The Storylines
Dean Ambrose vs. Kane ended when Ambrose was disqualified. I am glad that this match was not everything they could put into it, knowing later on that they will fight at WWE Payback. You can begin to tell that WWE is having small problems booking The Shield. It continues to be the same ending to matches. They are lucky that each member is so good at what they are asking them to do. Ambrose is a great technician in the ring and should have a good match with Kane on Sunday. Tonight was just a recycling of a predictable finish to protect both men.
Grade: C
Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns ended when Daniel Bryan and Seth Rollins got involved in the outcome. I liked the psychology of the match between Orton and Reigns. You had Orton doing his usual gimmick, picking away at his opponent and being calculating. Roman Reigns used his power and actually showed how light on his feet he can be. I thought his clothesline was a highlight of the match because he was able to elevate his height and weight to connect on his opponent's chest. It was nice to see both men working their game and keeping it simplistic. Reigns is still young but is maturing by the day.
Grade: B-
Daniel Bryan defeated Seth Rollins in one of the best matches of the year. Yes, it was THAT good. This was a Pay Per View quality match because of the sheer perfection it possessed. Rollins gets to the ropes so Bryan hits a running dropkick, then he follows with a second for a two count before kicking Rollins in the chest. Rollins was able to counter with an enziguiri and reverse Bryan into a powerbomb onto the corner. Move after move, pinfall after pinfall, each guy was trying to one up the other. Please go back and watch this match because this tells him that, no matter what anyone else says, Seth Rollins is going to be a HUGE star. His ability in the ring along with his believable body motions and facials expressions make this match feel real, feel intense. I loved it and love how Daniel Bryan continues to be the best in the business.
Grade: A+
–All three of these matches are teased and executed well enough to set them up for Sunday. I like how they swapped Orton and Kane to give it a fresh feel. I also think it is smart because The Uso's are nowhere close enough to be believable competitors. There is nobody else in the Tag Team Division that deserves a shot at The Shield right now. The matches on Sunday should be great, even if we do know who will win.
-Kaitlyn's secret admirer was nobody. Big E came out and fooled her into thinking it was him. AJ Lee comes out and laughs and talks trash on her. It felt real and personal. It felt like two ex high school girls that were best friends and now hate one another. Too bad this storyline was not pushed heavily before. It could have had a bigger impact if we actually cared about the Divas involved. It is ashame.
Grade: C+
