Intercontinental Title Match: Big E Vs Jack Swagger
The first match of the pay per view was Big E defending his IC title against Jack Swagger. It's worth noting that the PPV had a pre-show headlined by the Rhodes Brother versus Ryback and Curtis Axel. It was OK action but completely missable. Cody won with the Cross Rhodes on Axel. Big E and Swagger on paper was hardly the most compelling match either, and it was hardly the curtain jerker that the fans wanted, with initial tepid reactions for this opener. However, the action built and built as both men got good time to work. Big E in particular was impressive, building his attack around a series of suplexes and spears. One hot spot saw him spear Swagger right through the ring ropes, with both men crashing to the outside. Swagger was decent too, with some nice ankle lock transitions, but he was mostly here to sell and make Big E look good. It worked. When Big E hit the Big Ending for the pinfall victory around 12 minutes it marked the conclusion of a good solid match. Winner and still champion: Big EAnalysis: 65% There wasn't a lot wrong with this match, but at the same time, it's the kind of match you could see on Raw or Smackdown any given week. Big E is becoming increasingly impressive and has improved significantly. He possesses pace, strength power and is getting a real intelligence to his working style. At only 27 he has a very bright future if he can keep upping his game. Swagger meanwhile is in the wilderness, this time last year he was winning the Chamber and getting a Wrestlemania main event title shot. Rightly so he has fallen down the card in a big way.