Attendance: Wrestletix reports that 9,068 were distributed headed into the show. The arena was set up for 9,151. The arena has a capacity of approximately 9,300 when configured for seated events and up to 13,000 for standing events.
[HOUR ONE]
- Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett were standing with microphones to welcome everyone to the first-ever major live WWE event in Dublin (though it aired on tape delay on the USA network). Several wrestlers were shown arriving to the arena including Logan Paul, The Street Profits, Solo Sikoa and the MFTs, Charlotte Flair, and Piper Niven with Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre. The audience was very hyped and the football/soccer chants began.
- RAW Superstar and Women's Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch made a surprise entrance to a huge ovation in her native country. Becky had a royal blue fur coat on and held the white strapped championship belt high on her way to the ring. The sold out crowd chanted for Becky as she soaked it all in. She was pumped up as she touted that this was the first-ever major televised live event held in Dublin. She talked about watching a WWE show as a child and was so excited when Randy Orton noticed her. Becky told the crowd that they didn't deserve to be on television and told them that she'd petitioned in the back to get the show cancelled.
The crowd chanted "We Want Lyra." Becky said Lyra never gets another shot at her title so they should save their breath. She said that no one in the audience has a face for television and they don't appreciate Becky. She said that she is their hero, but she has to tell them she is even though that isn't how "hero-ing" works. Becky referred to herself as the great female wrestler of all time and mentioned that Sports Illustrated, an American publication, agreed. Becky bragged about winning in the main event of Wrestlemania 35, being a best-selling author, being a grand slam champion, and having a hot American husband. Becky said she deserved a parade or a mural. The crowd chanted "C.M. Punk", to which Becky replied, "no one wants that old ass." Becky said that instead, she had to come home, get off of her first class jet, walk through the airport, and then not see her face anywhere. She instead sees the faces of rugby players or boxers like Katie Taylor, or the pretentious Bono who should take his sunglasses off indoors because only wrestlers should do that. Becky's rant was interrupted by the WWE Women's Champion Tiffany Stratton.
A moderate "Tiffy Time" chant broke out. Stratton told Becky that she was on the wrong show and that "Rebecca" could leave. Stratton said that on behalf of everyone in Dublin, she'd make Becky leave. Nia Jax came out to weigh in, wondering why Stratton was concerning herself with Becky. Nia went in and blindsided Stratton with a right hand. Becky and Jax momentarily ganged up on Stratton until Jade Cargill came out to make the save. All four women faced each other in the ring. Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis came out on stage and mentioned that he thought it would be fun to have Becky on Smackdown tonight in Dublin. He then made a main event tag team match for tonight between the four grapplettes.
(Corbridge's Analysis: Not a huge surprise that Becky would make an appearance since in WWE math "pop a crowd with a hometown hero > brand exclusivity." It was a pretty good promo by Becky and was aided by the hot crowd. It's also yet another tag team match made during an opening segment of a WWE tv show, playa.)
- Carmelo Hayes talked backstage to Fraxiom. They told Hayes that they were impressed with him but he needed to stop listening to the Miz because he's a schemer. Miz heard that and came up and yelled at Fraxiom. Carmelo defended Miz and touted his many career accomplishments. Hayes said that their tag team was in the position because Miz was smarter than everyone else. Hayes and Miz made their entrance for the opening match. [c]
The Motor City Machine Guns made their "shots firing" entrance. Tessitore mentioned that they have had great matches recently but haven't won in their last six contests.
