Following final yr’s inaugural installment in Wales, this yr’s Conflict At The Citadel noticed the WWE stage its first premium dwell occasion in Scotland. And with a card stacked with Scottish expertise, the present delivered satisfying moments, furthered ongoing tales, and naturally featured a rowdy British crowd that made for a barely chaotic general really feel.
In contrast to final month’s weaker King And Queen Of The Ring, Conflict At The Citadel was nearer in general presentation and construction to Could’s glorious Backlash. The cardboard was a good 5 matches that supplied quite a lot of match sorts and wrestling kinds, in addition to a spot-on mixture of closure and storyline extension.
Cody Rhodes def. AJ Types: For a second, Cody’s title protection opening the present may’ve felt like a wierd resolution – however with Drew McIntyre’s homecoming and particularly within the context of a Scottish crowd that insisted on overplaying their “Daddy Cool” Cody chants on the earlier evening’s SmackDown, having Rhodes and Types open the present was the suitable name.
Given their first match’s technical brilliance, switching issues up with an “I Give up” match ensured this didn’t really feel like a re-run. Types’ dastardly Mark Henry-style retirement fake-out within the build-up actually added an efficient storyline dimension. The end, with Types screaming his “I stop” to keep away from taking successful, was a uncommon instance of the place a cowardly loss can positively additional character improvement. Intelligent stuff.
At two marquee matches, this has been a very good first feud for Rhodes as champion – significantly with Types’ extra pronounced heelish antics to construct the second. Types is not any monster heel in fact, however I really feel this second match runs nearer to what Ricky argues for right here when it comes to what the Cody period may appear to be. What I like to date is the variation – the primary Rhodes vs. Types bout felt very NJPW, stylistically – whereas this second match at Conflict had a way more WWE really feel.
Alba Fyre & Isla Daybreak def. Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill, and Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark: The Scottish duo comprising The Unholy Union picked up the shock win right here by some savvy triple menace match timing. Belair and Cargill being dethroned as tag champs so quickly was actually surprising however Fyre and Daybreak’s win delighted the hometown crowd and created a real second.
My important criticism right here is that Baszler and Stark by no means actually seemed like a menace. Stark is consistently bettering and has some actually spectacular strikes. And as a lot as Belair and Cargill are the WWE’s resident superheroes, Shayna Baszler is actually Shayna Baszler. Not likely seeing how Cargill would deal with Baszler’s devastating strikes, for instance, was a missed alternative. Right here’s hoping Baszler recovers a few of her NXT presentation quickly.
Sami Zayn def. Chad Gable: Variation was additionally the important spice right here. After the tables-chairs-stairs shenanigans of the opening “I Give up” match and the scramble of the triple menace tag, having Zayn and Gable exit and do some severe and completely compelling technical wrestling made for the right midpoint on the cardboard. This singles match was additionally completely different from their final assembly, the triple menace with Bronson Reed at King And Queen. The truth that this match seems to have wrapped up the Zayn / Gable feud and furthered the Alpha Academy mutiny story is beautiful. Wonderful work from all concerned – top-shelf professional wrestling storytelling.
Bayley def. Piper Niven: Though this homecoming didn’t end in a title win for Niven, this was her finest important roster match so far. She seemed threatening and assured all through, and was visibly buoyed by the hometown crowd. After her turns being paired with Eva Marie and now Chelsea Inexperienced, Niven is definitely able to strike out on her personal as a singles star.
Bayley, for her half, is stays an absolute grasp in terms of pacing and structuring a match. A bit of like Cody Rhodes, we’re but to get a way of what’s going to outline this run for her as WWE Girls’s Champion – however up to now it’s been marked by veteran savviness and her capacity to win matches creatively. Bayley snatching wins with completely different strikes feels contemporary in a panorama dominated by finishers, and jogs my memory of a sure Bret Hart.
Damian Priest def. Drew McIntyre: Paging Mr. Scorsese as a result of that is cinema!!
Neglect the MCU, this last-minute CM Punk impostor referee run-in to spoil Drew McIntyre’s massive second is the place it’s at. In all seriousness, I completely beloved how Punk’s run-in was shot – over the shoulder with telltale slicked-back hair and Jordans simply seen as he counted the lengthy two.
McIntyre failing to retrieve the World Heavyweight Championship right here was one thing of a shock, nevertheless it really cemented the truth that he’s on the degree the place he doesn’t want a belt for his story to really feel pressing and necessary. The identical is true for Punk, in fact, and these two have saved issues sizzling and thrilling – all with Punk injured no much less. I can’t wait to see the place they take us subsequent.
The run-in end additionally neatly added to Priest’s present character arc as a champion who desires to have the ability to deal with enterprise by himself however really nonetheless wants the assistance. With The Judgement Day banned from ringside, Priest retaining seemed like a protracted shot – particularly in Scotland. Punk’s interference provides one other scrumptious word to his feud with McIntyre, and it additionally suits Priest’s story completely. Dovetailing plotlines, heck sure.
And whereas Priest’s story is that he’s a champion who isn’t fairly there but, his efficiency on this match was a star-making flip – simply the best match in his WWE profession to date. Because the match wore on he matched McIntyre for depth, significantly after that nasty spill he took on the ropes (he wasn’t the one one to slide on the ropes at Conflict – steamy evening within the OVO Hydro?). Priest’s leg harm gave the match an unpredictability and heightened the “massive combat really feel”. Priest (massive man) pulling off a Razor’s Edge on Drew McIntyre (even bigger man) and executing the throw on one leg was astonishing. Priest’s match with Jey Uso at Backlash was good, his match with McIntyre at Conflict was glorious. It’s implausible to see his development in actual time like this. All rise for El Campeón.
Curtain Name: This yr’s Conflict At The Citadel was one other strong premium dwell occasion with a well-balanced card and the requisite selection to maintain a three-hour broadcast from overstaying its welcome. This new period’s nonetheless taking form, however well-contained and satisfying exhibits like this are constructing an important basis. It’s going to be attention-grabbing to see how the ‘massive 4’ exhibits shake out with SummerSlam arising quickly.
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