2022’s second Saudi Arabian Premium Live Event is here in Crown Jewel. Main Evented by the Tribal Chief Vs The Influencer Logan Paul. Bayley has another championship match this time in a Last Woman Standing match. Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley have a collision in a rematch from the Royal Rumble. The Usos’ historic championship reign is in jeopardy as they face the Brawling Brutes. All that and so much more.
GOOD Brock Lesnar Vs Bobby Lashley:
Two of the hardest hitters in wrestling start the show. Lashley enters first after an absolute mountain of pyrotechnics. Brock Lesnar follows and this could be a sprint to the finish. Before the match starts Lashley cuts Lesnar’s knee out from under him and he may be injured. He follows with a spear for a near fall, and then another through the barricade as Brock rolls outside. A third spear connects inside the ring and once again Brock kicks out.
Now Lesnar is in control and basically on one leg he is able to take Lashley to Suplex City. Brock gets him up and delivers an F-5 but Bobby kicks out. The pace is off the charts and this match is incredibly physical. He tries for another F-5 but Lashley has it scouted and he clotheslines the Beast outside the ring. Lashley slams him into the ring post, and follows up with his one handed spinebuster in the middle of the ring. He puts him in the Hurt Lock but Brock will not submit.
Then he is nearly out but catches an adrenaline rush and he’s able to get to the turnbuckle. Lesnar kicks backwards and lands on top for the finish a la Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin reversing the Million Dollar Dream. After the match Lashley puts the Hurt Lock in again out of anger.
Summary by Clark Taylor
Results: Brock Lesnar by Pinfall via Hurt Lock Reversal Pin
Clark Taylor and Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
GREAT Damage Control, Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai Vs Alexa Bliss and Asuka – Women’s Tag Team Championship:
Entering first are the challengers in Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai. After the first entrance, Bryon Saxton is interviewing Alexa and Asuka, the Wyatt 6 logo appears on the screen. Alexa is distracted before she finishes saying they are ready to defend the championships. Asuka enters first before Alexa does. Kai and Bliss start the match, they trade counters and roll ups.
Alexa gets multiple roll ups before Dakota stops the flurry with a headbutt. Bliss trips Kai before getting the curb stomps. Kai tags Iyo before Bliss tags in Asuka. After a fast paced exchange, Bliss tagged in and they got a tandem move. Kai is tagged in but both of Damage Control are drop kicked out of the ring.
Asuka was sitting on the middle rope before being hit with a springboard dropkick from Sky. Kai then dropkicks the wedged leg of Asuka. Alexa encourages Asuka to get back in the ring before Damage CTRL stays in control of the match. Bliss gets the hot tag and works on both Damage CTRL. Alexa gets a nice code red on Sky before getting a nearfall.
Dakota and Iyo attempt a superplex but Asuka makes it a tower of doom. Asuka continues to sell the knee having an exchange with Iyo. Bliss fails to connect with Twisted Bliss on Kai before Asuka gets a knee strike on Iyo. Alexa gets a DDT before setting up for a twisted Bliss. Asuka and Iyo are brawling in the ring as the ref is distracted.
Nikki Cross hits a swinging neck breaker on Alexa to allow for Dakota to get the pin. Kai is awarded both championships as coming out of this match the only thing that can be assumed is Nikki and Damage CTRL is a team for War Games.
Summary By Coby G.
Results: Dakota Kai by Pinfall via Swinging Neckbreaker
Clark Taylor and Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.50 Stars
GREAT Karrion Kross with Scarlett Vs Drew McIntyre – Steel Cage Match:
This feud has been as physical as any and tonight it will be settled inside a Steel Cage. Kross enters first with Scarlett by his side. McIntyre makes his entrance and he gets a huge pop. Drew shuts the door himself and the crowd cheers before the match even starts. There is no lock up, as these two big men immediately lay into each other with strikes.
Drew lands the first wrestling move with a back suplex. Kross turns things around and grinds McIntyre’s face against the cage. With multiple momentum changes the crowd is very clearly behind the Scotsman. A flurry of strikes from Drew is followed by a Michinoku driver. This is such a physical match, but the pace is significantly slower than that of the opener.
McIntyre has a very cool suplex spot in the corner but Kross hits a flying knee to halt that momentum. Drew is able to recover and they trade headlocks and sleeper holds, before Kross lands a Saito Suplex. Kross tries to follow with the Kross Hammer but he’s caught with a Future Shock DDT. As McIntyre looks for a Claymore he’s distracted by Scarlett.
