We come back from the break to see Balor roll through a sunset flip and dropkick him. Rollins angrily turns to Balor and shoves him. Balor shoves him back. Rollins looks at the WrestleMania sign, and they start brawling. Rollins knees him in the midsection and throws him out of the ring. Rollins chops him outside the ring and bounces him off the apron. Rollins shoves him into the barricade and puts him in the ring. Balor kicks him and throws him out of the ring. Rollins tries to get back in, but Balor dropkicks him to the floor. Balor then hits a running kick to the face from the apron. Balor gets him in the ring for a one count. Balor hits a snapmare and kicks him in the back for a one count. Balor chops him in the corner twice. Balor whips him to the corner, but Rollins counters with a reverse STO into the corner. Rollins then hits a blockbuster. Rollins knees him in the back and applies a chin lock.
While Rollins has him in the headlock, they show a video package for Shinsuke Nakamura vs. AJ Styles in split-screen. A weird touch but I don’t necessarily dislike it. Rollins takes Balor down, then goes outside the ring and hits a running boot to the face for a two count. Rollins looks frustrated. They trade chops before Balor counters a suplex. Rollins elbows him back and charges, but Balor boots him and hits a pair of running forearms.
Rollins reverses a whip, but Balor comes back with a diving forearm. Balor chops the chest and sends him to the corner. Rollins boots him in the face and goes to the second rope, but Balor rips him off to the mat. Rollins comes back with a roll-up for a two count. Balor quickly hits him with a falling elbow drop for a near fall. Rollins counters a Sling Blade and comes back with a Sling Blade of his own. Balor quickly rolls out of the ring. Rollins gets amped up and hits the ropes for a suicide dive. Balor is down as we head to another break.
*Commercial Break*
Coming back from the break, we see Balor connect with a Sling Blade. Balor charges, but Rollins superkicks him for a near fall. The crowd is chanting, “This is awesome.” Rollins hits a running forearm and goes for a second, but Balor moves and hits a kick to the face. Balor goes to the top rope, but Rollins crotches him. This is a nearly twenty minute match. Rollins goes for a superplex, but Balor forearms him to the mat. Balor goes for a move, but Rollins scales the ropes for a superplex! Rollins rolls through and goes for a falcon’s arrow, but Balor counters with a roll-up for a near fall!
Rollins hits a quick Rip Cord Knee for a near fall. Rollins goes to the top rope and looks at the WrestleMania sign before going for a Frog Splash, but Balor gets the knees up and covers for a near fall! The crowd is getting into it now. Balor gets to his feet, but Rollins rolls out of the ring. Balor goes for a running kick, but Rollins grabs the leg and goes for a powerbomb into the barricade, the same move that ripped up Balor’s shoulder at SummerSlam 2016. Balor doesn’t want that, so he climbs out and hits a Sling Blade on the floor before dropkicking him into the barricade.
Balor gets him in the ring and goes to the top rope for the Coup de Grace, but Rollins moves. Rollins goes for the Curb Stomp, but Balor moves. They go back and forth with some roll-ups, but Rollins catches a prone Balor with a Curb Stomp for the win!
Winner: Seth Rollins
And with the momentum evened out, we can go to WrestleMania with nobody looking strong! Pessimism aside, that was a really good match. Rollins poses atop the ropes afterwards, while Miz holds up his IC title atop the announce table. This could be a really great Mania match.
Replays are shown of Stephanie McMahon putting Ronda Rousey through the table to kick off Monday Night RAW. The commentators quickly run down the entire WrestleMania card.
John Cena wants an answer from The Undertaker later tonight. Coming up next, we’ll take a look at the WWE Universal Championship Match – I hope that doesn’t mean Lesnar isn’t here tonight.
*Commercial Break*
We get a lengthy video package of the Lesnar/Reigns rivalry, going back to when Brock won the title from Goldberg a year ago.
