This week’s WWE Main Event was taped at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, before Monday’s Raw.
This was a perfectly watchable show but Apollo Crews vs. JD McDonagh III was a disappointment given how strong their first two exchanges were.
Riddick Moss defeated Akira Tozawa (5:20)
This match was all about Moss, although Tozawa appeared to have hope at times. Moss bullied his opponent and showed off his power in a fairly run-of-the-mill match.
This was Moss’ first win since dropping the Madcap name in May. Meanwhile, Tozawa, who doesn’t get many wins anyway, lost here for the 15th time in 2023. For a loser, he’s a pretty fantastic performer.
Moss worked Tozawa over pretty much from the get-go with Tozawa flipping all over for him. Tozawa sold a clothesline as if it had killed him and took a posting before having to work his way out of a rest hold.
The hope came as Tozawa played the plucky babyface, coming off the top rope with a back elbow and turning a power bomb into a hurricanrana. The crowd really liked Tozawa and was rooting for him as he was getting some shine.
In the end, Tozawa got caught coming off the top and Moss was able to put him in a delayed suplex before using a modified jackhammer for the win.
Apollo Crews defeated JD McDonagh (6:35)
Click Here: penrith panthers team jersey
This was the long-awaited rubber match between these two, but it didn’t deliver nearly as well as the previous two.
McDonagh took control in the early going. He was trash talking Crews and definitely looking more of a heel than he has in previous weeks.
They went outside and McDonagh tried to get one over on Crews, but Crews had him scouted and rolled him back inside. McDonagh was sent over the top rope with a clothesline as we headed to the commercial break.
Crews worked out of a side headlock and came off the top rope with a beautiful crossbody for a near fall. The hang time alone here was impressive.
They started to trade near falls in what was easily the best segment of the match. There was much grace here amongst the big boots and kicks to the head. McDonagh loves the Spanish Fly and I think the one he did here was the best-looking of all of the ones he’s done with Crews.
Unfortunately, they went to the finish quite quickly after they had started to really get going. Crews caught McDonagh off the top rope, hoisted him up onto his shoulders, and delivered his Samoan Drop for the win.