Given the amount of content on the WWE Network, it dawned on me that I don't go through anywhere near enough of it, including never watching the C-shows Main Event and Superstars that go up on there. Considering that these shows are just fun hour-long episodes with solid TV wrestling matches, that felt like something I should address, so I'm going to start running through the two C-shows from the earliest Network episodes, hopefully picking out some hidden gems.
Fandango vs the Miz
Santino Marella and Emma are guest commentators and fuck me, Emma is unbearable. Just irritating faux-bubbliness, a world away from how good she currently is on NXT. The commentary mostly ignore the match to concentrate on shit Emma-based puns. Shame, as the bout is actually pretty good, despite featuring face Miz. I thought Fandango was excellent here, loved him ending a chop battle with a big leaping kick to Miz's arm, and then ramming him into the ring post leading to a big bump by Miz. Fandango works over the arm nicely, dropping knees to the injury then grinding them in. Miz's comeback is weak, with a running knee looking shit. Miz goes for the figure-four several times, despite not having worked over Fandango's leg. Whereas Fandango's bodypart work continues with a great hammerlock Northern lights. He also transitions fluidly from trying a roll up straight into an armbar. Just great stuff, making it more sad when Miz locks on the figure four to get the tap from out of nowhere.
Alberto Del Rio vs Zack Ryder
The commentary team are hyping up a mini-feud between Del Rio and Batista, so you don't give Ryder too much hope here. Zack keeps up with Del Rio for the first minute or two, before getting draped over the top rope then hurled into a barricade. Loved Del Rio showing some aggression as he just punches Ryder in the back of his head on the mat. Ryder makes a brief comeback including a shitty neckbreaker, but both guys telegraph a Rough Ryder reversal so badly that they're both preparing the reversal before the move starts. The ending is odd, as Del Rio viciously drops a knee on the arm, seemingly in preparation for the cross-armbreaker, then immediately superkicks Zack in the head for the win. This was fine.
Big E vs Curtis Axel
Big E is still the IC champ at this point, and still has the "Langston" surname. This is a semi-competitive squash for Big E, who controls the bulk of this match. Axel sells his arse off here to make Big E look good, including a fun bump when getting clotheslined out of the ring, pinging his face off the apron. Axel isn't a small guy, so Big E catching him in the air is pretty impressive, as he reverses a crossbody into a backbreaker. Love the explosiveness of Big E's offence, flying into the corner on shoulderbarges. Axel cheapshots don't give him a sustained advantage, as Big E keeps cutting him off, until he lures Big E out and rams him into the apron and ring steps. The Axel offensive run isn't very exciting, so it's probably for the best that it doesn't last long. Axel does hit an unlikely PerfectPlex for 2, but the Big Ending soon polishes it off.
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