WWE LIVE EVENT REPORT
APRIL 29, 2022
LONDON, ENGLAND AT THE O2 ARENA
REPORT BY UMAR KANKIYA, PWTORCH CORRESPONDENT
-The 02 Arena was nearly sold to capacity with approximately 20,000 WWE fans in attendance.
(1) Naomi & Sasha Banks defeated Natalya & Shayna Baszler
– A good opener to get the crowd going and energized.
(2) Gunther defeated Shinsuke Nakamura
– Gunther won with a power bomb in what was essentially just a good squash match. The audience chanted Walter multiple times.
(3) Bobby Lashley defeated Sheamus w/Ridge Holland
-Sheamus got the love from the British audience, but Lashley was over too and won the bout with a spear.
(4) RK-Bro defeated the Usos
-Orton won the match after an RKO on Jimmy Uso. RK-Bro got the biggest pop of the night. In particular, Randy Orton was very over.
Aliyah def Shotzi – this was the worst match of the night, no one cared, crowd pretty silent and served as an early pit stop for people to get drinks and food before the intermission.
(5) Aliyah defeated Shotzi
-The worst match of the night. The audience simply didn’t care and was pretty silent throughout the bout. An early pit stop for people to get drinks and food before the intermission.
Intermission – WWE announced Clash at the Castle in Cardiff on Sept 3rd and that those in the building could purchase tickets.
(6) Ricochet defeated Butch and Sami Zayn to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
-A great match. Zayn was the super heel of the night and received a ton of heat. Butch was funny, though the audience poured “bruiserweight” on him. Sheamus and Ridge Holland ran out to get Butch back in their clutches, but were unsuccessful.
(7) Charlotte Flair defeated Ronda Rousey to retain the WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship.
-Flair won the match with Natural Selection in what was a good back and forth bout. Rousey got the armbar on Charlotte, but Charlotte’s feet were on the ropes.
Main event: Roman Reigns def Drew McIntyre to retain the WWE Undisputed Universal Title. Roman by far was the most over I have ever seen him.‘I remember watching him pre pandemic and he was booed to the heavens. This time he was treated like the Tribal Chief that he is. Crowd were singing ‘Oh Head of the table’ in the guise of Keith Lee’s oh bask in his glory. Roman was playing along very well with the crowd. Drew was taken apart for this match. Roman won after a second spear.
(8) Roman Reigns defeated Drew McIntyre to retain the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship.
–Reigns was by far the most over he’s been. He had been booed to the heavens earlier in the pandemic. This time, he was treated like the Tribal Chief that his is. The crowd was singing “oh, head of the table” in the guise of Keith Lee’s “oh, bask in his glory” chant. Reigns played along well with the audience.
FINAL THOUGHTS: All in all, the UK crowd was happy to have WWE back and are looking forward to Cardiff on September 3rd.