WWE Day 1 PPV Results: 1-1-22
Results courtesy of
PWTorch.com (direct link to Keller's complete report)
1) THE USOS vs. THE NEW DAY (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods)
After some early back and forth action, the Usos went on sustained offense against Kingston. Woods got a hot tag in at 4:00 and rallied, then played to the crowd. The Usos soon took control against him, though. Kofi tagged back in and landed a top rope crossbody against Jey for a near fall. (McAfee, who used to walk the line okay but now unbearably over-hypes and over-emotes everything to the point of being a caricature of his early self in WWE, called this “an instant classic.” I mean, it was good and all, but save christening a match as a classic for when it’s at least reached, say, the 15 minute mark and is three times as good and heated as this was to this point.) A few minutes later, Xavier leaped offthe top rope with a leaping stomp onto the face of Jimmy after a Kofi backbreaker, good for a two count. The Usos cmae back and landed stereo top rope splashes onto Kofi mid-ring. Woods broke up the cover. Both teams stood and squared off opposite each other and exchanged looks that they were ready to battle. Shortly thereafter, after a blind tag, the Usos pinned Kofi after a double 3D. Cole said the Bloodline continue their dominance.
WINNERS: The Usos in 17:00 to retain the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Titles. (***1/4)
(Definitely a good match. I almost resent calling it good because McAfee was so overbearing and over-the-top and declaring it some sort of instant classic. “I have no idea how anyone is going to follow that!” he said. “That is worth the price of admission itself.” Seriously. Settle down. Imagine how he reacts after getting hot, crispy french fries at a restaurant. Does he want to meet the cook in person to thank them? As good as these two teams are in general, and against each other, this is beginning to feel like the John Cena vs. Randy Orton series – too many matches over too much time to really feel fresh or novel at all anymore.)
(2) DREW MCINTYRE vs. MADCAP MOSS (w/Happy Corbin)
Early in the match, McAfee noted #WWEDay1 was the no. 1 trend in the United States. A few minutes in, Moss kicked McIntyre as he set up a backdrop. McIntyre knocked Moss to the floor seconds later. When Corbin approached McIntyre at ringside, Moss went after McIntyre. McIntyre gave him an overhead throw onto the ringside mat. Corbin distracted McIntyre as he re-entered the ring, so Moss kicked him and threw him shoulder-first into the ringpost. Madcap took over for a while.
Moss caught McIntyre mid-air and stumbled, but rammed McIntyre into the corner and then turn back and overhead suplex McIntyre. McAfee said he appeared to lose his balance a bit, but improvised impressively. McIntyre came back with a Sudden Impact DDT for a two count. McIntyre chopped Moss in the corner. He set up a Claymore, but Moss caught him with a boot. McIntyre came right back with a Claymore for the clean three count. McIntyre wagged his tongue as Corbin at ringside afterward. Cole said Moss was “very game.” A smiling McIntyre blew Moss a kiss afterward and asked if it hurt.
WINNER: McIntyre in 10:00. (**)
(Decent effort, but Moss just isn’t a serious person, and it taking McIntyre that long to beat a sidekick isn’t helping him.) [c]
(3) RK-BRO (Randy Orton & Riddle) vs. THE STREET PROFITS (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) – Raw Tag Team Title match
“Without question, without a doubt, will Day 1 be a day to remember for the profits?” Graves said you can’t say without question and frame it as a question. “That’s not how life works,” he said. As RK-Bro came out, Graves said he had to call out Graves because he said RK-Bro wouldn’t last. Migos then joined RKO-Bro on the stage and accompanied them to the ring. When Migos joined the announcers at ringside, Smith said finally someone is making Corey look underdressed. Saxton said, “I thought I did that on a weekly basis.”
