Leighty’s WWE Main Event Review 1.16.25

-Announce Team: Blake Howard and Vic Joseph
-Taped: SAP Center, San Jose, CA

-We start with a video package going on the debut episode of RAW on Netflix!

Kayden Carter and Katana Chance vs. Zoey Stark and Shayna Baszler (w/ Sonya Deville)

-So we have a blue mat in the ring. I assumed we wouldn’t get the black mat promoting Netflix, but I wasn’t expecting the blue mat. Carter runs Shayna into the corner and we get some tandem offense from Carter and Chance. Blind tag to Zoey Stark and blasts Carter with a dropkick. Shayna back in and she gets whipped into Carter in the corner. Running clothesline and PFC plays to the crowd. Shayna ties Carter up and hooks a neck crank. Back to Zoey who distracts the ref and that allows Sonya to get in a slap. Stark with a neck crank. Chance tries to fight out and struggles to her corner, but gets cut off. Stark gets a two count and tags back to Shayna. Carter hits a head kick from her back and the tag is made to Chance. She hits a shotgun dropkick and then a running clothesline in the corner. Carter lands a right hand from the apron and the connect with The Keg Stand, but Stark makes the save. Dropkick from Chance sends her to the floor. Shayna with a small package for two. Carter back with a running boot. Sonya tries to get involved and gets decked by Chance. She heads up and walks over the back of Shayna, and tries a head scissors on Stark. That doesn’t work though as Stark catches her and tosses her onto a knee from Shayna for the pin at 5:57. Cool finish!

Winners: Pure Fusion Collective via pin at 5:57
-Okay match with a cool finish. I’ve always liked Carter and Chance since their Level Up Days, so they are a guilty pleasure for me. **

-Peacock commercials!

-WrestleMania Vegas! Single day tickets go on sale this week! Break out all the money!

-Royal Rumble tickets on sale now! The Biggest Indy Show of All Time!

-Back to SmackDown where Paul Heyman has a conversation in ring with Cody Rhodes. Paul lets Cody know that Roman wants his Title back and is entering The Royal Rumble.

-Later on SmackDown, Cody Rhodes teamed with Jimmy Uso to take on Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu! Kevin Owens gets involved and Cody leaves his partner to go after him. Cody is lucky Randy Savage isn’t his partner or FIVE FINGERS TO THE FACE! The numbers are too great and Jacob gets the pin on Jimmy.

-Cody and KO continue to brawl through the arena and they both end up going through a table.

-Video on Lyra and Dakota as they are the final two left in the Women’s IC Title Tournament.

-Peacock commercials!

-WWE Shop commercial!

-GUNTHER defends The World Title against Jey Uso on Saturday Night’s Main Event!

-Also, Bron Breakker defends his IC Title against Sheamus!

-Back to RAW as Lyra Valkyria becomes the very first Women’s Intercontinental Champion as she gets a hard fought win over Dakota Kai in the final match of the tournament. Good for Lyra! They shake hands after the match.

-Peacock commercials!

-Royal Rumble! Biggest INDY SHOW OF ALL TIME!

-Back to SmackDown as we had a Fatal Four Way Match to determine the first challenger to Tiffany Stratton’s WWE Women’s Championship! Bayley pins Naomi in a match that also included Nia and Bianca Belair.

-Rundown of what is to come on SmackDown though it all happened last night!

Joaquin Wilde vs. Pete Dunne

-Wilde goes for a take down, but Dunne grabs an arm and we get SMALL JOINT MANIPULATION! Dunne slams Wilde down on the back of his head, but Wilde counters a charge in the corner. Dunne uses the ropes to back Wilde up and then lands a cheap shot. Cool! Wilde counters another charge in the corner and gets a head scissors. He sends Dunne to the floor and hits a suicide dive to send us to a break at 2:00.

-Peacock commercials!

-Hulk Hogan Saturday Night’s Main Event commercial!

-Back at 3:40 with Dunne gouging the face and slamming Wilde down. Whip is reversed and Wilde gets an inverted atomic drop. Quebrada is blocked with knees and Dunne lands a kick to the side of the head for two. Dunne back to the arm as he yells about his name to the fans and then stomps the elbow. Wilde avoids a kick and gets a sit-out slam. Wilde with a running forearm and then another. Kick to the gut followed by X-Factor! Superkick! He misses a charge in the corner and Dunne gets a snap German Suplex. They stare each other down and Wilde avoids some strikes. He can’t avoid a shotgun dropkick that nearly took his head off. Nice! Sit-out powerbomb gets two! Heavy strike from Dunne and then he stomps the fingers. Bitter End is countered into a DDT (with a little slip). Wilde up top, but Dunne catches him on the way down with a right hand. Bitter End finishes at 7:40.

Winner: Pete Dunne via pin at 7:40
-Solid match that built nicely. The crowd wasn’t fully into it, but responded to all the big moves. **1/2

-Video package on the Balor/Priest feud!

-Peacock commercials!

-Back to RAW as CM Punk gets interrupted by Seth Rollins, who then gets interrupted by Drew McIntyre. Fun segment to build towards The Royal Rumble with all three men having their own reasons for wanting to win.

-This Monday on RAW: Rollins vs. McIntyre! JBL will be on hand as well! Also, New Days return to action!

-Back to RAW as Damian Priest and Finn Balor went to battle in a STREET FIGHT! A chaotic brawl where they just hit each other hard with weapons. Priest gets the win to blow off the feud for the time being I assume.

-Thanks for reading!

6.5

The final score: review Average

The 411

Two solid matches this week makes for your routine episode of Main Event! I will take that every week.