Make FightsATW Your Preferred Combat Sports Source
Enjoy our boxing and wrestling coverage? Add Fights Around The World as a Preferred Source on Google so our latest stories can show up more often in your Top Stories.
Add FightsATW on GoogleSaturday Night’s Main Event was live from Fort Wayne, Indiana, at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. It was a four-match fight card featuring 3 separate title matches; aside from the IC title, both men’s and women’s tag titles were on the line.
There are several high-profile events in this very busy run for the WWE that stretches from the Midwest to France, where the ‘Clash in Paris’ PLE features both a heavyweight title clash between Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu as well as a world title defense from champion Cody Rhodes versus Gunther.
THE VISION (Paul & Theory) VS THE STREET PROFITS (Ford & Dawkins)—Tag Team Titles
When The Street Profits returned several weeks ago, they had eyes set on the tag team titles held by The Vision, and so, each week Ford and Dawkins would ‘run out’ on Logan Paul and Austin Theory. The meetings always began and ended in violence, with little dialogue (or story) offered up for the feud. Was this personal for Ford and Dawkins, both soon to be fathers, or was this a case where whoever held the tag titles was smoke ‘on sight?’ There was little explanation in the buildup, and even less was discussed tonight. In fact, one of the biggest narratives surrounding this program has been the back-and-forth issues involving Seth Rollins.
Rollins’ feud with The Vision has aligned The Profits as allies, but Ford has had issues trusting Rollins. Yet, tonight, no such narrative was even mentioned. The finish of the match was amazing, even if the wrong team won. Bron Breakker, who had been absent from the match, popped out to land a spear on anyone in front of him. As he chased down the ramp on his way to Ford, Breakker was charging up to unleash one of his frantic spears.
Ford leapfrogged Breakker, and that momentum took him straight into Dawkins, who popped him up off the ground and threw him into the commentary area. The table never broke, but it looked even more brutal as Breakker was taken out of the equation. That seemed like the moment to re-crown The Street Profits, but The Vision’s Logan Paul was able to pick up the pinfall victory in a successful defense. It is baffling why this match went down the way it did, because if this was always the initial booking, why not have it happen on WWE TV?
This does not bode well for The Profits taking a high-profile loss in a clean(ish) fashion, but Montez Ford has the skill to restart the momentum.
BECKY LYNCH(c) VS SOL RUCA—NON TITLE
The title implications of this match were always more complicated than they should have been: first, the match was made non-title, then it was announced that Becky’s IC title would indeed be up for grabs. However, not long after that announcement, we were once again told that it would be a non-title match. Some figured Becky would lose the non-title match before successfully defending on a PLE, ultimately leading to the big blowoff match where, hopefully, Sol Ruca would get over.
However, Becky Lynch won the match tonight, prompting the question, ” Why did the title matter in the first place. That said, Becky had to cheat to win, and so Ruca was protected in the finish. In the back area following the match, Becky was told that, for her actions, she would have to rematch Sol Ruca at ‘Clash in Paris’ for the IC title, this time (and for now).
PENTA(c) VS ETHAN PAGE—IC TITLE
The match was terrific, and both men really went for it, but it was Ethan Page who truly showed something ‘extra’ in tonight’s match. And maybe Ethan has displayed these kinds of abilities in the past, of course, he has, but never at this level. Page was never the babyface, and Penta felt like he had an added level of fan engagement tonight, but the WWE Universe© responded to the NXT callup. It was Page that pinned Penta in a tag match for which Je’Von Evans was the champ’s partner, and it was thought that we would get a four-way match for the title.
Instead, Page got the solo shot, but given his inner workings with Evans and Rusev, there is a likelihood we’ll go that route anyway. For now, Penta retains in a match that elevated both talents.
SCREAM MODE (Paige & Brie) VS NIA JAX & LASH LEGEND
The tag champs retained the title in a very thrown-together booking that failed to get anyone over at all, challengers and champs alike. The problem has been direction, or the lack thereof, when it comes to the feud. Jax and Lash have come across very well on TV, but they have no chemistry or storyline with the champs, and it almost feels like they’re biding time until Nikki comes back.
The champs retained in a program that has completely fallen off from the pre-Mania booking that involved Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky, and it feels like ever since TKO hastily offered up Rhea into the Jade feud, being that Binca Belair was unable to compete.
RHEA RIPLEY, CHARLOTTE FLAIR & ALEXA BLISS VS JADE CARGILL
Rhea Ripley won the women’s world title from Jade Cargill at WM42 back in April, but you might have forgotten that, considering that Ripley has been on ice as a champion since the moment she won it. In fact, she was forced to switch brands because of this title win, yet she has not even hinted at a defense—the same can be said of Liv Morgan’s current title reign, also won at WM42. Cargill, who wore gear celebrating Michael Jackson and his new biopic, playing in theaters, with her white sparkly glove and black fedora, resembling his appearance in the “BAD” video—Michin and B-Fab joined in the look.
Cargill was successful in the match, though the ‘can they co-exist’ storyline between Flair and Rhea left something to be desired. Overall, this felt like a ‘house show’ match without the exciting dynamic of superstar interaction.
Discover more from Fights Around The World
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
