WWE Main Event results: Mustafa Ali vs. Von Wagner

This week’s WWE Main Event was taped last Monday at the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, before Monday’s Raw.

Odyssey Jones defeated Akira Tozawa (4:23)

This was a pretty basic match with Jones getting his second win in his second-ever appearance on Main Event.

Back in August 2021, Jones made his debut on this show, defeating Austin Theory. It seems hard to imagine that happening now and just shows how radically things change in pro wrestling.

They gave the very excitable Jones an inset promo as he made his way to the ring. He’s going to need some work on who his character is, but he’s certainly likeable.

Tozawa is perfect in this role. He is an excellent opponent for a less experienced talent because he is so giving and will always bump all over the ring to make them look better. This was certainly true here.

They didn’t go for restholds which was a welcome relief and instead while Tozawa tried his best to take Jones off his feet, Jones worked over his left arm and wrist.

When Tozawa did eventually topple the big man and get a cover on him after a top rope spinning elbow, Jones kicked out and pushed Tozawa off him with Tozawa launching himself up in the air like he had been attached to a rocket.

But when Tozawa went up top again, it was one time too many as Jones dodged it and used a spinning side slam to get the victory.

After the match, they shook hands and hugged with Jones showing respect as he was playing the babyface.

Mustafa Ali defeated Von Wagner (7:35)

All things considered, this was a match that had some context and allowed them to tell a good story.

Before the match, they aired some backstage footage from earlier in the day when Wagner was arriving in the building. He was rude to the camera crew and Ali intervened, calling him out on being a bully. The segment ended with Ali saying he was going to get payback for what Wagner did to Cedric Alexander two months ago.

As he made his way to the ring, they aired the beatdown that Wagner gave to Alexander that led to a DQ in addition to a post-match angle where he continued to destroy Alexander. The announcers tried to put him over as a force to reckoned with.

This all played well into how Ali was received by the crowd when he came out as well as throughout the match with Ali trying to build up their support as the two circled each other after the bell.

Before the break. it was pretty much all Wagner with little bits of hope for Ali snuffed out as soon as they got going. Ali was on the apron when Wagner grabbed him by the throat and drilled him into the ring post to leave him writhing in pain as we headed to the commercials.

After the ads, every time Ali got some separation, he was thwarted by Wagner and the match overall did a good job in making him look strong.

For the finish, they teased a top rope superplex but when Ali reversed it into a sunset flip, his face was a picture. The crowd reacted knowing that it meant he had a chance. With Wagner down, Ali seized it and hit his 450 splash for the victory.

Ali celebrated and Wagner retreated to the back selling his ribs from the splash.

Final Thoughts:

These were two perfectly watchable matches with the second being the better of the two this week. It would be good to see them return to the Alexander, Ali and Benjamin storyline at some stage as they have really fully resolved it and none of the trio have much material on WWE main show television right now.