November 24, 2015
(taped on November 24, 2015)
City: Indianapolis, IN
Venue: Banker’s Life Fieldhouse
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton
Ring Announcer: Eden Stiles
Intro Video
“On My Own” by CFO$
Match 1
Titus O’Neil w/ Darren Young vs Stardust
(Darren Young on guest commentary; referee: Darrick Moore)
Stardust attempts some chops to no effect. Titus responds with some chops of his own. Stardust exits the ring and slams Titus’ leg into the post. He’s looking for a count out win.
Titus gets back in and Stardust stomps and strikes to take an advantage. Titus comes back with some strikes of his own and easily takes over the match. Stardust gets caught diving from the ropes and takes a series of knees to the ribs. Titus is gaining momentum, but Stardust leaves the ring and heads up the ramp. He’s had enough.
Result: Titus O’Neil wins via countout
Time: 3:42
Match Thoughts
This wasn’t really much of a match. I did like how Stardust was looking for any way to get an advantage or an easy win, but the ending left it feeling like it could have been a lot better.
Match 2
Ryback vs Heath Slater
(referee: Jason Ayers)
Slater starts the match by yelling at Ryback. Ryback throws Slater around. Slater manages to avoid Ryback’s charge sending the big guy shoulder first into the ring post. Slater manages to take advantage and controls the match.
Ryback slowly builds momentum back up and catches Slater as he jumps from the ropes. Ryback slams Slater to the mat with a spinebuster. Ryback delivers a meat hook clothesline and a Shell Shock for the win.
Result: Ryback wins via pinfall after Shell Shock
Time: 2:58
Match Thoughts
Not a bad match. Slater wrestled smart. And a little dirty, using the ropes but hiding it from the ref. For what it was, it was good. The ending was kind of expected, but it wasn’t bad.
Match 3
Zack Ryder vs Rusev
(referee: Charles Robinson)
Ryder starts with strikes and gets a slight advantage. He hits a dropkick for a quick 1 count. Rusev reverses an Irish whip, catches a jumping Ryder, and delivers a fallaway slam. Rusev takes control of the match.
Ryder start to fight back and lands some strikes and a boot. He delivers forearms in the corner and hits the Broski Boot. 2 count for Ryder. Ryder mounts Rusev to deliver punches in the corner, but Rusev sets him up and delivers a boot to Ryder’s back. He drags Ryder into the middle of the ring and calls for the Accolade. He puts it on and it’s all over for Ryder.
Result: Rusev wins via submission with the Accolade
Time: 4:17
Match Thoughts
This was a pretty good match. Ryder had a pretty good showing, and Rusev showed his resilience and strength. Pretty quick and not surprising, but it was an entertaining enough match.
Video
Recap of Reigns stuff from RAW.
Match 4
Charlotte (Divas Champ) vs Brie Bella w/ Alicia Fox
(referee: John Cone)
Brie Bella controls Charlotte early with a side headlock. Charlotte rolls out of it and looks for a figure four (or eight). Brie escapes. Charlotte puts Brie down with a shoulder block and drops a Flair knee. She struts then goes for a cover. 2 count.
Charlotte back Brie into the corner and hits a neckbreaker off the ropes. 2 count for Charlotte. Brie rolls out for a breather.
-commercial-
Brie has Charlotte in the corner, but she misses an attack and Charlotte figure fours her head. She drives her shoulder into Brie’s midsection. Brie sidesteps Charlotte’s attack and sends her into the turnbuckles. Brie goes on the attack and focuses on Charlotte’s shoulder.
Brie has Charlotte in trouble and hits a series of kicks. Charlotte catches her and goes for the figure eight, but Brie escapes and goes to a hammer lock. Charlotte stands and lands a few chops on Brie until they both hit each other with clotheslines. They both get to their feet and Brie hits a dropkick from the second rope. 2 count for Brie.
Charlotte hits a grazing spear, but Paige’s music plays and she walks down the ramp. Distracted, Charlotte winds up getting pinned by Brie with a schoolboy.
Result: Brie Bella wins via pinfall with a schoolboy
Time: 9:47 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
A pretty good match. Brie did some good work on Charlotte’s shoulder, though that had nothing to do with the finish. Brie actually looked like the better of the two in this match, so the distraction ending made less sense for the match than it did for the Paige/Charlotte story.
Show Impressions
An okay show. Not bad, but not great.
Match of the Night
Charlotte vs Brie Bella
This was the longest match and had some okay psychology. The quality was about on par with the matches before it, but it was a little longer and had some storyline tie-ins, so that puts it over the top.