Csonka’s WWE MITB Review 6.19.16

Csonka’s WWE MITB Review 6.19.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– The Golden Truth defeated FaBreeze @ 5:05 via pin [THE DIRT FUCKING WORST]
– The Lucha Dragons defeated The Dudley Boyz @ via pin [**]
– Fatal 4 Way WWE Tag Team Title Match: Champions The New Day defeated Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, The Vaudevillains and Enzo and Cass @ 11:50 via pin [**¾]
– Baron Corbin defeated Dolph Ziggler @ 12:25 via pin [**¾]
– Charlotte and Dana Brooke defeated Natalya and Becky Lynch @ 7:00 via pin [*¾]
– Apollo Crews defeated Sheamus @ 8:45 via pin [**½]
– AJ Styles defeated John Cena @ 24:12 via pin [****¼]
– Money In the Bank Ladder Match: Dean Ambrose defeated Sami Zayn, Cesaro, Chris Jericho, Kevin Owens and Alberto Del Rio @ 21:30 [****]
– WWE United States Title Match: Champion Rusev defeated Titus O’Neil @ 8:13 via submission [*½]
– WWE World Heavyweight Title Match: Seth Rollins defeated Champion Roman Reigns @ 25:58 via pin [***¾]
– WWE World Heavyweight Title Match: Dean Ambrose defeated Champion Seth Rollins @ 0:09 via pin [NR]

---

The Golden Truth vs. FaBreeze: So they did a skit, where Fabreeze got severely sunburned. They were all red and had makeup on to make it appear that they were peeling, ensuring comedy. Golden Truth worked them over with chops. This was completely stupid, and the dirt fucking worst. I am all for giving undercard acts angles so that their matches mean something, but not stupid shit like this. I am sorry, when your working a match around gimmicked sunburn, you lose me. Keep in mind, Golden Truth is such a shit team that they can only win when their opponents are idiots and get severe sunburn. I guess Truth channeled his superpowers; he is the suntanned Superman after all.

The Lucha Dragons vs. The Dudley Boyz: Bubba doing a lucha roll in the opening moments already made this better than whatever they attempted to do in the previous match. The Dragons used their speed early, sending the Dudleyz to the floor and then scoring with stereo dives. They looked to have control, but when the action went back into the ring, they crotched the Dragons and we got a commercial break. Post break, the Dudleyz worked the heat on Sin Cara. We got a solid heat by the Dudleyz, but still a good bit of Bubba yelling and slowly hitting his opponent. Kalisto finally got the hot tag, he ran wild on Devon until Bubba got involved. The Dudleyz then ht the doomsday device, and got a near fall as Cara made the save. He got sent to the floor, Kalisto then sent Devon to the floor and hit Salida del sol on Bubba. Cara got the tag during that and hit the senton for the win. This was an overall fine match, with a fun closing and the right team winning. It felt a million times better than the previous match.

