Roman Reigns vs Braun Strowman
Prediction: Strowman
Result: Reigns gets the pin after hitting the spear
Grade: B
Thoughts: That powerslam through the announce table was absolutely incredible. Yeah it wasn’t a mat classic. Yeah it wasn’t technically brilliant. But it was a great showing for how amazingly dominant Braun Strowman can be; even with a bum knee. That’s what I wanted to write. But Roman Reigns won clean. I want to make this clear; I don’t hate Roman. He’s a great wrestler but has been booked horrendously. But seriously WWE? This is what fans are talking about when they hate him- they just took the best ‘Big Guy’ they have had in years who has never been pinned before; he put Reigns through an announce table and constantly dominated him…and Roman hit a spear and won. It’s just…deflating to be honest. But fun nonetheless. Just irritating.
Bayley vs Charlotte- WWE Raw Woman’s Title Match
Prediction: Charlotte
Result: Bayley gets the pin after a Bayley to Bayley
Grade: C+
Thoughts: Quick point; I have literally no idea why being a fan is a bad thing. Surely it helps going into a business you care lots about? Regardless; what a weird finish. Why on earth would you finally get the payoff of Charlottes amazing Pay-Per-View streak…on Fastlane?! An honest surprise that I don’t think anyone saw coming so for that, it’s pretty great it’s just…baffling. The reason the grade is a bit lower is because there were a number of notable botches during the match and the finish made Sasha look really heelish; why on earth would Sasha come out herself when Charlotte is doing everything fair? Baffling as to why they didn’t just give Charlotte the DQ win, turn Sasha and it allows Bayley to keep the belt. Strange but interesting to see the fallout on tomorrow night’s episode of Raw. But Bayley is still champion which is lovely. Let’s hug!!
Kevin Owens vs Goldberg- WWE Universal Title Match- Main Event
Prediction: Goldberg
Result: Goldberg wins via pinfall after hitting spear than jackhammer in 21 seconds
Grade: F
Thoughts: And in just over TWENTY seconds- WWE told every man and woman in the back; every boy or girl wanting to get into the wrestling industry; to every fan watching around the world…**** you. You don’t deserve great talent. You don’t deserve guys and girls who have worked their asses off every single day, night in and night out, working crappy 10 person rooms to silence. Because we have nostalgia. That’s all that matters, right? I voiced earlier in this review that I was worried as to what the filler matches had in store and…now it’s all clear. Yes, Jericho was a distraction. But that doesn’t matter. That’s not why Owens lost. Owens lost because Goldberg is being treated as, literally, the greatest wrestler in the history of our sport. It’s disgusting. Everyone new that it was going to happen but we didn’t actually want to believe it. I, like most of the matches on this card, have no real words for this. I am not excited for Brock vs Goldberg and I truly, truly believe that the match didn’t need the big belt. Surely, SURELY you give Jericho vs Owens the title to make it the biggest match?
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Goldberg has wrestled for a combined 108 seconds since returning and he’s now the Universal Champion. I only have one thing to say; thank you. Thank you WWE for giving us Smackdown Live. Because after that; it’s the only thing that is keeping me happy in wrestling. The worst finish of a match I can remember. Terrible.\
Thank you to @McIverTheMark for the grades! Make sure to follow him on Twitter and let him know what you thought of his grades!