The Undercard Part Two
Dean Ambrose defeated Dolph Ziggler in an average match. There was nothing special about this match that separated it from their bouts on Smackdown or Raw. If anything, this was the weakest booked and executed match out of every one that they have had. Ziggler was able to get some offense in and really control the pace that he likes. Ambrose was hit with a nice X-Factor from the top rope. This was probably the best move of the match. After multiple near losses, Ambrose was finally able to duck a splash and hit his finisher on Ziggler. Nobody ever thought Ziggler would win. There is the problem. Another title with little importance being overshadowed because the feud was not given much time. It was thrown together, taken off the card, and then added at the last second. These guys deserve so much more in their separate paths.
Grade: C+
The Shield defeated Prime Time Players to continue their winning streak. Since Extreme Rules, The Shield has yet to find viable opponents for their titles. Although I like PTP, this was too soon for them to compete for the titles. WWE continues to screw up their booking of tatg teams. This past month was all about Prime Time Players winning. Instead of having a script and an idea for them to face The Shield, their momentum is squashed. Why? Our first image of them as contenders to these titles are that they lost clean against The Shield. They will try and use them again and again but it will be much more difficult. I wouldn’t have been against The Uso’s going for the titles because there is no saving them. Give me something compelling and something real for Darren Young and Titus O’Neil. If you think, for one second, that they can be more than average, let them build a feud. This was a throwaway match with little importance.
Grade: C-… For the terrible booking decisions.
Rob Van Dam defeated Alberto Del Rio via Disqualification. This was an exciting and exhilarating match to watch. Detroit was extremely behind RVD, who fed off of the crowd emotion throughout the match. Van Dam was in full control early in the match. He hit Rolling Thunder, multiple unique pinfall attempts, and even went to the outside with his athleticism. Rob Van Dam and Alberto Del Rio exchanged quick strikes throughout the match. Del Rio seemed more aggressive and more heel-ish. He taunted RVD and continued to reverse his maneuvers. As RVD continued to build momentum, he soared from the top rope for a splash, but ended up taking Del Rio’s knees to his stomach. The champion intuitively capitalized by locking in the Cross Armbreaker. RVD finally got to the ropes. ADR did not release, which caused the disqualification. Del Rio would try and attack RVD with a chair, but Ricardo Rodriguez stopped that from happening. RVD would hit the “Van Terminator,” going from one turnbuckle to the other. That move never gets old. At the end of the night, this feud will continue to go on. For better or for worse in terms of storytelling, we will see these guys battle again.
Grade: B
