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WWE MSG Review: Results, Analysis and Grades for Brock Lesnar’s MSG Return

Rob Wolkenbrod
Rob Wolkenbrod

Daily DDT

WWE.com

Follow along with our review of the WWE MSG event.

More from Brock Lesnar

This evening, WWE returned to Madison Square Garden with their “WWE MSG” event. However, the huge addition here is the event will take place live on the WWE Network. This will be the second time a WWE live event has been broadcast on the over-the-top streaming service (Beast in the East in July of this year).

Throughout the past few weeks, the WWE MSG event has been built around Brock Lesnar’s return to the Garden for the first time in 10 years. He is set to wrestle Big Show.

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The two men have a long history but haven’t met in a ring since January 2014 at the WWE Royal Rumble event. Lesnar would defeat Show in minutes.

We are also set to have multiple championship matches. They will be highlighted by John Cena and Seth Rollins battling in a steel cage for the WWE United States Championship. Cena has defeated Rollins two times in the past few weeks for the U.S. title.

With this in mind, check out the match card below for the WWE MSG event.

WWE United States Championship Steel Cage Match
John Cena (c) vs. Seth Rollins

WWE Tag Team Championship Match
New Day (c) vs. Dudley Boyz

WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
Kevin Owens (c) vs. Chris Jericho

Brock Lesnar vs. Big Show

Dolph Ziggler vs. Rusev

Randy Orton vs. Sheamus

Will there be any title changes? Can Show give Lesnar his first real loss in over two years?

Click below to follow along with our review of WWE MSG.

WWE.com

Sheamus and Rusev vs. Randy Orton and Dolph Ziggler

Result: Randy Orton and Dolph Ziggler defeat Sheamus and Rusev via pinfall.

Rating: 2.8 out of 5 stars

Orton and Sheamus started this match. Sheamus hit multiple punches and aggressive stomps but got taken down with a clothesline. Orton then hit a big dropkick for a one-count. Rusev tagged in and went to work on Orton with stomps and punches.

Ziggler would come in and hit a big dropkick. He followed this with a running splash and neckbreaker for a near-fall. Ziggler would go for a move but get caught by Rusev and slammed down for a near-fall.

Sheamus tagged and put a hold on Ziggler. Rusev would come in and take down Ziggler for a near-fall.

Ziggler would try fighting back with punches and attempted a dropkick but got launched into the turnbuckle and scoop slammed.

Sheamus tagged in and scoop slammed Ziggler. He stomped and drove his knee into Ziggler until Rusev tagged back in. Ziggler tried getting in some offense and went for the Famouser but got caught. He got put into the turnbuckle and scoop slammed.

Sheamus tagged back in but got slammed. Rusev then tagged in but got slammed. Ziggler tagged in Orton, who hit multiple clotheslines and a powerslam on Sheamus. He then hit his trademark DDT to set up for the RKO. Rusev would get sent out of the ring and superkicked but Sheamus worked in some offense. He clotheslined Orton and set up for the Brogue. Orton dodged it and hit an RKO for the victory.

After the match, Rusev called out Sheamus and called him a “stupid non-American.” He blamed the Celtic Warrior for not being able to get the win. He said he’s more useless than Lana. Sheamus would turn around and Brogue Kick Rusev.

Sheamus then got on the mic and told Rusev to “kiss my arse.”


Rob’s Note: Not a bad match at all. It was pretty standard but these kind of matches are usual for a live event.

Next: Neville vs. Stardust

WWE.com

Neville vs. Stardust

Result: Neville defeats Stardust via pinfall.

Rating: 2.6 out of 5 stars

Stardust started this with a shoulder tackle. Neville then got him in a hold and kicked Stardust down. Stardust would get a take down of Neville and slap him.

On the apron, Neville hit a moonsault onto Stardust. He then threw Stardust into the ring and went for the Red Arrow but got taken down. Stardust would take down Neville for a near-fall.

