3 Ups & 6 Downs From WWE Clash In Italy (Results & Review)

2. Plodding PG Plunder Match

Welp, Tribal Combat is 0-3 as a gimmick match. Might be time to retire it for good (and not a Brock Lesnar-style retirement).

Roman Reigns versus Jacob Fatu was a dull snoozer of a main event, a plodding PG plunder match that dragged on for an eternity with no urgency or real energy behind it. When they went into the crowd for a slow, half-hearted brawl around the arena, you got the feeling that the entire match was going to reflect that meandering fight.

Oh sure, there were weapons shots galore, and Roman attempting to cripple Fatu’s hand to nullify the Tongan Death Grip was a smart story beat. We also got the traditional Reigns mid-match monologue and the low blow kickout spot. A barricade got destroyed via spear as well.

All told, this was as paint-by-numbers of a CM Punk-less Roman Reigns main event you could imagine. The only thing missing was the Usos running interference throughout to protect their Tribal Chief. Had it been wrestled with intensity and at anything faster than half-speed, this might have rated positively, but it was just far too dull of a match to award an “up.”