Fatal 4 Way WWE Tag Team Title Match: Champions The New Day vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson vs. The Vaudevillains vs. Enzo and Cass: Enzo and Cass were out to get the crowd going, and cut a promo for the tag title match. The Vaudevillains have some lovely new jackets, is that crushed velvet? It looks like crushed velvet. The Club has dropped the mostly white gear, switching to mostly black with some blue. New Day also got their promo time, running down the challengers and claiming to be the “ELITE” team in wrestling, a little shout out to Omega and the Bucks. Nice opening, with Kofi and Enzo fighting off the Club, hitting high crosses and then working a fun little back and forth. We then got a Big E and Cass face off, but English tagged himself in and got worked over buy Big E, leading to a near fall and everyone in and brawling. It boiled down to Enzo and Cass vs. New Day, and they brawled. Good energy so far and the crowd is into the match. The Vaudevillains took the heat on Kofi for a bit, and then Anderson tagged in, and they did a double down. Enzo and English in, Enzo ran wild but Gallows pulled own the ropes and Enzo crashed to the floor. They are running through tags quickly here, with Cass getting a hot tag and sending bodies to the floor. He then threw Enzo to the floor onto the pile of bodies. Rocket launcher to Anderson but Gallows made the save. Cass got posted, Kofi blind tagged in and blew trouble in paradise and the Vaudevillains hit the dervish on Kofi but Anderson made the save. Big E nearly killed himself on the spear through the ropes spot as Kofi took out English with a DDT. Big E tagged back in, Anderson blind tagged in and took out Big E. Magic killer on English and Big E made the save, Gallows stood there forever before Cass took him out, and New Day hit the double big ending to retain. The ending felt very off, a bit too chaotic and not nearly as smooth as they had hoped. I have no idea what Gallows was even doing there. It was a pretty good match overall, but the ending especially held it back from being better than it was.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin: Commentary reminds us that they have been feuding since the night after Mania. Ziggler tried to use his amateur wrestling and speed early, but Corbin cut him off with punches and beat him down. Ziggler tried to battle back, but Corbin cut him off with a clothesline for 2. Corbin kept control, constantly cutting off Ziggler with basic ground and pound any time Ziggler fired up. At about four-minutes in, the crowd was chanting boring at Corbin’s heat segment. Ziggler finally started to put some offense together, hitting clotheslines and a neck breaker; the elbow drop connected, and Ziggler covered for 2. Corbin took control back for a bit, but posted himself and Ziggler hit the fameasser for a near fall. Ziggler set for the superkick, missed as Corbin bailed to the floor. Corbin then hit deep six on the floor as Ziggler stumbled off the steps. They did a countout tease, Corbin hit a right and then Ziggler countered end of days and hit the superkick for a near fall. Ziggler went up top, Corbin cut him off and followed him up. Ziggler fought him off and head butted him to the mat and then Corbin managed to knock him off the top. End of days finished it. Ziggler sells Corbin’s offense well, and this was their best match so far, but it was far from great. I think that they would have benefited from trimming a minute or three, as it felt a little long at the end and the crowd got bored in the middle. Hopefully both can move on, because I have certainly seen enough of this feud. I just do not care at this point, because they have done nothing to make me care.

Charlotte and Dana Brooke vs. Natalya and Becky Lynch: 15-seconds in and the crowd was chanting for Sasha. Natalya and Dana started, it was a bit rough. Natalya and Becky then hit the Hart attack on Charlotte, and then sent Dana to the floor and celebrated. Dana eventually distracted Natalya, allowing she and Charlotte to take the heat. Charlotte sent Becky to the floor, keeping the heat and also allowing Dana to get in some cheap shots. Natalya fought back as Charlotte tried to post herself, and then she rushed back in and stopped the tag for a moment, but Natalya got the tag anyway. Becky worked over Charlotte, sent Dana into her and then hit the Xploder for a near fall as Dana made the save. This feels really clunky. Dana tried to help Charlotte, but Becky hit a missile dropkick to both for a near fall. Natalya tagged in, went for the sharp shooter, but Dana made the save. It broke down, and again felt clunky as Dana slammed Becky into Natalya. Natural selection from Charlotte and she pins Natalya. The match felt rushed, and really rough at times. Post match, Natalya turns heel on Becky and beats her down. Poor Becky has no friends, but you have to love how she sells the emotion of the loss and turn. With all of Natalya’s losses and the upcoming brand split, I can buy the turn here.

Sheamus vs. Apollo Crews: Sheamus was all fired up and attacked before the bell. They were then so angry, due to their backstage attacks, that they worked a vicious series of side headlocks and shoulder blocks. The energy was right to start, but then breaking down into grappling felt odd. Crews got a little run, but Sheamus hit the back breaker on the floor and took over. Sheamus worked the chinlock to ground Crews, Crews tried to fight back but Sheamus clubbed him back to the mat. Crews tried to pick up the pace, but ran into the Finlay roll for a near fall. Right back to the chinlock by Sheamus. Crews finally hit the jawbreaker and slowly put a comeback together with rights and clotheslines. Nice comeback by Crews, using his speed and athletic ability to run around Sheamus and then hit an overhead belly to belly to the floor. He then hit a moonsault off of the apron onto the floor. They are trying really hard, but this crowd is not responding. Back in the ring they went back and forth until Sheamus cut off Crews as he was up top. Sheamus followed and hit the air raid crash off the second rope and that got a near fall. Sheamus was shocked at this, and Crews cradled him as he argued with the ref to pick up the victory. These two guys worked really hard, but the crowd was not invested in any way. The TV to get here hasn’t been particularly interesting, and Crews comes off as just a guy with no real personality, so why would people get behind him? I say that as a big fan of the guy. Also, if you intend to build up the guy (I get that this is the first match for them), these sort of fluky/slip on a banana peel victories do not do that, at all. Like a lot of the show, this felt solid/pretty good, but it could have been more if the crowd cared.

John Cena vs. AJ Styles: Awesome atmosphere from the crowd here. The early story was Styles out wrestling Cena, and even running some circles around him as promised. Cena then came back with arm drags and a monkey flip, showing Styles that he could wrestle. Styles they lit him up with forearm strikes and chops. Cena started to fight back, they spilled to the floor and Styles again used his speed to frustrate Cena. They’re telling a good story early, with Styles seemingly having Cena’s number and staying one step ahead due to speed and skill. Cena finally hit a high backdrop to slow Styles down. Cena then looked to run through his trademark stuff, but Styles cut him off with the dropkick. Styles then grounded Cena with the chinlock, Cena managed to power out and then hit the shoulder tackles. But Styles again cut him off, this time with an enziguri, not allowing Cena to mount momentum and run through his usual stuff. Cena finally hit the promo bomb as Styles missed the corner splash, Styles countered the five-knuckle shuffle with a head scissors and sent Cena to the floor. The slingshot plancha followed, but when Styles went for the suicide dive, Cena sidestepped and Styles crashed to the floor. Back in the ring Styles escaped the AA, hit a series of strikes but Cena scored with the STF. Styles managed to get the ropes, frustrating Cena. Styles took Cena down and headed up top but Cena cut him off, looked for the superplex but Styles slipped out and pulled Cena to the buckles. Styles charged, and Cena sent him onto the ropes, where Styles landed badly. Cena set him up top and looked for a super AA, Styles fought him off but as he went for the springboard, Cena caught him and went for the AA, but Styles rolled into the calf killer. Cena got the ropes, but it got a great reaction, which is why Styles using it recently was such a good call. Styles laid in some leg kicks, breaking Cena down, but Cena then decapitated him with the lariat. Cena went for the AA, Styles fought but Cena hit it for a great near fall. Cena slowly headed up top, selling the leg, Styles countered the fameasser into the powerbomb and both men were down. Styles slowly covered for a near fall. They traded strikes, PELE by Styles and he then went for the clash and hit it, but Cena kicked out! The crowd loves this, and have been into it the whole time. Cena managed to get the knees up on the springboard 450, went for the AA but Styles out, missed the PELE and then kicked Cena away on the STF try. We then got a ref bump as Cena hit an AA, and Cena got the phantom pin. UGH. Doc and Karl arrived and hit the magic killer on Cena, placed Styles on top and ran as the ref counted the three. We all saw the run in finish coming a mile away, and they unfortunately did it. That will be the excuse for the rematch, because Cena will claim Styles was a bitch in the end when he signed on to have a one on one match (even though they did it to where it came off as if Styles didn’t know). The good news? That was an awesome match with a tremendous story and a super hot crowd that reacted to everything they did, and we will get the rematch, which I am looking forward too.

