WWE Universal Championship - Roman Reigns (c) vs. Seth "Freakin'" Rollins (Usos barred from ringside):
Since when does The Tribal Chief start curtain-jerking?? This does not bode well!!
NO...HE...DIDN'T!!! Seth Rollins is using the SHIELD music and heading to the ring through the crowd, in black military gear. And Reigns is as rattled as can be. Why do I get the feeling that Lesnar was supposed to beat Reigns just short of Reigns' breaking Lesnar's record as longest-running Universal champion? But, Roman got the 'Rona and missed Day One.
So, it looks as if the Visionary is poised to decapitate the Head of the Table. Rollins is all smiles, looking as Reigns and muttering, "you look like you've seen a ghost. Reigns can't sustain any offense, as Rollins slips out of his holds and hits two dives while Reigns is on the floor.
The Champ nails Rollins as he jumps back into the ring, followed by a "Drive-By" dropkick. But, when Reigns attempts a Superman punch, using the ring steps for extra height, he gets kicked in the gut and......BLAM!!! A POWERBOMB into the announce table!! Now, McAfee and Cole have nowhere to sit.
Incidentally, there are only three other non-Rumble Matches slated tonight:
WWE World Championship - Brock Lesnar (c) w/Paul Heyman vs. "The Almighty" Bobby Lashley w/MVP: I personally think this would have much more heat if Lashley won the Rumble and picked Lesnar as his 'Mania foe. But, this "dream match" may main-event this whole shindig, instead of one of the Rumble matches.
I don't see Lesnar and Reigns both retaining or both losing tonight. So....UPSET SPECIAL!!! Paul Heyman causes one of them to keep or lose his title. I'm leaning toward him helping Reigns, since the Usos are barred from ringside.
Oh, the other non-Rumble match....
Mixed Tag-Team Match - Edge and Beth Phoenix vs. The Miz and Maryse: Miz has suffered long enough from his week-long WWE title reign to his embarrassing loss to Bad Bunny and Damien Priest at WM37. I say give him a break, though it'll likely be Maryse scoring the fall on Phoenix.
Raw Women's Championship - Becky Lynch (c) vs. Doudrop: Yawn!! Big Time Becks vs. Bertha Faye 2.0. I'm sure Lynch will hook the ropes again for another pin. But not before her challenger hits a Yokozuna-style banzai drop.
Back to the Universal title match....Rollins tosses Reigns into the ring and hits a frog splash but gets a two-count. Rollins goes for a Phoenix splash; Reigns moves but Rollins rolls through. The champ goes for a spear but gets kicked in the gut and hoisted up for a "buckle bomb", followed a forearm to the head and the CURB STOMP. Here comes the cover and.....AAAAH!!!! Reigns barely, and I mean barely escapes the pin fall.
Another attempt stomp, after WAAAAY too much taunting, gets the Visionary clotheslined for his effort. Now Reigns is up and angry after pounding Rollins into the mat. He returns the power bomb favor (minus the table) and gets two. Reigns is even angrier and Rollins is laughing; it's more head games from the Revolutionary.
After more forearms into Rollins' face, OOPS!!! The Tribal Chief is in a triangle choke!!! But another powerbomb ends that sequence.
The Head of the Table tosses his former Shield brother to the post, then into the barricade, and finally into the ring steps. Now, the Universal Champion, blackened left eye and all, is poised to end the bout. After a superman punch and a near-fall, it's outside the ring for a SPEAR!! Now, after tossing the Mr. Freakin' back inside the ring, he's getting riled up, which means.....Tribal Scream, Spear attempt, and some form of counter by the challenger.
In this case, shades of 2016, it's Rollins hitting a pedigree as Reigns charges him. But, unlike 2016, Rollins doesn't get the 1-2-3.
But, now he gets hyped and is doing the "Burn It Down" stomp, to cue up his finisher. Chance are, he'll get speared or punched. Lots of counters until Reigns finally hits the spear inside the ring. But, he doesn't make the quick cover and Rollins starts laughing at him, to Reigns' utter shock. Now, he wants to do the Shield fist. And Reigns looks confused/enraged but is just marching around the ring.
Now, the champion hooks the guillotine. Rollins fights but goes limp. The referee checks his arms and actually end up helping the Visionary hook the ropes to force the break.
OH COME ON!!! Reigns refuses to release the hold and GETS DISQUALIFIED!!!!
Now, he goes psycho, starts talking to himself, and gets medieval on Rollins with two chairs. The champion walks away but Rollins limps to his feet and laughs.
