10 Best Matches From The WWE ThunderDome Era
4. Roman Reigns Vs Jey Uso (Clash Of Champions 2020)
Years from now, there will substantial attention paid to this match when reviewing the crucial early success of the bold new direction WWE took with Roman Reigns in 2020.
In an incandescent display, 'The Tribal Chief' flexed his muscles literally (Reigns worked topless for the first time, and this mattered for more reasons than just that he looked amazing) before doing so creatively over the duration of a match that might have been better without the live interaction.
'The Big Dog' brutalised his cousin Jey Uso in a deliberate and controlled manner that might have been undone by audience participation. It bordered on illicit in tone, helping sharpen the new sinister edge of SmackDown's unstoppable ruler.
That it was a formerly-beloved family member taking the beating only enhanced the menace Reigns presented during such a dominant display. Never hokey (this time at least) Roman's words as he battered his cousin carried the weight of his threats on the go-home SmackDown, reemphasising his role not only as a very very bad man, but one that keeps his horrific promises. Uso's immaculately timed hope spots were just that - hopeful - but the inevitable stoppage win was as overpowering as the Lesnar-like strikes that rained down on the former Tag Champion throughout.
A foregone conclusion has perhaps never been so utterly thrilling.