There was little time for Austin Theory to enjoy his victory over John Cena at WrestleMania 39. Still holding the WWE United States Championship, he became a target for both Bobby Lashley & Bronson Reed – effectively stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Tonight, he will defend against both men in Puerto Rico, marking one of his biggest challenges to date as champion.
Austin Theory Uses His Ring IQ To Retain United States Championship
Lashley would quickly take control of the match, running down both Theory & Reed. Reed would be put into the Hurt Lock – and Theory quickly broke this up with a dropkick.
Theory would drop Lashley, and narrowly avoided a running splash from Reed. We’d see Theory & Reed start an uneasy alliance, as they beat Lashley into the corner – and Reed would quickly hit a body block to Theory.
Lashley would recover, hitting some one armed spinebusters on both Reed & Theory. He’d nail the spear on Theory, with Reed breaking what could have been a match ending pinfall up.
Reed would hit a superkick to Lashley on the floor, before a Springboard Vader Bomb onto Lashley. The Tsunami Splash was set, with Theory shaking the ropes to have Reed stumble.
Lashley would block the A-Town Down into the Hurt Lock, with Theory using the ropes to shift into a pinfall. Theory would only get a two count, and Reed soared down onto Lashley with the Tsunami – forcing Theory to break the pinfall up.
Reed would try for a moonsault on Theory, missing and stumbling into a spear from Lashley. Theory sent Lashley to the floor – and made the pinfall for the win.
Rhea Ripley Remains Cold While Zelina Vega Is Emotional
Rhea Ripley has been unstoppable in 2023. She won the Royal Rumble despite starting at number one, and would run through Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 39 to become a grand slam champion as she claimed the Smackdown Women’s Championship.
Tonight, she makes her first defence against Zelina Vega – who is set up as a major underdog tonight. Vega is one of the smaller names in the division, but her technical skills and ring IQ have seen her win Queen of the Ring – and tonight, looks to win singles gold.
Vega was overcome with emotion as the the Puerto Rico crowd welcomed her – with Ripley remaining ice cold. Ripley would go for a lock up, with Vega using her speed to avoid – before being shoved into the corner.
Vega would slip out of the ring and arm herself with a chancla from her mom, perhaps the most dangerous weapon in sports entertainment.
Ripley would avoid being knocked out like a latino child who sassed their mother, and nailed a powerbomb in the ring for a two count.
Vega would be taken into the corner for some stiff shoulder tackles. Ripley would hit the backbreaker, as Vega tried to fight back into this match – but couldn’t even budge Ripley with an irish whip.
Ripley Notches Her First Title Defense
Vega would be thrown into the corner, but ducked out of the way of a spear – causing Ripley to hit the post. Finally with an opening, Vega would hit some forearm smashes before hitting the ropes for a lariat.
Ripley would block the follow up with a headbutt, before looking for Riptide – with Vega blocking into a DDT.
Vega would see an opening for the 619, and nailed Ripley flush before an Eddie Guerrero shuffle on the top rope and a Meteora for a near fall. Ripley would recover and hit a big boot and Riptide for the victory – not allowing Vega have a sentimental moment.
Who can defeat Rhea Ripley? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQTQ9GPSai0&pp=ygUNQXVzdGluIFRoZW9yeQ%3D%3D