Money In the Bank Ladder Match: Sami Zayn vs. Cesaro vs. Chris Jericho vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens vs. Alberto Del Rio: We got the big brawl to begin, Del Rio and Cesaro did dome back and forth and then Cesaro hit the cannonball onto Jericho, who was holding a ladder. Zayn picked up the strike with a big dive onto everyone, and then he and Owens battled over the ladder, Owens laid him out with a superkick. Back in the ring, Jericho worked over Cesaro with the ladder and then Ambrose attacked and slammed Jericho onto the ladder. Jericho battled back and suplexed Ambrose onto the ladder, trapped him inside and repeatedly slammed the ladder onto him. Cesaro returned and hit the running uppercuts onto everyone but Owens, who laid out Cesaro with the superkick and tossed him into a ladder. Owens then ht cannonballs onto the rest, and Zayn returned and took out Owens and hit the helluva to Ambrose and Owens. Zayn climbed, but Del Rio stopped him and hit the superkick and placed him in the tree of WHOA. He then set up the ladder, trapping Zayn in the corner and then dropkicked it into Zayn. Del Rio then set Cesaro in the corner on the ladder and hit the double stomp. Jericho tried to stop Del Rio, but Del Rio hit another double stomp onto him and climbed. Cesaro tried to stop him, but Del Rio got a hanging arm breaker on the ladder to Cesaro. They’re working on some nice stuff here, a lot of fresh spots, which is hard to do in this match. Jericho returned and ran up the ladder, Ambrose stopped him but Jericho hit the code breaker. As Jericho tried to get the case, Zayn returned and climbed; Owens toppled them off the ladder and climbed, but ate the back stabber from Del Rio. Cesaro returned, big swing on Del Rio, and then one for Jericho, swinging him into a ladder. Cesaro set up a ladder in a corner, Ambrose took him out and climbed to hit the big elbow drop onto Cesaro. Owens then placed Ambrose onto a ladder and hit a huge frog splash. Owens was then alone and looked to climb, but Zayn returned for the big brawl. Zayn then bent Owens in half with a Michinoku driver on a ladder that was set on its side. Zayn then climbed as the crowd sang for him, but Del Rio hit him with a ladder repeatedly to stop his climb. Del Rio then made a ladder bridge between the ladder and corner, he and Zayn battled on the ladder and Jericho then returned. Cesaro was also back with another ladder and hit Jericho and Cesaro made a bridge on the other side. Owens and Ambrose also returned and they were all on the ladders. Big time brawl here, Del Rio and Cesaro down and then the remaining four all looked to grab the case and Cesaro set up another ladder beside them. He and Del Rio climbed and all six were looking for the case, Cesaro and Del Rio were toppled over and Cesaro crotched himself and Del Rio took a bad landing. Zayn and Owens were then left and Owens got crotched on the ladder, Zayn climbed but Jericho returned and took Zayn down. Ambrose tried to stop him, pulled him down and hit a hangman’s dirty deeds. Zayn climbed again but Owens stopped him and powerbombed him onto the ladder. Owens rolled him off and climbed, he and Ambrose battled and Ambrose slammed Owens into the ladder and sent him off onto the bridge. Ambrose then grabbed the case and won! Del Rio was reportedly helped to the back, it looks like a possible knee injury. I really thought that they were teasing Ambrose as the favorite too hard over the recent TV, so much so that he wouldn’t win because they do that a lot. But they pulled the trigger, which plays well off of the angle they ran on Raw where Ambrose teased winning and cashing in. This was a very good match, especially following Cena and Styles, which had such a hot crowd. They kept the crowd, all worked hard, worked in some innovative spots and provided a really fun and high quality ladder match. The show really needed these last two matches.

WWE United States Title Match: Champion Rusev vs. Titus O’Neil: Rusev went to the floor to mock O’Neil’s kids, which led to them doing a double clothesline and double down on the floor in the first 30-seconds. They brawled on the floor, O’Neil slammed Rusev to the barricade and then tossed him into the ring, but Rusev rolled right back out. Rusev slammed O’Neil to the steps, and they did a count out tease. Back in the ring, Rusev beat down O’Neil in the corner for a bit and hit a spin kick for a near fall. Rusev then worked the heat, grounding O’Neil with a chinlock and yelling at O’Neil’s kids to watch. O’Neil made a comeback, clothesline and shoulder blocks but Rusev cut him off again. Rusev then missed a charge and posted himself, O’Neil hit a slam and covered for 2. O’Neil hit the corner splash, big boot and spinebuster for a near fall that no one bought. Rusev then looked for the accolade, O’Neil escaped before he could get it and hit a pump handle slam for 2. They again went to the floor, O’Neil sent Rusev to the steps and rolled Rusev back in but ate the high kick and then the leaping superkick. Rusev crush, accolade, O’Neil tries to fight but taps in front of his kids on father’s day. I know that some will say that they were in a tough spot, but the build has been really poor and people didn’t care before the PPV, so they surely wouldn’t care here, which they didn’t. They tried to work a really hard hitting and physical match, but O’Neil is really limited and it just never got going for me. Post match, Rusev cut a promo in front of O’Neil’s kids and called him a loser before wishing everyone a happy father’s day. Rusev is great.