Neville would take down Stardust and hit a Red Arrow for the win.

Next: Six-Diva Tag Match

WWE.com

Team Bella vs. Team PCB

Result: Team Bella defeats Team PCB via pinfall.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Becky and Alicia Fox started this match. She hit a scoop slam and tagged in Paige. She hit multiple knees on Fox for a near-fall. Fox came back with an elbow but Becky tagged in.

Fox then put a hold on Becky and slammed her down by her head. Brie Bella would come in and take Becky down for a near-fall. Brie took her down again with Brie Mode for a near-fall.

Nikki Bella would tag in but Becky almost rolled her up. Charlotte tagged in and hit multiple chops and a neckbreaker. She hit a huge spear and went for the Figure Eight but couldn’t successfully get it.

Nikki would then get Paige into a hold. They then collided into each other with clotheslines.

Paige would go for a tag but Charlotte and Becky both pulled their hands back. Nikki hit rack Attack for the win.

Paige on the mic afterwards and complained that Charlotte and Becky left her high and dry. She said she would never do anything to her teammates like that. She said she can’t forgive them.

Next: IC Title Match

WWE.com

WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
Kevin Owens (c) vs. Chris Jericho

Result: Kevin Owens defeats Chris Jericho via pinfall to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars

Jericho welcomes the fans with “Madison Square Garden is Jericho!” He welcomes the fans and Lance Storm, who is sitting ringside. He talks about his 25 years of experience and talks about his other friends in the business at ringside. Y2J talks about possibly becoming the WWE Intercontinental Champion for the 10th time.

Owens started with multiple punches but got taken down by Jericho. Owens would be taken down and rolled out to ringside where the brawl continued.

In the ring, Owens took control with multiple knees to the face. Jericho came back with multiple chops and went for a dropkick that did not connect. Owens hit a senton for a near-fall.

Jericho connected with multiple chops and climbed to the top rope to hit an elbow. He then went for the Walls of Jericho but failed and hit an enziguri for a near-fall.

In the corner, Jericho would hit multiple chops but get taken down with a big clothesline for a near-fall. He hit a package piledriver-like slam for a near-fall.

Jericho went for a lionsault but missed. Owens would follow up with a cannonball and climb to the rope for a senton. Jericho put up the knees to counter. Owens would go for a roll up pin but could not get it. Jericho would hit a Codebreaker but couldn’t succeed with the pin as Owens grabbed the ropes.

Owens would hit a huge superkick and go for the pop-up powerbomb but Jericho countered into a roll up. As Jericho went for the Walls of Jericho, Owens raked the eyes and rolled him up for the win.

Next: Tag Title Match

WWE.com

WWE Tag Team Championship Match
New Day (c) vs. Dudley Boyz

Result: Dudley Boyz defeat New Day via DQ. However, New Day retains the WWE Tag Team Championship.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Kof Kingston and D-Von started this match. D-Von took him down with a spinning punch and Big E came in. He took down Big E and tagged in Bubba Ray. Kofi came in but got hit with an arm drag and a big boot.

Big E came in and hit a scoop slam on Bubba Ray. He would get the same thing done to him. D-Von would go for the “Whazzup” move but get thrown off the top rope. New Day then started their train of stomps on Bubba Ray. Big E would hit an elbow for a near-fall.

Big E would go for a splash but Bubba rolled out of the way. D-Von got the hot tag and hit a shoulder tackle on Kofi. Kofi would come back with an elbow. Kofi would go for a movie off the ropes but Dudleys hit the 3D. As D-Von went for the pin, Xavier Woods came into the ring to break up the pin to cause the DQ.

After the match, Woods got put through the table.

Next: Brock Lesnar vs. Big Show

WWE.com

Brock Lesnar vs. Big Show

Result: Brock Lesnar defeats Big Show via pinfall.

Rating: 2.8 out of 5 stars

Show started with a few punches but Lesnar quickly backed him into the ropes. Show would toss Lesnar over the ropes.

