WWE Network Plugs & More Charlotte vs. Paige Hype
JBL used his flashcards to explain the difference in price between WWE Network and ordering Survivor Series on pay-per-view. Saxton pimped a free month for new users, then danced like a jackass while seated to the Uso Brothers’ theme…
[Q8] Footage aired from Charlotte beating Nikki Bella at Night of Champions to win the Divas Championship… [C]
Backstage: Cesaro & Triple H
The crowd cheered as Cesaro was shown getting ready for his match backstage. Triple H sat down with him and Cesaro asked him to tell him what he told Kevin Owens. Hunter said he wants to talk to him. He said Cesaro’s match is as big as it gets. He said he’s not blowing smoke when he says Cesaro has what it takes. Hunter said Cesaro could use that little bit extra, but it might be his time to grab the brass ring. Hunter said he would be watching in his personal Cesaro Section to see if Cesaro is willing to do anything to take that next step. Cesaro smirked, shook his head, and put on his headphones when Hunter left the room.
WWE Title Tournament Quarterfinals
– Roman Reigns vs. Cesaro
Roman Reigns made his entrance and asked the fans if the Roman Empire is in the house. He got some cheers. He spoke about it being a long road to get here. He recalled Hunter telling him he could put him in the finals. Reigns said he thought about Hunter’s offer long and hard, but he doesn’t sell out. Reigns said the ride ends with him winning the title on Sunday. Cole hyped Reigns vs. Cesaro for after the break… [C]
Cesaro made his entrance and there were plenty of Cesaro Section signs across from the hard camera.
Cesaro pushed Reigns to the ropes and then broke slowly. He teased an uppercut but stopped and patted Reigns on the chest. Reigns looked at him like he was a goof.
[Q9] Reigns took Cesaro down in a headlock, then Cesaro countered with a head-scissors, which Reigns broke out of. The crowd was about as quiet early on as they were during the Ziggler vs. Ambrose match. At 5:30, Cesaro connected with his flying uppercut from the middle rope for a favorable reaction. There were some vocal Cesaro fans, but most of the crowd seemed to be sitting back and watching more than anything.
Reigns charged Cesaro in the corner and missed. Cesaro kicked him through the ropes and into the post. Reigns went to ringside and sold his shoulder. Cesaro went after him and connected with a running uppercut heading into the break. [C]
Reigns hit a series of clotheslines in the corner and the crowd counted to four along with him. Cesaro came back briefly, but Reigns put him down with a clothesline to some cheers. Reigns followed up with a suplex. Cesaro avoided a Reigns kick from the floor, then dragged him back inside and performed the Cesaro Swing and then put him in a Sharpshooter.
Cesaro gave up the Sharpshooter to apply a Crossface, which Reings sold poorly by simply keeping his mouth open and holding up his hand for a second. Reigns powered up and slammed Cesaro down with a Samoan drop for a two count. Both men slowly got to their feet. Cesaro charged at Reigns, who backdropped him over the top rope. Cesaro came up selling his elbow as Cole said he slammed it “on the hardest part of the ring.” Reigns performed a running kick on Cesaro on the floor and rolled him back inside the ring.
[Q10] Reigns performed a clothesline back inside the ring and then threw nine more at him with some fans counting along. Reigns went for a big tenth, but Cesaro blocked it. Cesaro applied an arm lock, but Reigns powered him up for a powerbomb and got another two count.
Reigns went to the corner and signaled for his finisher. There were more boos than cheers. Reigns went for the Superman Punch, but Cesaro threw him into the air and connected with an uppercut on the way down for a two count. The crowd chanted “this is awesome.”
At 19:00, Cesaro tried to power up Reigns for a suplex from the apron, but Reigns fought him off and connected with a Superman Punch, which received more boos than cheers. Reigns set up for a spear, but Cesaro caught him with an uppercut. Cesaro went for the Neutralizer, but Reigns avoided it. Cesaro caught Reigns in a backslide for a two count. Reigns came back with a punch and a spear for the win. Afterward, Cesaro met Reigns on the floor and shook hand and then spoke to him off mic.
Winner and advancing to the semifinals of the WWE Title Tournament: Roman Reigns
WWE Remembers The Late Nick Bockwinkel
The broadcast team acknowledged the death of Nick Bockwinkel at ringside. They all shared comments about Bockwinkel, and Cole said he was known as the best technical wrestler of all-time. He encouraged viewers to visit the website for more on Bockwinkel.
The Ascension vs. The Dudley Boyz
When we return from the break, The Ascension is in the ring ready for tag-team action. Out comes their opponents for this evening, Bubba Ray and D-Von, The Dudley Boyz. The bell sounds and almost immediately every fan in Greenville is chanting “We Want Tables!” passionately.
[Q11] Bubba performed a uranage on Konnor and then both men tagged their opponents. D-Von got the better of Viktor and knocked Konnor off the apron. Konnor returned to break up the pin, but Viktor took 3D and was pinned moments later.
Winners: The Dudley Boyz