WWE Stomping Grounds 2019 Review

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WWE’s Stomping Grounds pay-per-view event took place this Sunday, June 23rd from the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, WA. The pay-per-view slot was supposed to be for Backlash and was supposed to be in San Diego, CA. It was renamed to Stomping Grounds since the company did not want to run a show called Backlash so soon after the Saudi show.

The majority of Stomping Grounds felt like a do-over of the Saudi Super Bloody Oil Money ShowDown.

Drew Gulak def. Tony Neese and Akira Tozawa – WWE CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (Pre-Show)

I feel sorry for the 205 Live guys. These guys are great. The only issue here is that the only one who can cut a decent promo on the entire roster is the new champ, Drew Gulak. Neese looked strong in defeat with Tozawa taking the pin following getting hit with the Toture Rack Neck Breaker by Drew Gulak.

From Powerpoint presentations to being the top of the purple brand. Congrats to Philadelphia suburbs own, Drew Gulak!

Grade: 3.5 Stars

Becky Lynch (c) def. Lacey Evans – RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP

The champion came out first, which I always hate. However, since they’re kicking off this event with the RAW Women’s Championship match… makes sense to pop the crowd. Evans had a terrible showing against Charlotte not too long ago, so this was a big test for her despite it being a rematch from Money in The Bank.

This match was all Becky early on. Evans gained an advantage after kicking Lynch into the announcer’s desk. Becky did a great job selling her ribs, but Evans’ painfully slow offense killed the Tacoma crowd. Lynch channeled her inner Mick Foley and stuffed Evans’ hankerchief into Lacey’s mouth.

Evans went to the second rope for an offensive move. Lynch grabbed her leg and knocked her to the mat. Becky took advantage and caught Evans with the Disarm-Her. Lacey taps instantly. The Man retains.

Grade: 2.75 Stars

Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens def. The New Day (Xavier Woods & Big E)

Did I tell you I ran into Kevin Owens last week at Hollywood Studios? I did.

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByoTEvfFMH0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Honestly, I forgot why this match is happening other than it being a payday for all involved. Either way, all 4 of these guys are fantastic.

KO hit Big E with a superkick to knock him off the mat. He goes to the top rope and hit a Senton on Woods. Woods kicks out at two. Zayn hit a Blue Thunder Bomb on Woods. Woods again kicks out at two. Owens hit a Frog Splash from the top rope. Again a kick out at two. Woods took a ton of punishment before hitting Big E with the hot tag. E beat the hell out of Zayn before tagging Woods back in. Woods picked up Big E on his shoulders and slammed E onto Zayn.

They caught me when Zayn hit the Helluva Kick on Woods and threw him to Owens for the Pump Up Powerbomb. I thought it was done there, but Big E ran in to break up the pin. There as some nice back and forth before my new best friend, Kevin Owens hit Xavier Woods with the Stunner and won with the pin.

Grade: 3.5 Stars

Ricochet def. Samoa Joe (c) – UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP

Not a ton of build for this match. Joe got handed the US Championship title from Rey Mysterio after he relinquished it due to injury. Ricochet won his chance at Joe’s belt during a 5-way elimination match with a little help from Bobby Lashley and Cesaro.

Joe dominated most of the match. Lots of hard hits from Joe and some amazing selling from Ricochet. Ricochet did some nice flips to get himself back into the match. Rocking Joe and keeping him stumbling. Joe caught Ricochet with a Powerslam and that pretty much ended Ricochet’s flurry of offense.

Joe got Ricochet into the Coquina Clutch. Ricochet got to the ropes to not just break the hold, but hung Joe on the rope. Ricochet hit the 630 on Joe for the win. Color me surprised! The former NXT North American Champion is your new United States Champion!

This was an excellent match. Glad to see the surprise rollup leading to a shot of fuming Samoa Joe has been finally put to death. Please move Joe into the Universal Championship picture again.

Grade: 3.75 Stars

Daniel Bryan & Rowan (c) def. Heavy Machinery – SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

I was not looking forward to this match, but Heavy Machinery came to play. Both teams looked strong, but, man, Heavy Machinery has never looked better. The crowd was hella into Bryan with chants of “Please recycle” and “Drive a Prius.”

