From Madison Square Garden in New York, New York
Commentary Team: Michael Cole and Tony Schiavone
Ring Announcer: Lillian Garcia
***
SURVIVOR SERIES MATCH
Team RAW: Andrade Cien Almas, Angel Garza, Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde
vs.
Team SMACKDOWN: Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio Jr., Rey Fénix, Penta El 0M, and La Parka
Zelina Vega distracts the referee while Almas, Garza, Escobar, Mendoza and Wilde knock Guerrero, Mysterio, Penta, and La Parka off the ring apron. After that, they beat down Rey Fénix with a five-to-one advantage. Penta comes in to help his brother and gets triple teamed as well. After Vega sets a new record for longest distraction of a referee of all-time, she finally gets tossed from ringside. This keeps the referee distracted as Almas and Garza argue with him over the decision. As that happens, La Parka enters the ring and the “Chairman” takes out all of Legado del Fantasma with shots from his chair. However, when he does the air guitar with the chair, Garza hits him with a superkick and gives him the Wing Clipper onto the chair. He gets rid of it, Almas leaves the referee alone, and get counts the pinfall.
La Parka is eliminated at 5:42.
Mysterio gives Escobar a wheelbarrow bulldog. Escobar crawls to the ropes and as he uses them to get up, Mysterio runs to the far side of the ring, where he’s given a rope-assisted enzuigiri kick from Mendoza. Once Escobar is up, he runs over and gives him a clothesline and then tags in Wilde, who executes a springboard tornado DDT upon entering the ring. He tags in Mendoza, who climbs the turnbuckle and goes for a 450-splash. Mysterio gets his knees up to block and crawls to the corner to tag out. Rey Fénix comes in with a springboard arm drag, sending Mendoza back to his corner. Wilde tags back in and gets a series of kicks and some tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Fénix tags out to Penta, who comes in and hits a pair of slingblades, then tags Fénix. He climbs the turnbuckle and jumps off to help Penta execute a package piledriver and diving double-foot stomp combo. Fénix makes the pin.
Joaquin Wilde is eliminated at 8:15.Andrade charges in and knocks Fénix down with a hard clothesline and puts the boots to him. He picks him up and executes a snap suplex and then whips him into the corner and charges in after him, executing a charging clothesline. He tags in Garza, who immediately tags in Mendoza, and then executes a running dropkick. Mendoza follows close behind with a running spinning heel kick. Escobar tags in and does to the top turnbuckle. He lands a frog splash and pins him for a 2-count. Escobar and Eddie get into a heated exchange. The distraction allows Fénix to get a school-boy roll-up for two. Fénix nails him with some kicks, and then executes a handspring cutter. He makes the cover but Mendoza comes in to make the save. This causes both sides to come in and brawl. Mysterio becomes the official man for his side and he gets Mendoza with the 6-1-9 and then the West Coast Pop. However, he doesn’t realize that Andrade made the blind tag. He punt kicks Mysterio in the back of the head and then gives him La Sombra. 1…2…3!
Rey Mysterio Jr. is eliminated at 10:23.Guerrero gives Garza the Three Amigos and then signals he is going to the top rope. When he gets there, Escobar shoves him off, thanks to a referee distraction from his teammates. When Garza and Guerrero get to their feet, Garza tears his pants away and throws them at Guerrero, then gives him a superkick. He tags out to Mendoza, who picks up Guerrero and gives him a suplex transitioned into a lungblower and then pins him. 1…2… kick out! Mendoza picks up Guerrero and tries for a suplex, but he lands on his feet and executes a German suplex. Guerrero crawls to his corner. Mendoza starts doing the same, but his teammates warn him that Guerrero is close to his corner, so he goes to try to stop him, but it’s too late. He tags out. Fénix comes in with a springboard dropkick. He executes a running hurricanrana and then a meteora. As he climbed the turnbuckle, Penta tagged himself in and climbed the turnbuckle after his brother had jumped off. When Mendoza gets back up, Penta executes a Mexican destroyer and pins him.
Raul Mendoza is eliminated at 13:33.It's a 3-on-3 contest for a good long time until a miscue leads to our next elimination. Garza makes a blind tag on Escobar as he’s running the ropes. He comes into the ring and comes up behind Penta. Escobar goes for a running leg lariat, but Penta drops his head and he connects with Garza. Penta runs over and gives Escobar a clothesline that sends him to the floor. He tags Fénix and then performs a slingshot plancha onto Escobar. Fénix comes in with a springboard tornado DDT and then performs a double-springboard moonsault. He pins him but Andrade breaks it up. Guerrero comes in and takes the fight to him. Meanwhile, Fénix picks up Garza and executes a Black Fire Driver and pins him for a 3-count.
