WWE Main Event Review – 6.18.26

Well, let’s try out something new. Main Event is all of thirty minutes and it is our one hole in WWE coverage outside of the stuff on A&E that is currently airing. I have thirty minutes. Let’s watch Main Event. If this is something that people are into (or if I stay into it), we’ll keep it going. If not, you never saw any of this.

The last week in WWE: SmackDown / Lucha Libre AAA / Raw / NXT / Evolve

Then, Now, Forever, Together. Now on Thursday nights!

The faces in the Main Event intro video are mostly faces you won’t see on this show, a long running tradition in Main Event’s 716 episode history.

Jordynne Grace vs Kiana James

We had this match previously right here on Main Event two weeks ago with Jordynne winning in five minutes. Jordynne has had five appearances this year on Main Event, including a loss last week to Giulia.

This match was pre-SmackDown so Mark Nash is on the microphone while Blake Howard and Vic Joseph join us on the commentary table. Kiana does not have her big ass purse with her this week. For those of you that complain about the ring mat being covered in ads, Main Event has a nice clean mat for you. Slim Jim isn’t paying for Main Event time! Grace is able to avoid Kiana’s attempts to break lose from a grapple, rolling her into a two count. Grace smacks Kiana with a knee to the face and a bulldog for a two count and powers her into a slam before missing a Vader Bomb. James slams Jordynne into the corner and stomps her down, taking in the crowd heat.

Kiana smashes Jordynne with shoulders in the corner as Blake tells us about all the people who haven’t credited Kiana for helping them advance in the company. Jordynne nails a big spine buster and a jackhammer that only gets a 1.5 count. Kiana slides out of a powerslam and takes Jordynne down with a set of knees. Jordynne powers Kiana up, Kiana slips out but still takes a big elbow. Jordynne powers her up again and Kiana pokes her in the eye, landing the 401K for the pin.

Kiana James pins Jordynne Grace. A good match between two women that have good chemistry. Now let’s find them some things to do on SmackDown, especially with Rhea down.

Otis (with Akira Tozawa) vs Harlem Lewis

Lewis started in NXT and wrestling in 2024 as well, appearing on NXT, LFG, Evolve and Level Up. He has one Raw appearance in August 2024, losing to Odyssey Jones. Remember him? Big Otis is 6-1 this year on Main Event, his only loss in the qualifying matches for the WrestleMania ladder match that they pulled out of their asses. He might be the top star of the Main Event scene right now.

We’re on to matches from before the Raw taping, so Alicia Taylor is our ring announcer for the remainder of the program. No Maxxine Dupri with the boys tonight, so she must’ve been very busy having a conversation with Austin Theory. Lots of chants for big Otis as the match begins. Harlem charges Otis who humps his way out of it. Harlem hooks a headlock, Otis slugs out. The big men trade right hands and Harlem even scoops Otis up for a Samoan drop which is quite impressive! Harlem runs and Otis ROLLS under, regaining momentum and splashing him in the corner. Otis rips the shirt and hits the Catepillar for the three.

Otis pins Harlem Lewis. This was fun! This was my first exposure to Harlem and he looked good, especially picking big Otis up on his shoulders. Otis is an easy pick to get a crowd going before Raw starts.

Main Event’s also an easy watch if you hate the gigantic amount of ads on WWE programming. Two ads between each match and they’re for stuff like WWE Shop and Sunday Night’s Main Event.

Raw is in London Monday. The Street Profits get a shot at the Vision’s World Tag Team Titles. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria get their Women’s Tag Team Title match against Paige & Brie Bella. That’s a 2 p.m. ET start time.

Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs Kali Armstrong & Layla Diggs

Kali has been in NXT since 2024 and has frequented Level Up and more recently Evolve. She was the first Women’s Champion of this version of Evolve in April (or May for TV purposes) and held it until October’s Evolve Succession when she lost it to Kendal Grey. Layla joined NXT in 2023 and been in matches for NXT, Evolve and LFG, most recently Tuesday night losing in the Speed Championship tournament to Arianna Grace.

Bayley hasn’t competed on Main Event this year, but Lyra’s been here three times this year with wins over Ivy Nile in January, May and June. The duo have another shot at the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles this coming Monday on Raw.

The crowd is very into wooing with Lyra’s theme. The NXT stars attack during the entrance to big boos which, to be fair, is very smart. Bayley springboards Lyra into both women and we start the match properly with Kali and Bayley. Kali knocks Lyra off the apron again and goes to work on Bayley, hitting some big right hands. Kali and Layla double suplex Bayley and Layla takes over, emoting and moonsaulting onto Bayley for a two count.

Layla tags Kali back in, setting up with a big impressive set of spears on Bayley in the corner. Layla hits Bayley with a Shining Wizard for another two. They’re beating Bayley down (or she’s happy to make them look good, knowing Bayley). Bayley walks right into a Pele Kick and both women crawl to their corners, Bayley finally getting that hot tag and Layla coming in as well. Lyra takes down both women before trying for Nightwing. Layla distracts the ref and Kali uses the distraction to hit a pretty spinebuster, Bayley barely breaking the pin. Bayley and Layla battle outside and Lyra leaps the running Kali and tags in Bayley, hitting Nightwing before Bayley drops the elbow for the three.

Bayley pins Kali Armstrong, Bayley & Valkyria defeat Armstrong & Diggs. Hey, this was a LOT of fun. I don’t think I’ve seen Armstrong or Diggs in action before and both impressed me, especially Kali. She might be a big deal on the main roster sooner than later. Go and watch this match.

And that’s our show. In and out with three matches in half an hour. A very easy watch. I recommend it, especially the tag team match.