(1) MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) vs. MELO DON'T MIZ (Carmelo Hayes & The Miz)
Miz wanted to start the match and told Hayes to trust him. But as soon as the bell rang Hayes immediately tagged in. The crowd actually chanted "We Want Miz." Hayes pretended he was going to tag out but pulled his hand away to taunt the crowd. Sabin executed two armdrags, leading to Hayes accidentally tagging out. The Guns knocked Hayes off the apron, double clotheslined Miz to the floor, and then hit them both with stereo baseball slides. Sabin took flight and nailed a dive through the ropes on Miz and Hayes. [c]
Shelley made a tag to Sabin and Sabin entered with a cross-body off the top rope onto Miz. Sabin then hit a tornado DDT on Miz from the second rope and covered for a two-count. Shelley tagged in and Miz didn't see it. So, the Guns were able to hit a double-team move on him, but Hayes broke up the pin attempt. The Guns hit the double-team facial on Hayes, who was still the illegal man. The crowd chanted "TNA, TNA." The Guns wanted to hit the Skull and Bones but Miz escaped. Miz attempted a Skull Crushing Finale, but Sabin countered with a hip toss. Hayes made a blind tag that Sabin didn't see and came in with a La Mistica that led to a nearfall. Hayes was about to go for the Nothing but Net legdrop, but just like last week Miz inexplicably tagged himself in. Hayes argued with him until Sabin pushed Hayes into Miz, knocking him off the apron to the floor. However, Hayes flipped over and hit a lungblower on Sabin. When he turned around Shelley clotheslined him to the floor. Miz, who was still legal, snuck in and covered for the three-count. Tessitore pointed out that the reason he got the pin was because of Hayes's lungblower. Miz and Hayes celebrated on the outside and Hayes didn't seem too upset about Miz poaching the win.
WINNERS: Melo Don't MIz via pinfall in 8:00.
(Corbridge's Analysis: This is what I wrote last week when they announced this match for tonight:
Let's play a game called "what's gonna happen next week". I'll start. During this tag match that was just made, Lumis and Gacy will once again be shown in the crowd. And once again Hayes will be about to win the match against the Guns, but Miz will find a way to steal the glory. It will be almost exactly how it happened this week. Ok...now it's your turn. I'll wait.
Ok so I was half right. BTW, Miz DID cover for the WIN. I'm not sure that is as atrocious as Tessitore claimed considering Miz was the legal man the whole time.)
- Cathy Kelley interviewed Jimmy Uso in the back area, congratulating him on the news about his baby. She also said happy birthday to the Usos who turned 40 today. Sami Zayn walked up (to huge cheers) and hugged Jimmy, telling him that his baby will always have an uncle in Sammy Uso. Sami and Jimmy were about to do their fun handshake but Solo and the MFTs interrupted. Solo said that when the newborn arrives it will have plenty of uncles in his family. Solo said that Jimmy could name the baby after him. Jimmy gave the "no yeet" sign. Sami told Solo that he longer was dealing with underdog Sami Zayn, he was dealing with Wrestlemania main eventer Sami Zayn.
(Corbridge's Analysis: Congratulations to Jimmy and Trinity. We love love here.)
- Charlotte Flair was shown walking in the back. [c]
Piper Niven was already in the ring for the next match. Flair made her entrance for the next match. Alexa Bliss, who likely didn't make the trip overseas, was not with her. Tessitore pointed out all her many accomplishments when they were displayed on a graphic.
(2) CHARLOTTE FLAIR (w/Alexa Bliss) vs. PIPER NIVEN (w/Alba Fyre, Chelsea Green)
Flair gained the advantage by doing a cartwheel and snagging Niven in a headlock. Flair mockingly saluted Niven. Niven ran into a big boot and Flair hit a cross-body and covered for a quick nearfall. Chelsea Green got up on the apron and distracted Flair long enough for Niven to capitalize and hit a Bossman slam as they went to a split screen. [c]
Niven was covering Flair for a two-count when they returned from the break. Niven scaled the ropes and missed a Vader bomb. Flair took Niven to the chophouse and then hit a walk-over clothesline and more big boots that felled the powerhouse Niven. Barrett pointed out that Green was in panic mode on the outside. Flair did a crotch top toward Green and nailed a beautiful moonsault from the top. She covered Niven for a good nearfall. Flair with a quick spear and cover for another two-count. Green got up on the apron again but Flair hit her off and locked in the Figure 8 on Niven. Green snuck in and raked her face to break the hold. That allowed Niven to hit a Michinoku driver and cover for the upset win.
WINNER: Piper Niven by pinfall in 9:00.
(Corbridge's Analysis: Flair did a good job in this match and Niven earned a much much needed win. I recommend Flair stick to doing THAT moonsault rather than the ugly one she does to the floor. It looks fantastic and probably hurts less.)
- In the back, Kiana James was telling Giulia that she had several negotiations waiting for her to sign off on. Michin and her kendo stick came up and told Giulia that she wanted an appointment with the champ. James reminded Michin that she needed to go through her to get to Giulia. Michin said she will go through both of them to get the title. [c]