More Detailed Reports For Last Night's WWE Live Event In San Jose: Reigns Vs. Orton, Hogan, Flair

Thanks to WrestlingINC.com readers Ryan Silapan ( @RyanSilapan) and Waliyha for sending in these reports for last night's WWE live event at the SAP Center in San Jose, CA:

From Ryan Silapan ( @RyanSilapan ):

Advertisement

World Wrestling Entertainment made its final stop on the road to Summerslam Saturday night in San Jose, CA at the SAP Center. WWE didn't holdback as most of their headlining full-time wrestlers put on a quite show just one night before their biggest event of the Summer in front of several thousands fans.

Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins

Dean Ambrose opened up the show and got quite the cheer on his walk to the ring. Seth Rollins made his way down to the ring with a plethora of heat while carrying his Money In The Bank briefcase. Unlike on television the past few weeks Ambrose didn't have his left shoulder bandaged up. Both Ambrose and Rollins played to the crowd very well and had yet another fantastic match with a lot of near three-count pins. The crowd was fully into the match giving Ambrose a ton of cheers and Rollins a ton of boos. The match culminated with Rollins pulled a turnbuckle pad off the top rope and when the referee was putting it back on Rollins attempted to hit Ambrose with the briefcase and missed while Ambrose nailed Rollins with a huge clothesline before the Money in the Bank winner with his headlock driver finisher to get the 1-2-3. Ambrose and Rollins really set the tone for what would be a great night of action.

Advertisement

Adam Rose vs. Heath Slater

Heath Slater came out first to banter of mixed cheers and boos while Adam Rose followed ? his Rosebuds included ? to a mix of both also. This match wasn't very entertaining and was highlighted mid-match when Rose and Slater took turns taking rolling bumps. Rose would soon hit his finisher to beat Slater for the 1-2-3. Overall Rose wasn't over but his posse and entrance music sure are while Slater got a big cheer when he exited up the ramp.

Ryback and Cesaro vs. Big E and Rob Van Dam

Ryback and Cesaro each entered separately with Cesaro garnering a decent amount of heat. Big E followed and Rob Van Dam got the biggest pop of the night so far as he made his way to the ring. After receiving a tag from Big E, RVD did some work on both Ryback and Cesaro. A bunch of ECW!! ECW!! ECW!! Chants broke out from the crowd as well as the occasion RVD chants. The match ended when RVD hit the 5-Star Frog Splash on Cesaro for the 1-2-3. The match was decent felt like an impromptu match strung together at the last minute but the crowd was thrilled to see RVD.

Rusev with Lana vs. Jack Swagger with Zeb Colter

Rusev and Lana made their way to the ring with a decent amount of heat. Lana, who unlike on television tapings had her hair down, and looked much prettier cut a promo bashing San Jose and America. Soon after a picture of Vladimir Putin was put on the two screens Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter came out to a huge pop with chants of USA!! USA!! USA!! Colter cut an excellent promo and ended it a 'We The People' that the crowd in San Jose repeated. The match was a solid back-and-forth seesaw match. Swagger appeared to be on his way to victory with Rusev in the ankle lock when Lana got on the apron to distract the referee. Swagger let go of the hold and Rusev would hit the All-American, American with a low blow. After a big foot stomp Rusev locked in the camel clutch but unlike all of Rusev's opponents so far Swagger started to lift up Rusev to break the hold but soon fell on his back and quickly tapped as Rusev got the victory.

Advertisement

Bray Wyatt vs. Chris Jericho (with Ric Flair as special guest referee)

Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair entered first to the biggest pop of the night until this point in a referee shirt and sweatpants. Bray Wyatt came to the ring next as the arena went black and most of the fans turned on their cellphone lights as he made his way to the ring. Wyatt came alone and the Wyatt Family were not at the event. Before Chris Jericho could make his entrance to the ring the technical team messed up twice by playing the Bella Twins music for a couple of seconds before finally getting Jericho's entrance. Jericho came out with his light bright jacket and received a good but not great pop. Jericho controlled the early part of the contest before Wyatt took control. Throughout a number of near falls Wyatt kept repeatedly complaining to Flair about the counts. Eventually Wyatt would hit Flair with a punch and the Nature Boy responded with a bevy of chops including a decisive one that turned Wyatt towards Jericho who hit Wyatt with his Code Breaker finisher for the 1-2-3. Flair and Jericho celebrated together briefly Flair exited to leave Jericho who really played well to the crowd after left with a big standing ovation.