Angel Garza is eliminated at 20:14. Penta tosses Escobar into the ring. Fénix goes up to the top rope and executes a swanton bomb, then tags Penta who goes up top and executes a diving double-foot stomp. He tags Guerrero, who climbs to the top rope and finishes him off with the frog splash.
Santos Escobar is eliminated at 20:29.Suddenly facing a 3-on-1 deficit, Andrade puts up a valiant effort. After taking the brunt of the punishment for the next minute and a half, he counters a diving hurricanrana attempt by Fénix into a buckle bomb and then executes an inverted tornado DDT. He follows it up with a springboard split-legged corckscrew senton out of the corner and covers for a long 2-count. Then, he nails Fénix with a running double-knee strike to the face in the corner and drags in out, folding him up into a cover. 1…2…3!
Rey Fénix is eliminated at 22:26.While this momentum gives him a short burst of energy, the 2-on-1 situation is eventually too much for him to overcome. He goes for a running double-knee strike to Penta in the corner, but he moves out of the way. Andrade’s knees slam into the bottom turnbuckle. When Andrade pulls himself out of the corner, Penta gives him an enzuigiri kick and then tags out. Andrade avoids Guerrero’s missile dropkick attempt, and then gives him some tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Andrade goes for La Sombra out of desperation, but Guerrero gets out of it and executes a brainbuster! He goes to the top rope and executes the frog splash! 1…2…3!
Andrade Cien Almas is eliminated at 24:30.Official Decision
Team SMACKDOWN wins at 24:30 with Eddie Guerrero and Penta El 0M as the sole survivors.
***
MUW WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Asuka vs. Nikki Bella
Bella disrespects the champion at the beginning of the match, but quickly finds herself on the defensive. She’s overwhelmed by Asuka’s plan of attack, consisting of quick kicks, chops, palm strikes, headbutts, and hip attacks. Asuka applies a variety of holds to stretch out the challenger and try to force her to submit. After Bella makes it to the bottom rope to break a single-leg crab, she escapes to the outside and decides she’s had enough. When Asuka comes to get Bella, she gets her hair pulled and she’s whipped into the steel ring steps. Bella brings her back into the ring, where he gives her a series of powerful maneuvers including a back body drop, spinebuster, snap suplex, Alabama slam, and a Bella Buster.
Bella gets cocky and gives Asuka a headscissors takedown which she holds for a figure-four necklock. She drives Asuka’s head into the mat several times and maintains the hold while doing push-ups to show her superiority. When Bella tries picking Asuka up, the champion fires off shots to the body and gets her with a spinning backfist. She takes Bella into the corner and gives her a running hip attack. Asuka continues to build momentum until Bella catches her with a spear and multiple punches. Bella picks up the champion and lifts her on her shoulders for the Rack Attack, but Asuka elbows her in the head.
As Asuka hits her, Bella becomes disoriented, loses her balances and spins around, resulting in Asuka’s feet hitting the referee in the head. Asuka immediately connects with a spin kick. However, with the referee down, Asuka cannot make the pin. She attempts to revive the referee. As she does this, Nikki’s sister Brie hops the guardrail, pulls her out to the floor and takes her place in the ring. Just as the referee is revived, Brie performs some Twin Magic by pulling Asuka into a small package. 1…2…3!
Brie wins the match and has her hand raised. She is handed the belt, but Asuka protests, pointing to the women outside the ring who is trying to crawl under it. She goes outside and pulls Nikki back out. The referee takes a closer look at both Bellas and reverses the decision, taking the title belt away from Brie and declaring Asuka the winner by disqualification.
Official Decision
Asuka wins by disqualification at 9:48.
***
THE CASINO BATTLE ROYAL
The first group of five to start the match are the diamonds, which are revealed to be Ricky Steamboat, Sammy Guevara, Booker T, Rowdy Roddy Piper, and Davey Boy Smith.
There are no eliminations in the first three minutes of the match, so the field of competitors inside the ring doubles in size. The group of five wrestlers holding spades are sent to the ring. It is revealed that Kevin Owens, Ricochet, Bret Hart, Adam Page, and The Miz drew spades.
The first elimination happens at 5:15, when Kevin Owens gives Sammy Guevara a KO stunner and then throws him over the top rope and out to the floor.
