WWE Stomping Grounds 2019 - Grading each match at the PPV
Heading into Stomping Grounds, expectations were so low that tickets were being offered at severely discounted prices. Having almost half of the card (four out of nine matches) feature rematches from either Super Showdown, Money in the Bank or WrestleMania 35 didn't exactly scream excitement.
But once the first match of the night started, the Cruiserweight Title match on the pre-show, it was apparent that despite the low interest in the show, the audience in attendance was certainly invested in the show.
When certain Superstars are on the card (Seth Rollins, Kofi Kingston, Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, New Day), you can usually expect that there will be good matches despite being rematches. Some opponents just have great chemistry whereas some wrestlers (Baron Corbin) just have styles that aren't as appealing as others.
While Stomping Grounds wasn't an abject failure or a smashing success, it was a mixed bag of both good and only middle-of-the-ground matches. It also featured tag team matches, title matches and a Steel Cage match. So which match graded the highest and which was graded the lowest of the night?
Note: The matches are listed in the order in which they occurred, not by grade.
#1 Cruiserweight Championship Match between Drew Gulak, Tony Nese (c) and Akira Tozawa
As mentioned above, the first match of the night, albeit holding its usual pre-show spot, was one of the better matches of the night. While it was strange for Tony Nese to lose the title after only two months, it's hard to argue against any of the competitors winning the title at this point.
They've all been key members of the birth of the division and its maintenance to this day. As most multi-man matches are with the Cruiserweights, this one was fast-paced from start to finish. Each man had his moments and all three men were involved in the closing sequence of the match.
Nese got knocked off of the ring curtain by Gulak, and after that, Gulak finished off Tozawa for the win. Gulak was the heel of the match, but didn't seem like it with his actions. He didn't act any different than the other competitors of the match, whereas the Miz and Alexa Bliss (at times) have stolen matches out from under babyfaces.
Match Grade - B