WWE Sixpack: Usos Soar, Sasha Banks Stumbles
By Mike Janela
Match of the Week: Seth Rollins vs. Chris Jericho, RAW
Neither flagship show delivered much in terms of instantly classic matches. With Raw still basking in the glow of last week’s KO swerve and SmackDown perhaps saving some juice for Backlash, the in-ring action wasn’t the most memorable from either show.
Little surprise, then, that one of the best hands in company history against arguably its current top worker earns the nod. We’re starting to see Rollins expand his repertoire more babyface, like the flipping neckbreaker he broke off from the turnbuckle, which is an instant crowd-pop move. Credit must also be given to Michael Cole for calling the match with more intent to pump Rollins up.
Nothing iconic here, but a great build in turning Rollins into the guy you now feel ok rooting for, highlighted by the knowing smile he flashed as he held the Pedigree for half a beat before finishing Jericho off. And let’s be thankful for small blessings, as that was seemingly the only nod to Triple H’s existence all night outside of the Mick Foley-Stephanie McMahon intro segment.
How Triple H wasn’t there to explain his actions or offer justification for what he did was probably the most disappointing aspect of the week. But at least connecting the obvious thread from Rollins to his mentor-turned-foil helped whet our appetite for their inevitable clash.
Next: Randy and the Rabbit