At the six-minute mark, it is announced that the group of five who drew clubs from the deck will join the match. Coming out of the MSG entrance with their cards in hand are Owen Hart, Pete Dunne, Daniel Bryan, Chris Jericho and Stevie Ray.
The second elimination happens at 8:48 when Stevie Ray puts The Miz up on his shoulders into the electric chair position and Booker T performers a missile dropkick on him. HEAT SEEKER! Stevie Ray and Booker T both pick up The Miz and send him over the top rope.
At the nine-minute mark, the hearts are the final group of five to join the match, and it is a big one. Coming to the ring are Dominik Dijakovic, Jake Hager, Keith Lee, Bam Bam Bigelow, and John Morrison.
The four biggest men in the match immediately start throwing their weight around. They squash their opponents with avalanche splashes, tackles, clotheslines and lariats. Then, Bam Bam Bigelow gives Greetings From Asbury Park to Davey Boy Smith, Jake Hager gives Pete Dunne a Hager Bomb, Keith Lee gives Ricochet a Spirit Bomb, and Dominik Dijakovic gives Feast Your Eyes to John Morrison. When everyone else is down, the big four square off and throw down. There is a near elimination of Hager, and a close call for Dijakovic. Stevie Ray and Booker T, who are themselves, pretty big guys, soon get into the mix and show them all a thing or two. Not long after, everyone else gets back up and joins the fight.
The third elimination happens at 11:29 when Dominik Dijakovic throws Adam Page over the top rope. Page holds on and resituates himself on the ring apron. After giving Bret Hart a double axehandle between the shoulder blades, Dijakovic turns around to see Page on the apron. He starts crossing the ring. Page slingshots back in and nails him with a Buckshot Lariat. He then throws Dijakovic over the top rope.
The fourth elimination happens at 11:44 when Stevie Ray gives John Morrison a backbreaker and Booker T gives him a diving 360-degree leg drop. TOWERING INFERNO! They pick up Morrison and huck him over the top rope.
The fifth elimination happens at 11:48 when Bam Bam Bigelow runs over and gives Booker T and Stevie Ray a double clothesline over the top rope. Booker T sees it coming and manages to hold onto the top rope, but Stevie Ray doesn’t and he tumble to the floor.
At the twelve-minute mark, the wrestler who drew the Joker becomes the last man to enter the battle royal. His identity is revealed at the sound of his theme music when the MSG faithful start chanting
“JOHN CENA SUCKS! JOHN CENA SUCKS!” Cena enters the ring and makes an immediate impact.
The sixth elimination happens at 12:20 when John Cena enters the ring and runs across it to clothesline Jake Hager over the top rope.
The seventh elimination happens at 12:41 when Davey Boy Smooth attacks John Cena and lifts him up for a running powerslam. Cena slips free, lifts him onto his shoulders and gives him the Attitude Adjustment! Then, he throws him over the top rope.
The eighth elimination happens at 12:59 when Pete Dunne tries to attack John Cena, only to get a spin-out powerbomb and the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Then, he gets deposited over the top rope.
The ninth elimination happens at 14:53 when Kevin Owens is trying to get Ricochet over the top rope. Ricochet holds on for dear life, falls to the ring apron and clings to the bottom rope with his arms and legs. Meanwhile, Rowdy Roddy Piper comes up from behind and dumps Owens over the top rope.
The tenth elimination happens at 15:26 when Kevin Owens re-enters the ring and attacks Piper with a steel chair. He gives Piper a Pop-Up Powerbomb on the chair and then throws him over the top rope. Piper is eliminated by a man he already eliminated!
The eleventh elimination happens at 15:39 when Chris Jericho gives Owen Hart the Codebreaker and then quickly picks him up and sends him out to the arena floor.
The twelfth elimination happens at 16:02 when Ricochet attempts a 630-degree senton bomb on Bret Hart. The Hitman puts his knees up. After Ricochet lands on his knees, he staggers away holding his lower back and walks right into a running knee from Daniel Bryan. Hart picks up Ricochet and tosses him out to the floor.
The thirteenth elimination happens at 16:35 when Booker T ducks a Buckshot Lariat attempt by Adam Page, drives a knee into his mid-section and gives him an axe kick to the back of the neck. Then, Booker T does a spin-a-roonie, but when he finishes, Chris Jericho grabs him by the hair and runs him over to and over top of the ropes, where he falls to the floor below.
