Leighty’s WWE Main Event Review 03.23.23

-Welcome to your weekly dose of WWE Main Event. We are quickly approaching WrestleMania which means new content on Peacock. Tomorrow I will have the newest episode of This is Awesome. Next week they break out a new episode of WWE 24 as it covers last year’s WrestleMania. I believe I will also have Hall of Fame coverage next Friday which will be the 8th year I have covered the event. Somewhere in between I will also have my latest Retro Review of WCW Uncensored 1996. Okay, now to Main Event. Let’s get to it!

-Announce Team: Kevin Patrick and Byron Saxton
-Taped:

Bronson Reed vs. Nathan Frazer

-I know Frazer from NXT Level Up, and I don’t like his chances here. Frazer gets an insert promo and tells us not to blin as we just might miss it. That’s what I am afraid of for the kid! Frazier flies all over the ring and hits a pair of dropkicks, but he can’t stay away long enough as Reed just runs him over. He drops an elbow and lands a headbutt. Frazer takes a cool bump in the corner off a whip as he knows what his job is here. Reed hooks a chinlock and the crowd gets behind Frazer. Reed just slams him back down and poses! Back to a chinlock. Frazer with a jawbreaker, but Reed just knocks him back down. Frazer avoids a backdrop and lands a head kick. He gets a dropkick and throws a running forearm. He tries a rana and fights his way to getting the move. He finally gets Reed off his feet with a springboard dropkick. Standing moonsault gets two! He tries a Phoenix Splash and it misses. Reed with a powerbomb and he comes off the top with The Tsunami for the pin at 4:32.

Winner: Bronson Reed via pin at 4:32
-The crowd reaction to The Tsunami is great as they pop the second he starts heading up top. That move needs to be protected for a long time. Frazer looked good here and I appreciate he didn’t just get squashed. *1/2

-Two weeks ago in Pittsburgh we had a Fatal Five Way to see who would go on to face GUNTHER at WrestleMania. Drew and Sheamus get a simultaneous pin and it’s decided they will face off a week late to determine who faces GUNTHER.

-WWE celebrates Woman’s History Month!

-Hulu Commercials!

-Back to SmackDown as Rhea Ripley and Charlotte get into a brawl. I still don’t think this match deserves to be WrestleMania Main Event.

-Back to SmackDown as Drew vs. Sheamus ends up as a no contest as Imperium hits the ring. Adam Pearce pops up on the screen and makes The Triple Threat for WrestleMania we all expected. Fun match between two HOSS that like beating the crap out of each other.

-Back to SmackDown as Sami Zayn stop Kevin Owens in the parking lot and lets him know that he loves him. KO seemingly leaves, but returns later in the night to save Sami from an attack by The Usos. KO wrecks shop and then gives everyone what they have been waiting for as he hugs Sami to a THUNDEROUS POP. See, this is what needs to Main Event Night One!

-WrestleMania goes Hollywood commercial!

-Hulu Commercials!

-Miz and Maryse do WrestleMania: The Musical. We get a snippet here, but it seems it is available on WWE social media. I will have to check that out as you know Miz will throw everything he has into that.

-Back to RAW as Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn talk out their reunion. The Usos interrupt and the tag match we have been waiting for is finally made. Again, this should close Night One! The Bloodline has been the story in WWE for YEARS and them losing their titles on back to back nights should close the biggest show of the year. They brawl with KO/Sami getting the advantage, but Roman’s arrival is shown on the TRon and The Usos back off.

-Hulu Commercials!

-Edge promo in a dark room with candles. He tells Finn to bring his Demon to meet his Devil. I mean, really if Finn doesn’t bring The Demon out for this match, then when will he?

Charlie Dempsey vs. Shelton Benjamin (w/ MVP and Cedric Alexander)

-Woo! Charlie Dempsey has been killing it on Level Up and I am interested to see what he can do here. For those who aren’t aware, Dempsey is the son of William Regal. Lockup to start and I expect some fun on the mat. Shelton gets a go behind, Dempsey grabs an arm and rolls into an armbar. He gets a one count just to force Shelton to get off his back. Shelton runs Dempsey into the corner and hits an elbow to the jaw which gets two. Dempsey brings his way out and repeats that a few times. Shelton tries to break the bridge, but Dempsey gets a Northern Lights Suplex and sends Shelton to the floor who we can take our commercial break!

-Hulu Commercials!

-Back with them in the ring trading forearms. Shelton gets the advantage so Dempsey lands a headbutt to the ribs. Dempsey unloads with forearms and chops. He avoids a splash in the corner and gets a gut-wrench suplex for two. He wraps up the arm and works that for a bit as the crowd chants for Shelton. Dempsey rolls Shelton with a short-arm scissors. Shelton rolls to his back to get a one count, but Dempsey rolls back to maintain the hold. Shelton lifts Dempsey off the mat, but Dempsey punches the arm and gets a suplex into a bridge. The ref screwed up there as he seemed stunned by what Dempsey did and took a few seconds to make a count. Shelton lands an elbow but then gets caught in a backslide that Dempsey floats over into a pin attempt for two. Shelton back with a sick super kick! The crowd is starting to dig this one! Dempsey throws some uppercuts, but Shelton blocks a whip and hits a running knee in the corner. He connects with Pay Dirt for the pin at 8:00.

Winner: Shelton Benjamin via pin at 8:00
-Fun little match here as Dempsey looked good out there and his style meshed well with Shelton. Kudos to Shelton for letting Dempsey get some shine before putting him away. I want more Dempsey on my screen! **3/4

-Video package on Brock vs. Omos!

-WrestleMania commercial where Drew and The Brawling Brutes do a parody of The 40 Year Old Virgin. Easily. the the best one of the series as I laughed out loud a few times. “Holy Jim Duggan!” I am sure they had fun with that!

-Hulu Commercials!

-Back to RAW as Roman Reigns returns and has the latest war of words with Cody Rhodes. They make sure to include “You started a company and promotion you couldn’t get over in and then you ran away.” I figured someone in the crowd would try an AEW chant, but didn’t happen. Cody tells Reigns he will wake up the day after Mania without his titles and Jey will leave him. Then Jimmy will leave him too. He then starts to play mind games with Solo and notes Heyman will leave and become an advocate again. Roman takes his leave, but Cody gets in one more verbal shot at Solo as he tells him “I knew you weren’t ready.” Solo tries to The Spike, but Cody blocks and Roman pulls Solo away.

-Thanks for reading!

7.0

The final score: review Good

The 411

Good show this week as we are back to the nice groove of NXT vs. WWE! Frazer and Dempsey got to show off and bit and each got a good reaction from the crowd even in defeat. Reed continues to murder people and we continue to tease a Hurt Business reunion. I enjoyed this week!