Advertisement

A 15-minute intermission would proceed.

Layla and Natalya vs. Paige and Rosa Mendes

Layla and Natalya would square off against Paige and Rosa Mendes next in a Divas tag team contest. Surprisingly the biggest pop for all the Divas came for Layla. The match wouldn't last too long and was capped when Layla and Natalya picked up the win when Natalya forced Mendes to submit to the sharpshooter. After the match Natalya grabbed the microphone and told Paige 'this is my house' before celebrating for another minute with Layla before exiting the ring.

Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns

Randy Orton came out first to a mixed reaction but had more boos than cheers. Roman Reigns entered through the crowd and received a huge pop. This match next to Ambrose and Rollins was arguably the best of the night. With both wrestlers playing to the crowd especially Orton who after nearly every big move would put his ear to the crowd and do his costume pose with both arms in the air. Orton threw Reigns into the steel steps a couple of times. At one moment it appeared Reigns had punched Orton so hard it knocked a tooth out as something went flying and the Viper was holding his mouth. Reigns would connect with the Superman Punch and had Orton set up for the spear but the former first-ever WWE World Heavyweight champion would counter into a power slam. Orton would successfully hit Reigns with his middle rope DDT and was coiled up to deliver an RKO when Reigns countered, ducked an Orton clothesline attempt and would hit the spear for the 1-2-3. Reigns celebrated in the ring and out of including signing several signs in the crowd as well as taking a few pictures with the fans before exiting.

Advertisement

WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Hart would come out next and introduced the same video WWE played on RAW dedicated to Hulk Hogan for his 61st birthday. After the package was done Hart introduced Hogan who received the loudest pop of the night ? and it wasn't really close ? as Hogan made his way to the ring with his red and yellow boa, black bandana and yellow sunglasses on.

Hogan cut a promo to hype Summerslam as well as Wrestlemania 31, which will be taking place in March of next year at the new Levi Stadium. Hogan poked fun of himself by making sure he said San Jose California and not something else. He never did say the SAP Center though. Hogan said he feels better than ever and said it's his goal to beat all the odds and get back in a WWE ring and wrestle one more match. Before exiting Hogan played to the crowd ? like only he can ? with many ears to the crowd and posing before leaving to a tremendous pop.

Main Event: John Cena vs. Kane in a San Jose Street Fight for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

Kane ? decked out in his corporate Kane attire ? came out to a lot of boos and Cena followed with a huge pop in what felt like an 80-20 pro-Cena crowd. The match featured a chair shot, the steel steps and a table. Cena brought out the first table of the night but Kane soon after took control and threw it out of the ring. Kane would hit Cena with a chair shot to the back. Both wrestlers hit each other on the head with a microphone. The wrestlers would fight outside the ring towards the entrance ramp. Cena was able to reverse Kane's Irish whip attempt and send Kane barreling through the steel steps which were stacked up on top of each other. Kane would soon gain the upper hand and bring his own table into the ring. Cena attempted to hit Kane off the top rope but Kane caught him and attempted to choke slam the 15-time WWE champion through the table but Cena would counter and connect with an attitude adjustment on Kane through the table to get the 1-2-3. Throughout the match the crowd was very pro-Cena and not too many Cena Sucks chants were echoed in the crowd. After the match Cena grabbed a microphone and thanked the fans for coming and wanted the crowd to show several sponsors of the event why the WWE chose the area for Wrestlemania 31. The crowd didn't disappoint cheered very loudly. Cena ended with another thank you and that the next time you will see them again it will be Wrestlemania before exiting to a loud ovation.

