Leighty’s WWE Main Event Review 6.18.26

-Written: 6.18.26
-Source: YouTube
-Run Time: 30:46

-Plug: Last week we had the Main Event Match of the Year between Giulia and Jordynne Grace.

-Then, Now, Forever, Together!

-ICE WATER IN MY VEINS! I CAN’T LOSE!

-Announce Team: Blake Howard and Vic Joseph

Jordynne Grace vs. Kiana James

-This is a rematch from two weeks ago with Grace getting the win. Lockup and Grace powers James against the ropes, but offers a clean break. James complains about a hair pull though. James goes to a side headlock, but Grace breaks easily. She gets arm control and they trade roll-ups. Shoulder tackle from Grace and she plays to the crowd. Knee to the face followed by a bulldog for two. Grace sends James into the corner and hits a World’s Strongest Slam. Vader Bomb misses and James starts stomping away. James with a series of shoulders to the stomach in the corner for a two count. Standing moonsault misses. Grace avoids a clothesline and runs James into the corner and into a back slide which ends up leading to a clothesline. Spinebuster followed by a Jackhammer for two. Grace is rolling right now! James slides out of a slam and hits a Code Breaker! Superkick from James, but Grace hits a backdrop. Spinning back fist, but James go to the eyes and hits the 401 K for the pin at 5:15. I guess we need a third match now.

Winner: Kiana James via pin at 5:15
-This was solid though I assume people won’t be happy that Grace keeps stacking loss after loss. I remember that Bianca was stuck on Main Event for some time and people thought she was wasted. One difference is Bianca never lost when she was on Main Event. Good win for James and an enjoyable match from both women. **

-WWE shop commercial!

-SummerSlam invades Minnesota like a ship full of Vikings of something.

Otis (w/ Akira Tozawa) vs. Harlem Lewis

-Harlem had a match or two on Main Event in the past, but has primarily been on Level Up and now is a staple on Evolve and LFG. They have started softening his character on Evolve with a face turn. He won’t be getting cheered by the fans against Otis. As expected, the crowd starts a loud “Otis” chant. He shoves Lewis down and we start over with a lock-up. Otis offers a clean break in the corner, so Lewis rushes in and gets a waist lock. That won’t work as Otis breaks easily. He runs Lewis down and then rubs his belly. Lewis gets sent head first into the top buckle and then slammed down on his face. Otis misses a charge in the corner and goes shoulder first into the post. Lewis beats Otis down on the floor before sending him back into the ring. He lands a forearm smash and gets a two count. He looks for a whip to the ropes, but Otis blocks and shoves off. Lewis hits a dropkick to the knee and gets a two count. They stare each other down, so Otis slaps Lewis in the face, but Lewis goes back to the knee. Modified chinlock from Lewis, but Otis is too big to keep down. He fights to his feet and they start trading strikes. Samoan Drop from Lewis in a nice display of power. Otis rolls under a clothesline and starts rolling as he runs down Lewis with a series of clotheslines. He hits a slam and tears the shirt. Caterpillar gets the pin at 5:12.

Winner: Otis via pin at 5:12
-This was fine as well. As always the crowd loves Otis. Lewis got some shine and another match on the main roster. That can only benefit him down the line. **

-Club WWE commercial!

-This September it’s Sunday Night’s Main Event. ATL!

-Next week on RAW The Vision vs. The Street Profits. I’d make the title change at this point with how cursed The Vision has been. Also, Paige and Brie defend their Tag Titles against Bayley and Lyra.

Layla Diggs and Kali Armstrong vs. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria

-Layla and Kali were part of Level Up and then moved to Evolve. Kali is a big time prospect as she was Evolve Champion before getting called up to NXT. Layla usually teams with Masyn Holiday, but I think she may be gone from WWE even though she is still appearing on Evolve (they were taped a while ago). They just noted Lyra and Bayley have a Tag Title Match on Monday, so kind of takes any drama out of this one (not that there really was any). Not sure the last time we have a Women’s Tag Match on this show. Layla and Kalia attack as Bayley and Lyra make their entrance and show some great aggression. Cool! No bell yet as Lyra and Bayley fight back. Lya off the ropes with a cross-body onto both women, so they bail to the floor. We settle into a normal tag and get an opening bell. Bayley gets trapped in the corner and Layla stomps her down. Kali tags in and she stomps away as well. Double suplex and a kip up in stereo. Layla with a standing moonsault for a two count. She drops a leg and goes for a cocky cover, but Bayley is out at two. Kali back in and buries a knee to the abdomen. Bayley gets whipped into the corner and Kali hits her with a shoulder tackle and another. Layla back in and hits a Shining Wizard for two. Bayley gets a quick roll-up for two, but can’t get to her corner as Layla cuts her off. Enziguiri from Bayley, but Layla answers with a Pele and both women are down. The crowd is into this one. Tags on both sides, but Lyra is the freshest and runs wild. She gets a step-up enziguiri on Layla and then a two count on Kali. Layla distracyts Lyra which lets Kali hit a spinebuster. It only gets two as Bayley makes the save. Bayley takes Layla to the floor. Kali misses The Kali Connection and spills to the floor. Lyra looks to fly and dives through the ropes for a dropkick, but nobody is there, so she just lands on her and sends Kali back into the ring. Um, someone wasn’t where they were supposed to be obviously. We just got to the finish as Lyra hits Night Wing and Bayley drops the top rope elbow for the pin at 5:13.

Winners: Lyra Valkyria and Bayley via pin at 5:13
-I assume Layla was supposed to be there to take the dropkick through the ropes. This was a decent match up until that wonky ending. No real drama as the NXT kids had no chance, but again, I am all for them getting whatever ring time they can in front of a bigger crowd. **

-Thanks for reading!

6.0

The final score: review Average

The 411

Good crowd with a bunch of solid if unspectacular matches. I liked seeing the NXT/Evolve kids get a chance on this stage so that's a plus. No Main Event BANGERS this week, but still, 30 minutes of solid wrestling will always be okay in my book.