WWE Main Event Report 1/27/16: Owens vs. Swagger, Ryback vs. Rusev‏

by Matt Storm

Following a shocking Royal Rumble that saw Triple H capture his 14th World Championship, we’re off and running on the Road To Wrestlemania. The last stop, Fastlane, is mere weeks away and tonight, several superstars look to hopefully secure their places on the biggest show of the year.

This week, Kevin Owens hopes to follow up his victory over Dolph Ziggler on Raw by vanquishing Jack Swagger while Ryback and Rusev reignite their rivalry from late 2015!

At ringside calling the action are Rich Brennan and Jerry “The King” Lawler

1. Kevin Owens vs. Jack Swagger

There’s a brief feeling out process before Swagger goes for a single leg takedown. He’s able to get ahold of the leg but Owens grabs onto the ropes to keep from going to the canvas. Swagger with a go behind, waistlocks Owens who returns to the ropes, forcing a break.

Swagger is successful on his second attempt of a single leg takedown and twists Owens into an attempted Patriot Lock; unfortunately KO is able to once again get to the ropes. Owens waistlocks Swagger, Swagger reverses and takes him to the mat with a waistlock slam. Swagger maintains his grip, Owens powering to his feet and breaking free with a sharp elbow to the chin.

Owens backs Swagger up against the ropes and tees off with punches to the head. Swagger stumbles into the corner where Owens drills him with a kick tot the midsection, then punches him down onto the mat. Owens brings Swagger to his feet and whips him across the ring, Swagger going chest first into the buckle. Owens punishes the ribs with a battering ram, followed by a clubbing forearm across the back.

Owens sends Swagger into the ropes but the Real American ducks his clothesline and comes off with a chop block. Swagger hits a belly to belly suplex for a nearfall. Owens rolls onto the apron and snaps Swagger’s neck across the top rope when he grabs for him. Owens hilariously places bis hand across his heart and bellows “We’re stupid”to mock the crowd, then hits a senton off the ropes for a nearfall.

Can Swagger get back into it? We’ll find out when we return!

The action picks up with Owens having Swagger seated on the mat and delivering stiff crossfaces. Owens clamps down on a chinlock, Swagger eventually fighting to his feet and spinning out of the hold. Swagger fires off shots to the midsection but Owens shuts him down with a knee to the midsection. Owens whips Swagger looking for a backdrop; Swagger hangs onto the ropes and catches him with a kick to the chest.

Swagger ducks a clothesline and delivers a pair of his own. Swagger catches Owens with a clothesline in the corner, sends him across the ring and follows in with a second one. Swagger hits a short-arm clothesline pulling Owens out of the corner. Swagger sets up for a Swagger Bomb but Owens rolls out onto the floor looking for a breather.

He doesn’t find one as Swagger joins him and takes him down with a flying clothesline. Swagger rolls Owens in and picks up a nearfall with a Swagger Bomb. Swagger rocks Owens with punches in the corner. Owens catches Swagger with a back elbow, then backdrops him over the top rope, Swagger’s head catching the ring steps on the way down. Owens sends Swagger into the ring and quickly delivers a corner cannonball for a nearfall.

Owens wants the Popup Powerbomb but Swagger counters it with a body scissors turned into the Patriot Lock. Owens nearly taps but manages to kick Swagger away. Owens ducks a clothesline but his waistlock is reversed, Swagger hitting a German Suplex for a nearfall.

Owens gets a boot up when Swagger goes for a second Swagger Bomb and follows with a German Suplex of his own. Owens hits a Superkick for a nearfall. Owens makes a second attempt at the Popup Powerbomb, Swagger again hooking onto the ropes to avoid it. Swagger surprises Owens with a roll up for a good nearfall. Swagger charges Owens and winds up posting himself when KO sidesteps him. Owens finally hits the Popup Powerbomb for the pinfall.

Winner: Kevin Owens

Anaylsis: Really strong opener that could have easily been on Raw or Smackdown no problem. Owens is one of the most complete wrestlers on the roster; he carries himself with the perfect blend of confidence and, pun not intended, swagger that’s missing from most villains. It will be most interesting to see where he goes from here; he lost the feud over the IC Title to Ambrose but has been the subject of potential major matches at Wrestlemania. As for Swagger, another great outing. It’s just clear that they don’t have immediate plans for him so he’ll remain a utility guy they know will get a reaction and have a good match.