The fourteenth elimination happens at 16:50 when Bam Bam Bigelow picks up Adam Page, who tries to fight him off, but then he receives Greetings From Asbury Park. The angry Beast From the East picks up Page and throws him to the floor.
The fifteenth elimination happens at 16:58 when Bam Bam Bigelow charges at Ricky Steamboat, whose back is to the big man. Steamboat turns just enough to catch him out of the corner of his eye and duck the clothesline attempt. After Bigelow bounces off the ropes, Steamboat gives him a dropkick that sends him back into the ropes and flailing backwards over top of them.
The sixteenth elimination happens at 17:50 when Chris Jericho convinces Ricky Steamboat, John Cena, Daniel Bryan, and Bret Hart that they should gang up on Keith Lee. The Limitless one fends them off and even gets to the point of giving Jericho a Spirit Bomb, but then Steamboat, Cena, Bryan, and Hart finally get to him, with Steamboat giving him a dropkick, Hart giving him a Hart Attack clothesline, Bryan giving him the running knee and Cena lifting him onto his shoulders and giving him the Atittude Adjustment. All four men combine their efforts to drag Lee’s lifeless, heavy body to the ropes and lift him up and over them.
The seventeenth elimination happens at 19:14 when Ricky Steamboat lifts Daniel Bryan over the top rope. Bryan lands on the ring apron and drives a shoulder into Steamboat’s mid-section. Then, he slingshots over the top rope and over Steamboat. He immediately does a somersault roll to avoid a clothesline from Cena. Instead, he hits Steamboat, sending him over the ropes and out to the floor.
The eighteenth elimination happens at 21:17 when Bret Hart and Daniel Bryan have Chris Jericho trapped in the Sharpshooter and LeBell Lock at the same time. John Cena climbs the turnbuckle and performs a diving leg drop to the back of Bryan’s neck. After that, he quickly picks him up and gives him an Attitude Adjustment over the top rope.
The nineteenth elimination happens at 23:40 when Bret Hart is trying to force John Cena over the top rope. Chris Jericho, who talked Hart into teaming up with him to take out Cena, tries dumping Hart over top instead. Hart lands on the ring apron, comes into the ring and dropkicks Jericho from behind, sending him over the top rope to the ring apron. Jericho comes back in and tries to give Hart the Judas Effect, but he ducks it, executes an atomic drop and then a running clothesline that sends Jericho over the top rope and down to the floor.
The final elimination happens at 25:07 when John Cena tries to give Hart an Attitude Adjustment over the top rope. Hart grabs the top rope and lands on the ring apron. They trade punches and then get into the set up for a vertical suplex. After a couple of failed attempts by both men, Hart manages to lift Cena over the top rope, however he lands on the apron. They trade punches. Cena tries lifting Hart into a fireman’s carry again, but he defends and lands on his feet again. Then, Hart pulls out a desperation dropkick, grabbing the middle rope on the way down. Cena falls back into the turnbuckle post and then off the ring apron.
Summary of Eliminations
Sammy Guevara at 5:15
The Miz at 8:48
Dominik Dijakovic at 11:29
John Morrison at 11:44
Stevie Ray at 11:48
Jake Hager at 12:20
Davey Boy Smith at 12:41
Pete Dunne at 12:59
Kevin Owens at 14:53
Rowdy Roddy Piper at 15:26
Owen Hart at 15:39
Ricochet at 16:02
Booker T at 16:35
Adam Page at 16:50
Bam Bam Bigelow at 16:58
Keith Lee at 17:50
Ricky Steamboat at 19:14
Daniel Bryan at 21:17
Chris Jericho at 23:40
John Cena at 25:07
Official Decision
Bret “The Hitman” Hart wins the Casino Battle Royal.
***
CASKET MATCH
The Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt
As there are no countouts or disqualifications in a casket match, The Undertaker and Bray Wyatt brawled at great abandon around the ringside area. Liberated from the threat of losing for staying outside or for using weapons, they paid no attention to the referee, whose only real purpose was to declare a winner once one of them had been placed inside the casket and the lid was shut closed on them. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that the referee was quickly incapacitated. Frustrated that he kept urging Wyatt to take the match back inside, the Eater of Worlds grabbed the referee and through him head-first into the steel ringsteps, thus knocking him unconscious.
