This month, WWE Home Video Uk released another double feature again with RAW and SMACKDOWN PPV’S.
RAW – Great Balls of Fire.
It’s the show with the name wrestling fans mocked and insulted, but turned out to be a good show, its Great Balls of Fire. The show contained an exciting main event, feuds that triggered superb matches and teased more towards other rivalries. Sounds like everything you’d want from PPV, let’s find out.
Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt
This was a feud wasn’t it? You’ve be forgiven for having to second guess yourself on that one as the match seemed to announced just for this PPV and then shortly there after on RAW, they had the match that ended the rivalry. It is an okay match but don’t be surprised if you forget this match happened.
Enzo Amore vs. Big Cass
The separation of Enzo and Cass finally happened and Cass basically destroys Enzo, to the cheers to the fans. WWE clearly sees a bright future in Cass and rightly so. Since separating from his loud mouth partner, Cass has shown too he has the talent to work the mic and is developing more in the ring. Expect bigger things when he returns in 2018 after injury, Enzo however…oh well.
RAW Tag Team Championship 30-Minute Iron Man Match:
Cesaro & Sheamus (C) vs. The Hardy Boyz
This was a great match. Since Cesaro & Sheamus turned on the Hardy’s they have been gold and they Hardy’s themselves continue to demonstrate why they are they team that no matter what decade they are in, they are one of the best. Despite following the usual script for most Iron Matches, both teams excel in making the fans get invested and as the clock ticks to the end, all hell brakes loose in the best way possible and everyone is reminded that RAW’s tag team division is in safe hands.
RAW Women’s Championship Match:
Alexa Bliss (C) vs. Sasha Banks
The beginning of a rivalry that continues to No Mercy and possibly beyond, had its first match here. A really good match that had fans on social media asking the question are the rumours of the two hating each other actually true. Regardless of which, the count out ending really hammered home that this was the beginning of their feud and there wasn’t gonna be any real winners on the first outing.
Intercontinental Championship Match:
The Miz (C) vs. Dean Ambrose
Compared to other matches they have had in this feud and previously on SMACKDOWN, this match will be remembered as…well I really shouldn’t. Why do I say this, because it seemed to played by the numbers. These two have had a long, long and long running feud that this really didn’t inject anything new and thats that really.
Ambulance Match:
Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman
Damn, just damn. There are ways of answering critics and then there is this. Fans when heard Reigns and Strowman would be facing each other again, eye rolls were conveyed but this match, delivered on all counts. Hard hitting, furious and with a ridiculously chaotic ending with an 18 wheeler truck and an ambulance, this had to be seen to be believed.
Universal Championship Match:
Brock Lesnar (C) vs. Samoa Joe
A hell of a match and an amazing build up for Samoa Joe and the mayor of Suplex City, Lesnar. A breakneck speed the match began and just as quick it came to an end. If this match went even an extra 5 mins it would have been a candidate for Match of the year but it still makes for exciting viewing. Both men came out this feud and match looking destructive and ruthless, and afterwards despite the fans wishing the match could have gone on longer, this was exactly the kickstart that the Universal Championship needed.
Time to turn our attention to Battleground, the other show on the Double Feature and once again and the show that really comes out second best to RAW’s PPV.
SMACKDOWN – Battleground
SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match:
The Usos (C) vs. The New Day
Easily the best match of the night, but what would you expect from The Uso’s whose reinvention of themselves have been excellent and as for the returning New Day, have excelled at bringing a new lease of life into their performances since joining SMACKDown. The match itself has everything you will want from a feud that is easily one of the best in WWE this year.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin
Unknown what the plan was with this match but from a viewing standpoint Nakamura hasn’t given the same performances he has done in NXT or NJPW for that matter and stranger still, Corbin seems below par in this match too. Pass.
Winner Faces Naomi For The SmackDown Women’s Championship At SummerSlam:
Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch vs. Natalya vs. Lana vs. Tamina
This is a decent match, with the talents involved it couldn’t be anything less. However, it’s hard to wonder exactly why not hold this of SMACKDOWN itself and have Natalya challenge Naomi on this show and create a storyline between Flair and Lynch.
United States Championship Match:
AJ Styles (C) vs. Kevin Owens
The match with that ending. An excellent rivalry between Styles and Owens was fought during the summer with many fans stating that their battle should have been over the WWE Championship rather than the US Title, regardless, on this night, the match is marred by the quick ending that should never have happened.
Flag Match:
John Cena vs. Rusev
John Cena is returning, that is great news. Rusev is returning, that is great news. Flag match, that is not great news. Cena vs Rusev was done in so many matches throughout 2015 that when this match was announced fans thought the writers simply found they 2015 scripts and the wrestlers were on replay. The match is predicable.
Sami Zayn vs. Mike Kanellis
Could have been so much more, but it’s mainly used a filler match. Both deserve better and Kanellis received a defeat on his first PPV, eh okay.
WWE Championship Punjabi Prison Match:
Jinder Mahal (C) vs. Randy Orton
You got to love Punjabi Prisons matches don’t you? No? Of course you don’t its simply a really bad idea from the get go. The tension was non existent and the action was slow. The main stars of the match are The Singh Brothers who are brutalised throughout the match and as for The Great Khali’s involvement, less said the better. Another disappointing match thats associated with Jinder’s and Orton’s regime and worse for fans, SMACKDOWN too.
So on the whole, if you want to purchase this, it looks primary for Great Balls of Fire and much like other Double Features, there are no extras.
DVD is out now.
Photos by WWE Home video UK.