers appear to work a nice tag match.
- Renee explains the excitement of the Wild Card Rule.
(1) CEDRIC ALEXANDER vs. EC3
This is a rematch from last week’s episode, though EC3 had the honor of coming out second this time. The announcers did point out that Alexander had been getting the best of EC3 in recent weeks.
Back and forth action to start: EC3 got the upper hand first with blows and chops, then Alexander returned fire with some more exotic offense before drop kicking a seated EC3 and covering for a two-count. The pace was quick. As EC3 struggled to get to his feet in the corner, Alexander smiled at the crowd and urged them to “come on” with a hand gesture.
EC3 turned the tide with a belly to back suplex, then fired Alexander into a corner and laid in some kicks and a boot across Alexander’s throat. He whipped Alexander back into the same corner before laying in a big clothesline, followed by a neckbreaker and a pin for a two-count before applying a chinlock.
Alexander escaped and fired his shoulder through EC3’s midsection, then executed a sunset flip pin. EC3 kicked out, and Alexander flipped his heels up through the air, timed with the kickout. He landed on his feet next to EC3, who was now on his hands and knees, then jumped into the air and landed a vertical dropkick to the back of EC3’s head – a very cool combination.
Alexander kipped up after the crowd chanted his name. He landed some quick shots on EC3. EC3 then landed the same facebuster / DDT combination from last week, which was again only good for a two-count in spite of its finisher-like constitution. Also, Alexander was clearly gazing at the ref to time his kickout rather than listening to the cadence of the count. Renee said it was “heartbreaking to watch,” showing sympathy for the heel on a losing streak.
EC3 carried Alexander to the corner and sat him atop the top turnbuckle. He scaled the second rope and tried to set up for a superplex but Alexander pushed him off. When EC3 saw Alexander get to his feet on the top ropes, no doubt planning a high-flying attack, he charged at the rope five feet away from the corner, causing it to vibrate like the string of a giant guitar – so much so that Alexander couldn’t maintain his balance. He slipped down and landed crotch-first onto the turnbuckle cable.
Alexander slumped forward and EC3 resumed his plan and executed a superplex off the top rope. He covered for a two-count. EC3 hoisted Alexander up into an atomic drop position, but Alexander rolled backward through the move and landed on his feet behind his opponent, then quickly applied the Lumbar Check for the pin and yet another victory against EC3.
WINNER: Cedric Alexander by pinfall.
(Meyers’ Analysis: It was cool to see an old school build up to a move like the superplex. Also kind of neat to see these wrestlers have consecutive matches. While sticking to the brief Main Event formula, the matches were quite different, apart from their outcomes. Alexander got a nice crowd reaction for his finisher and victory.)
-Main Event recap session:
- Replay of in-ring encounter between Rollins and Lesnar / Heyman from Raw
- Replay of 4-Way Elimination Match among Miz, Strowman, Lashley and Corbin from Raw
- Replay of Ziggler’s ramp promo against Kofi regarding their upcoming match at Super Showdown from Raw
- Replay of Firely Fun House
- Video package for Orton vs. Triple H at upcoming PPV Super Showdown
- Match rundown for upcoming PPV Super Showdown
- Replay of Truth & Reigns vs. McIntyre & Elias from Smackdown
(2) ZACK RYDER & CURT HAWKINS (Raw Tag Champions) vs. LUKE GALLOWS & KARL ANDERSON
Ryder and Hawkins made their entrance, high-fiving fans and sporting matching denim vests. Regarding the Wild Card Rule, Renee described it as such: “It’s like the Wild West out here! Nobody knows who’s coming and going.”
(Meyers’ Analysis: Renee’s description was meant to create a sense of unpredictable excitement for the main roster programming, but it actually presents the reasons why viewers are throwing their hands up in frustration. Who’s on what roster? Who cares? They may as well name the shows Monday / Tuesday Night Clusterflop.)
Ryder, then Hawkins, got the upper hand early against the Good Brothers, but Gallows soon tagged in and laid out Hawkins in the middle of the ring as we cut to break.
After the break, Ryder was back in and leveled Gallows with a missile dropkick. Hot tag session. Simultaneous tags gave the advantage to Hawkins who took out both opponents with forearms and dropkicks. He then took down and pinned Anderson, the legal man, with a Michinoku driver. This was a good, aggressive sequence. After Anderson kicked out, Hawkins backed off into a corner and waited for him to stir, then charged in for a spear. Anderson intercepted the move and delivered a big spine buster, then pinned for a two-count of his own.
Gallows tagged in and, with Anderson, performed a neckbreaker / back suplex combo. Gallows covered for another two-count. The cover was busted up by Ryder who dove in with a double axe handle. Anderson jumped in to deal with Ryder, but Ryder managed to throw Anderson out to ringside through the ropes. Gallows, distracted by Ryder on the apron, absorbed an enzuigiri from Hawkins, who then tagged in Ryder. Anderson hoisted Gallows onto his shoulders, and Ryder jumped from the middle rope to deliver the Long Island Express. Ryder covered Gallows for the three-count.
WINNERS: Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins by pinfall.
(Meyers’ Analysis: If the viewer can set aside their questions about why the tag champions are competing on Main Event, this was a pretty cool match. Also, Gallows and Anderson are fresh blood on this show – or any show, for that matter. Is it better for them to work a decent straight-up match on Main Event, or to dress like doctors and make testicle jokes on Raw?)
SHOW SCORE (0-10): 7.2
FINAL THOUGHTS: As solid an episode of Main Event as there can be. The tag match, in particular, felt above the typical Main Event exhibition.
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