On March 12, 2016 the WWE Network aired the latest special, this being called WWE Roadblock. The main event featured Triple H defending his WWE Championship against Dean Ambrose with three other championship matches on the show. How was the show? Who were the winners? People are already hating on the show, but it isn’t unanimous. A lot of people seemed to have enjoyed the show. Make sure you vote on your favorite match of the night in our poll regardless of if you loved the show or hated it. Anyways, let’s see what we thought of the WWE Network special, Roadblock:
WWE Tag Team Championship
The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Big E, with Xavier Woods) vs. The League of Nations (King Barrett and Sheamus)
Brock Allen: Although I was a bit turned off by all the talking to start the event, this match really delivered. There was enough drama to keep the match interesting but not enough that New Day left the ring looking weak. If anything this was exactly what one would expect from New Day by now. If there’s a class that teaches Booking 101 this match will be featured as a picture-perfect opener.
Steve Coulson: I liked this a lot. I really enjoyed the promo to start things off, as New Day talking is always a good thing in my book. And the Booty O’s box, which is being sold on WWE Shop (really), was hilarious. The New Day had the crowd eating out of the palm of their hands.
Then the match itself was quite good too. WWE just has a good tag formula and New Day do it quite well. I also quite like the pairing of Sheamus and Barrett. The Kofi scare near the end was definitely potentially bad, but thankfully everything seemed okay and we had a really fun match as a result. While I predicted New Day winning, part of me expected a League of Nations surprise. I’m glad we didn’t get that. Good match.
Winners: New Day
Jack Swagger vs. Chris Jericho
Brock Allen: Jack Swagger is one of the most talented workers WWE has and it really irks me that he’s only used in patriotic angles. Give this guy a hair cut, tweak his gimmick — just take a chance on Jack Swagger and the WWE would not be disappointed. Rant aside, this match was solid. It wasn’t a classic by any measure, but it was good. Telling the fans Toronto was “the anus” was just classic Jericho, as well.
Steve Coulson: This was a bummer. Not because the guys didn’t work hard, they did. The match was fun. But the crowd just didn’t care. And while I can’t blame them, it is a shame since Jack Swagger is so talented. While his Real American deal means he can get pops no matter how long he’s out of the spotlight in the US, these Toronto fans just weren’t biting. Jericho won with the Walls, but unfortunately the crowd just wasn’t into this one.
The promo to start the match though? That was great. Heel Chris Jericho is already delivering big time. I know a lot of the internet like to hate on him now, and I get it, but personally I still enjoy him quite a bit. Especially as a heel.
Winner: Chris Jericho
NXT Tag Team Championship
The Revival (Dash and Dawson) vs. Enzo Amore and Big Cass (with Carmella)
Brock Allen: This was an amazing pro wrestling match. I don’t know what’s in the water in NXT but they get tag team wrestling better than just about any promotion on the planet. The Revival is simply one of the great tag teams in all of wrestling, period. Enzo & Cass have come a LONG ways, and they will be NXT Tag Team Champions one day, but right now they don’t need the straps. When this one was all over the first thing I thought was, ‘I cannot wait for The Revival and American Alpha to clash’. The best is yet to come for the NXT tag team division.
Steve Coulson: I’ve got to say, I agree with Brock. This was so much fun. I would definitely call this my match of the night due to dissatisfaction with another match I’ll get to later on. With that being said, the Revival are so good but I do wonder how they will be used or get over on the main roster. Hopefully well. I really think they should be paired with Zeb. While both, especially Dawson, can talk, Zeb would be able to get plenty of heat.
This match ruled, though. Enzo and Cass are stars and were treated as such. The psychology was crisp. Both Enzo and Cass had well done offense and both are in great shape. No complaints about this one whatsoever. I also agree with Brock that The Revivla vs. American Alpha will be even better.
Winners: The Revival
Divas Championship
Charlotte (with Ric Flair) vs. Natalya
Brock Allen: I’m not sure why I expected a dud here, but I did. Boy was I wrong. This was just a classic. Charlotte is, in my opinion, in the top 3 in terms of heels in WWE. She’s every bit the natural her father was and then some. Natalya looked amazing here and is just as responsible for this match nearly stealing the show, if you ask me. The one takeaway from this match is that Natalya is every bit as good as any of the NXT ladies wrestlers. It’s time for Natalya to get her moment in the sun.