Wyatt later used those very same steps to do significant to The Undertaker when he gave him a uri-nage onto a portion of the steps. Later, he would send The Undertaker crashing through a portion of the ringside barricade when he whipped him into it and then ran at full speed and hit him with a running crossbody that sent them into the timekeeper’s area. Of course, he would have to do much more to keep The Deadman down. He fought back, giving Wyatt a chokeslam onto one of the German announce team’s commentary table. As it did not break, he got onto the Spanish team’s table and gave Wyatt a high-elevation jumping leg drop that caused the table to collapse. Some time later, after they returned to the ring, he dumped Wyatt over the top rope with a back body drop onto the casket, and then performed on over-the-top-rope suicide dive on Wyatt (clearing the width of the casket, too).
There were a fair number of attempts by both competitors to put the other one inside the casket, but they were both very good at defending themselves and making sure they weren’t placed inside. Once each, The Undertaker and Wyatt managed to get the other one inside, but they fought their way back out on both occasions. Finally, The Undertaker was able to give Wyatt his Tombstone piledriver on the ring apron. When The Undertaker lifted the lid of the casket open, he was blasted in the face by the expellant of a fire extinguisher. Then, up stood Luke Harper, who hit him over the head with the device.
As it was a large wooden casket, Erick Rowan was also hiding inside. The two big men got out of the casket and gave The Undertaker a double crucifix powerbomb into the empty casket and shut the lid closed on him. They reached under the ring and got out a took box. They produced some hammers and nails and proceeded to hammer the lid of the casket shut. Bray Wyatt awoke and laughed hysterically as he was declared the winner. He kneeled down on the casket, looked up to the sky and laughed some more. When he stopped laughing, the inside of Madison Square Garden went pitch black. When the lights finally came back on, the casket, Wyatt, Harper, and Rowan were gone.
Official Decision
Bray Wyatt wins at 20:14 when The Undertaker is shut in the casket.
***
SURVIVOR SERIES MATCH
Team RAW: Beth Phoenix, Rhea Ripley, Toni Storm, Nikki Cross, and Jazz
vs.
Team SMACKDOWN: Bayley, Bianca Belair, Ember Moon, Mickie James, and Tenille Dashwood
Team RAW appears to have the power advantage and uses it to dominate the opening minutes of the bout. However, Bianca Belair is the strongest, fastest, all-around best athlete around and she isn’t afraid to tell or show everyone. That’s why she calls herself the EST of WWE. She’s also the nastiest, or so it seems, as when she enters the ring, she dropkicks, back body drops, and powerslams everyone in her viscinity. But then she uses her long hair braid to whip her opponents. With the help of a distraction from Bayley, Belair wraps her braid around Nikki Cross’ throat to choke her out. She executes the K.O.D. on her and makes the pin.
Nikki Cross is eliminated at 7:16.Toni Storm enters the match and puts Belair in fits with her hip attacks and suplexes. Belair is able to tag in Tenille Dashwood, who fairs no better until a whip into the corner and an escape prior to Storm’s attack leads the Kiwi to hitting the turnbuckles. Dashwood puts the boots to her until she’s seated on the mat and then gives her a Taste of Tenille (running crossbody in the corner). Dashwood tags Mickie James and she has her way with Storm until she goes for a missile dropkick. Storm gets out of the way and tags in Rhea Ripley. The merciless powerhouse charges in and nearly takes James’ head off with a stiff clothesline. A hard running big boot is just as effective. She follows it up with the Riptide and pins for the 3-count.
Mickie James is eliminated at 10:05.Ember Moon and Jazz are throwing bombs at one another. Jazz goes for a running attack but Moon gives her a spinebuster. Moments later, she executes a fallaway slam, but Jazz ends up near her corner. She tags in Storm, who blocks a superkick and then hits one of her followed by an air raid crash. She hooks Moon’s arms to go for Storm Zero, but Moon counters with a back body drop and then executes Wrath of the Goddess. She goes to the top turnbuckle and dives off it to execute the Eclipse on Storm. 1…2…3!
Toni Storm is eliminated at 13:36.Beth Phoenix is quickly in and gives Moon a slingshot suplex, followed by a military press into a drop. When Moon gets up, she lifts her into a fireman’s carry and drops her into the mat with a Beth Valley Driver. Phoenix picks her up and gives him the Glam Slam and pins for the 3-count.
