4 Ups And 8 Downs From WWE Backlash 2018
2. The Power Of The Spear
Roman Reigns will not be denied.
After the announcers talked up how the Big Dog was less than 100% after his battles with Brock Lesnar, and after Samoa Joe jumped him before the bell and put him through a table, and after Joe dominated and controlled 85% of the match, Reigns hit a single spear to win, just seconds after being locked in a Coquina Clutch that had his eyes rolling back in his head.
Wanna know why fans like this writer can’t stand how Roman is booked? This match is Exhibit J.
Reigns and Joe have had some really good seesaw battles during the past year, trading power moves and dialing up the intensity. That kind of thing was anticipated Sunday night, and even though a Roman victory was likely, a hard-fought win would merit a groan, but at least both men would look solid.
Instead, Reigns absorbed a beatdown and a Clutch that put him down and (almost) out, only to perk up and hit his dreaded spear, which was about the fifth offensive move he had hit the entire match (two spears, Superman Punch, drive-by, spinebuster), for the win. In short, Roman fought from underneath and put Joe down with minimal offense.
Guess they’ve got to build Roman back up for his next title shot, right? (Prove that wrong, WWE.)