- Last week on WWE Main Event, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara were victorious over the trio of Alberto Del Rio and the Primetime Players. Also, Wade Barrett squashed Tyson Kidd (again), and set up a showdown with Sheamus. Not just any showdown, but one taking place in jolly old England. Yes, it's our first ever International Edition of WWE Main Event, broadcasted on ion Television. Positvely entertaining. Cheap network plug for the fact this is the first time I'm watching it as it happens, as I tend to work nights on wednesdays.
- Taped on November 6th, 2012, from Birmingham, England. Michael Cole and the Miz are on hand to call the action...
but first, the Big Show shows up. He's scheduled to defend the Title against Sheamus in a Rematch at the Survivor Series. Apparently there was an incident at a local pub between the Big Show and Sheamus, with William Regal also somehow involved. Where'd that come from? It was nice of someone to record that on their cellphone. At least they were decent enough to film it with the proper display.
- We take a closer look at Wade Barrett. He's a former bare-knuckle Champion, if you didn't already know. For those who need a visual, we get a pretty lame video of Barrett beating the crap out of actors. I guess we're not supposed to remember the Nexus and how awesome Barrett was no less than two years ago. Not the best video they've done to hype someone.
We return, with Barrett slamming Sheamus down for a two count. Barrett mounts him for some short rights, then hooks a chinlock. Sheamus fights free, but takes a crescent kick to the midsection. Barrett with a pumphandle slam for a two count. Barrett with a series of knees, followed by a charging boot, knocking Sheamus to the floor. Barrett continues to pound away, then sends Sheamus into the ring steps. Barrett climbs up on the security wall, and jumps off with an elbow drop. Is this Smackdown! for PlayStation, or something? Back in the ring, Barrett covers for two. Sheamus backs up to the corner, fending Barrett off briefly. Whip to the corner is reversed, and Barrett with another cover for two. Barrett settles into another chinlock, but Sheamus breaks it with a back suplex. They stagger to their feet, and Sheamus with a big clothesline. Both men are down again, as we go to another commercial break.
We come back, with both men exchanging rights. Whip to the ropes is reversed, and Sheamus hits a clubbing double axehandle. Sheamus with a shoulder to the midsection, followed by a knee lift. Sheamus goes for White Noise, but Barrett slips free and goes to the floor. Sheamus follows, with a diving shoulder tackle from the apron. Back in the ring, Sheamus slingshots in with another shoulder, but that only gets two. Barrett ducks under a clothesline, then drives a knee into the midsection. Barrett with a mule kick to the face, but again, it's only for a two count. Barrett hooks up for Waste Land, but Sheamus sturggles free. Sheamus can't get the Celtic Cross (or whatever), and Barrett hits the side-winder slam for another two count. Whip to the ropes, Barrett with a boot to the face. Sheamus catches him off the ropes with a modified back breaker for two. Sheamus to the top rope, but Barrett stops him with rights. He climbs up as well, but a super-plex is blocked. Sheamus climbs again, but this time Barett slams him off for a two count. Barrett to the second rope, and this time the elbow drop meets the knees. Sheamus scoops Barrett up and conencts with the White Noise. Big Show finally takes a walk from the broadcast position, as Sheamus finishes Barrett off with the Brogue Kick at 16:13 (minus two commercial breaks). Good brawl, but the style they went with, and with the commercial breaks, really failed to have any momentum. As I say with a lot of Barrett matches, I like him for being different, but it's such a flavor with an aquired taste, it's definitely not universal. I also was really not feeling Big Show on commentary for this, either. Seems like the commentary from him was over-shadowing the match.
- In case we missed it, we recap EARLIER TONIGHT, as we discuss the Sheamus and Big Show program, yet again. I'm sorry, I don't care about it. Matt Striker is backstage to get a word from the Big Show. Show shrugs the question off, then lays Striker out with the KO Punch. That's what you get for bothering him, so much.
- Raw Rebound! Suspended Referee Brad Maddox explained himself about what he did at Hell in a Cell. They make him look like a douchebag, I give them credit. He gives a crybaby story about trying to become a WWE Superstar and never succeeding. Then he suggests getting a contract and facing Ryback. Vince McMahon offers him that contract, if he can beat Ryback, next week, on Monday Night Raw. I sense CM Punk screwing over Ryback in that match.
Next week: Kane and Daniel Bryan vs. The Rhodes Scholars. Sounds fun. And it's for the Tag Team Championship. Do we smell a second title change on WWE Main Event? Find out, next week.
Final Thoughts: I don't know if it's the headache talking, but that last half hour was pretty boring stuff. The Raw recap was just that, and the secondary match was dreadfully dull, and with a crap finish, too. Heath Slater needs protection? Since when? Two weeks ago? Sheamus vs. Barrett was fine for what it was. It wasn't bad, but it won't crack the list of top matches featured on the Main Event, so far. The "main event" is worth a look, I guess, but stop the video after that. Nothing else to see from there.