WWE Main Event results: Rich Swann vs. Ariya Daivari

  • James Cox
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The Big Takeaway: A good cruiserweight main event saved the show after a lackluster opener between Nia Jax and Dana Brooke.

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Nia Jax defeated Dana Brooke (5:05)

After such strong shows for the last two weeks, it was disappointing to see Main Event kick off with Nia Jax vs. Dana Brooke. Neither seems to have gained much momentum of late and they found themselves struggling to find any rhythm together here tonight.

Brooke tries to attack Jax on the bell with forearms, but she is thrown off. It is only when Brooke dodges a charge from the dominant Jax that Jax is posted in the corner and sent outside. Brooke dives off the apron with a crossbody and then dropkicks Jax in the corner. When she then goes for a handspring forearm, she is just shoved to the mat.

Jax starts to work over Brooke’s back, standing on it and stretching it with her knee, pulling her arms behind Brooke. When Brooke powers out each time, she is just slammed back down to the mat. Jax misses an elbow drop and Brooke tries to fireman’s carry Jax to no avail. Jax then just puts her out of her misery with the Samoan drop.

Rich Swann defeated Ariya Daivari (6:36)

Daivari’s new gimmick is that he is part of a rich family. Corey Graves clearly enjoys playing up to it on commentary, saying that Daivari “wouldn’t normally set foot in New Jersey” and so he had stayed in Manhattan and chartered a stretch Hummer to the arena.

After lots of intricate moves on the mat, Swann hits a dropkick for two. Daivari comes back with a big boot and launches Swann into the corner. He now takes over the match, working the lower back. After a backbreaker, Daivari puts on a stretch hold to get a rest.

Daivari hits a beautiful layout reverse DDT but then runs into a boot from Swann, who now hits him with clotheslines and a spin kick for two. Daivari rolls outside and Swann springs off the top rope with a corkscrew tumbleweed.

They beat the referee’s count, but Daivari kicks Swann in the face and uses a neckbreaker to put him in position for the frog splash. Swann dramatically kicks out at two, and after Daivari slaps him around the face, Swann craftily rolls him up for a sit-out pin. It feels like a steal and Daivari is furious, so hopefully we will see a rematch next week.