3 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE 205 Live (Dec 20, 2016)

Thank you, Neville.

by Michael Sidgwick
Neville Swann Elbow
WWE.com

Sunday’s Roadblock: End Of The Line PPV lived down to its nonsensical name.

The main event was a glorified television match with a tainted finish, designed purely to set up a rematch between Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns. The predictability was eye-rolling. WWE can never just promote a one-shot deal; every top-tier title bout must end with some sort of contrivance to necessitate a rematch. And, when a title does change hands, the mandated rematch clause just adds to the overexposure.

The very good Women’s Championship match was mired by a stupid ending; Sasha Banks tapped with just seconds to spare, seemingly to save herself from serious harm - and yet, they ran with an injury angle anyway.

At the end of a nothing Cruiserweight Title match, however - which Jim Ross rightly slated on Twitter for its alienating approach - The Man WWE Forgot, Neville, made his return. While it was an indictment of the Cruiserweight division that fans thanked him for his heelish beatdown of its top two babyfaces, Neville’s cameo was excellent. The feigned clapping, the sudden bait and switch, the intensity of his attack - Neville really did establish himself as the King of the Cruiserweights.

For once, WWE’s hyperbole was fully justified…

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!