Big E Langston defeated Curtis Axel to Retain The WWE Intercontinental Championship
This match started with both guys trying to feel the other one out. After both guys running the ropes, Langston hits a big shoulder block. Axel follows up by hitting a shoulder thrust to the outside. I really liked that Axel was taking out the legs of the bigger opponent. The aggression on the legs of a power lifting champion makes sense. Take out the limbs and work your way up. Axel intelligently heads and hits a neckbreaker. The pace slows down even more and it seems like the crowd is getting less interested. Langston picks up the speed and hits a body splash on the back on Axel. You can see the frustration on the face of Axel, which ultimately costs him the match. Big Ending is the ending for Axel.
Curtis Axel is a good wrestler, but that is where the road ends for him. Unfortunately, I can see Axel lose a lot of interest from the bosses backstage. There is not one excellent quality that he has. He is good at what he does, but the character's weaknesses are shown in every match. This will be the end of Axel in the IC Title picture. Big E cuts a pro-Boston promo and cheers with the crowd. The match was good, not great. There was not that one GREAT moment. It actually cooled the crowd down a bit, which is not that bad of a thing. Three hours is long.
Grade: B-
Natalya and Nikki Bella are the Soul Survivors
Naomi hits a nice athletic move from the top rope. She eliminates Alicia Fox and the Funkadactyls work together in the ring against Rosa Mendes. Rosa eliminates Rosa Mendes and Nikki hits a face plant to eliminate Rosa Mendes. The eliminations keep coming as Summer Rae is eliminated by Nikki. Eva Marie gets a BIG BOO from the crowd and is eliminated by Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn takes care of Naomi, who showed tons of promise in the ring. Back and forth we go, as each elimination occurs after a tag and one of two matches. Brie hits a missile dropkick and Eliminates Kaitlyn. Aksana hits an impressive spinebuster, something I never thought I would say, and eliminates another. Aksana is gone, thanks to Nikki. AJ Lee comes in the ring and pins JoJo, so we have AJ and Tamina vs. Natalya and Nikki Bella. Natalya makes AJ and Tamina to tap out.
It was a feel good moment for Natalya, having Bret Hart watch from the panel. I think Natalya is a bit overrated, unfortunately. I want to see her succeed. This may be the best in the ring I have seen her over the past few months. I really hated the ending because it made the CHAMPION look weak on a big stage. Total Divas is more important than anything else relating to women in the WWE. I miss the old days of excellent female wrestling, I really do. It was one move and an elimination, repeat.
Grade: C
