“Andysputed” posts will be about my love of professional wrestling. Expect to see match and show reviews, essays about wrestling as a media product and as a business, storylines, and backstage mess.
Context
WWE Intercontinental Champion and fan favourite Jey Uso is making the first defence of his first ever Singles title, which he won last month. Longtime Nice Guy Xavier Woods is tired of losing and not being taken seriously. He’s mad at Kofi Kingston – his partner in The New Day and longtime best friend – for costing them a chance to win the Raw Tag Team championship, and Kofi tried to make amends by passing his IC title shot to Woods.
The Match
The match’s storytelling was straightforward: Xavier’s newfound anger and aggressiveness have given him a focus that let him dominate most of the (very short) match against the Intercontinental Champion. But Jey is resilient enough to seize the moment if Woods gives him the slightest window. And of course it happens. Xavier goes to the top rope, and Uso recovers just in time to meet his dive with a superkick. Next comes an Uso Splash (with a mid-air pose), and a pin to give Jey a remarkably quick win.
I have mixed feelings about this. I like that we saw some in-ring “ruthless aggression” from Woods. It makes true his argument to Kofi Kingston that maybe if the New Day became more serious (no more trombone and pancakes), they would get out of their slump. But of course, it doesn’t work right away. Wearing black gear and a frown doesn’t win him singles Gold. This is obviously further fuel for his full heel turn, and the breakup of the New Day.
That’s all fine. I don’t have a problem with Xavier losing. It’s the how. Jey Uso beat him quick, easy, and clean:
Quick: the match didn’t last as long as it’s taking me to write this.
Easy: With a single superkick, Jay Uso reversed all Xavier’s momentum and was able to nail his finisher and pin him. He didn’t need a long rally, showing him gradually weakening Woods. The impression this gives is that Xavier has the kayfabe equivalent of a “glass jaw”.
Clean: Jey Uso beat Xavier Woods fair and square. That’s fine. That’s what you want for your babyface (good guy) champion. But you want your soon-to-be heel (bad guy) challenger to have an excuse to fixate on. Something to blame. Or someone. Preferrably his soon to be ex-partner.
I’m not saying Uso should have needed to cheat or be the beneficiary of cheating to beat Xavier Woods or anyone else. But for Woods to be a credible threat as the heel he is about to become, he and we need a way to put Monday’s L aside. This finish didn’t protect Woods. It made him look like “enhancement talent” that managed a brief advantage against a champ, before a quick reality check. “Quick, Easy, and Clean” will do that. This match should have been either “hard and clean” or “easy but messy”.
Aftermath
I liked what happened post-match. Kofi congratulates Jey Uso, and shakes his hand. For those who know, The New Day have a long history with Jay and his twin brother Jimmy Uso, as Tag Team rivals who grew to respect each other. I love all nods to longterm storytelling.
Jey extends his hand to Xavier too, but he snubs him and leaves the ring. The New Day argue among themselves: Kofi scolds Xavier for rejecting the handshake, while Xavier scolds him for taking it. One more nail in the New Day’s coffin.
Then out of nowhere, Bron Breaker appears in the ring, and spears Jey Uso. The New Day’s argument now moves from whether they should have congratulated Uso to whether they should back him up. Kofi decides to, and gets speared in the ring for his troubles. Xavier pulls him out, wanting no part of Bron, but that just sets him up for his own spear. And he gets one of Bron’s run-round-the-apron specials.
This, of course, was all intended to give even more impetus to Woods’s eventual heel turn. And it was very well done.
I wish I could say the same about the commentary. Joe Tessitore is striking out.
His tone is flat and doesn’t add any texture or dimension to the sound of the match. Strike One.
His style is more suited to a baseball game than a wrestling match. He’s telling you what’s happening, but usually not adding to the emotional content or context of it. Strike Two.
And perhaps that’s because he doesn’t know or care about the people’s stories. Bron Breaker – an aggressive sadist who routinely ambushes anyone he thinks is in his way or has offended him – ambushes Jey Uso – the man who took his Intercontinental Belt from him – and Tessitore’s reaction is to yell “Why?! Why?!” over and over. Why is the commentator sounding clueless about the most obvious thing? Strike Three.
Verdict
So generally, a mixed bag.
I didn’t like the story the match told, but the Uso and Woods told the flawed story well.
Very good work from Xavier Woods. His presentation (new black outfit, stony facial expression) was on point. His in-ring performance was sharp. His performance of the post-match story was great.
Great post-match twist with Bron Breaker. It sets up a renewal of his rivalry with Jey Uso, while providing even more fodder for Xavier’s turn.
The commentary let the whole segment down. Tessitore isn’t great, and his flaws are made worse by having the same style as Wade Barrett, so there isn’t a contrast. Michael Cole could have carried him.
This is such a fantastic review and you write so beautifully and vividly. Well done!