Tye Dillinger def. Aiden English (Kickoff Match)This was much more of a match than their two previous encounters on SmackDown Live (which were essentially squashes), but it was really just that: a match. Don't get me wrong, it was fine for what it was and there wasn't anything technically wrong with it, but because it lacked importance, it was hard to care. The outcome was never in doubt, but thankfully, Dillinger and his "ten" gimmick is over enough that the fans in attendance gave him a raucous reaction and weren't totally bored by this. Shinsuke Nakamura def. Dolph ZigglerI've seen some criticism over this match opening the event and how it should have been positioned higher up on the card, but honestly, if it wasn't going to headline Backlash, it might as well have started the show, and I was glad it did. Another complaint was that it was too back-and-forth, and I do agree that the victory should have been more one-sided for Nakamura. Then again, they were aiming to contest a quality match and they did just that, which I can appreciate. I think we can all agree that Nakamura is such a star and has a bright future ahead of him on SmackDown Live.
0 Comments
Roderick Strong def. Eric YoungStrong moving into the role Tye Dillinger previously held of going up against SAnitY all by himself makes much more sense than the playing field being even given his whole "Roddy vs. World" gimmick. It was refreshing to see him attack Killian Dain and Alexander Wolfe before the bout and then contest a pretty good match with Young. I've never been the biggest fan of Young in the ring, but he fared well here and this was probably Strong's best match in NXT to date. Those video packages highlighting his family from a few weeks ago have definitely paid off and I'm happy he finally has direction. Pete Dunne def. Tyler Bate to Win the WWE United Kingdom ChampionshipI knew we would be in for a great match after the instant classic they had in the finals of the WWE United Kingdom Championship tournament earlier this year, but this exceeded all expectations and then some in being absolutely exceptional. Honestly, we might have a new Match of the Year (so far) on our hands. Bate and Dunne have such strong chemistry together and each stellar spot had me on the edge of my seat. The crowd ate everything up and provided this match with an electric atmosphere. Dunne winning was the right move, and now he can reek havoc on the rest of the division. Seriously, seek this out if you haven't already seen it.
#AskGSM is a weekly Q&A video where I, Graham "GSM" Matthews answer fan questions from Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in regards to the world of wrestling. Nothing is off limits, and this week’s edition touches upon a variety of topics including:
Wolfgang def. Joseph ConnersWe really haven't seen too much of Wolfgang since the tournament back in January, which is weird because a video package or two talking about who he is aired on NXT TV not long ago. He's a tremendous talent, but I don't think he was the best choice to kick off this show, at least with Conners. They wrestled a solid match, but the crowd wasn't nearly for hot for this as they were for the matches that followed, nor was it all that exciting. The Brian Kendrick and TJP def. Dan Moloney and Rich SwannIt's amazing how much of a difference a change of scenery makes. Kendrick, TJP and Swann don't receive strong reactions on the main roster/205 Live, yet they came across like stars here, the same way they did on NXT and in the Cruiserweight Classic. Combining 205 Live and the U.K. Championship competitors into one show might be the best thing for them at this point. Any any rate, this was a very fun match with the heels playing their roles well and Moloney making a good impression despite his quick elimination in the tournament earlier this year. Swann was enjoyable as always as well.
|
Categories
All
Archives
May 2024
|