11 Match Star Ratings For WWE Clash Of Champions 2019
If it was held in the Tokyo Dome, Clash Of Champions would have been just as boring.
The build to Clash Of Champions was, as most pay-per-view builds are, deeply uneven.
The "Whodunnit" storyline is officially the worst of all time, because it's the last question the fandom has asked. Instead, many are instead asking questions like "Why wasn't Roman Reigns mad?", "Roman didn't seriously almost buy that f*cking doppelgänger, did he?" and "Will Eric Bischoff last the month?"
The Kofi Kingston Vs. Randy Orton storyline has produced solid angles, but was haunted by the boring disappointment that was their anticlimactic SummerSlam match. The Seth Rollins Vs. Braun Strowman angle is all too familiar.
More inspiringly, Cedric Alexander is a clear prospect, and firmly deserved a high-profile PPV match*. His push illustrated the sense of vitality that has defined the early promise of the Paul Heyman Era, and WWE is pushing the best and most over women with refreshed character dynamics amid intriguing storyline developments elevated through continuity.
WWE pay-per-views are usually very good, in spite of the stale tropes and jobbed-out Champions and the general feeling that WWE couldn't build a babyface even if Stone Cold Steve Austin were to somehow age backwards.
"Austin's just aged backwards, Vince. What do we do with him?"
"Have him roll-up Shane, and then look profoundly shocked."
Did Clash Of Champions follow this TV = House Of Horrors, pay-per-view = Yowie Wowie formula?
*lol
11. Drew Gulak Vs. Lince Dorado Vs. Humberto Carrillo - Cruiserweight Title Match
Ugly early - Carrillo and Dorado mistimed a stereo double dropkick, which didn't look too glaring, since they aren't a tag team - this settled into the expected, good match almost as quickly, once Dorado timed a surprise arm drag very well, and then used a sly feint to set up a dive to the outside that looked seamless. It wasn't the immersion-breaking waiting game.
The immersion was broken very swiftly afterwards, as Dorado took a powder on the outside for a very revealing amount of time. He clearly yeeted himself out, too, which, while mildly amusing, probably wasn't the intention. His absence cued up some lovely aerial work on Carrillo's part, and then a protracted WWE-style heat spot that didn't work, since nobody on 205 Live is over in front of the audience. It was the audience that played the waiting game here; without a emotional connection, they clapped quietly before Dorado reappeared.
And when he did, he was an ostensible non-factor, weirdly enough. Carrillo impressed with his strength - his deadlift arm drag is an awesome, awesome move - and so an unnecessary Triple Threat match evolved into a very fun singles sprint.
Dorado had a bit of a nightmare, in truth. The referee had to tell him to put his shoulders down at the finish, which he did, in a weird and glaring spot of compliance.
Entertaining enough popcorn fare for a fixture that never goes anywhere.
Star Rating: ***