We’re shown recap of The Rock’s return to Raw, the spotlight placed on his interaction with New Day and joining The Usos to dispatch the reigning Tag Team Champions.

After it concludes, The Ascension are already in the ring. The Dudleys are out next for our second contest.

2. The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray& D-Von) vs. The Ascension (Konnor& Viktor)

Eager to pick up their first win of 2016, Ascension get the jump on the Dudleyz as soon as the bell rings. Viktor rams D-Von into the top turnbuckle while Konnor puts the boots to Bubba.

Viktor lands a chop then an uppercut to D-Von, then chokes him across the top rope. D-Von fires back with shots to the gut but gets caught with a knee to the midsection. Viktor pushes D-Von into the ropes, D-Von coming back with a flying shoulder tackle. Viktor lunges at D-Von but missed badly and Bubba gets the tag in. Bubba delivers a pair of clotheslines. Bubba sends VIktor in the corner, following in with a splash. Bubba clotheslines Konnor off the apron and jabs away at Viktor. The Bionic Elbow follows.

Bubba slams Viktor and calls for D-Von to head up top. But before Wazzup can be executed, Konnor is there to knock him off balance and crotch himself on the turnbuckle. Viktor hits an STO on Bubba for a nearfall. Konnor gets the tag and drills Bubba with a right hand as he’s held by Viktor. More punches after landed after Bubba’s pulled to his feet and he’s sent hard into the turnbuckles.

Viktor tags himself in as Konnor comes off the ropes, Konnor delivering a flying elbow to Bubba’s back. Viktor withstands shots to the midsection and answers with a left hook and an uppercut. He brings Bubba into the center of the ring and unloads with a forearm smash, a boot to the midsection, and a palm strike. Bubba catches Viktor coming off the ropes with a sidewalk slam. Both men are down, crawling to their respective corners. D-Von and Konnor eventually receive simultaneous tags and go to work.

D-Von ducks a clothesline, hits a flying shoulder tackle off the ropes. He hits a second one, ducks a right hand, and hits a neckbreaker off the ropes. D-Von connects with a flying headbutt. Konnor’s whipped into the corner, D-Von following in with a splash. D-Von gets a nearfall with a flying clothesline.

Konnor sends D-Von into the ropes where Bubba makes a blind tag. Konnor ducks his head for a backdrop but eats a kick to the chest instead. Dudleyz hit 2D. Viktor is in and gets quickly dispatched by Bubba’s big boot. Dudleyz deliver 3D on Konnor and Bubba makes the cover for the pinfall.

Winners: The Dudley Boyz

Anaylsis: Good match with a familiar formula. I was happy to see D-Von get the late match hot tag to at least switch things up a little bit. I hope The Dudleyz find themselves in a prominent spot come Wrestlemania since it’s already been established they’ll be celebrating 15 years as a team by then. Ascension can at least bank on filling a spot in the Andre Memorial if it returns for a third year.

Backstage:

Jojo welcomes in Rusev and Lana . Rusev is quite annoyed when Jojo asks how he’ll be affected by being put through a table on Raw in his match against Ryback next. “Affect me? Does it look like it I’m affected?” he menacingly and rhetorically asks her. Lana chimes in that nothing affects Rusev. Rusev states he’s a super athlete, he breaks things He speaks Bulgarian describing what awaits The Ryback when they step in the ring; Lana is right there with the translation: “Rusev Crush”

Video recap airs of The McMahons and Triple H celebrating getting the WWE World Heavyweight Championship off Roman Reigns. Reigns&Dean Ambrose defeating Rusev and Sheamus in the main event is then shown ending with The Authority making Reigns vs. Lesnar vs.Ambrose for Fastlane. Winner challenges Triple H for the title at Wrestlemania.

Back in the arena Rusev and Lana make their entrance. Our feature match is up next.

We go to commercial.

Back from the break, Ryback is introduced.

3. Rusev (w/Lana) vs. Ryback

The initial lockup ends in a stalemate as the big men tussle like bulls. Off the second lockup, Ryback backs Rusev up against the ropes. Rusev thumbs Ryback in the eyes as the referee moves him back, then delivers a right hand. Rusev knocks Ryback off his feet with clubs to the back.

Rusev rams Ryback into the top turnbuckle, lays in vicious body shots as a follow up. Ryback stuns Rusev with punches that take him into the other corner. Rusev reverses an Irish Whip and sends Ryback across the ring; Ryback tries to go up& over but Rusev hits the ropes to avoid him. Rusev misses a clothesline and hits a crossbody for a 1 count.

