The Miz and Big Show already looked like second-class citizens as WWE Tag Team Champions due to the cold reality of their coming-together. Chris Jericho had helped re-establish Show during an enjoyable reign the prior year but their split freed up the future 'A-Lister' to again look like a 'Y2J' tribute act alongside his mammoth partner.
Opponents R-Truth and John Morrison too looked like they belonged elsewhere. Morrison had flagged as a babyface in the year since his split from United States Champion Miz, whilst R-Truth would have to wait well over a year to be given a meaningful singles programme with his partner here.
A bizarre post-WrestleMania 27 heel turn on Morrison channelled Truth into the main event, but this opening match loss a year earlier regrettably felt closer to his level.
Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett
