WWE Money in the Bank results: Powell’s live review of Seth Rollins vs. AJ Styles for the WWE Universal Championship, Kofi Kingston vs. Kevin Owens for the WWE Championship, Becky Lynch defends the Raw and Smackdown Women’s Titles, two Money in the Bank ladder matches

By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)

WWE Money in the Bank
Aired live May 19, 2019 live on WWE Network and pay-per-view
Hartford, Connecticut at the XL Center

A graphic acknowledged the death of Ashley Massaro… A Money in the Bank video package aired and noted that 81 percent of the past winners ended up cashing in successfully…

1. Naomi vs. Natalya vs. Nikki Cross vs. Dana Brooke vs. Ember Moon vs. Mandy Rose (w/Sonya Deville) vs. Bayley vs. Carmella in the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match. The broadcast team of Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, and Renee Young called the match. The Spanish and German broadcast teams checked in during the entrances.

Cross grabbed a ladder and used it to run into Rose, Bayley, Natalya, and Naomi. She did the Terry Funk spin to hit various women until Brooke dropkicked her. Brooke and Moon fought over the ladder. Moon used the ladder to push Moon into the corner. Cross hopped on the back of Moon, who then slammed Cross onto the ladder in the corner.

Carmella and Natalya set up ladders in opposite corners. Carmella shoved Natalya face first into one ladder, then Natalya returned the favor. Natalya catapulted Naomi toward a ladder. Naomi hopped onto one of the rungs, then performed a spinning kick. A short time later, Carmella shoved Rose away a few times while nursing an apparent right knee injury. Two referees and a trainer checked on Carmella, and helped her up the ramp around 5:00.

Natalya set up a bigger ladder in the middle of the ring at 7:40. Cross speared Natalya. Naomi made a play for the briefcase, but others cut her off. Cross went up the ladder and Moon stopped her. Cross worked over Moon. Brooke pushed the ladder over and onto Cross, then set it back up again.

Brooke ended up swinging from the cable and then found her way back onto the ladder. A group of women fought on the ladder until Natalya tipped it over. Moon hit an Eclipse on Natalya from a ladder in the corner, which drew “holy shit” chants from the crowd at 10:00. Rose kicked Moon and then performed her finisher onto a ladder.

At 11:10, Carmella limped to ringside with her right knee bandaged. Brooke went out to meet her for God knows what reason and ended up getting her ass kicked. Carmella limped as she returned to the ring and positioned the ladder. Carmella slowly climbed the ladder.

Sonya Deville stopped Carmella and speared her. Deville went to ringside and then placed Rose inside the ring. Deville put Rose on her shoulders and then climbed halfway up the ladder before placing Rose onto one of the rungs. Rose reached up and grabbed the briefcase, but Bayley ran up the other side and knocked both heels down, then pulled down the briefcase to win the match…

Bayley defeated Mandy Rose, Naomi, Nikki Cross, Carmella, Natalya, Dana Brooke, and Ember Moon to win the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match in 13:50.

Charly Caruso entered the ring and interviewed Bayley, who said she’s proud of everything she and Sasha Banks accomplished, but tonight she is more than just Bayley, she is Miss Money in the Bank…

Powell’s POV: Caruso brought up Sasha’s name first for those keeping score at home. The match was entertaining and hopefully this will finally lead to good things for Bayley, who has been horribly misused and wasted since she was called up to the main roster. And just to keep my streak alive, here’s hoping that Banks returns and ruins Bayley’s cash-in moment as her full fledged heel turn.

The broadcast team recalled Sami Zayn beating Braun Strowman on Raw to take his spot in the MITB ladder match…

Backstage, Triple H was on the phone when Zayn fought for his attention. Zayn eventually won out and said that Strowman was their mutual problem. Zayn said Strowman is vengeful and won’t stop until he hurts him. Triple H told Zayn that Strowman had been banned from the building…

Rey Mysterio was shown getting ready for his U.S. Title match and hugging his son Dominick…

2. Samoa Joe vs. Rey Mysterio for the U.S. Title. The broadcast team was Michael Cole, Corey Graves, and Renee Young. Dominick was shown watching the match on a backstage monitor. Mysterio performed an early springboard senton and Joe grabbed his face. Joe came up with a bloody nose. Joe set up for a powerbomb, but Mysterio countered into a huracanrana and scored the win even though Joe’s shoulder was up.

