By Steve Khan, WrestlingObserver.com
– Air Date: July 2, 2015 (July 1 [Canada Day] in Canada)
– Location: GIANT Center in Hershey, PA
The Big News:
Roman Reigns was late for work.
Show Recap:
Seth Rollins, who received a lot of heat on the way out, entered with Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble, and talked about the gifts he gave them on Raw. Rollins said we were part of history, and the grandchildren of Mercury and Noble would ask them about the time they took out Roman Reigns and burned Suplex City to the ground.
Rollins said he cemented his legacy as the greatest superstar of this generation, if not all-time, by taking out both headliners from WrestleMania. He said they left Reigns and Dean Ambrose laying, and the crowd chanted “Suplex City.”
He called Triple H a fair man who, despite being on his way to Japan, would give Reigns and Ambrose a chance for revenge tonight, as Ambrose will face Bray Wyatt, and Reigns will face Seth himself.
Rollins wondered whether Ambrose or Reigns would even show up, and Ambrose came out. Ambrose turned back to grab a Kendo stick and cleared the heels from the ring. I guess Rollins is in charge, because he said Ambrose’s match starts now.
Bray Wyatt beat Dean Ambrose via pinfall
On commentary, Jimmy Uso said Reigns was “whacked out” when he asked Reigns about Wyatt. Ambrose hit a rebound clothesline and flying elbow for a near fall. Ambrose followed Wyatt to the outside and jumped off the table, but Wyatt caught him and did a uranage onto the barricade. Are they actively trying to kill Ambrose? Wyatt pushed him back in the ring and hit Sister Abigail for the win. Another loss for Ambrose. The match was fine, just about what you’d expect from these two.
If you’re wondering where Reigns was, Tom Phillips said that he hadn’t arrived to the arena yet. He didn’t explain why.
They announced Seth Rollins will be on Tough Enough next week.
R-Truth beat Adam Rose (w/Rosa Mendes) via pinfall
Before the match, Rose said us people just don’t get it. Truth interrupted before he could explain. Truth also did a goofy in-set promo about King Barrett. Truth won quickly with a Lie Detector.
They showed Ryback’s interview from the website. He said he would Shellshock both Miz and Big Show at Battleground, as well as Mark Henry tonight. Backstage, Henry said Ryback has bitten off more than he can chew.
Non-Title: IC Champion Ryback beat Mark Henry via pinfall
Uso said his first match was with Mark Henry and he didn’t like it. Jerry Lawler said Henry’s first match was against him and he didn’t like that either. The story of the match was Ryback kept failing to hit his power moves.
Ryback finally did hit a vertical suplex followed by a meat hook clothesline, spinebuster and Shellshock for the win. The highlight was Jimmy Uso who popped out of his seat in excitement after this finish.
Backstage, Mercury and Noble received emails on their watches letting them know that Reigns had yet to arrive at the arena.
Brie Bella (w/Alicia Fox) beat Naomi via pinfall
They said Nikki and Tamina were on tour in Asia and on their way to Beast in the East. Naomi used a move similar to Eat Defeat, but Fox tripped her from the outside and Brie used an X-Factor for the win.
In his dark room backstage, Bray Wyatt blamed himself for Reigns not being there tonight and for not being able to save his friend Dean. Wyatt said Reigns has too many people that he cares for, Wyatt is going to burn everything he has to the ground, and end him.
Non-Title: WWE Tag-Team Champions Prime Time Players beat The Ascension via pinfall
This actually went through a commercial. Darren Young got beat up forever until Titus O’Neil made the hot tag and won with a spinebuster. The match happened and then it was over.
Rusev and Summer Rae came out to “U.S.A.” chants. Rusev held the mic for Summer. Despite not being relevant since her time with Fandango, Summer got pretty good heat here. They booed the entire time she spoke.
Rusev called her a real woman, and a woman who knows her place. The crowd chanted “We want Lana” and Rusev responded, “I have a better Lana now!” Rusev has had enough of Dolph Ziggler and said he would crush Ziggler’s skull, rip out his intestines and hang them out to dry. Rusev is great and this pair just might work.
Non-Title: Roman Reigns beat WWE Champion Seth Rollins (w/J&J Security) via DQ
Rollins had Noble and Mercury begin a 10-count using their new watches, but Reigns showed up just in time. Despite being late, Reigns was still in full gear. Reigns tried to hit Mercury with a powerbomb but Rollins kicked him in the gut and took over from there.
The shrill little voices from the crowd chanted for Reigns who came back with fists and corner clotheslines. Reigns hit a powerbomb and sized up a superman punch instead of going for a cover. Noble grabbed his leg and Mercury jumped him for a DQ.
The three heels beat down Reigns but Ambrose ran out for the save, nailing them with a Kendo stick (catching Noble just once, in the upper back). Rollins tried a pedigree on Ambrose but Reigns caught him with a superman punch.
The heels bailed through the crowd but Reigns grabbed Mercury before he could escape. Ambrose whaled on him with the Kendo stick and Reigns finished him with a spear.
Final Thoughts:
This show was a waste of time. They spent the entire show building to a main event involving a guy who they weren’t sure was going to show up, and when he did, the match went about 5 minutes and ended in a DQ.