Yes you read that right, not this coming Saturday but Sunday, WWE are hosting ‘Sunday Night’s Main Event’ from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Which is a notable change from the usual Saturday slot, not only for SNME specifically, but in recent times Premium Live Events in general (which is unfortunate for myself, someone who works on a Monday). Nevertheless, that’s not what we’re here to talk about, rather the matches planned for the card which currently (as of September 3rd) in another change from the usual pattern is only a 4 match card rather than the typical 5 (but remember, card’s subject to change so a fifth match could be added prior to the show).
The first match I will discuss is a unique one which will see the in ring debut of rapper Lil Yachty as he takes on Baron Corbin. Yachty of course, has been acting as a manager to Trick Williams for a few months now, filling the much appreciated space of a celebrity from outside the industry who evidently cares about the business given how frequently he appears and his willingness to get physical. But also his antics alongside Trick have drawn the ire of current United States Champion, Baron Corbin who only recently dethroned Trick for that title at SummerSlam. Alongside the uniqueness of the match itself, there is also a unique stipulation to this match for Lil Yachty as he will not actually have to pin/submit Corbin to “win”, all he needs to do is survive/avoid defeat for 5 minutes which would no doubt embarrass Corbin if he cannot manage to defeat Yachty in such a short time given he’s so new to the business. As well as this, should Yachty be successful in avoiding defeat for 5 minutes, he will not only win the match for himself, but also earn Trick Williams a future rematch for the United States Championship after his loss at SummerSlam.
The next match to mention will see a six man (or woman) tag match, where ‘The Baddies’ consisting of Jade Cargill, B-Fab & Michin will take on ‘Charlexa’ (Charlotte & Alexa Bliss) as well as their new ally in the recently debuted Tatum Paxley. Paxley debuted on the main roster in early August, showing up during a match between Charlotte & Jade Cargill where she nullified Michin & B-Fab, allowing Charlotte to defeat Cargill. Since then, Tatum has found herself drawn to Charlotte & Alexa, with Alexa more open to accepting her than Charlotte who is clearly somewhat uncomfortable with how Tatum acts around them as it seems somewhat ‘obsessive’ is one way of putting it. However, much like was first the case with Alexa Bliss in this situation she will happily be an ‘Ally of Convenience’ to Tatum to address the bigger issue of Jade Cargill & her baddies.
Next, in what has high potential to be match of the night will see Oba Femi taking on Bron Breakker of ‘The Vision’. Oba Femi has been riding high in WWE since his debut, recently officially sending Brock Lesnar into retirement after the initial fake-out at WrestleMania. Oba’s success and rapid rise to the top of WWE has clearly drawn the ire of Bron Breakker, who once upon a time seemed to be on a similar meteoric rise to the top when he first arrived on the Main Roster. But, as is the risk with any WWE Superstar, Bron was taken out with an injury at the worst possible time, and in his time away, Oba has for lack of a better term ‘snatched the chain’ and fully taken over Breakker’s hype with his own dominant streak. Whereas Breakker is currently stuck as part of ‘The Vision’ alongside Logan Paul, Austin Theory & Maxxine Dupri where it’s fair to stay he sticks out like a sore thumb. So Breakker will be hoping he can against all odds defeat Oba Femi and reinstate his position as the most dangerous threat in current WWE and continuing into the future.
And currently, the final match on the card sees a WrestleMania rematch, with Cody Rhodes once again taking on Randy Orton (thankfully this time, with no Pat McAfee). We hadn’t seen Orton since WrestleMania where he punted Cody Rhodes following his loss in the Main Event of Night One. So many were shocked when Orton returned at SummerSlam to cost Cody Rhodes his title match against CM Punk to prevent him recapturing that title. Since then, both men have been at eachothers throats in the build up to this match, with Orton expressing how he’s made it his mission to ensure that Cody is never again a World Champion while he’s around and Cody showing a more ruthless streak implying he is swearing that he will be the one to “kill The Legend Killer”. Despite the hostility in the build up there has been little actual contact between the two in recent weeks. Due to an imposed stipulation from Smackdown GM Nick Aldis to minimise chaos after some brawls between the two where he mandated that if either man laid their hands on the other prior to their match on Sunday, the aggressor will never again be given a World Title opportunity in WWE, which has worked to keep each man’s hostility at bay. Even considering both men attempting to anger the other into an assault, with Orton insulting Cody’s Dog, Wife & Mother and Cody countering by telling Orton during their match we’d find out if he was a “Once in a Lifetime Generational Superstar like my dad (Dusty Rhodes) was” or if he is simply “A first-class screw up like yours was (‘Cowboy’ Bob Orton)
In closing, despite the shorter than average match card and different date to usual. Sunday Night’s Main Event is still setting up to be a good night of wrestling. With particularly Oba Femi’s clash with Bron Breakker and the rematch between Randy Orton & Cody Rhodes looking to be early contender’s as what will ultimately be match of the night. As for who actually gets that honour, we will have to wait until Sunday Night (or Monday Morning for us Brits) to find out.