Rey Mysterio defeated Samoa Joe in 1:40 to win the U.S. Championship.

After the match, the broadcast team unanimously agreed that Joe’s shoulder was up after watching the replay. Dominick ran out and celebrated with his father. As they headed up the ramp, Joe attacked Mysterio and brought him back inside the ring where he gave him a uranage. Dominick pleaded with Joe from ringside as Joe continued to work over his father. Joe glared at Dominick, then gave Mysterio a running senton. Joe left the ring and headed up the ramp. Dominick entered the ring to check on his father…

Powell’s POV: Oh, come on! They’re just teasing us with Joe beating the hell out of Dominick at this point. Heck, it might be the best reason to keep watching WWE television at this point, so I can’t blame them.

Backstage, Braun Strowman knocked over random things while searching for Zayn… The cage lowered around the ring while the cage music played… A video package set up the cage match…

3. The Miz vs. Shane McMahon in a cage match. The Smackdown broadcast team of Tom Phillips, Corey Graves, and Byron Saxton called the match. Shane was satisfied with Greg Hamilton’s “best in the world” introduction. The bell rang and Shane immediately tried to escape the cage. Miz stopped him and threw punches. Shane caught Miz going for a move and slammed him back first into the center of the cage.

At 4:15, Shane went for Coast to Coast, but Miz stood up and grabbed his legs on the way down (kinda) and applied the figure four. Shane reached the ropes and Graves quickly pointed out that there are no rope breaks. Shane called for the cage door to open. Miz ended up releasing the hold. Shane tried to leave through the cage door, but Miz stopped him and dragged him back inside the ring, but Shane managed to grab a chair. Shane tried to use the chair as a weapon, but Miz kicked him.

Miz ended up with the chair. Shane tried to leave through the cage door, but Miz pulled it into Shane’s face. Miz worked over Shane’s back with chair shots. Miz jawed at Shane and then performed a Skull Crushing Finale onto the chair. Miz covered Shane and had the pin, but Shane put his foot on the bottom rope. Cole started going on about there not being any DQs in a cage match and wondering what the referee was doing.

Miz took Shane to the ropes and wanted to perform a top rope version of his finisher, but Shane cut him off with elbows and tossed him to the mat. Shane tried to escape the cage, but Miz stopped him with a chair shot to the leg. Both men fought on top of the cage. Miz got the better of it and ended up on the top rope from where he pulled Shane from the top of the cage and into the ring. Miz performed a rough frogsplash for a two count.

Shane applied a triangle. Miz rolled onto him for a pin, but Shane released the hold. Shane tried to leave through the cage door. Miz stopped Shane again and catapulted him into the cage. Shane caught the cage and tried to escape over the top of it, but Miz caught him and tried to superplex him. Shane resisted and eventually Shane slid out of his shirt and fell to the ground to win the match…

Shane McMahon defeated The Miz in a cage match in 13:10.

Powell’s POV: They did a better job of telling the story of Miz domination and a flukey Shane win at WrestleMania than they did in this match, but I still like the idea of stretching this out another month.

Cole announced that Mick Foley will appear on Monday’s Raw to announce WWE’s newest title…

Powell’s POV: WWE Western States Heritage Championship? Does WWE really need another title when they don’t do enough to maintain the prestige of most of the titles they currently have?

Triple H and a bunch of producers were shown running backstage. They found Sami Zayn hanging upside down… An ad aired for the NXT television show. Velveteen Dream said fans were buzzing over what the next experience will be…

4. Tony Nese vs. Ariya Daivari for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. The 205 Live broadcast team of Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness, and Aiden English were on commentary. Daivari drove a sports car into the arena as part of his entrance. The international broadcast teams were introduced.

Daivari stumbled while applying a hold early on. Daivari avoided Nese’s pump-handle slam and threw a kick at him in the corner. Daivari seated Nese on the top rope and went for a move that Nese blocked. Daivari hit Nese with several chops and kicks that sent Nese tumbling to ringside. Daivari followed him to ringside, where Nese came back with a big right hand before rolling him back inside the ring.

