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411’s WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event XLV Preview
Image Credit: WWE
Hello Folx and welcome to 411’s WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event XLV Previewhausen! We are in New York City, New York, at the World’s Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden, for the 45th Saturday Night’s Main Event! I’ve enjoyed these lately. They are like the old In Your House events; nothing major usually happens. But you get some good matches, and it gives feuds/wrestlers who won’t make it to a PLE a chance to shine.
Speaking of, let’s get into the card. JD McDonagh looks to teach Danhausen a lesson in a No Disqualification match! Paige & Bria Bella defend their WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships against Lainey Reid & Fallon Henley of Fatal Influence! Lyria Valkyria wants to prove Bayley held her back all year! And finally, we have two odd-couple teams when CM Punk & Cody Rhodes take on Gunther and Sami Zayn!
No Disqualification
Danhausen vs. JD McDonagh
Image Credit: WWE
The build to this match has been a bit goofy. It’s still better than feuding over a shampoo commercial, though! I was already leaning towards a Danhausen win here, and with it becoming a No DQ match, I’m firmly on that side. Danhausen already has backup with The Miz and Kit Wilson, and I think it’s time for his giant clone to debut. Though I’m not sure who they are going to have play him, now that Corbin has shown up and Big Cass is getting promo spots.
McDonagh is really being underutilized as the lackey of Dominik Mysterio. Yes, it’s probably what’s keeping him on TV and in a job. But the dude is so good, he deserves to be in the Intercontinental Championship scene. I’m hoping that after Dom finally finds his way into the Main Event, JD can fill his spot in that division. For now, though, he is here to make others look good. And since Danhausen has become an overnight sensation, that’s what he will do here.
JD will bump his ass off and still look good in defeat, since it’s No DQ, and this feud will probably continue until WrestlePalooza.
Winner: Danhausen
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships
Fatal Influence (Lainey Reid & Fallon Henley) vs Paige & Brie Bella
Image Credit: WWE
Paige and Brie have not set the world on fire as champions. Brie was never a good wrestler, and Paige would be better off working with someone who can get the best out of her. Injuries and ring rust have really held her back, and teaming with Brie isn’t helping with either of those. And like AJ Lee, she is severely outpaced by the current roster.
Get her into a feud with someone like Becky Lynch, and I could see her upping her game. My fear is Nikki returns, and we get Nikki & Brie vs Paige and ???. But to get there, the belts have to change hands. And the sooner the better. Reid and Henley are a good option. They are an established team who work well together. They can bring some stability to the division, and it won’t just be putting the titles on a thrown-together team.
I don’t expect the match to be great by any stretch. Hopefully, it’s kept short and sweet, and we get a title switch followed by a heel turn by Brie. And hopefully they can get Jacy Jane the United States or Women’s Championship soon as well.
Winners and new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions: Fatal Influence
Bayley vs Lyra Valkyria
Image Credit: WWE
Valkyria is playing the Larry Zybysko to Bayley’s Bruno Sammartino here, and I am actually pretty psyched for this match. Both women excel in their respective fields. And after a year of working together, I think they are going to put on the match of the night here. I don’t expect them to go all out just yet, because this is just the start of the feud. But I do expect them to tell a great story and take on an emotional ride.
And I expect a vicious beatdown, one that Bayley isn’t prepared for. That will lead to Bayley losing the match, which will set up a rematch (perhaps as an addition to SummerSlam, as there are still plenty of open spots on the card). I’m also curious how long it takes for Lyra’s old friend, Tatum Paxley, to show up. She can play the part of a concerned friend. Trying to get through to Lyra and filling in for an “injured” Bayley.
They could take the feud in a lot of directions, and I’m on board. I like both women and want to see this move Lyra up the card. While also giving Bayley something to really sink her teeth into. Wherever it goes after tonight is up in the air, but as for tonight, I think Lyra gets the win, via Ref Stoppage.
Winner: Lyra Valkyria
CM Punk & Cody Rhodes vs Gunther & Sami Zayn
Image Credit: WWE
I am not a fan of the Odd Couple team gimmick. Punk and Rhodes have a match at SummerSlam, and while for now they are friendly, there is still tension. Gunther and Zayn have a long rivalry and are on opposite ends of the face/heel divide. So, we have two teams that won’t get along in some capacity. We also have the issues of Gunther and Nick Aldis (which I could see being added to SummerSlam, if it’s not Gunther vs Zayn).
I feel like this will be a fun match that will ultimately feel like a house show main event. Which isn’t a bad thing; I think house shows are a lot of fun and while it isn’t as intense, it can still give us a good match. You’ve got four great wrestlers in the ring, and there is heat between all of them for different reasons. Punk beat Gunther for the World Championship last year, and Zayn on Raw for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Rhodes has been feuding with Gunther for months, and Zayn was the one to beat him at Night of Champions. Gunther has a long history with Zay. Zayn was the one to end his historic Intercontinental Championship run. All told, there is a reason for all four men to hate each other. And that will work in the match’s favor, even if it is held back by the Odd Couple gimmick.
Zayn is the odd one out here, because I don’t see how he fits into the SummerSlam card (which is a travesty). So, if we are getting Gunther vs Aldis, I could see Zayn stealing a pin here and maybe finding his way into the Undisputed WWE Championship match at SummerSlam. Or facing Punk on Night/The winner on Night 2. He already has a claim to a rematch, so a pin on Punk would push that further. And since I don’t see any other way to get Zayn on the card (unless he is the Special Guest Referee), I am going with Zayn and Gunther for the win. With Zayn getting the pin on Punk.