WWE World Heavyweight Title Match: Champion Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins: The match started at 10:54 PM ET, WWE reportedly told PPV providers that the show would go long. With an hour pre-show, these shows really do not need to go long. Rollins used his speed early and looked to out wrestle Reigns. Reigns answered with shoulder tackles, but then ran into a dropkick and running knee, sending Reigns to the floor. Rollins followed with the suicide dive. Rollins tried to pick up the pace, but Reigns hit the Samoan drop and the laid the boots to Rollins. He hit the repeated clotheslines in the corner and then a powerslam for 2. Reigns then shoved Rollins around, asking of he was sure he was ready and Rollins slapped him so Reigns attacked with strikes in the corner. Slaps and kicks by Rollins, which angered Reigns and he sent Rollins to the floor. They brawled on the floor, as Reigns sent Rollins over an announce table. Reigns then started to dismantle a table as Rollins rolled back into the ring, and then back to the floor as Reigns chased. Rollins finally managed to slam Reigns to the steps. Back into the ring and Reigns hit the Razor’s edge into a sit out powerbomb for a near fall. Rollins countered the Superman punch, sending Reigns to the corner and then hit an Enziguri. Rollins then hit a suicide dive and then a big plancha to take control of things. Back in the ring, Rollins hit sling blade for a near fall. Rollins missed the springboard, but looked for the pedigree but Reigns escaped and hit he Superman punch for a near fall. Reigns set for the spear, but ate the knee and Rollins hit the kick and springboard knee strike. Rollins then hit the high fly flow and that got 2. Rollins again went up top, but Reigns cut him off and delivered head butts. They battled up top, and Rollins slipped out and hit the buckle bomb and superkick for another near fall. Rollins fired away with running forearms, set Reigns up top and followed. Reigns shoved him off and Rollins went back up and shoved off again. Rollins then ran back p top and hit the superplex and rolled into the falcon arrow (HE DID THE DEAL) for a near fall! Rollins again went for the pedigree, Reigns fought it and got a roll up into the single arm powerbomb for a near fall. They then went face to face and traded strikes from their knees. They continued to go back and forth, Rollins went for another buckle bomb and got it but Reigns rebounded out with the Superman punch and covered for 2. Rollins bailed to the floor, Reigns followed and charged with the spear and MISSED and went into the barricade. Refs and a trainer check on Reigns, but Rollins rolled him back in and then we got a ref bump. Spear by Reigns, delayed count and he only gets 2 due to the ref bump. Rollins then cantered the spear right into the pedigree for a great near fall, which was cool. Rollins then hit another pedigree, and covered for the win. In a way it’s such an odd match, Rollins returns and feels like a face, they have that special which portrays him as a face, but they make him a heel on TV. Reigns is of course “WWE’s face,” but the fans react to him like a heel. So then they have Seth work mostly babyface here. What an odd dichotomy. This was a very strong match overall, as far as the work goes; the crowd was a bit flat early and I do feel that they went too long

– And here comes Dean Ambrose. He attacks from behind and lays out Rollins with the briefcase. He cashes in!

WWE World Heavyweight Title Match: Champion Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose: Dirty deeds. 1…2..3. After all of the false starts, they finally pulled the trigger on Ambrose. I guess if you’re going to do an overrun on PPV, that’s the way to do it. All three members of the Shield are not only WWE champions, but they all held the title on the same night. Ambrose has been too much of a clown, and I hope that this is a real change in direction for his character. Also, I am also happy that they did MITB and it is already over, because now they won’t have the crutch looking forward.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.0

The final score: review Good

The 411

The PPV was a bit too long in the tooth, we didn’t need the extra matches and a few of the matches would have been better off a little shorter. Also, it felt like there was too much filler at times. But overall I’d call the show a good one, Styles vs. Cena and MITB were great, Rollins vs. Reigns was strong and they finally pulled the trigger on Ambrose, making this a newsworthy PPV event. I just hope that the follow up can deliver, because while not a perfect show, there is certainly things to build on here.