10 WWE Clash Of Champions 2017 Impulse Reactions
9. The Magic Number
On paper, the United States Title match between Baron Corbin, Bobby Roode and Dolph Ziggler seemed to missing one crucial ingredient - AJ Styles.
'The Phenomenal One's inclusion in the midcard had ensured contests featuring 'The Lone Wolf' and 'The Show Off' weren't a total shambles, but Bobby Roode's awkward involvement didn't appear to have anywhere near the...erm...impact his fellow TNA alumni brought along. Defending Champion Corbin isn't the worst at anything he does, but only warrants the faint praise that damns him with, whilst Dolph Ziggler's entire WWE career ordinarily can't even be compared to the proverbial stopped clock because it never looks right anymore, let alone twice a day.
And yet somehow, this triple threat was substantially greater than the sum of its parts.
Buoyed by a Boston crowd yet to have all their enthusiasm thoroughly wrung out, suspension of disbelief was in high supply whenever the 'Glorious' one got within touching distance of his first WWE singles title. And it was disbelief that permeated throughout the arena when the 'Universe's jilted ex-lover Dolph Ziggler stole victory from underneath the two relative newbies.
Best not to get too excited about a brighter tomorrow for Dolph based on the scars that remain from countless burned fingers, but for one night at least his 'best in-ring' yada yada yada schtick was more than just a crap stand-up's lame attempt at satire.