Nese went up top and Daivari caught him by the hands and pulled him down, which led to a near fall. Nese came back and performed a big dive at ringside, then performed a 450 splash for a near fall back inside the ring. Nese ran into a superkick from Daivari, who performed a frogsplash. Daivari performed his lariat finisher and covered Nese for a good near fall. Nese hit his running knee in the corner a short time later and scored the pin…

Tony Nese defeated Ariya Daivari in 9:25 to retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

Powell’s POV: A solid match. The live crowd was quiet and it’s hard to blame them since these guys only appear on 205 Live. More than anything, I’m just surprised that this match aired on the main card rather than on a Kickoff Show. Baby steps?

Triple H approached Braun Strowman backstage and said he understood what he was doing, but he wasn’t going to let him replace Zayn in the MITB ladder match. Strowman said he didn’t know what Hunter was talking about. “I didn’t do a damn thing,” Strowman said. Triple H asked him “as a professional and your boss” to leave. “Whatever, man,” Strowman replied…

An ad aired for the WWE Super ShowDown event… The broadcast team spoke at ringside. Cole noted that the show would be held in Jeddah (he stopped short of mentioning Saudi Arabia). Cole said Zayn had been taken to a local medical facility and said that neither Zayn nor Strowman would be in the men’s MITB ladder match…

Powell’s POV: So we have a whodunnit. While there’s no guarantee on the payoff, I like the idea. My guess is Lars Sullivan, but Aleister Black would also be a fun surprise.

A video package set up the Raw Women’s Championship match…

5. Becky Lynch vs. Lacey Evans for the Raw Women’s Championship. Evans came out in a green outfit with a skirt. She ripped off the skirt and revealed pair of guns in holsters. She pulled the guns out and shot money out of them. Cool. Cole said no one in WWE history has ever successfully defended two separate singles titles in two separate matches on the same night. Mike Rome delivered in-ring introductions for the title match.

A loud “Becky Two Belts” chant broke out right before the bell rang to start the match. Lynch went on the offensive to start and Evans rolled to ringside. Lynch dropkicked her under the bottom rope and then followed to ringside where she whipped Evans into the barricade. Back inside the ring, Evans targeted Lynch’s left arm and shoulder. At one point, Evans pulled out a tissue to wipe her brow, then she shoved it into Lynch’s mouth.

Lynch came back and performed a missile dropkick. Evans rolled to ringside. Lynch leapt from the apron and punched Evans, then rolled her back inside the ring and covered her for a two count. Evans used the ropes as leverage and performed a cutter on Lynch for a two count of her own. Lynch came back with her Disarmer finisher, but Evans reached the ropes to break it at 8:25. Evans caught Lynch with a chop block to the knee, then rolled her up. The referee was slow getting into position for the count. Lynch countered into the Disarmer and got a quick tapout from Evans…

Becky Lynch defeated Lacey Evans in 8:40 to retain the Raw Women’s Championship.

Lynch was on the verge of leaving with her title belts when Charlotte Flair came out with the idea of starting their match immediately. Graves said Lynch could go to the back and defend her title later as was scheduled. Lynch entered the ring instead…

6. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair for the Smackdown Women’s Championship. There were no introductions for the match and the Raw broadcast team remained on the call. Flair was in offensive control early on with the story being that she was fresh while Lynch was weary from the Evans match. Lynch eventually had Flair down at ringside. As the referee was counting, Evans appeared at ringside and blasted Lynch with a Woman’s Right from the floor. Flair returned to the ring only to be rolled up by Lynch for a near fall. Flair got up and blasted Lynch with a boot to the face and pinned her.

Charlotte Flair pinned Becky Lynch in 6:15 to win the Smackdown Women’s Championship.

After the match, Lynch went after Evans and worked her over with punches at ringside until Flair intervened. Evans rolled Lynch back inside the ring and attacked her, then held her while Flair kicked and chopped her. Bayley ran out carrying her MITB briefcase and attacked both heels. Flair ended up hitting Bayley from behind, then went back to attacking Lynch.

Flair picked up her title belt, then decided to charge Bayley, who moved and tripped Flair so that she crashed into the corner. Fans roared as Bayley looked at her briefcase and Flair. Bayley informed the referee that she was cashing in her MITB contract…

7. Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley for the Smackdown Women’s Championship. Bayley pulled Flair out of the corner, then performed a top rope elbow drop and pinned her. Bayley went to ringside and into the crowd to celebrate with fans afterward…

Bayley pinned Charlotte Flair in 0:20 to win the Smackdown Women’s Championship.