Ember Moon is eliminated at 13:58.Bayley and Dashwood each take turns trying to rush in to get Phoenix, but she thoroughly dominates them. This leaves Belair to come in, and she shows no fear while entering the ring to face the Glamazon. She tells Phoenix that she might’ve been able to have her way with these lesser wrestlers but she won’t with her. They throw down. Phoenix tries to whip Belair, but it’s reversed. Phoenix appears to go for a spear, but Belair leap frogs well over it and then connects with a dropkick on Phoenix’s return off the far ropes. Belair insults Phoenix by lifting her high up with a double chickenwing and throwing her down with a Glam Slam. Belair covers, but Phoenix kicks out at two. Belair tags out to Bayley who runs in and pummels her. She tries to set up for a Bayley-to-Belly, but Phoenix headbutts her and gives her a chokebomb. Bayley crawls away to escape, but Phoenix grabs her foot to prevent her from making a tag. However, she’s distracted by the IIconics. Their appearance at ringside not only distracts Phoenix, but also the referee, Ripley and Jazz, allowing Dashwood to come into the ring with a chair, hit Phoenix in the back with it and then a Spotlight Kick that causes Phoenix to land on the chair. Dashwood and the weapon disappear. Bayley scrambles over to make the quick pin. 1…2…3!
Beth Phoenix is eliminated at 16:12.Team SMACKDOWN feels confident as they enjoy the 3-on-2 advantage for the next few minutes. However, when Belair makes a blind tag and comes in with the intention of dropkicking Jazz, she hits Bayley by mistake. This leads to dissention within the team. The two superstars get into a war of words, allowing Jazz to tag out without being scene. Ripley climbs the turnbuckle and delivers a missile dropkick to the back of Bayley, sending her crashing into Belair. Ripley picks up Bayley and flings her out of the ring. She gives Belair the Riptide and pins her. 1…2…3!
Bianca Belair is eliminated at 19:40.Dashwood enters the ring and takes the fight to Ripley, but it doesn’t take long for Ripley to counter a running attack with a spinebuster and then tag out. Ripley and Jazz make frequent tags and do a fair bit of damage. Dashwood ducks a clothesline from Jazz and then gives her tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Luckily, the timing is right for her to go tag Bayley, who is back on the ring apron. As soon as he tags out, however, Bayley is pulled down from the ring apron by Belair, who had yet to leave ringside. Bayley’s face smacks off the ring apron. Belair throws her into the barricade and then the ring steps. After that, she lifts Bayley up into a military press and releases her to fall facedown onto the floor. She then tosses Bayley into the ring, where Ripley is waiting. She gives Bayley a jackknife powerbomb and then puts her in the Prism Trap. Bayley taps out about 5 seconds later.
Bayley is eliminated at 21:33.Dashwood is the last remaining member of Team SMACKDOWN. She puts up a valiant fight against Ripley. She gains some momentum after a discus elbow smash, butterfly suplex and full-nelson slam. She climbs the turnbuckle and goes for a diving crossbody, but Ripley catches her and gives her a fallaway slam. Then, she runs over her with a running big boot. She tags in Jazz, who levels her with a running clothesline, gives her a sit-out facebuster and then puts her in the Bitchlock until she submits.
Tenille Dashwood is eliminated at 23:10.Official Decision
Team RAW wins at 23:10 with Rhea Ripley and Jazz as the sole survivors.
***
MUW MEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles
After an evenly contested 10-minutes of action, the challenger found an opening to apply the Calf Crusher and locked it in on the champion. The bout had a serious chance of ending earlier than expected. Joe was far from the ropes. He attempted to reach for Styles’ head to break the hold by slamming it into the mat, a tactic he had used in past matches when the roles of champion and challenger were reversed. Styles came prepared and shifted around to stay out of reach. Joe looked like he was ready to tap, but he dug into his reserves and powered his way to the ropes to force a break. He staved off defeat but fought the rest of the way on a faulty wheel.
Styles smelled blood and he was an the attack for most of the remainder of the match. Joe was on defence and did an excellent job in this respect, often countering or reversing holds in order to inflict damage on the Phenomenal One. Still, the advantage was clearly on the side of Styles, who grew confident with each passing minute. This confidence may have led to him making one tactical mistake that cost him the match. He went to the top rope after executing ushigoroshi. Joe got up and dove into the ropes to trip him up.
After a battle on the turnbuckle where they exchanged fists and Joe threw headbutts and lit up Styles’ chest with chops, Joe was able to pull Styles out of the corner and execute the Musclebuster! To ensure he had the win, he applied the Coquina Clutch with a body scissors instead of trying for the pin. There was no escaping this move. Ever the spitired fighter, Styles refused to quit, and he passed out in the hold. The referee called the match and Joe had his first successful title defence, in a rematch against the man he defeated to win it.
Official Decision
Samoa Joe wins by submission at 17:24.
***