The previous WWE event in Manchester was in November 2021 where we saw three title fights.
While the classic introduction music plays, WWE Women’s Champion, Bianca Flair, comes out in her flashy outfit to defend her title in an unexpected championship match. She took on Iyo Sky with the boos circling the arena when she came out, we knew who the crowd was with on this one.
The match started back and forth with Iyo Sky taunting the crowd a few times until Bailey and Dakota Sky interfered causing a disqualification.
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In an unexpected turn of events, Asuka then came to the aid of Bianca turning the match into a 3 on 2 handicap match. The match was back and forth with Bianca Flair hitting her finishing move, the KOD to win the match.
The next match was between Baron Corbin and Rick Boogs. It was hard determining who the crowd wanted to win with cheers and boos for both competitors. Both wrestlers gave an extremely good show with Corbin attempting to rile up the crowd leaving him distracted to a Rick Boogs power slam for him to win via pin-fall.
Next came out of the most exciting wrestlers in the WWE. Dominik Mysterio, son of Rey Mysterio came out with Damian Priest challenging any of the WWE roster to a fight leaving the crowd in nervousness on who will accept the challenge.
‘I’M HERE TO SHOW THE WORLD’ echoed throughout the arena with Dolph Ziggler accepting the match turning into a one versus one with Damian Prince lurking outside the ring.
While Dominick and Dolph battled it out, Damian Priest interrupted the referee a few times and got in an attack on Dolph Ziggler. The distractions prove too much for Dolph Ziggler with Priest distracting the referee once more for Dominick Mysterio to come and steal the win in an impressive match.
Next up was the tag team match of Maximum Male Models vs Alpha Academy and from the start, it was clear who the crowd was rooting for. ‘Otis! Otis! Otis!’ The name chanting echoed throughout the arena. Every time Otis was in the ring, the crowd went crazy. Every punch, grab or slam from Otis would drive a crowd reaction.
The crowd was not disappointed with Chad Gable tagging in Otis to see his finishing move ‘The Caterpillar’ before winning the match via pinfall. The next match was arguably the biggest match of the night. Seth ‘freakin’ Rollins takes on WWE veteran, the Miz.
No doubt when Seth Rollins came out, the crowd cheers were the loudest they were tonight. Seth oozed charisma and the crowd could feel the electricity with him.
The Miz was insulting the Manchester crowd’s singing and refused to wrestle until we stopped, however, Seth Rollins brought him right back in the ring and the fight started. It was back-and-forth between the two experienced wrestlers with the Miz using the four-figure lock to attempt to win via Submission and Seth Rollins trying to win with a super kick.
It was until The Miz tried to hit his finishing move ‘Skull Crushing Finale’ from the top rope that was reversed leading to Seth Rollins curb-stomping the Miz for the win via pin-fall.
Onto the next of the night between Bronson Reed and Dexter Lumis. Both wrestlers came out with Lumis scaring many of the fans he was walking past with an intimidating stare. The match was a quick one with Bronson Reed disposing of Dexter Lumis quickly with a body slam and winning via pinfall. That was not until Bronson Reed decided to take a chair and watch the next match from ringside.
The 2nd Championship match came in the form of a one-on-one contest between Bobby Lashley and US champion Austin Theory. Bobby Lashley entered the ring with his trademark Titan introduction showing he was ready for the war with the crowd cheering with him
.
Austin Theory came out in classic Theory fashion taunting the crowd as he came up the walkway ready to defend his championship. After two minutes of both wrestlers flexing to the crowd with Lashley bringing in cheers and Theory bringing in boos, the match began.
Both wrestlers were showcasing high levels of athleticism and strength with Bobbly Lashley picking up Austin Theory multiple times and slamming him down while Theory was using his speed and agility to his advantage. After minutes of back-and-forth action between Lashley and Theory, Bronson Reed while sitting ringside interrupted the match attacking Lashley giving him the win via disqualification.
Lashley proceeded to get attacked by both wrestlers until dismantling both athletes and celebrating with the WWE crowd, the fans were ecstatic.
The best was saved for last with the final match of the night between Wrestlemania headliner Cody Rhodes vs Finn Balor. Seeing both Cody and Finn in action showed their years of experience in the business with both men displaying high-level moves of wrestling and immense strength.
With Finn Balor being part of ‘The Judgement’, Damian Priest was out again beside his corner lurking from ringside as Rhodes and Balor battled it out. After minutes of fighting and close finishing move calls, Cody Rhodes went on a rampage and was taking out both Balor and Priest until hitting Balor with the Cody Cutter to win via pinfall.
Those who didn’t or won’t catch WWE this UK tour, don’t be too disappointed - WWE returns to the UK in London with Smackdown on Friday, June 30, and Money In The Bank on Saturday, July 1.
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