Powell’s POV: Wow, they threw a lot at us. Evans delivered a passable performance in the biggest match of her career. And Evans lost the match and was protected via the ref being late to count, and she also got her heat back quickly by costing Lynch the Smackdown Title. Bayley winning the title so quickly feels rushed, but the live crowd loved it and at least it feels fresher than another Charlotte title reign. In other words, this was well booked all around.

Roman Reigns was shown walking backstage. Elias snuck up behind him and hit him with a guitar. Elias made his entrance via the side of the stage, then played an electric guitar once inside the ring. Elias said he was playing an electric guitar because his other guitar was broken. Funny. Elias claimed that Vince McMahon called him and said he can sleep well at night because WWE is in good hands with Elias.

Elias heeled on the Hartford crowd and then sang a song about the fans being boring, their lives sucking without him, no one wanting to hear Reigns talk, etc. He also praised North Carolina and said it was a beautiful place. He said he understands why the Whalers left the city “because Hartford is a disgrace.” Elias thanked the crowd, said goodnight, and added that he loved none of them. Elias started to head up the ramp and then told the crowd he would do his pose for them. As Elias made it to the top of the stage, Roman’s entrance music played. Reigns ran out and gave Elias a Superman Punch…

8. Roman Reigns vs. Elias. Reigns threw Elias in the ring. Once Elias got up, Reigns let out the war cry and then speared and pinned him clean…

Roman Reigns pinned Elias in 0:10.

Powell’s POV: A technical masterpiece. I normally don’t give star ratings, but I’m giving that seventeen stars.

An ad aired for the WWE 24 documentary on Becky Lynch that will air after the pay-per-view on WWE Network… The Raw broadcast team set up a video package for the WWE Universal Championship match…

9. Seth Rollins vs. AJ Styles for the WWE Universal Championship. Rome delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. There were dueling chants for the wrestlers early on. Styles caught Rollins with a nice dropkick at 4:00 for the first big offensive move of the match. Rollins came back by driving Styles’ face into the corner. They went to the apron where Styles set up for a Styles Clash. Rollins avoided the move, but Styles caught him with a running knee to the head.

At 6:55, Rollins performed a suicide dive that drove Styles into a broadcast table. Rollins performed the move again, then rolled Styles back inside the ring. Rollins performed a sling blade clothesline, then performed a springboard clothesline for a two count. Rollins went for the ripcord knee, but Styles avoided it and dropped Rollins’ neck onto his knee at 9:25.

After some rapid fire pin attempts by both men, Rollins performed a buckle bomb and followed up with a top rope frogsplash for a two count. Styles came back with a German suplex. Styles went for another, but Rollins countered into a pin for a two count. Styles performed a torture rack powerbomb for a near fall.

At 13:00, Styles set up for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Rollins swept his legs on the ropes. With Styles seated on the top rope facing away from him, Rollins went up behind him and performed an inverted superplex into another move for a near fall. Rollins went for his Stomp finisher, but Styles countered into a Calf Crusher, which Rollins broke with a kick. Styles performed a reverse DDT for a near fall. Styles called for Rollins to get up and then ran into a superkick at 16:45.

Rollins caught Styles with a step-up enzuigiri, ducked a Pele Kick, and connected with a superkick on a kneeling Styles. Rollins went for his finisher, but Styles countered into the Styles Clash for a great near fall. Styles went for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Rollins avoided it. Rollins performed the ripcord knee and a superkick, then performed the Stomp. Rollins struggled to make the cover but eventually did and scored the 1-2-3.

Seth Rollins pinned AJ Styles in 19:45 to retain the WWE Universal Championship.

After the match, Styles left the ring and then returned while Rollins was celebrating on the ropes. Rollins got down and they came face to face. Rollins held up his title belt. Styles hung his head, then looked up and offered Rollins a handshake. Rollins thought about it and then shook his hand. Styles left the ring to his entrance music. Rollins put the title belt down in the ring, then his music played again. Rollins smiled, picked up his title belt, and played to the crowd…

Powell’s POV: A match that lived up to expectations with some really good back and forth action and some suspenseful near falls. They can definitely go back to this again. It will be interesting to see if the Styles character shows a lot of frustration coming out of this loss. There was some suspicion that he was going to turn in this match. That didn’t happen, but I could see them taking a slower approach with his frustration building.

