By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Sheamus def. Damien Sandow in a Dublin Street Fight

It's rare to see a match kick off the show, so I'm glad that this fun fight was the opening bout. The Irish props at ringside were a bit corny, but Sheamus and Sandow made great use of them over the course of the contest. I'm a bit surprised that Cody Rhodes didn't interfere given the fact there were no disqualifications, but that is excusable. I would have loved to see Sandow win, but Sheamus winning was fine with me since it was predictable from the start. You can't deny the fact that he is heavily over as a babyface and the reaction he received from the live crowd after he won is a prime example of that.


"Miz TV" Featured Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel and Paul Heyman

Any ordinary viewer should have known that Heyman wasn't going to reveal any new information regarding Brock Lesnar's attack on CM Punk in this segment, so the fact he was treading water in his promo came as no surprise. It was a nice segue to bring in Axel, who has been seemingly feuded with Miz in recent weeks. They had an entertaining verbal exchange and Axel's attack on The Awesome One was also well done. I was glad to see Miz display his serious side for once and I hope it continues to shine through as he feuds with Axel. Since neither of them were announced as participants in the World Heavyweight Championship Money in the Bank Ladder match, I expect them to fight for the title in the pre-show at the event.

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Kurt Angle and Sting Opening Segment

The promos from Angle and Sting were solid and basically established their goals will be going forward. However, it irked me that Angle never bothered to explain why he didn't come to Sting's aid at Slammiversary when he was being attacked by Aces and Eights. Aside from that, I like the direction this is taking. Bringing back the Main Event Mafia is nice nostalgia and all, but I hope it ends up benefiting some younger guys in the end.


Suicide def. Kenny King and Chris Sabin in a Triple Threat to Win the X-Division Championship

This match paled in comparison to their Ultimate X from Slammiversary earlier this month. The action was good, but there wasn't nearly as many exciting spots as I thought there would be. I was both surprised and disappointed by the title change. Firstly, Sabin's reign didn't even last a mere month, so that's irritating. Secondly, they revealed who's been behind the Suicide character the last five years (in storyline, of course) without any real hype. It made for a good hook for the rest of the show, but I'm not high on the angle at this point in time.

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton Ended in a Double Disqualification

This has been a very entertaining feud thus far, so kicking off the show with it was a smart move. Having their match end in double count-out a minute into it allowed the rematch to take place later on in the night and gave viewers something to look forward to. The live crowd was heavily behind both competitors and was anxiously awaiting their eventual rematch.


Sheamus and Christian def. Team Rhodes Scholars

After losing to Team Rhodes Scholars in Handicap action last week, it made sense for Sheamus to pair up with Christian to battle the devious duo here. That being said, I didn't mind that Sheamus and Christian went over, especially since the action was enjoyable. I'm highly anticipating the upcoming Street Fight between Sheamus and Sandow on SmackDown. I doubt Sandow defeats The Celtic Warrior, but the match itself should be fun.

By Rick Velazquez

Part 1 - Dean Ambrose

First off, I know this looks like a lot to read, but to those who have taken the time to read this, thank you very much. I’d also appreciate any feedback. This the first of three parts. Enjoy!

The Shield has been WWE’s most powerful faction since its formation in November of last year. The trio consisting of Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns, have displayed ‘ruthless aggression’ as Vince McMahon likes to call it. They have quickly made a name for themselves and have cemented their legacy in WWE history. As great as this is, one has to wonder if a dismantling of the group is imminent. If so, how will the members’ single careers turn out? Will they blossom into main event status or dwindle down to being a lower mid-card talent? Here’s the way I’d book it:

Dean Ambrose was known for, and still has to this day, having a character that had main Heath Ledger Joker-esque characteristics. One of his most famous promos is his “Sick Guy” promo on Drake Younger. That promo truly displays his ability to portray such a distinguished character. So, why doesn’t WWE use this to their advantage? The Shield currently holds the WWE Tag Team and United States Championships, which is what makes them such a dominant force.