This episode of Main Event follows a momentous episode of Raw that saw Daniel Bryan "Occupy Raw" and finally get his match against HHH at WrestleMania. The match has the added stipulation that if Bryan wins, he gets a spot in the championship match against Orton and Batista. Expect to see recaps of those events along with the advertised match of Mark Henry taking on Dean Ambrose for the U.S. Title. This is an important match as rumors of the unification of the U.S. and Intercontinental titles heat up. Also on this episode, AJ Lee is expected to defend her Diva's title against Natalya. It seems that WWE is really trying to make Main Event relevant so stay tuned and follow along as I cover this action packed episode of Main Event!
This week's show starts out with Los Matadores taking on Rybaxel. A video plays of Curtis Axel saying he remembers being held by Andre the Giant as a child and that he is going to win the 30 man battle royal at WrestleMania
MATCH: Los Matadores vs. Ryback and Curtis Axel (aka. Rybaxel)
The match starts out with Ryback and Diego locking up. Ryback quickly over powers Diego. Diego fights back with a headlock. Ryback fights out and is unable to get a blow in on the lightning quick Diego. Fernando is tagged in and gets a 1 count on Ryback. Fernando hits a back body splash off the middle rope. Ryback fights back and tags in Axel. Axel powers Fernando into the corner and delivers a chop. Fernando retaliates with a headscissors takedown. Ryback fights back with a huge clothesline for a 2 count. The tag is made to Ryback. Ryback delivers a series of knees to the grounded Fernando. He continues the aggressive offense with a choke on the middle rope followed by a snapmare. Ryback gets another 2 count. He gets Fernando in a headlock. Fernando fights out but is quickly stopped by Ryback. Axel is tagged back in and delivers a back breaker followed by an elbow from the middle turbuckle. Axel gets Fernando in a headlock and follows with a huge knee off the ropes as Fernando attempts to fight out.
The tag is made to Ryback. Ryback hits a huge verticle suplex on Fernando. Fernando fights out of the corner but is stopped again by Ryback. Ryback goes for a big splash but Fernando moves. Axel is tagged in. Diego is tagged in and delivers a huge cross body to Axel. Diego is sent to the corner but fights out with a hurricanrana. Diego hits a front flip off the top rope. Fernando sends Ryback to the outside when he tries to interfere and follows with a slingshot front flip to the outside. Axel is distracted as he kicks El Torito to the outside. Diego rolls up Axel and gets the 3 count.
WINNERS: Los Matadores via Pinfall.
A video backstage plays of AJ and Tamina Snooka making their way to gorilla position.
*Commercial Break*
A video of Big Show knocking out Kane on Monday plays and a match between the two is announced for Friday.
MATCH: AJ Lee vs. Natalya for the Diva's Championship
AJ gets on the mic and says she is "so bored". She opines on how Natalya has yet another shot at her title and that she will prove why she is the longest reigning Diva's champion of all time.
The match starts out with Natalya getting AJ in a headlock and snapping her to the mat. Aj fights out but Natalya locks in another headlock. She sends AJ to the mat with a shoulder block. She roles up AJ Lee but AJ kicks out before the 1 count. She gets AJ in another headlock on the mat. AJ fights out with a stomp to the foot and a kick to the midsection. She gets Natalya in a wristlock. Natalya fights out and gets AJ Lee in a submission hold on her leg. AJ gets to the ropes to break the hold. Natalya rolls up AJ again for a 1 count. Natalya delivers a big scoop slam. She gets AJ in another submission but AJ fights out with a hip toss. Natalya goes for the scoop slam again but AJ grabs the ropes and breaks free. Natalya sends AJ to the outside with a dropkick.
*Commercial Break*
The action returns with AJ getting a 2 count on Natalya. AJ gets on the back of Natalya but is driven to the corner. AJ delivers a big kick and sends Natalya to the mat. She gets a 2 count. Natalya fights back and goes for another scoop slam but AJ Lee reverses into a submission. Natalya tries to power out but AJ falls on her and get the 2 count. AJ follows up with a big right hand to Natalya. She skips around the ring and Natalya uses the opportunity to roll her up for a 2 count. AJ gets Natalya in a headlock but she fights out and follows up with a dropkick to the face of AJ Lee. Natalya delivers a big forearm to the Diva's Champ and the two exchange blows.
