8/18 Kester's WWE Main Event Live Coverage Review: Curtis Axel vs. Dolph Ziggler, Fandango vs. Kofi Kingston, and Damien Sandow vs. Justin Gabriel

By Ryan Kester

Main Event on Ion Television
Taped earlier in Cincinnati, Ohio.

[Q1] 1. Curtis Axel (w/Ryback and Paul Heyman) vs. Dolph Ziggler. Axel took the early advantage and began to work over Ziggler's neck and spine. Ziggler got in a hope spot, but Axel launched Ziggler into the corner and Ziggler tumbled to the floor… [C]

Back from the break, Axel continued his assault. Ziggler got in a second hope spot, but Axel countered with a flapjack for a two count. Ziggler attempted to make his comeback several times, but Axel stayed in control.

Eventually, Ziggler managed to create some distance by dodging a spear from Axel that sent Axel shoulder-first into the steel post. When Axel recovered and returned to the ring, Ziggler caught him in the corner and unloaded with a series of strikes.

[Q2] Axel quickly regained control and hit a Saito suplex for a near fall. Ziggler responded with the Fameasser for a near fall of his own, Axel countered a Zig-Zag attempt, but Ziggler managed to hit a dumping DDT for another near fall.

Ryback distracted Ziggler on the outside, and Axel sent Ziggler to the floor. While Axel had the referee distracted, Ryback hit the Meathook on Ziggler.

Axel dragged Ziggler back into the ring, hit his finisher, and covered him for the pinfall victory... [C]

Curtis Axel defeated Dolph Ziggler in 14:58.

Ryan's Reaction: Good match. Ziggler made Axel look great with the bumping and selling he did for the man, but there's still something off about Axel. He's still doing the crazed smile expression he tried form his NXT days with his failed attempt to reboot "ruthless aggression," and it makes him look absolutely cartoonish. Ryback got more heat from one strike than Axel managed to acquire during the entire match.

Michael Cole's interview with Triple H with Triple H explaining his reasoning for firing Scott Armstrong and holding the WWE Championship in abeyance aired. Triple H announced that Daniel Bryan would face Randy Orton at Battleground for the WWE Championship to serve both men's rematch clauses…

2. Kofi Kingston vs. Fandango (w/Summer Rae). Fandango danced to begin the match, but he quickly locked up with Kingston. Kingston out-wrestled him, so Fandango sought refuge in the ropes.

Fandango attempted a monkey flip on Kingston, but Kingston landed on his feet. Kingston went for a flip of his own, and his launched Fandango across the ring. Fandango rolled to the floor to regroup.

[Q3] Kingston attempted to hit a baseball slide, Fandango dodged it, threw Kingston back into the ring, and went to charge Kingston, got throw back to the floor and ate a dive from Kingston. Kingston celebrated on the floor… [C]

Back from the break, Kingston continued to control the match and blasted Fandango with a series of kick. Summer Rae distracted Kingston long enough for Fandango to kick Kingston off of the top turnbuckle. Fandango began to work over Kingston's neck.

Kingston landed a belly-to-back suplex and the referee began his ten count. Kingston gained the upper hand and set up for Trouble in Paradise. Fandango kicked Kingston in the gut and threw him into the corner, but he ate a pendulum kick when he pursued. Kingston hit a high cross body for a near fall.

The two men traded blows in the middle of the ring, and Kingston hit the S.O.S for another near fall. Kingston followed with a successful Trouble In Paradise for the 1-2-3…

Ryan's Reaction: Interesting match. Almost all of the offense was Kingston's, and it really came off as a showcase of what Kingston can do. Had this taken place on one of the major shows, it may be indicative of a push for Kingston, but for Main Event it was more than likely a match for the live crowd to get into.

[Q4] [C] The Raw Rebound focused on Dusty Rhodes' and Stephanie McMahon's exchange and Big Show's subsequent assault on Rhodes… [C]

3. Damien Sandow vs. Justin Gabriel. Sandow took control early and worked over Gabriel with a series of strikes to the head. Sandow hit a rolling side Russian legsweep and followed with the Elbow of Disdain for an early near fall.

Gabriel responded with a series of spin kicks and a springboard cross body for a two count. Gabriel hit an STO and went for the 450 splash, but Sandow rolled out of the way. Gabriel landed on his feet, but he turned right around into the Silencer (same name as one of his previous finishers but this time was a full-nelson slam) from Sandow…

Damien Sandow defeated Justin Gabriel in 3:24.

Sandow reminded everyone that he is the Money in the Bank contract holder and put himself over as the future World Heavyweight Champion.

Ryan's Reaction: It's an unfortunate thing to say, but Sandow has lost a lot of his luster since gaining the Money in the Bank contract. WWE has jobbed him out far too much, and a throwaway three minute match on main Event isn't enough to undo that. One can hope that WWE will turn things around before they have him cash in his briefcase, but with how WWE handled Ziggler's run with the briefcase last year, I'm not holding my breath.

Overall, this was a solid edition of Main Event. We got good action from all three matches, even if the main event was a hair over a squash. Thanks for following along with me tonight.

If you have any questions or comments or just wish to chat with a fellow wrestling fan about whatever, then feel free to email me at ryan.kester@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter.