There are tons of bilingual “Yeah!” signs in the crowd for LA Knight makes his ring walk, which is a cool touch. Roman Reigns also gets a big reaction as he does his typically measured entrance, though there are lots of boos mixed in. Michael Cole notes that Reigns has had his title for so long that he’s made three successful defenses of it in Saudi Arabia alone.
Knight and Reigns have to be physically separated by the ref as they’re introduced. Roman hits a shoulder block and mocks his foe’s catchphrase, then stays on the attack in the corner.
The first cover goes to Knight, but it’s only good for a one count. He slams Reigns back down but is distracted by Paul Heyman on the outside, and Reigns regroups with him … but only until a swinging kick by the challenger connects, followed by an elbow and a diving clothesline off the apron.
The Tribal Chief weathers that storm and tosses Knight into the steel steps, hearing the boos as he does. Reigns raises a finger to his lips to hush the crowd as he continues a measured attack, suplexing the challenger for a near fall.
Another two count follows thanks to a leaping clothesline, and Knight needs something to help turn the momentum around. The fans are trying to will him into it, but Roman waves his finger at them as if to say “uh-uh.”
A clothesline in the corner allows Reigns to play to the crowd again. Knight finally stops him with an elbow and boots to the face, and a DDT leaves both men on the canvas.
They both rise to trade strikes, with Knight using a combo of strikes to set up a jumping clothesline, a Russian leg sweep and a DDT for a near fall. He stomps away on the champ in the corner, hearing a “Yeah!” for each one.
A hip attack crumbles Reigns, but the champ recovers quickly with a Rock Bottom for a near fall. Roman wants a Superman punch but is countered with a neckbreaker, then bounces right back to land that Superman punch for a two count.
Reigns tries for a speat but gets leapfrogged, and Knight buries repeated shoulders in his midsection. They head to the middle rope, where Knight wants a superplex, sticking with it even after temporarily being knocked to the mat. He follows with his trademark elbow drop but sees Reigns kick out at two.
Right on cue, here comes Solo Sikoa to the ramp, and Jimmy Uso drags Reigns to the floor. Knight grabs Uso but takes a Superman punch from Reigns. There’s a spear as well … but Knight kicks out at the last moment.
The Head of the Table yells at Knight that he’s a flash in the pan, perhaps trying to convince himself of that. The fans give it to him, saying he sucks. Reigns tries to choke out Knight with a front guillotine, and it’s locked in tight. Will Knight fade?
Roman looks incredulous as LA powers to his feet. He uses body shots to free himself, then backs Reigns into the corner but falls back into the hold until he can guillotine the champ on the top rope. The Blunt Force Trauma is on the mark, but Uso puts Reigns’ foot on the bottom rope.
A furious Knight bounces Uso’s head off the Arabic announce table a bunch of times, then Reigns suffers the same fate. Roman goes flying into the barricade and Uso gets sent through the announce table, but Reigns returns to spear Knight through the barricade. Back in the ring they go, where Roman connects on a spear that keeps Knight down.
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