[ad_1]
Credit: WWE.com
Five days away from a late Match of the Year contender that saw Roman Reigns narrowly retain his Universal Championship against Kevin Owens at TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs, The Head of the Table once again defended against The Fighter in a steel cage.
Owens took Reigns down with DDT and continued to put the champion on the defensive with a cannonball in the corner as Paul Heyman showed very real concern for the first time. Reigns turned the tide, countering an attempted pop-up powerbomb with one leg dropped for a near-fall.
Owens recovered and delivered a frog splash for two before the break.
Returning from the timeout, Owens managed to execute the electric bomb, but scored another near-fall as Reigns managed to pull his shoulder off the mat at two o’clock. He fought off a flurry of The Tribal Chief and delivered a fisherman buster for another close two.
Reigns blocked a stunner and rocked his challenger with a Superman Punch. Building for momentum for the first time in the match, Reigns tracked down Owens and applied the guillotine to the ropes. Owens defensively pulled the chef back from the table to the throat, crossing the top rope.
Reigns searched for the stunner but Owens grabbed him and dropped him with a stunner. Reigns sent off at two o’clock, leaving the challenger to wonder what he needed to do to win the title.
After another break, Reigns raised his knees, leading them behind the challenger’s back during a Swanton bomb attempt. Reigns followed with a spear, but couldn’t hold Owens back. A look of disbelief and doubt painted the champion’s face as he waved the door open. The resilient babyface gripped his leg. The distraction allowed Owens to reach out, grab the cage door, and slam it in Reigns face.
Owens came within inches of winning the title but paused momentarily to get rid of Jey Uso. Reigns slowed his momentum and delivered another Superman Punch. Owens responded with a second stun. Uso handcuffed Owens to the cage, which proved critical to the champion’s chances of retention.
Reigns came out of the cage, taunting his opponent along the way, before reaching the ground for the win.
Result
Reigns beat Owens to retain title
Classroom
A
Analysis
That Reigns and Owens battled that match quality some 24-48 hours after their TLC classic was a Christmas miracle.
It was another dramatic case that left the public thinking, despite all the preconceptions, Owens could come out on top. The bumps were great, the near crashes were fantastic and the finish allowed Owens to maintain his credibility while further establishing Reigns as a ruthless, relentless but above all resourceful heel champion.
Uso continues to bail out his cousin, setting the table for a babyface to come and neutralize him in an attempt to snatch the Universal Championship away from Reigns.
[ad_2]
Source link
