SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE LIVE EVENT REPORT
NOV. 3, 2018
CARDIFF, WALES
REPORT BY ROBERT FORSE, 13 YEAR PWTORCH VIP MEMBER
If you attend a live event, please send results in the format of the following report to pwtorch@pwtorch.com. Thanks!
Just returned home from tonight’s Smackdown house show. This was the first event I’ve been to since 2014 (also Cardiff) and the first my two boys have seen (age 9 and 5). We weren’t sure what to expect given the crew were in parts unknown the previous evening and we were trying to guess the line up on the journey over as we thought the group who wrestled there wouldn’t be available, but pleasingly for us (not so sure about the wrestlers) it was a full compliment of the Smackdown roster.
Not sure on attendance, but it was full. I would estimate that the building holds approx 6,000 for wrestling.
They didn’t go balls-to-the-wall, but it was a really fun show and we all had a good time. Nothing world class, as expected, but a number of good matches that pleased the younger audience (given that it wasn’t a school night, there were lots of children in attendance). Strangely the ring didn’t seemed to be mic’d like normal as impacts were quieter and that took a bit of getting used to.
(1) Randy Orton beat Jeff Hardy in a short but decent match with a slick RKO finishing sequence.
(2) Jimmy & Jay Uso defeated Primo & Epico. Usos were jumped during their entrance, but quickly rallied to finish with a double super kick. The Usos were over.
(3) Mark Andrews beat Wild Boar. This was a UK NXT Division match. No heat to start. The crowd didn’t know who they were, but some impressive exchanges and very crisp moves won the crowd around. Andrews won with a beautiful shooting star press.
(4) Naomi & Auska defeated The Iconics. I was looking forward to seeing the Iconics do their thing, but their audio was poor and tough to catch all they said. They elicited little heat when on offense, too. I’m a big fan of Auska, not so much Naomi as I find her offense terrible. She’s less offensive to watch in a tag team match, though, and children in the arena (and my wife) really enjoyed her entrance, so credit where it’s due.
(5) Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Andrade Cien Almas and Rey Mysterio in a Triple Threat match. A good match that picked up nicely for the finish which came after Rey hit the 619 and a top rope splash on Almas, but Nakamura delivered the kinshasa on Rey and pinned Almas. This was a fun match and a great bonus seeing these three. It was my second time seeing Nakamura, who has such a presence, and my first time seeing Rey since 2004 at WrestleMania 20. Rey has slimmed down and was very smooth. Great to see.
(6) Daniel Bryan beat The Miz in a good match. Shenanigans on the mic to start, but both worked hard and Bryan was effortlessly over. Miz sold the knee injury from the global pay-per-view. Bryan won with the running knee. It was noticeable after the match that Bryan spent a lot of time embracing fans and even returned to go deeper into the crowd when it looked like he was done. Class act.
Following the intermission, we came back to a dance break bit with R-Truth and Carmella against Rusev and Lana. Everyone did the splits, then tried to get Rusev to do it too. Funny. Rusev won with a roll up on Truth, but then everyone hugged. My boys loved this because they all did the bloody Floss!
(7) The Bar defeated The New Day. Good match with lots of crowd engagement. Fun bit when New Day threw their shirts to the crowd and then Sheamus set up to do the same but threw his to Cessaro. Good action. Finish came when Sheamus hit the Brougue Kick on a distracted Big E.
(8) Becky Lynch defeated Charlotte. Inevitable cheers and boos in the expected places. Becky is super over and I think Charlotte is going to continue to have a tough time getting cheers now against anyone remotely popular. This seems to have set. Good match, lots of action. Charlotte missed the moonsault (obviously) and Becky got the pin. Charlotte also spent a good deal of time after hugging fans and taking pictures. If she can hug enough people, maybe things will change.
(9) A.J. Styles beat Samoa Joe in a no DQ match. This involved kendo sticks, tables, chairs, and run-ins from the Usos and the Bar. Decent match with lots of distractions and shortcuts, but everyone was really pleased to see Styles win with the Phenomenal Forearm and then thanked the crowd for being the best place to start the tour (such a charmer, I bet he says that to all the crowds) and finished by saying “they had flown a long way to be here, but they put everything in to making sure it was a good show” and it was a good show, definitely exceeding expectations.
BIGGEST BABYFACE POPS: Daniel Bryan, Becky Lynch, and A.J. with an honorable mention to Rey Mysterio.
MOST HEEL HEAT: It wasn’t that kind of show, but Miz had some heat after eventually wearing out his welcome with a very funny Rick Rude tribute, running down the “Cardiff sweat hogs” while he removed his robe, headband, and sunglasses. Joe also managed to get boos from a crowd who seemed just happy/relieved to see the stars.
If you attend a live event, please send results in the format of the following report to pwtorch@pwtorch.com. Thanks!
NOW CHECK OUT THIS REPORT: 11/3 WWE in Madrid, Spain: Rousey vs. Nikki, AOP & Jinder vs. Apollo & Ryno & Slater, Strowman vs. McIntyre & Ziggler, plus Seth, Corbin, Nia, Bliss, Balor, Elias, Lashley
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.