The match went pretty long. I was nervous that Bryan and Rowan would lose being they were in Bryan’s home state. With Heavy Machinery being the faces, but being booed I was curious to see how Tucker and Otis would react, but they handled it well. Otis hulking up after the Yes kicks cracked me up. Bryan blind tagged himself in and low bridged Tucker Knight out of the ring preventing the Compactor on Rowan. Following a brief flurry of offense, Bryan put Tucker in a small package and pinned Tucker for the retention.

Grade: 3.5 Stars

Bayley (c) def. Alexa Bliss (w/ Nikki Cross) – SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP

I like this Bayley. She’s edgier. She seemed to be hitting harder. When the match started I really wanted this match to be a squash, but it was good to see Alexa back at full strength. I almost forgot how good she can be.

Following some messy interference by Nikki Cross, Bayley hits the Bayley-to-Belly on Alexa Bliss after Bliss missed a Twisted Bliss. Bayley gets the pin over Alexa Bliss for the retention.

Grade: 3.25 Stars

Roman Reigns def. Drew McIntyre (w/ Shane McMahon)

Oh, look… another rematch. Surprised this one was booked considering how bad their Wrestlemania match was. This match was way better than that even with Shane’s constant interference. I’m really tired of Shane and I hope this will at the very least curb air time dedicated to the McMahons moving forward, but, yeah, doubt that. Drew is great. Drew is a badass and does not need anyone in his corner.

McIntyre got hit with a Superman Punch. There was some back and forth, Reigns hit Drew with the Spear and covered for the pin, but Shane pulled the official out. Oddly enough, that didn’t call for a disqualification?

https://twitter.com/EddiePotatoes/status/1142962840371945473

There was some more Shane intervention. Reigns hits the spear again and this time gets the pin for the win. McIntyre needed that win. Hopefully, Reigns moves onto a meaningful storyline and Shane can take a break from his TV duties.

I spoke too soon…

Grade: 2.75 Stars

Kofi Kingston (c) def. Dolph Ziggler – WWE CHAMPIONSHIP

It should’ve been Dolph? Eh, if it should’ve been, it would’ve been. Anyways, another rematch. (No more automatic rematches, remember?)

Dolph landed the first bit of offense with a dropkick after trying to exit the cage early. Good back and forth between these two, but it felt a little paint by numbers considering what we know these two are capable of.

Dolph was crawling out of the cage after kicking Kofi across the ring, but Kofi gathered himself, ran across the ring and dove through the ropes out of the cage for the win. Nice finish, but not much else will be memorable from that match.

Grade: 2.5 Stars

Seth Rollins (c) def. Baron Corbin – UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Oh, look… another rematch. Corbin’s special guest mystery referee is Lacey Evans. Yup, the woman who just lost to Becky Lynch earlier in the night. Corbin and Evans in the main event. We are living in dark times.

https://twitter.com/EddiePotatoes/status/1142975836351602688

Had a hard time getting into this match. Found the whole thing not just irritating, but the match itself was predictable. The heel ref refusing to do her job properly. All this means is that we’ll continue to see more of the same. Replay of Rollins v. Corbin. Replay of Becky v. Lacey. This sucks. This match sucked. Hate that they’re playing up this power couple stuff, but at least Corbin lost. So we’ve got that going for us.

https://twitter.com/tde_wrestling/status/1142980318531661826?s=21

Grade: 1.5 Stars

WWE Stomping Grounds 2019
  • Drew Gulak def. Tony Neese and Akira Tozawa – WWE CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
  • Becky Lynch (c) def. Lacey Evans – RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
  • Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens def. The New Day (Xavier Woods & Big E)
  • Ricochet def. Samoa Joe (c) – UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP
  • Daniel Bryan & Rowan (c) def. Heavy Machinery – SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
  • Bayley (c) def. Alexa Bliss (w/ Nikki Cross) – SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
  • Roman Reigns def. Drew McIntyre (w/ Shane McMahon)
  • Kofi Kingston (c) def. Dolph Ziggler – WWE CHAMPIONSHIP
  • Seth Rollins (c) def. Baron Corbin – UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP
2.6

Summary

Stomping Grounds was better than expected, but it was still another so-so pay-per-view. Unfortunately, it looks like we’re in for more of the same for weeks, if not months, to come.