AJ Lee delivers a few forceful kick to Natalya in the corner and chokes Natalya with her boot. Natalya fights out with a right hand to the head of AJ. AJ fights back and gets Natalya in a modified sleeper hold. Natalya tries to fight out but AJ changes the hold to a rear choke hold. Natalya fights back with a series of snap suplexes. She delivers a dropkick to the back of AJ's head followed by a sit-down scoop slam for the 2 count. Natalya goes for a sidewalk slam but AJ reverses and locks in the Black Widow. Natalya powers out and goes for the sharpshooter but AJ rolls her up for a 2 count. Natalya fights back and locks in the sharpshooter. AJ goes for the bottom rope but Natalya drags her away. AJ Lee crawls back to the bottom rope and Tamina pushes the rope towards AJ. She grabs the rope and breaks the hold. Tamina distracts Natalya and AJ capitalizes with a big shot from behind. AJ locks in the Black Widow and Natalya taps out.
WINNER: AJ Lee via Submission
A video plays of Santino and Emma's "first date". It is a "romantic" catered dinner backstage complete with plastic cups and styrofoam plates. They toast to Emma's first victory on Raw. Emma says she needs pepper. Santino gets up but the tablecloth is tucked into his pants and he takes the entire table setting with him. Santino slips and hits his head off the table. Emma weeps and says she'll never ask for pepper again
*Commercial Break*
A video plays recapping Daniel Bryan "occupying Raw" with followers of the "Yes Movement". It also shows HHH conceding to Bryan's demands of a match at WrestleMania along with a shot at the title if he wins.
The action returns with Dean Ambrose coming through the crowd with Rollins and Roman Reigns in tow. The commentators note that while the Shield recently had difficulties, they appears united tonight.
*Commercial Break*
MATCH: Dean Ambrose vs. Mark Henry for the U.S. Title
The match starts out with the two men locking up. Mark Henry delivers a knee to the midsection of Ambrose. Ambrose locks up Henry from behind but Henry fights back with a big scoop slam. Ambrose rolls to the outside. Ambrose gets on the apron and Henry tosses him back in the ring. He drives Ambrose to the corner and delivers a big blow sending Ambrose to the mat. Henry whips Ambrose to the corner and he plummets over the top rope to the outside. Mark Henry follows close behind and throws him back in the ring. As Mark Henry is getting back in the ring, Ambrose delivers a dropkick to Henry's left knee, sending him to the outside.
*Commercial Break*
The action returns with Ambrose working on the knee of Mark Henry with a submission hold. Henry's shoulders go down and Ambrose gets a 2 count. Ambrose continues the assault on Henry's knee with a slam to the mat followed by a big right hand off the middle rope. He goes to the opposite corner and executes another right hand from the middle rope. Ambrose locks in a half crab but Henry makes it to the bottom rope to break the hold. Ambrose delivers a series of kicks to the upper body of Henry. He rolls to the outside and gives Henry several chops to the chest. Ambrose covers Henry but is tossed off at 2. He continues to attack the left knee of Henry.
Ambrose goes to the middle rope again but is tossed to the mat by Henry. Henry delivers a few big shots followed by a slam to Ambrose. Henry covers Ambrose but Ambrose gets his foot on the rope to break the count. Henry goes to the outside and flattens Rollins with a right hand. Back in the ring Henry delivers a big boot to Ambrose. He goes to the middle rope but is distracted by Roman Reigns. Ambrose slams Henry to the mat and hits his finisher. He covers Henry for the 3 count.
WINNER: Dean Ambrose via pinfall.
REVIEW
This episode of Main Event saw two title defenses along with a tag-team match. The highlight of the show was definitely the Diva's Championship match. AJ Lee and Natalya are, in my opinion, the two best workers in the Diva's division. Seeing them renew their rivalry is certainly a treat. If anyone deserves to wear the strap besides AJ Lee, it's definitely Natalya. The match was exciting and told a great story. Tamina got involved enough to solidify AJ as a heel but not enough to get her disqualified. Natalya brought her A game and delivered a beating to the Diva's champ but came up short due to the support of Tamina. I'm predicting that Tamina will eventually take the belt from AJ Lee, but as of now AJ's record setting title reign continues.
The U.S. title match was lackluster but not unwatchable. Dean Ambrose put on a good showing but I was a bit disappointed by Henry's performance. If anything, this match helped get things going with a rivalry between Ambrose and Big E given Henry's allegiance to the Intercontinental Champion. I was expecting to see a title change here but apparently WWE has something different up their sleeves.
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