This allows Kross to hit the Kross Hammer, and he tries to climb out of the cage. Drew recovers and catches Kross for a superplex off the top of the cage. He tries to escape out of the door, but Scarlett uses Bear Mace to blind Drew. Despite being blinded, McIntyre catches Kross while crawling out of the ring and he hooks up an ankle lock. Kross escapes but he’s met with a Claymore Kick.
With Kross down, Scarlett locks the door on McIntyre. In the end, Drew climbs his way out, and Kross can’t make it out the door in time. This was a fun match that ebbed and flowed throughout. (Summary by Clark Taylor)
Results: Drew McIntyre by Escaping The Cage Via Climbing Over The Top
Clark Taylor and Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.75 Stars
GREAT The OC: Aj Styles, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows Vs Judgment Day: Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio and Finn Balor with Rhea Ripley:
The match starts with Karl and Finn. Finn tags in Priest before Karl tags in the big man Luke Gallows. Styles gets a back breaker on Dominik. The OC start to work on Dominik with Styles getting a brainbuster. Mysterio left the ring but Styles starts to attack Balor. Damian hits a big kick on Karl to give Judgment Day control as they work on Karl in the ring. Anderson gets the spinebuster and the hot tag to Luke Gallows.
Mysterio and Anderson take each other out with clotheslines before they build to the tags of Finn and Aj. Aj gets a hot offense before Finn had a figure four on Aj. Karl breaks it up with a senton as all six guys have an exchange. Mysterio stops the phenomenal forearm with Rhea grabbing Styles and planting him on the apron. Finn gets the shotgun dropkick and the coup de grace.
Summary by Coby
Results: Finn Balor by Pinfall via Coup De Grace
Clark Taylor and Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.50 Stars
GOOD Omos Vs Braun Strowman:
It’s Omos vs. Strowman we know what we are about to get. Omos height is highlighted early and it’s impressive to view them in a staredown. A test of strength starts the match and Omos is all over Braun from the start. Strowman fights back but Omos powerslams him with one arm.
Eventually Braun tries for a Strowman express but he’s caught by a violent bell clap from Omos. He tries for a double chokeslam, but Braun is able to power out. Strowman gets him up for a powerslam and he picks up the win in nearly a reverse squash.
Summary By Clark
Results: Braun Strowman by Pinfall via Powerslam
Clark Taylor and Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.00 Stars
RATING WORD Brawling Brutes Vs The Usos – Undisputed Tag Team Championships:
The Usos’ attempt to walk out of the match but Butch stops them. Jimmy and Jey gain control of Butch with Ridge and Jey getting the hot tag. Ridge gets a double back body drop. Holland starts the ten beats of the bodhran. Jimmy attempts to dive out to Ridge but Ridge hits a clubbing strike to him. Holland hits a swinging side slam.
Butch dodged a catching superplex before hitting a moonsault. Ridge almost gets the victory with a white noise in honor of Sheamus. The Brutes get the roundhouse and powerslam combo before Jimmy breaks up the pin. Jimmy gets the tag as the Usos connect with a super 1D on Butch.
Summary By Coby
Results: Usos By Pinfall via Super 1D
Clark Taylor and Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.00 Stars
AMAZING Bianca Belair Vs Bayley Raw Women’s Championship, Last Woman Standing:
Bianca Belair gets a huge pop from the crowd especially compared to Bayley. The match starts with Bianca displaying her otherworldly athleticism. Belair can out athlete virtually anyone. Bayley grabs a kendo stick but Belair is able to evade the first shot. On the second try, Bayley grabs a steel chair, and once again the athleticism is off the charts as Belair evades Bayley yet again.
Bianca sets up the steps for a major spot, but Bayley is finally able to use her psychological acumen to take advantage. She employs more weaponry to inflict more damage on Bianca, but of course Belair is game. Bianca scores on a suplex on the ramp that leads to the deepest count thus far.
All the way to 7 before Bayley stands up and falls awkwardly off the ramp. She sells a bad knee and then is able to turn things back around. Bayley traps Bianca under the ring steps but Belair is able to make her way out. Belair unloads with kendo stick shots on Bayley and the stick is splintered. Bayley is somehow able to hit a Bayley to Belly, and Belair is flattened.
Bayley then locks Belair in an equipment box but she explodes out of the case. She then hooks up a Lebell lock to nearly win the match which Belair fights out of. Bayley drives a golf cart out to the stage, and eventually she’s caught on top of that cart. Belair then drives the cart with Bayley back to the ringside area.
