THE CARD (UPDATED AS OF 5 P.M. EST):

-Seth Rollins vs. Randy Orton (WWE World Heavyweight Championship Steel Cage Match)

-Roman Reigns vs. Big Show (Last Man Standing Match)

-Dolph Ziggler vs. Sheamus (Kiss Me Arse Match)

-John Cena vs. Rusev (United States Championship Russian Chain Match)

-Dean Ambrose vs. Luke Harper (Chicago Street Fight)

-Nikki Bella vs. Naomi (Divas Championship Match)

-Tyson Kidd & Cesaro vs. The New Day (Tag Team Championship Match)

-Bad News Barrett vs. Neville

I'm not sure what to make of this card. A lot of retread stuff, not much that has me psyched unless the Russian Chain Match goes full on bloody (which considering Cena's pull, don't rule that out), the main event should be a clusterfuck of epic proportions, Bryan's injuries messing up the IC title match a bit...maybe Ambrose and Harper go crazy a bit? Maybe the Tag Team match delivers?

This really seems like a placeholder card while they figure out where to send people over the summer feuds. Either that, or they really don't know what the hell they're doing. As it's been said before, they aren't booking to crowds and they're really in a vacuum, which is going to make tonight's normally-hot Chicago crowd probably as insufferable as the Post-WM Raw crowd.

Based on who's on the card, the only person I wouldn't mind Bray starting a program with tonight is Harper. It'll probably be Orton though. Maybe he'll figure out a snap RKO out of the crab walk. That's be cool I guess...

Just came across that Bryan is out for tonight.

 

Neville will face Barrett on the kickoff show.

Well that answers one of my questions on how are they going to handle Daniel Bryan vs Wade Barrett. It is nice of them to tell people about 4 hours before the show. I guess we were supposed to assume that since they talk about the match this week it wasn't going to happen. Even though we knew it wasn't going to happen

 

The other thing for me is whether the finish of Orton vs Rollins is going to a whole lot worse than Cena vs Wyatt last year. I would figure so unfortunately. A few people joked that it may be the first cage match that ends in a disqualification and that wouldn't surprise me

 

So is the tag title match on the main show or are there two pre show matches now?

They moved the tag match to the main show.

 

Also, I now predict that Barrett knocks Neville out with the Bull Hammer after a flippy move from the top rope. Everyone will rave at how cool it looked... including me.

Barrett Vs. Neville could be fun. I'm OK with that change. Shame about Bryan though. So, are they going to strip him of the IC title?

It would make the most sense.

If he's only going to be out for another 3-4 weeks I don't see the point in taking the title off him. It's not like they haven't gone that long without having a defense of the IC title before.

At the same time, they could give it to a guy like Dolph Ziggler if they want the IC title to be the defacto SD title.

No no let's not project into the future for Dolph. He keeps posting cryptic stuff on twitter like he might be leaving so that's what I'm going to hold out hope for.

 

Took advantage of the Network free trial tonight so I can see Rusev/Cena III. I still hate how the video doesn't even come close to filling my monitor.

Can you post some of those tweets?

 

https://twitter.com/HEELZiggler/status/591275817075806208

 

 

 

caddy, cheerleader or guy who almost wins, I love a challenge! If this is it, bet your ass I'm going out swingin'

https://twitter.com/HEELZiggler/status/592370825975734273

 

Be careful what you wish for

Ziggler and Sheamus are doing some worked-shoot thing that may have gotten out of hand, at least in as much as it's not so PG on Sheamus's Twitter. I wouldn't dare guess if there's actual heat.

I guess Ziggler does have his amateur background to fall back on, but Sheamus isn't really a guy I want to piss off before getting in the ring with him since he is already going to be hitting you hard on a normal night, I can only imagine what a "fuck your tweets" Brogue Kick will look like.

I love that he was throwing in Quiet Riot lyrics.

Naomi cut a great promo in the back on the pre-show. You would think that she is winning title but with this company you never know

 

Loved Booker T telling people that everyone hated Melina

I guess Ziggler does have his amateur background to fall back on, but Sheamus isn't really a guy I want to piss off before getting in the ring with him since he is already going to be hitting you hard on a normal night, I can only imagine what a "fuck your tweets" Brogue Kick will look like.

 

He does have the rep of getting shown up by smaller guys (Hunico, Tatsu) in actual shooting, though.

Maybe Neville wins the match against BNB, tonight, and becomes the number one contender for the IC title. A Bryan-Neville program would be a hell of a lot of fun. If Bryan is totally healthy, that is.

Totally forgot that Roman Reigns Vs. The Big Show was on this card. That's hilarious to me.

 

EDIT : The crowd sounds hype!

Hype but completely useless. I mean why the fuck are still chanting CM Punk. Even he doesn't want to work for the WWE

 

Popped for Barrett bringing up the Michael Jordan gambling issue

Because it's Chicago, basically.

Yea expect to hear that chant every time they are in Chicago for the next few years. It'll be like still hearing "You screwed Bret" chants for Earl Hebner in Montreal for YEARS after the Screwjob.

I have never heard someone pronounce "Newcastle" worse than Michael Cole. There's no space between 'New' and 'Castle' ffs, everyone makes that mistake.

Was that the first win for Neville on the main roster?

Maybe they'll make more mention of it during the PPV, but they very casually slipped in a live King of the Ring tournament beginning Tuesday night as part of the hype video of new programming every day the next week.

 

Did anyone catch this?

 

I love this idea! I loved when they did the Network exclusive Rusev vs. Sheamus U.S,. title change and wish they would do more in the vein of live Network exclusive wrestling specials aside from PPVs. It would be great to see a modern MSG house show broadcast, for example.

 

Great finishing stretch to Neville vs Barrett.