Charly Caruso interviewed Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods backstage. She asked Kingston about Owens claiming that Kingston wouldn’t be champion if it wasn’t for New Day. Kingston said he’s not embarrassed to say that he might not be champion without New Day. Woods told Kingston not to sell himself short. Woods also said he would respect Kingston’s wishes and let him get the job done by himself. Kingston said it’s about him making a statement to anyone who thinks they can get to him by going after his brothers…

Cole hyped Foley appearing to discuss WWE’s newest title…

Lucha House Party came to the ring for an unadvertised match. They spoke to the crowd briefly about a lucha house party. Lars Sullivan headed to the ring while Graves said there was supposed to be a six-man tag match. Sullivan slammed Gran Metalik at ringside. Lince Dorado dove at Sullivan, who caught and slammed him. Sullivan entered the ring and no-sold Kalisto punching him. Sullivan hit Kalisto repeatedly. Sullivan’s forehead was cut somehow. Sullivan performed a running powerbomb on Kalisto. Sullivan wiped some of the blood from his head and then rubbed it onto his own chest before leaving the ring…

Powell’s POV: Does this mean that Sullivan won’t be the mystery man in the ladder match? Interesting.

The broadcast team set up a video package on the WWE Championship match…

10. Kofi Kingston vs. Kevin Owens for the WWE Championship. The Smackdown broadcast team called the match. Woods was shown watching the match on a backstage monitor. Greg Hamilton delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. They quickly fought to ringside. Owens whipped Kingston toward the steps, but Kingston leapt onto the apron, ran up the ropes, and then dove onto Owens.

Back inside the ring, Owens caught Kingston with a superkick and then went on the offensive while targeting the lower back of Kingston. Kofi showed some signs of life while fighting on the apron, but Owens ran him back first into the ring post. Owens followed up with a splash from the apron onto Kingston at ringside.

They returned to the ring and Kingston started a comeback. Owens cut him off and applied a Boston Crab to continue the attack on the lower back. Kingston reached the ropes to break the hold. They returned to the apron where Kingston performed a standing double stomp that sent Owens to the floor. Kingston went up top and performed a corkscrew dive into a superkick from Owens, who rolled him back inside the ring for a near fall at 8:45.

Owens and Kingston countered out of the other’s big move attempts. Kingston got the better of it and performed an SOS for a two count. Owens ducked a Trouble in Paradise Kick and reapplied a Boston Crab until Kingston reached the ropes to break it. Both men went for superkicks, but Kingston grabbed the leg of Owens, took him down, and threw several punches. Owens came right back with a Popup Powerbomb for a near fall at 11:30.

Owens kicked Kingston and went for a Stunner. Kingston blocked the move and connected with Trouble in Paradise, but Owens rolled through the ropes and tumbled to the floor. Once Owens returned to the ring, he hit Kingston with a Stunner and had him pinned, but Kingston reached up and grabbed the bottom rope to break it at 13:15. Owens went hop top and performed a swanton, but Kingston put his knees up. Owens got up and ran into Trouble in Paradise, and Kingston pinned him clean.

Kofi Kingston defeated Kevin Owens in 14:10 to retain the WWE Championship.

Woods ran out and celebrated with Kingston after the match. Woods mocked Owens by waving at him…

Powell’s POV: A good match that just didn’t generate a strong crowd reaction. The live crowd liked Kingston and gave him a good reaction during the entrances, but they just didn’t seem to buy into this match as much as the WWE Universal Title match. In fairness, the feud was rushed and the fans may not have seen KO as a strong threat to take the title.

An ad for WWE Super ShowDown aired and hyped the Goldberg vs. Undertaker match for the June 7 event. The Smackdown broadcast team spoke about the event and played up the idea that it’s as big if not bigger than WrestleMania. They also hyped Randy Orton vs. Triple H, the 50-man battle royal, Braun Strowman vs. Bobby Lashley, and The Demon version of Finn Balor for Andrade for the Intercontinental Championship…

Powell’s POV: Please tell me that the new WWE Title belt that Mick Foley is introducing on Raw tomorrow isn’t related to WWE’s Saudi shows. Didn’t they give Strowman a green title belt for winning the Greatest Royal Rumble?

Ring entrances for the main event took place. Baron Corbin made Mike Rome deliver his over the top introduction. Finn Balor and Ricochet were out next. Zelina Vega came out with Andrade, but she turned around and went backstage while he walked to the ring. Ali was out next followed by Drew McIntyre and then Randy Orton…

11. Drew McIntyre vs. Ricochet vs. Baron Corbin vs. Randy Orton vs. Ali vs. Andrade vs. Finn Balor in the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match. The broadcast team was Cole, Graves, and Saxton. The match started with seven entrants while Cole recalled Sami Zayn being sent to the hospital earlier.

