CRYSTALIZED WORDS

Punk put up Roman’s OTC1 finger, telling the crowd to Acknowledge him. Landing Roman’s signature Superman Punch, the antics did not stop there. Punk picked up a fan’s Ula Fala, before doing Roman’s signature OOOH-AAA chant and attempting his finishing Spear. All of it beautifully came along as an insecure man mocking the things he wished he had. A life that would’ve made his path easier.

The match was kind of sloppy after the first two minutes or so, with Braun dominating most of it as I assume they didn’t plan on fleshing the story out. It was like when Brock worked with Omos, they opted for a simple storyline: Brock is a monster, but there are taller and bigger monsters. The appeal came in Brock being in a rare underdog role.

Taking on Humberto Carillo of Los Garza, Royce got a chance to show off the mix of athleticism, mobility, and strength which makes him such a coveted prospect. The match featured Beto trying to outwit Royce using his speed and finesse. While he would sometimes catch Royce off guard, he’d eventually get slammed by a variety of creative moves.

But then we wouldn’t get him at his full potential. To win championships, Ciampa must tap back into the Psycho Killer. For a guy whose latest theme song echoes the words “My shadow knows my story”, this is a welcome return to roots.