She hits a powerbomb through the table at ringside and then Bayley is rolled back into the ring to be powerbombed on a pile of chairs. Belair misses on an incredible 450 Splash attempt and somehow she’s able to recover briefly. After a tough fight, Bianca traps Bayley between the ladder and the bottom rope and she picks up the win, in what in my eyes, was by far the match of the night. (Summary by Clark Taylor)
Summary By Clark
Results: Bianca Belair by 10 Count via Wedging Bayley In a Ladder and having the corner hold it closed.
Clark Taylor and Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.25 Stars
Bray Wyatt Promo:
Bray Wyatt is in Saudi Arabia and the entrance is as elaborate as one might expect. The crowd is excited to see Bray Wyatt and he tells them his name. He runs down his family history, and how big of a deal they are. Then he says that it is his mission to be the greatest of all of them in his family.
Bray talks about the mask he was wearing and how it affected his psyche, even going as far to say that it “felt good,” then he says, “He destroyed me.” Obviously referring to The Fiend.
The crowd maybe does, or maybe doesn’t chant for Bray. He finishes by repeating that his name is Bray Wyatt, multiple times before he’s interrupted by Uncle Howdy. This was the slowest promo of the night.
Summary By Clark
MUST WATCH Logan Paul Vs Roman Reigns with Paul Heyman – Undisputed WWE Universal Championship:
Logan Paul enters first on an elevated platform as he is brought down. Holding a bottle of Prime as he goes down to the ring. Roman Reigns enters the ring with Paul Heyman. Roman and Logan lock up with Roman not taking Logan seriously. Logan pushes Roman after another one as the crowd are getting to Roman. Paul and Roman trade wristlock slams.
Logan tried for the big punch but Roman escaped the ring. Roman takes control punching the gut of Logan before hitting him with an elbow, Logan counters a backdrop as Logan starts to punch Roman. Roman gets a shoulder block, Logan gets a hip toss before clotheslining him over the top rope to the ring.
Logan hits a crossbody off of the barricade before hitting a buckshot lariat like clothesline. Roman catches Paul with jab from the springboard. Reigns stomps Logan as he then gets a back suplex. The camera is showing the arena as Roman has a headlock. Getting a jumping clothesline on Paul. Logan moves out of the way in the corner before hitting a gutwrench suplex on Roman.
Paul gets a middle rope blockbuster for a nearfall. Roman gets caught with superman punch before Logan kips up. Logan gets a crossbody and a standing moonsault for another nearfall on Roman. Reigns catches a sweet chin music attempt and hits the uranage for a nearfall. Logan Paul hits the frog splash through the announce table while holding a phone recording the dive.
The Usos come out and attack Big Mike and Logan’s crew before Jake Paul gets the big entrance. Jake knocks both men out before helping set up Roman. Paul hits a second frog splash for a nearfall. Sikoa makes his entrance before Logan hits a gorgeous dive to take both Usos out. Roman got the superman punch and the spear for the victory.
Summary By Coby
Results: Roman Reigns By Pinfall Via Spear
Clark Taylor and Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.50 Stars
Overall…
Overall, this was an entertaining Premium Live Event card from WWE. It was fun to watch in the morning at a weird time for myself, and the matches were loaded with stars. Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley had a slugfest that started with Brock’s leg being taken out by The Almighty. In the end he used a Bret Hart like finish to put Lashley away by pinfall. Damage CTRL reclaimed the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships in an excellent contest against Asuka and Alexa Bliss.
Speaking of Bliss, there was a slight tease of her being involved in the Bray Wyatt Storyline. As far as Bray is concerned, he stuck by the same strategy on his promo tonight and it was entertaining but didn’t do much to advance the narrative. Bayley and Bianca Belair stole the show tonight, in what was one of the most well thought out Last Women, Man, or anybody standing matches I’ve ever seen.
In the main event, the Tribal Chief Roman Reigns, kept his seat at the head of the table, with a human cutting spear, right across Logan Paul’s torso. Beforehand, Logan was able to deliver an absolutely eclectic, likely viral, elbow from the top turnbuckle through the announce table while having a torn meniscus, ACL and MCL! Oh yeah, Omos and Strowman nearly stole the show.
Matches: 0.50/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.75/1 Stars
Atmosphere…: 0.75/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.75/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 1/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 3.75/5 Stars
Photo Credit: (Website)
For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here: