My thoughts on the show at this point:
Note that I slept through the first few matches on Night 1 and I turned it off during Edge/AJ on Night 2. If I go back and watch anything I missed, my thoughts might change.
Night 1: I fell asleep while the Usos were making their entrance. That's not a dig at them, it's just what happened. I slept through that match, Drew/Corbin and Logan Paul. I have no intention of going back to watch those. Becky vs. Bianca was good. I'm not a big Bianca fan, but I can see why they are pushing her so hard. Her athleticism is really a cut above everyone else in the women's division. I wanted this spot to the be the culmination of Liv having to work her way back to face Becky again and finally winning to wrap up the whole "she can't win the big one" story. That almost certainly would not have been as good a match, but it would have been a better story and it would have made a new star (also, I want to make out with Liv). Bianca at this point is made between winning the Rumble, beating Sasha in the Night 1 main event last year, putting on that dominant performance at Survivor Series, winning the gauntlet, winning EC, and now being the one to dethrone Becky. I'd like to see them build up some other stars in the next few months/year so when we get to 39 it's not just some combination of Becky/Bianca/Charlotte/Ronda/Maybe Sasha/Maybe Bayley. Good match, though.
Ronda vs. Charlotte was dog shit. Sloppy and stupid and made Ronda look like a moron as if she was Sting wrestling the other Flair. Ronda should have pulled a "That doesn't work for me, sister," and insisted on going over by submission in under a minute. Worst match of the night.
I have never given a single, solitary shit about Cody, and I still don't. He's painfully mediocre at everything and ranks a solid 4th if I rank the members of his family I want to see on my TV. But his entrance was very well done and he got a great response. Seth even carried him to a very good match. Probably the second best wrestling match of the evening. I don't see him staying over for long. I don't see him being the Universal champion. I don't see him toppling Reigns. Maybe I'm wrong. But even if I'm not, I'm glad he's grabbing however much cash Vince through at him.
Austin and KO was the show. Austin, really, on his own was the show. But KO was great in his role. When he said he'd have moved to Mexico if he was forced to grow up in Texas I laughed out loud at "It's right there!" KO is great. I wasn't expecting that kind of match either. I figured there'd be some punches and chair shots and a Stunner. I was shocked that Austin took those bumps, especially the suplex on the concrete. I even bit on the KO Stunner! The finish was what it was supposed to be. Byron getting Stunned for no reason was perfect, and the Texas Rangers hauling KO off was great. Thank you, Austin. MOTN and it's not even close. It probably would have been MOTN even if it was just a handful of punches a chair shot and a Stunner, to be fair. #GOAT
Night 2: I know people complained about Trips, but I didn't mind that. He got his farewell pop and made it short. I could have done without having America the Beautiful again and having Gable introduced to the live crowd again, though.
Opening tag match was good. Gable vs Gable could be a good first feud for him. Chad will bounce around like crazy. He needs some WWE Vitamins, though. Lashley vs. Omos was interesting. Omos going down clean to power moves this early would seem to indicate he's just about done. I figured they'd drag his monster push out longer and maybe get to a title match. Glad Lashley looked strong. He should be right back to the top of the card.
Sami vs. Knoxville was what it was. I didn't particularly like what it was, but whatever. Sami did great with what he had.
Women's tag - I took a poop a break and when I found out Liv didn't win the titles, I was glad I didn't watch it.
AJ vs. Edge lost me. Edge just isn't very good, imo. He was never great, but he was good in his prime. Since his return, he's been very meh without having editing to get a good match out of him. I was hoping for a banger, but was pretty bored. I turned it off to watch the Lady Gamecocks win the national title and had no regrets. Then I went to bed. If LTR wants to watch Roman vs. Brock I'll watch it with him. If not, I'm fine with that too.
I didn't think the show was garbage or anything, but once Stone Cold won his match I didn't need or want anything else.
and after probably taking over a hundred stunners, vince still hasnt figured out how to sell one. i dont know whether to laugh or to cry.