Paul Heyman is shown talking on his cell phone to someone about the “Brock-tagon.” Kurt Angle asks to speak with him and so Heyman hangs-up. Angle says the most important part of WrestleMania is to make sure the main event stays intact. Heyman asks how this night is different from any other night? They’ll do it Angle’s way. They’ll save it for in the ring at WrestleMania. Angle asks him not to say anything that will incite Roman Reigns to injure Brock Lesnar. Heyman laughs and cannot believe he’s worried about Brock Lesnar’s wellbeing. Heyman continues to laugh. Angle says the whole world wants to see this match more than ever. Angle tells him to not add more fuel to the fire. Heyman says they’ll take it under consideration and continues laughing.
The Bar make their way to the ring, and they still don’t know who they’re facing at WrestleMania!
*Commercial Break*
The Bar are in the ring as we return. Sheamus says it doesn’t matter who Braun Strowman chooses as his tag team partner. No matter how big or strong he is, he’ll eventually have to tag in his partner. Sheamus says they need to be on the same page and have multiple plans. Cesaro says Strowman will never have that. They’ll never be a real team or get the RAW Tag Team Championships. They don’t just set the bar… they are THE BAR!
Braun Strowman’s music hits, and he makes his way to the stage. Strowman says he doesn’t play well with others, but management made it clear that he needs a partner if he’s going to challenge for the Tag Titles, so he got one. He was just talking to him in the back, and he doesn’t appreciate what these two clowns were just saying. Cesaro says if his partner has a problem, he can tell them to their faces. Strowman says he will, under one stipulation. He wants a match with one of them. Sheamus says he’d love to disagree with the people, but they can’t pass up this opportunity. His partner has got it. Strowman says, “Good. I’ll go get him.” Strowman says his partner is a lot like him… just a little different. Strowman then walks off.
Strowman’s music then hits again and he comes out in a “disguise.” His brother is Braun. He’s Brains, and he’ll knock them out of their heads. The Bar attacks Strowman, but he overtakes them. The Bar soon overwhelms him, but he breaks out and throws Cesaro across the ring. Sheamus then runs away.
We get a backstage promo from Goldust, who quotes The Princess Bride. He says he will be in the André The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. When he wins, HBO will have to make a documentary about him.
“WOKEN” Matt Hardy interrupts Goldust’s message. He seeks the same prize Goldust does. Hardy has been training with other giants, including Goliath, to prepare to win this match. Tonight, he’ll meet Goldust, who is scheduled for “DELETION!”
*Commercial Break*
Goldust Vs. Matt Hardy
We join this match in progress. Goldust uppercuts Hardy and hisses at him. Hardy screams “WONDERFUL” and claps. Goldust looks confused. Hardy ducks a clothesline and punches him before sending him to the corner. Goldust boots him back and sends him shoulder-first into the ring post. Goldust punches him and stomps him in the head.
Hardy punches back and hits the ropes, but Goldust takes him down with a spinebuster. Hardy soon comes back with some right hands and bounces him off the turnbuckles. Hardy says Goldust will be “DELETED!” Goldust gets out of a bulldog, but Hardy comes back with a Side Effect for a two count. Goldust shoves him off attempting a Twist of Fate and hits a scoop powerslam for a two count. Goldust goes to the second rope, but Hardy avoids an elbow drop. Goldust counters a Twist of Fate with a roll-up for a near fall. Hardy finally hits a Twist of Fate for the win.
Winner: Matt Hardy
Hardy goes to ringside and grabs the André The Giant Trophy and shouts, “PROCURE! PROCURE!”
We’ll have an interview with Nia Jax later tonight.
We get a selfie promos with Alexa Bliss and Mickie Jame. Alexa says they look cute, she tried to do one of these with Nia but her phone broke itself. At WrestleMania, Nia Jax will be blubbering in her blubber.
John Cena will look for an answer from The Undertaker next!
*Commercial Break*
