Hiya!

Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t the first Bad Blood pay-per-view event happen something like 2 decades ago? I don’t remember it being anything special so I do have to ask why the WWE would make the decision to revive the name? Ah, who cares? After all, a pay-per-view event is still a pay-per-view event, correct? So, who cares what’s it called? Still, I do need to check it out to see if this name change signifies a new era of WWE shows in a sense. As in if it’s a hint if they’re going to rely on weird fan nostalgia or just a return to the WWE’s glory days of the Attitude Era and what not.

Anyway, I’m rambling. Let’s just go check out if this reboot of Bad Blood was worth bringing the name out of retirement.

The first match of the night was a Hell in a Cell match which just so happened to be the rubber match between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre. As much as I’ve enjoyed their feud, I do hope they realize it’s time to quit and make this their last match. If it is their last match together, I say they ended it with a bang! While there weren’t any high flying spots, both CM Punk and Drew McIntyre made up for it with pure physicality and brutality.

There were some unique spots, such as when Drew McIntyre ripped off the legs of a table and tried to use it to smash CM Punk’s head in only for Punk to reverse it and then use it to choke out Drew. They also brought out a fairly uncommon foreign weapon: a toolbox and all of its accompaniments. I like how they still managed to surprise me here. I also love how there was actual blood here… maybe that’s why they called it Bad Blood?

The finish was kind of weak but, at the same time, very scary because of a near botch. Drew laid out Punk with a low blow and then proceeded to bring out a bad of beads, the same kind used to make the friendship bracelet CM Punk got from AJ Lee his wife. The Scottish Warrior then dumped the beads all over CM Punk. Drew then when for a Claymore but Punk dodged, which led to McIntyre undershooting the spot and hitting his tailbone on the edge of the steel steps! The Second City Savior then grabbed some beads and jammed it down Drew’s mouth. He then wrapped a chain around his knee to deliver his GTS finisher to get the pinfall victory.

This was just a fun match to watch. Maybe it was the picture of both CM Punk and Drew McIntyre sporting crimson masks to really make it feel like they were trying to kill each other. While there weren’t any really big spots here, the action overall and the pacing did make things feel intense in the moments. The only weak point for me was the entire beads segment as I don’t think it was a great visual and I was super tired with the idea already. Still, a really great match to start out Bad Blood.

The next match had Nia Jax defending the Smackdown Women’s Championship against Bayley in a rematch. Jax essentially dominated the majority of the match using her power and… slaps? Yeah, I know they’re supposed to be super strong slaps… but they’re still just slaps. They’re not exactly the most exciting thing to see in wrestling, are they? There were a lot of minor botches and sloppy spots throughout this match, such as Bayley’s errant suicide dive through the middle and bottom ropes and that very awkward supposed hurracarana from Nia Jax. Props to Nia for trying to add something to her repertoire but it just didn’t look good.

The finish was pretty funny and entertaining, though. Bayley managed to do a Samoan Drop to Nia and then the Role Model went for the pin. Jax kicked out, sending Bayley into the referee but not knocking the official out. Bayley, however, kicked Jax in the head, causing the Irresistible Force to pancake the official! Bayley then his her Rose Plant finisher and went for the cover but the official was out cold. Tiffany Straton then came rushing in from the back and clocked Bayley with the Money in the Bank briefcase. She revived the official and the referee inferred Tiffany was cashing in the briefcase. This is when Jax woke up and an argument arose between her and Tiffany Straton. Bayley then tried to roll up Nia Jax but only got a 2 count. Bayley sidestepped an attempted avalanche from Nia and climbed the top turnbuckle to deliver an elbow drop. Tiffany distracted Bayley by tossing her the Money in the Bank briefcase, giving Nia Jax enough time to recover and deliver a super Samoan Drop and then a Dominator to get the pinfall victory and retain her Smackdown Women’s Championship.

The match itself wasn’t great but the finish was incredibly entertaining. The way Nia Jax squashed the official just looked so smooth. I also like how they involved Tiffany Straton and making it so you’re unsure if she was going to backstab Jax or not. The sad thing is Bayley did look like a chump throughout the match. Then again, it should be Tiffy Time by now anyways. Focus the story on her “friendship” with Nia Jax and this story should be golden.

The 3rd match of Bad Blood had Finn Balor go against the former Judgement Day member, Damien Priest. Now, I had high hopes for this match as Damien Priest and Finn Balor worked well as a team. So, I assumed they would go over like gangbusters if they fought against each other. Maybe I set my expectations too high as I found the actual action rather lukewarm. There was some good back and forth and some spots, like Priest hitting a Razor’s Edge on Balor onto the ring apron (the hardest spot of the ring!). I just expected a little bit more.

The finish came, predictably when the rest of Judgement Day tried to run interference. Carlito distracted the official as JD McDonagh distracted Priest long enough for Balor to deliver a shotgun dropkick to his opponent. Balor hit his Coup de Grace footstomp finisher but Priest kicked out of the pin. Carlito distracted the ref again, allowing McDonagh to give Balor a steel chair. Priest, however, kicked the chair into Balor’s head. Priest went for his South of Heaven chokeslam but Balor reversed it into a small package, which Priest kicked out of. Balor then stomped the back of Priest’s head and back a couple of times. Finn went for a 3rd time but, this time, Priest caught him and connected with the South of Heaven chokeslam to get the pinfall victory.

