Credit: WWE.com
The Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships were on the line in the historic first women’s main event Sunday as Becky Lynch sought to dethrone both Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair and pay off The Man’s journey to the top of the industry.
SmackDown champion Flair arrived in style, landing outside the stadium in a helicopter, not unlike her Hall of Fame father Ric during the legendary 1985 Great American Bash.
Before she entered the arena, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts performed “Bad Reputation” live, playing Raw champion Ronda Rousey to the squared circle.
Flair was out next, becoming the first member of her family to compete in the main event of wrestling’s grandest event.
Lynch entered third, minus the frills, intense focus painting her face.
Rousey dominated early, booting Lynch to the floor and delivering Piper’s Pit to Flair at ringside. Lynch sent Rowdy into the ring post, and Flair sent her into the guardrail to set up a showdown between former friends.
Rousey interrupted and turned a double-powerbomb attempt into a double submission. A dropkick by The Man to Rousey sent her tailbone-first into the apron. With the Raw champion down at ringside, Flair teed off on Lynch, delivering knee drops to the back of the head.
She tried a moonsault but landed in the grasp of Lynch, who tried for the Disarm-Her. Rousey reappeared and broke the submission up. She applied her own armbar, but Flair kneed her to force the break. A double Natural Selection earned Flair two near-falls.
Flair chopped Rousey, to which the Raw champion replied, “you chop like a b—h.” Flair caught her with one to the face and Rousey tried for an armbar.
Lynch returned to the squared circle and delivered a double DDT for a two count on both women.
Moments later, she delivered a Bexploder suplex from the top rope to Flair. Rousey appeared and powered both women down. She tried for a double armbar, but The Queen and The Man delivered three straight powerbombs to break the hold.
The action was nonstop, the women cutting a furious pace.
Lynch applied the Disarm-Her for a strong false finish, but the Raw champ broke the hold. Rousey charged at Lynch in the corner but struck the ring post. The Man applied her submission again, but Flair broke it up. A Spanish Fly from the top rope led to another quality near-fall.
With her other opponent down at ringside, Flair applied a Figure Four around the ring post, damaging Rousey’s knee. Lynch broke it up but was driven back into the guardrail. Flair applied the Figure Eight to Rousey, but Lynch flew in from out of nowhere to break the hold.
Lynch retrieved a table and slid it into the ring. She set it up, but when Rousey gained momentum, she overturned it. As the two women battled back-and-forth, Flair delivered a double spear that earned her a two count.
With the table set up in the corner, Flair bounced Rousey’s head off it. Lynch interjected but ate a spear. The opposition paired up and sent Flair through the table before engaging in the intense brawl fans wanted to see in this spot in the first place.
As Rousey hoisted Lynch up for Piper’s Pit, Lynch shifted her weight and scored the pinfall victory on a crucifix. Rousey looked on in disbelief as Lynch celebrated her victory in the center of the ring, fireworks exploding from atop the stadium.
Result
Lynch defeated Rousey and Flair to win both the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships
Grade
A
Analysis
The historic first women’s main event had the feel of a big match, featured three women beating the unholy hell out of each other and provided fans the outcome they desired. It earned its grade and put an exclamation point on a noteworthy event.
Timing was an issue late, as it felt like the women were rushing to get certain spots in, and the finish—casting doubt on Lynch’s victory by questioning whether Rousey’s shoulders were down—could have been better.
With those two complaints out of the way, this was a damn good match that channeled the emotions of the women involved, provided a suitable conclusion to weeks of preparation and made the most of the historic opportunity.
Rousey bumped all over, Flair and Lynch turned in two more stellar performances, and the fans bought in with every passing minute. What could have been a major disappointment given the hour of show that preceded it was, instead, everything those involved could have hoped for.
This was a strong conclusion to a mostly good WrestleMania that overstayed its welcome and robbed Lynch of a longer celebration to close out the night.
from Update News Topic http://bit.ly/2UzmfkM
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