Show would get a few more punches in but Lesnar drove his shoulder into him. He would go for a suplex but Show elbowed out of it. Show would hit two chokeslams but Lesnar got up both times. He got hit with it again and kicked out at 2.

Lesnar would finally be able to get Show up for two big suplexes. He went for an F-5 but couldn’t pick Show up. However, Lesnar hit a suplex.

Lesnar would hit an F-5 for the win.

After the match, Lesnar returned to the ring and Show motioned a gesture. Lesnar would pick him up for a big suplex. He then hit another F-5.

Rob’s Note: After all the build for this match, this was very short. However, that shouldn’t be a surprise since Lesnar’s momentum had to keep going for Hell in a Cell.

Next: John Cena vs. Seth Rollins

WWE.com

WWE United States Championship Steel Cage Match
John Cena (c) vs. Seth Rollins

Result: John Cena defeats Seth Rollins to retain the WWE United States Championship.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

Cena and Rollins would lock up to begin the match. Cena would get Rollins into a hold. Rollins would stomp on Cena and throw him into the cage. Rollins would hit a few punches to take control of Cena for a near-fall.

Rollins would try walking out of the ring but Cena pulled him back in. Rollins then tried climbing the cage but Cena pulled him to the ropes. They then walked the top rope and Cena hit a bulldog for a near-fall.

Cena would then try climbing out but Rollins stopped him. Cena then tried climbing up and out of the cage but Rollins hit a sling blade for a near-fall. Rollins would then rub Cena’s face into the cage.

As Rollins looked to climb out, Cena hit the electric chair for a near-fall.

Cena then climbed to the top rope and Rollins met him up there. Cena would push him off and go for a leg drop but Rollins caught him with a powerbomb for a near-fall.

Rollins then threw Cena into the cage face-first. Cena answered back with a throw into the cage as well. Cena then hit his usual set of moves for the Five Knuckle Shuffle but Rollins kicked him in the face before he could hit it. Rollins then hit an enziguri for a near-fall.

As Rollins went for a move, Cena countered and finally hit the FKS. Cena then caught Rollins off the top rope and put on the STF. Rollins would climb to the ropes to break the hold. The two then tried getting out of the cage but neither could get out. Rollins would take Cena down again for a near-fall.

Rollins would go for the Pedigree but Cena countered into a launch of Rollins, who climbed to the rop of the cage. Cena would meet him up there and pull him down. Cena then continued his climb but Rollins got him off. Rollins then hit a massive superplex and a Taka Michinoku driver for a near-fall.

Rollins then climbed up and over the cage but Cena met him and brought him back to the top. They traded punches until they both got back inside. Rollins was pulled off the cage and Cena hit a big tornado DDT off the ropes for a near-fall.

As Cena tried to escape, Rollins climbed up and slammed the door into Cena’s face. Cena then brought up him back in and went for the AA but was countered by Rollins into two superkicks for a near-fall.

Cena would then put on the STF but Rollins reversed it into a submission maneuver of his own. Cena would pick up but Rollins hit a low blow.

Rollins then climbed to the top of the cage but Kane’s music would go off. He came out and caused Rollins to have to choose whether he would go back into the cage. He then stood up and went for a Frog Splash but Cena rolled away from it. He hit the AA for the win.

After the match, Kane came into the cage and closed the door. He grabbed Rollins by the throat and hit a chokeslam. He then planted Rollins with a Tombstone Piledriver to close the show.

Rob’s Note: Excellent match. This was the only PPV quality bout of the evening.

You can follow Rob Wolkenbrod on Twitter @RealRobWolkey. If you would like to send a report from a live event, email us at robert.wolkenbrod@gmail.com.

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Rob Wolkenbrod

Rob Wolkenbrod

Robert is an editor, writer, and video editor. He covers the San Antonio Spurs for Forbes and the Toronto Raptors for Hoops Habit.