A chorus of boos greets Solo Sikoa as he makes his way to the ring. Michael Cole suggests this is the biggest match of his career to date, which is hard to argue. To no surprise, John Cena receives a much more enthusiastic response while Cole reminds us it’s been more than 2,000 days since he won a WWE singles match (also in Saudi Arabia over Triple H).
Cena gets out of harm’s way as Sikoa tries to come right at him, then uses a headlock takedown effectively. He works over Solo’s right hand, which is the one that delivers the Samoan Spike. Smart.
A quick cover by Cena is just the wrestling version of a heat check. He pushes Sikoa back into a corner, then fight to the floor. A headbutt finally gets Solo some momentum as he shakes out his right hand.
Another headbutt gives Solo a chance to stare down the fans. A slower pace is favoring him, and his spin kick snuffs out a brief Cena rally. Sikoa lands on Cena’s chest in the corner, calling out to the crowd again afterward.
A thrust kick as a counter to an AA attempt gives Sikoa a near fall, and a hip attack crushes Cena along the turnbuckles. Solo wants the Spike, but Cena sees it coming and applies the STF. Sikoa rolls Cena’s shoulders onto the mat for a pinfall attempt that forces him to break the hold.
A jumping headbutt while Cena is in the Tree of Woe leads to another Sikoa near fall. A belly-to-belly suplex is good for another two count, and Solo points to his foe as if to say “Is this your king?”
Cena takes another hip attack as the fans try to will him back into it with their applause. He does avoid the Samoan Spike though, hitting two shoulder tackles and planting Solo for a Five Knuckle Shuffle.
An Attitude Adjustment looks like it’s next, but Sikoa counters with a Samoan Drop and another near fall. There’s a third hip attack, but Cena fires back with a high cross body and his own two count.
How about a chokeslam as a counter to the Samoan Spike? That’s a different twist from Cena and it’s good for a two count as well. Spinning Solo is the answer, also for two, and Cena has to fight to block the Samoan Spike. He does it and manages to grab the STF again. Sikoa teases tapping out but crawls to the bottom rope for a break.
Out of nowhere, Sikoa hits the Samoan Spike, but he sells the damage to his hand and never gets to cover. There’s a second Samoan Spike, and Solo wants a third. That hits too as the fans start to boo.
Cena crawls to the ropes and lifts himself up. But all that gets him is a fourth Samoan Spike, and Sikoa goes over and hammers Cena with more right hands before finally covering for the pin.
It takes a while for Cena to rise, but he gets a standing ovation from the crowd and waves to fans before leaving the ring.
[lawrence-related id=40037]