United States Championship
John Cena vs Rusev (c)
Rusev knees Cena a few times and spin kicks him, then he splashes him in the corner and gets a two count. Rusev tackles Cena into the barricade and gets a near fall, then he stops a comeback from Cena an elbows him for a near fall. Cena goes for a quick Attitude Adjustment but Rusev DDT’s him, then he tackles Cena in the corner and splashes him twice. Cena comes back with a sit out side slam and an elbow, then he goes for an AA but Rusev kicks him in the face for a two count. Rusev powerslams Cena for another near fall, then they trade punches before Rusev blocks an AA and slams him down. Cena rolls through into a STF, but Rusev powers out and hits a spinebuster before dropping a few elbows. Rusev calls for The Accolade but Cena blocks a stomp, then he hits an AA but Rusev kicks out at two. Cena heads up top but Rusev catches him and stomps him, then he applies The Accolade and Cena tries to fight out. He lifts Rusev and tries to slam him, but Lana gets in the ring and the referee goes over to get her back outside of the ring. Rusev uses the distraction to low blow Cena, then he kicks him in the face and gets a technical submission win when he passes out in The Accolade.
Winner – Rusev
Roman Reigns vs Daniel Bryan
Bryan applies a headlock and Reigns fights out with some punches, then he throws a few elbows and hits a few fallaway slams. Reigns goes for a Superman punch but Bryan counters with a quick strike to the ribs. Bryan repeatedly kicks him in the ribs and sends him into the corner, but Reigns hits him a few times and powerbombs him for two. Reigns slams him but Bryan comes back with a YES Lock, then Reigns breaks it at the ropes and rolls outside. Bryan tries to dive on him but Reigns rolls away and sets up a spear, and Bryan steps aside and slams him into the ring steps. Bryan heads up top but Reigns connects with a diving punch on the way down, then calls for a spear but Bryan ducks and gets a two count rollup. Bryan kicks him in the face and connects with Knee Plus, but Reigns kicks out of the pin attempt and Bryan starts to kick Reigns in the chest. Reigns blocks the final kick and Bryan chops him a few times, then he rolls into a YES Lock and tries to get Reigns to tap out. Reigns rolls through and connects with repeated forearm strikes, then Bryan applies a choke armbar but Reigns deadlifts him and slams him. Bryan connects with several kicks and calls for Knee Plus again, but Reigns jumps and catches him with a spear for the win.
Winner – Roman Reigns
Bryan gets in Reigns’ face after the match, and he says he’d better kick his [Lesnar’s] ass, and shakes his hand before leaving.
BP: It was a good match; I’ll still go and say it was designed to please Bryan fans for the Rumble, and solidify Reigns as the ‘rightful’ contender. It wasn’t great, and I’d even say Bryan carried most of it, but Reigns hit the big power moves when it mattered. The good part of tonight was we got to see three Mania matches solidified; they were also pretty much confirmed, but HHH/Sting, Taker/Wyatt and Reigns/Lesnar are looking good on paper with plenty to build on each.
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