Ford did some push-ups next to Riddle before going for a cover, scoring a two count. Orton tagged in. A “Randy! Randy!” chant broke out. Orton teased an RKO on Dawkins, who avoided it and quickly tagged in Ford. Ford then did some odd gyrations and Orton wasn’t sure what he was looking at. Orton poked Ford in the eyes and then landed a high standing dropkick for a two count. Riddle tagged in and, with help from Orton, launched himself with a corkscrew moonsault onto Ford. Ford kicked out and tagged in Dawkins. Ford tagged back in and landed a slingshot flip senton that slightly overshot Riddle, but led to a two count. Graves brought up Reigns being off the show due to contracting COVID.
Orton delivered a draping DDT to both Ford and Dawkins. They showed Migos popping at ringside for it. Orton signaled for an RKO against Ford, but Ford blocked it and schoolboyed Orton for a two count. Ford landed a high roundkick. Dawkins caught Riddle charging at him and suplexed him. Riddle fired back with a high knee. He then ran toward Dawkins at ringside with a running front kick. Ford knocked Riddle off the ring apron, and Riddle landed on Dawkins. Ford threw Orton shoulder-first into the ringpost next. Ford then landed a running leap over the corner ringpost with a flip dive onto both Riddle and Orton.
Back in the ring, Orton knocked Ford off balance on the top rope. He followed with a superplex attempt. Ford battled out and knocked Orton to the mat. Riddle ran into the ring and launched Ford into the air where Orton caught him with an RKO for the win.
Afterward Migos entered the ring to congratulate RK-Bro. The Street Profits also entered and shookhands with everyone and were good sports. It’s pro wrestling, so it seemed like they could attack RK-Bro at any moment, but they didn’t.
WINNER: Orton & Riddle in 12:00 to retain the Raw Tag Team Titles. (**3/4)
(Minute for minute, right there with the Usos and New Day earlier. They could have easily gone longer and held the crowd’s attention, even without a heel team in the match.)
(4) EDGE vs. MIZ (w/Maryse)
They worked methodically in the early minutes. When Edge swing-kicked Miz at ringside, Maryse yelled at Edge. Edge turned to her, giving Miz an opening to hit Edge from behind. He then remained in control back in the ring. Miz eventually landed a barrage of roundkicks to Edge’s chest. Edge came back with his third Crossface attempt, but Miz blocked it and threw Edge to ringside. When Miz went after Edge, Edge swept his legs. He looked at Maryse, who then took a few steps back. Edge gave Miz a face plant on the ringside mat.
Miz took over a minute later and rammed Edge’s head into the announce desk. He stood on the desk and set up a Skull Crushing Finale. Edge countered and slammed Miz face-first into the desk. Edge landed a top rope crossbody in the ring for a near fall at 11:00. Later, Miz applied a figure-four. Edge countered. Miz let go and went for an STF. Edge escaped. Miz then catapulted Edge into the top turnbuckle and scored a near fall. Miz put his legs on the top rope for added leverage. The ref stopped her count.
Edge applied an STF. Maryse put Miz’s foot on the bottom rope. The ref called for the break, not seeing what Maryse did. Miz regrouped at ringside, then went after Edge. Edge used a backslide to score a two count. Miz and Edge then kicked each other at the same time; both went down and were slow to get up. “Let’s Go Edge!” chanted fans. They battled on the top rope, and Edge won out and hiptossed Miz to the mat. They showed Maryse reacting at ringside. Miz feigned a knee injury after leapfrogging Edge, which gave Maryse a chance to hit Edge with her purse. Miz then landed a Skull Crushing Finale for a convincing near fall. Miz was bug-eyed with shock at the kickout. Miz told Maryse to turn around and look at the stage. Beth Phoenix was there, in her Glamazon get-up. She marched to the ring to her music (which I always liked). Maryse ran away from her as Mizyelled down at them. Edge then caught Miz when he turned around with a spear for the three count.
WINNER: Edge in 19:00.
(The early part of the match didn’t feel like an intense grudge match. It got better but still not great for the middle part. The closing third was the best portion and came close to matching the intensity of the feud. The finish with Phoenix, while not entirely unforeseeable, added something to the spectacle and sets up the anticipated mixed tag with those two couples.)