Powell’s POV: Rather than a whodunnit, was the attack actually a ruse by the Zayn character to allow him to enter the match late?

The bell rang to start the match and Orton immediately ducked to ringside. Orton dropped Ali on the broadcast table. Balor and Ricochet cleared the ring and set up for a stereo dive. Orton tripped up Balor and dumped him onto the broadcast table, while Ricochet performed a flip dive onto McIntyre and Corbin. Ricochet went after Orton, who slammed him onto the broadcast table. Orton set up a ladder in the ring, but Andrade performed a springboard dropkick to knock him off it.

Ricochet and Ali climbed opposite sides of the ladder, but Corbin and McIntyre cut them off. McIntyre tossed Ricochet onto a ladder in the corner. Ouch. Around 5:00, Orton returned to the ring and was setting up for an RKO on Corbin, but McIntyre caught him with a Claymore Kick. At 8:00, Andrade performed a sunset bomb on Balor off the top of the bigger ladder that drove Balor onto a ladder that was leaning against the middle rope. Damn.

Ali performed a reverse Frankensteiner on Ricochet. Ali set up the ladder to the side of the briefcase. Andrade returned to stop him from making a play for the briefcase. Ali ended up hanging upside down near the bottom of the ladder. Andrade grabbed another ladder and set it up next to Ali’s ladder and then kicked him a few times. Andrade climbed his ladder, but Ali recovered and met him at the top. Ali performed a Spanish Fly on Andrade from the ladders. “What is wrong with these guys?” Cole asked. Graves said it’s all logical because you have to destroy everyone else in the match.

At 12:40, Corbin chokeslammed Ali through the German broadcast table. Just as the broadcast team was talking about the Corbin and McIntyre alliance, Corbin threw McIntyre over the barricade. A short time later, McIntyre returned to ringside and blasted Corbin with a Claymore Kick. Meanwhile, Balor made a play for the briefcase, but McIntyre cut him off and suplexed him onto a ladder that was lying in the ring. McIntyre followed up with his reverse catapult slam on Andrade, who landed on Balor. Ricochet returned with a leaping dive at McIntyre at 15:50.

At 16:20, McIntyre tossed Ricochet over the top rope and onto a ladder that was set up over the apron and a broadcast table, which resulted in the ladder snapping in half. McIntyre made a play for the briefcase, but Orton dropped him with an RKO. Corbin tossed Orton to ringside and made a play for the briefcase, but Ali climbed up and over Corbin, who put him in powerbomb position only to have Ali perform a huracanrana that sent Corbin to the floor.

Ali climbed the ladder and got a hand on the briefcase, but Brock Lesnar’s music played. Lesnar and Paul Heyman ran out. Lesnar knocked Ali’s ladder over. Lesnar set up the ladder, climbed it, and pulled down the MITB briefcase to apparently win the match…

Brock Lesnar defeated Ali, Drew McIntyre, Andrade, Baron Corbin, Randy Orton, Ricochet, and Finn Balor in 19:00 to win the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match.

The broadcast team said Lesnar was the eighth man in the match. Cole said the worst nightmare of Rollins just came true because Lesnar is Mr. Money in the Bank…

Powell’s POV: A weak finish to an otherwise strong event. If they want to give Lesnar a title match then give him a title match. But the idea of Lesnar carrying around the MITB briefcase doesn’t do anything for me. Admittedly, it will make his appearances feel more important if they opt to have him lurk with the briefcase for a while. This will be a big disappointment if they simply have Lesnar cash in for his rematch in Saudi Arabia. Either way, it was a chance to make someone or at least to take things in a fresh direction. Instead, they opted to have Lesnar go right back into the WWE Universal Championship mix, which is just plain tired at this point. On the plus side, this was a strong pay-per-view aside from the main event finish. The crew had to be running on fumes after the European tour, but you’d never know it from watching these matches. Jake Barnett and I will team up shortly for a members’ exclusive audio review.

Check below for the latest Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast with Jason Powell and guest Conrad Thompson discussing Starrcast II, Undertaker pulling out of the event, hosting AEW rallies and his friendship with Tony Khan, thoughts on how WWE podcasts could work, and more.

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