I didn’t like this match. The action was just fine so that wasn’t the problem. My biggest issue is how much they’re trying to make Damien Priest like some kind of awesome powerhouse as he essentially took on the entire Judgement Day by himself and still won! This also made the Judgement Day look incredibly impotent as they couldn’t take this one man out! They deserve better than this!

The penultimate match of the night had Liv Morgan defending her RAW Women’s Championship against Rhea Ripley, with the added stipulation of “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio being suspended in a shark cage so he couldn’t interfere in the match. I’m sorry to the Liv Morgan fans out there but this match is an example of why I can’t take her seriously as a main eventer. Most of her moves, both what she does and what is done to her, just feels so fake! I know professional wrestling may be planned out but getting slammed into the mat hurts and all. However, when I see her in the ring, I see someone actively trying to protect herself and her opponent first instead of making it look real. Even her selling is just awful! I just don’t buy into the action when she’s in the ring. I will applaud Rhea Ripley for trying but why is she acting like the heel? I get you want revenge but taunting your hated foe by snickering like that makes you look like the bully, not the avenging hero!

The finish came after “Dirty” Dom managed to unlock the shark cage and was left dangling by his leg. Rhea Ripley saw her opportunity to beat down her ex so she got a kendo stick and beat him like a pinata! However, Raquel Rodriguez came out of the crowd and struck Ripley from behind, leading to the referee calling for the disqualification. So, Rhea technically won the match but Liv Morgan still got to keep her RAW Women’s Championship as a result. As a symbolic gesture, Raquel hit her Tejana Bomb and dragged Liv Morgan over to cover her foe. Maybe this was a botch? I dunno.

Anyway, the match itself was a letdown as I just couldn’t get into it because I wasn’t buying into what they were selling. Rhea still looked good but Liv Morgan didn’t. The stunt with Dominik Mysterio hanging off the cage was neat and I do like Raquel Rodriguez returning as she’s more of a match to Rhea Ripley’s power and, frankly, wrestling ability. Adding her to the feud will make things better.

The final match and the main event of the night had the current Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes and the returning Roman Reigns take on the New Bloodline members Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu. This did have “main event” written all over it but it was more like the main event on RAW or Smackdown, not a pay-per-view event. Sure, this had some big names like Cody Rhodes and this was Roman Reigns’ first match in months. This was also a chance to showcase Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu as a legitimate threat against Roman Reigns trying to reclaim his status as the Original Tribal Chief. So why was the action just okay?

Okay, to be fair, Jacob Fatu looked very impressive as he was able to blend power and agility very well. Roman Reigns did look good for someone who was out of action for a while. However, Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa really long time to make them feel like a necessary part of the match. It took them nearly until the end when things started to break down before Cody Rhodes took out Jacob Fatu with a big splash through the announcer’s table to make him feel justified instead of just the third wheel in this feud.

The finish came after the aforementioned table spot. Roman Reigns set up for a spear to Solo but the current Smackdown Tag Team Champions, The New Bloodline’s Tonga Loa and Tama Tonga, distracted the Original Tribal Chief, allowing the New Bloodline’s current Tribal Chief to spear Reigns. Reigns managed to kick out. As Solo was chewing out Roman, a hooded figure appeared at ringside and took out both Tonga Loa and Tama Tonga with superkicks. The hooded figure turned out to be Jimmy Uso to have Reigns’ back. This distraction gave Roman Reigns enough time to recover and spear Solo Sikoa to get the pinfall victory for his team.

The match was over so Reigns nodded at Cody Rhodes to signal their truce should be over for now. The New Bloodline, however, opted to attack The American Nightmare. Jimmy then alerted Reigns to the beatdown and mouthed that, if Reigns decided to help Cody, he would be right beside him. Reigns and Jimmy then ran into the ring to chase off the New Bloodline. Reigns then handed Cody Rhodes his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship Belt when the lights went out and, by the entranceway, The Rock showed up to signal he wasn’t done with both Cody and Reigns to end Bad Blood.

Like I said, the match itself was good but nothing great. The beatdown to Cody Rhodes just went on for too long and, at a point, it just got monotonous. I will say the kerfuffle at the end was fun as it erupted in chaos but, by that point, it was too little, too late. Also, having The Rock show up and not really show any allegiance with the New Bloodline seems baffling. I will say I am eager to see how this sets up this week’s Smackdown as, hopefully, The Rock will have something to say as to why he chose to return this time. Still, the match itself was more sizzle than steak.

Overall, Bad Blood wasn’t good nor was it bad. It was just… there. Sure, there are progressions to the current storylines but it’s more hinting of things to come rather than giving us a clear picture of what’s going to happen. It’s like they were going for shock value so you better watch RAW and Smackdown to see what’s going to happen next! I just wish the action was also as good as the teasers.

Byee!

What did you think of Bad Blood? Let me know in the comments section below!