Advertisement

Biggest pops:
Hulk Hogan
John Cena
Ric Flair
Roman Reigns

Most heat:
Seth Rollins
Rusev and Lana
Randy Orton
Kane

From Waliyha:

* Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins. Great pop for Ambrose, deafening heat for Rollins. Crowd was very pro-Ambrose, and broke out into a very loud "You sold out" chant towards Rollins, who soaked it up. Overall, good match. Very fast paced, and lasted exactly 15 minutes. Could've used some extra time, but still a good match. Ambrose won.

* Adam Rose vs. Heath Slater. Fans had choice to vote between a dance off and a match and a match won 51/49. Very dull match. Rose was somewhat cheered, while Slater was half cheers, half boos. 10 minutes long. Definitely worst part of show. Rose won.

* Big E & RVD vs. Cesaro & Ryback. Great pop for RVD with a lot of the "E-C-Dub" chants. Big E and Cesaro got decent pops, while Ryback got his usual "Goldberg" chants. Was a good match. Had a great spot where Big E lifted Cesaro over his head for a good 30 seconds. Big E & RVD got the victory.

* Jack Swagger (w/ Zeb Colter) vs. Rusev (w/ Lana). Rusev and Lana came out to a chorus of boos. Lana cut the usual minute long promo praising Russia and Vladimir Putin, then out come Swagger and Coulter to a resounding applause. Colter cut a short promo, then they fought. Lots of support for Swagger, with frequent "U-S-A" and "We the people" chants. Rusev won.

Advertisement

* Chris Jericho vs. Bray Wyatt with special guest referee Ric Flair. Ric Flair came out to a DEAFENING pop. Wyatt came out to a great pop, with cell phones lighting the arena. Jericho's entrance was messed up because they accidentally played the Bellas music which had everyone laughing, but Jericho still came out to a great pop. Ric Flair is a really bad ref. Really, really bad. He was very slow in general. As Wyatt mocked him with "Woos" he responded with the Cena "You can't see me" hand sign, which the crowd loved. Jericho won.

* Natalya & Layla vs. Paige & Rosa Mendes. Layla had a decent pop. Natalya had a great pop, especially from the little girls in the audience, but was overall loved. Rosa Mendes silent. Paige had a great pop. Natalya's was the loudest. Decent match, with lots of Paige mocking AJ (who wasn't there) and "let's go Nattie" chants. Natalya got the sharpshooter on Mendes for the win.

* Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton. The crowd LOVED Roman Reigns. I was sitting very close to where he came out, and the screams were similar to what you'd hear on a roller coaster. Men, women, teenagers, and little children – everyone was pro-Roman. Randy Orton came out to lots of boos, but some of the ladies were still cheering. I was surprised at how good the match was. Had a few great spots. Roman Reigns won.

Advertisement

* Hulk Hogan & Jimmy Hart promo. Applause for Jimmy Hart, but the ovation for Hogan was second to none. Everyone was on their feet, cameras out, and cheers all around. He promoted the Network, Summerslam, Wrestlemania & San Jose. Ended promo with usual Hogan poses, and the crowd loved it.

* John Cena vs. Kane. Kane came in first, but was more of an afterthought because everyone was so buzzed for Cena. Cena came out to a VERY loud reaction. 60% cheers / 40% boos. Love him or hate him – there wasn't a single person sitting down when Cena came in. There were lots of "Let's go Cena/Cena sucks" & "We want tables" chants. Cena won. Afterwards he got on the mic and hyped Wrestlemania.

Notes:

Biggest Pops – (in order)

1. Hogan
2. Cena
3. Flair
4. Reigns
5. Ambrose

Most Heat:

1. Seth Rollins (by a long shot)
2. Randy Orton
3. Rusev

Randy Orton's girlfriend Kim was in attendance. She was sitting nearby. Cheered whenever Randy's image came up, and when a girl came up and asked for a picture she was very sweet about it and complied.

The crowd was VERY hype. With the exception of the Rose/Slater match, there wasn't a dull moment.

Overall very good show. Honestly if they had just added in an extra promo or two, it would've been better than the average RAW.

Advertisement

Comments

Recommended