This is a rematch of the WrestleMania Saturday main event. These two teams quite admirably followed Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley at SoFi Stadium, finishing their own story with an epic encounter. That match was rather unique, led by a brief heat segment before an almost twenty minute finish. Ultimately, it was just about perfect for that particular moment. With that in mind, I’m especially intrigued by the television take on this pairing, even more so after hearing such contrasting opinions.
Anyway, The Usos jump Owens and Zayn at the bell, immediately brawling to the floor. They isolate Owens right away from there, throwing him back in and trying to close the show after mere seconds via superkick salvo. Ad break. We come back in some heat, as the challengers go to work on Owens knee. Well, “go to work” is charitable, I must concede. It’s a target though, with Jimmy twice wrapping it around the ring-post.
Owens creates distance regardless, bringing in Sami who shares a physical exchange with Jey. Zayn clears the ring, landing a big dive to wipe out both Usos. We have some duelling chants here and the crowd is absolutely engaged but not completely rocking the way it quickly was at WrestleMania. I sense that’ll change before long. Jey and Sami continue to battle regardless, with the latter hitting a slightly scary sunset flip powerbomb thingy for 2.
Blue Thunder Bomb follows but Uso kicks out, then dispatching Zayn from the top rope with a single kick. Another ad break. Man, I know that this Usos heat segment was probably nothing and all but I still hate losing it this way, especially as this is a case in which we return on the hot tag itself. Luckily, it’s Kevin Owens and as always, he goes berserk, still selling his knee along the way. Jimmy even channels a little Roman with a wonderfully timed kickout.
Speaking of such, Paul Heyman is talking to Solo Sikoa about something backstage. I don’t know, it’s just on the screen and so I typed that sentence. Once the match is allowed to proceed, it does so in fine fashion, with a pop-up powerbomb forcing a trademark Usos save. Zayn responds accordingly, dismissing the intervening Uso only to eat a superb superkick while flying through the air. In the meantime, Jimmy and Kevin are tearing it up in centre ring.
Ah, here comes Solo Sikoa, which is what Heyman apparently meant by “tonight is your night.” Unfortunately for The Bloodline’s masterplan however, Matt Riddle stops Sikoa and they brawl to the back. This is why personally, I would avoid broadcasting my private conversations on worldwide television. Either way, Owens remain isolated and The Usos hit him with approximately 74 superkicks, none of which get the job done. Owens even fires up, walking into yet another one.
Zayn prevents the 1D though, removing Jey and isolating Jimmy for the sudden winning combination. Awesome finish, it really felt as though the champs had a tiny window to close the deal there and managed exactly that before any antics could decide otherwise. As for the match, it’s very good, even if slightly lacking an identity. I appreciated the start, with The Usos feeling genuinely desperate to escape the inevitable by reclaiming their belts.
The further this match got away from that opening minute or so though, the more it felt like your standard Usos fare. That’s fine, I very much like the sound of that song anyway, it just doesn’t feel like the greatest take on this particular pairing. Instead, this was two of the era’s greats slotted into a familiar formula. Unquestionably, it worked, I was just left ever so slightly underwhelmed. Ultimately, the WrestleMania match is their grand effort, I’m no fool, I understand that.
As a sicko though, I was intrigued this sequel, as they were no longer required to be so expansive. I got what I should’ve expected, in the end. This is a very good tag team match, one in the mould that’s made The Usos such remarkable TV wrestlers. Owens and Zayn maximise their roles and undeniably make the match better, they just very much colour within Jimmy and Jey’s lines. No problem with that, this was still a really good time.
Bing Bong's Match Reviews 