Ryback takes Rusev onto the mat with a side headlock takeover. Rusev leverages Ryback’s shoulders onto the mat for a 1 count, then eventually fights up and pushes Ryback into the ropes. Ryback comes off with a shoulder tackle and hits the ropes a second time. Rusev leapfrogs him but gets tossed into the ropes when he ducks his head for a backdrop. Ryback connects with a Thez Press and bounces the back of Rusev’s head off the canvas.

Ryback hits a splash off the ropes for a nearfall. Rusev rolls to the floor where Ryback joins him. Rusev catches The Big Guy charging in with a superkick then whips him into the stairs.

We go to commercial as Ryback writhes in pain.

When we return, Rusev has sent Ryback into the corner then delivers a backdrop. Rusev hits a flying headbutt off the ropes for a nearfall. Rusev keeps Ryback trapped on the mat with a reverse bear hug.

Ryback begins to stir but is shut down by Rusev jumping onto his arm. Rusev slams the wrist into mat and delivers a stiff kick to the back. Rusev flings Ryback across the ring out of a side headlock position. Rusev drops a leg across the arm, covering for a count of one. Ryback fights out of an arm bar, breaking free left hands to the face. Rusev won’t allow him to get into a groove though, burying a knee to the midsection. Both men hit the ropes and take each other down via double clotheslines.

Rusev goes onto the apron, Ryback attempting to knock him off with punches. Rusev hangs on, snaps Ryback’s throat across the top rope. He tries to suplex Ryback from the ring onto the floor but it’s blocked. They go back&forth blocking suplexes until Ryback finally brings Rusev back into the ring with one.

Ryback catches Rusev in the corner with a flying knee to the jaw and impressively follows with a missile dropkick from the middle rope. Rusev backdrops out of a powerbomb and turns to Lana for instruction; she balls her fist and calls for him to “CRUSH”. Ryback catches Rusev charging in and goes for a powerslam but Rusev slips out and hits a spin kick for a nearfall.

Rusev splashes Ryback in the corner . He goes to whip Ryback across the ring but it’s reversed into an attempted Shell Shock. When Rusev starts to escape, Ryback swings him onto his back and delivers a Backpack Stunner for a nearfall. Ryback signals for a Meathook Clothesline but gets met with a superkick. Ryback somehow manages to stay on his feet and responds with the Meathook on the second attempt, good for a nearfall.

Both men are down, the referee’s count reaching 6. Ryback is up first and they stand toe to toe exchanging punches right out of a UFC fight. Ryback boots Rusev, tries for Shell Shock but Rusev escapes and pushes Ryback into the ropes; he nearly crashes into Lana who had jumped onto the apron. Out of the referee’s vision, she slaps him and Rusev rolls him up for a nearfall.Ryback blocks a kick and hits a superkick for a nearfall. Ryback grabs Rusev and lifts him for a third attempt at Shell Shock but Rusev grabs onto the top rope and slips out.

Ryback charges in and gets dumped onto the apron. He catches Rusev with a punch and comes off the top rope; he manages to land on his feet in spite of Rusev moving out of the way. Rusev catches Ryback with a superkick as he goes for another Meathook. Rusev immediately locks in The Accolade. After a few minutes, the referee signals for the bell as Ryback’s passed out from the pain.

Winner: Rusev

Post-Match:

The Bulgarian flags drops from the ceiling,Rusev’s face front and center. We fade to black as Rusev and Lana stand victorious.

Analysis: Great main event!! Another match that would have been well received had it been on Raw or Smackdown. It was the perfect blend of high impact offense and athleticism you wouldn’t expect from men of this size. Ryback in particular has really come a long way and deserves ample credit for stepping up his game. Rusev is in an interesting position; he’s still presented as something of a monster and could receive a high profile Mania match due to the severe injury bug that has bitten the company. He’d deserve it in my opinion.

Final Thoughts:

One of the best editions of Main Event I’ve seen in recent months. A true shame it couldn’t have aired live on the Network for a broader audience. I highly recommend checking out Owens vs. Swagger and Rusev vs.Ryback; both absolutely deliver on the action. The Dudleyz vs. The Ascension wasn’t bad by any means but there wasn’t too much variation from their previous encounters.

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