Cruiserweight title: Neville v. Austin Aries
Getting the pre-game show might be a blessing because they have TONS of time to work with, at least. They do some basic stuff on the mat to start and Aries nearly hooks the Last Chancery, but Neville bails to escape. Back in, Aries with a headlock takedown and a low dropkick, and he goes up with an elbow to the back of the head for two. Neville bails again and blocks a dive with a high kick from the floor, and back in with a missile dropkick for two. And we take a break. You know, on the network I pay $10 a month to access. Back with Neville holding a chinlock on the mat. The commercial, by the way is for “Tough Talking” wrestling figures, who have a chip built in where they cut promos on each other. So now we’ve come to the point where they’re even scripting how kids play with their action figures. Anyway, Aries drops the pendulum elbow and tosses him for a dive, which gets two in the ring. Neville hits him with kicks in the corner and they fight for a superplex, but Aries puts him down and follows with a dropkick for two. Aries sets up for a suplex, but Neville destroys him with a german suplex, like right on his head, but a second one is countered. Neville just powers Aries up for a third one, however, and gets two. Neville stomps a mudhole in the corner and goes for the Rings of Saturn, but Aries rolls him over for two. Neville with an enzuigiri, but Aries hits him with the discus forearm and knocks him out of the ring. Aries hauls him back in, but Neville catches him with a high kick from the apron and goes up to finish. Aries was just goldbricking, however, and puts him down with a top rope rana and 450 for two. They totally had me with that one. Last Chancery, but Neville rakes the broken eyebone to escape, and finishes with the Red Arrow at 15:30 to retain. What a spectacular asshole heel move that was. They got plenty of time and delivered a great match here, although the finish might have been a bit too subtle for the stadium crowd. ***3/4