Steve Coulson: This was good. I definitely didn’t enjoy it as much as Brock, but I enjoyed it a lot nonetheless. The crowd in particular made this one as they were so hot for Natalya and bought into the sharpshooter and erupted. Of course, Charlotte retained as we all expected, but the match was a good one. No complaints here besides a bit of a dragging middle. Charlotte’s mid-heat needs some work.
Winner: Charlotte
Two on One Handicap Match
Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman) vs. The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper)
Brock Allen: I missed the very beginning of this, to be honest. Turns out I didn’t miss much. I expected so much more from this match than what was delivered. Clearly WWE is looking past Dean Ambrose to Lesnar’s next feud. Does that mean Lesnar loses in Dallas? That’s for another day.
Steve Coulson: This was the big disappointment of the night for most people. I can totally get why too. It wasn’t for me though. I want Bray and Brock done at a pay per view where people can at least buy into Bray winning. Here, there was no chance people expected anything other than a five minute squash. So in that sense, I am glad it happened.
Still, I can’t help but wonder why they changed things. Is it to protect Bray finally? Does Bray have some sort of injury? He never tagged in once. I guess we won’t know more yet but I’m very curious as to the point of this. Here’s hoping they do something with the Wyatts.
Winner: Brock Lesnar
Stardust vs. Sami Zayn
Brock Allen: I really liked this match. I was concerned at first that Zayn wouldn’t translate well to WWE TV, but he fits in perfectly. Stardust, I fear, is headed for a prime position with the J.O.B. Squad if he hasn’t already received his membership card. All that aside, this was another great wrestling match. Both of these guys took the opportunity and ran with it. Kudos to both wrestlers for a fantastic match.
Steve Coulson: Both of these guys are so good. But man, the crowd did not care one bit. I thought since we were in Canada and the crowd were so into Enzo and Cass that Sami would have gotten a better response. Maybe it is because the crowd didn’t buy into Stardust winning. Maybe it is general disinterest in Stardust. Perhaps it was even because they were frustrated with what happened with Lesnar. I’m not entirely sure. But whatever it is, they didn’t treat this match well. I’m glad Sami won though. I really hope they go with him taking on Owens and not some multi man.
Winner: Sami Zayn
WWE Championship
Triple H vs. Dean Ambrose
Brock Allen: Wow… That’s all I can say. This one was every bit as good as I thought it’d be. The Dusty Finish was a perfect stroke to a near masterpiece of a match, a match that very well could have made Dean Ambrose. Part way through I thought I was watching an old UK PPV from the ’90s that delivered a classic main event even if the title swap never happened. This was classic, old-school WWE booking. If there’s someone who doesn’t like this match I would have to question why that person watches WWE at all. This kind of match, the story, the drama, the action, is what WWE is all about.
Steve Coulson: This match was really good. Really good. In fact, I don’t think Roman and Triple H will top it. But of course, that’s the issue. Once again, Roman Reigns, the guy fans struggle to buy into, is going to do what the more over guy can’t do. And the fans will reject it. WWE clearly have the guy in front of them. Ambrose is the guy. But they won’t push him to that spot. And this isn’t a Triple H thing. He made Dean look great. But with losing on every big event this year and most likely losing to Brock at Wrestlemania, I have to question WWE. Why do you not see what everyone else does?
Roman Reigns will win the WWE title in a few weeks. He will likely beat Brock Lesnar at Summerslam. He will even most likely headline Wrestlemania 33 versus The Rock. And I’ll be shocked if fans are more into him by then. He simply isn’t working no matter how much you force him. He has talent. But they’re wasting his potential trying to force this push on him. Even Lex Luger was dropped quicker than this.
Regardless of the head scratching booking, the match had a lot of drama and both guys worked hard. If it wasn’t for the outcome this would have been my match of the night. But after the end left me deflated, I just can’t go with it.
Winner: Triple H
Closing Thoughts
Brock Allen: In my opinion this was the best of the “Network Specials” yet. Only the Lesnar/Wyatts match failed to deliver. Every other match had something about it that was worth watching. WWE is getting much better at these Specials and it should be a small taste of things to come as WWE focuses more on the Network exclusive shows. I do think an Ambrose title win would have been a welcome change of pace and a way of making future specials “must-see”. If you missed this event, watch it.
As far as the predictions go, I won. Which is good. I really didn’t want to spend the night in the cellar again. On the other hand, poor Steve…. The search for a prediction win continues. There’s something noble in the pursuit of unattainable dreams. If I can be serious for minute, It was a pleasure stepping in for Jon Potter this go-round. It was a blast. Maybe we’ll do it again sometime.
Steve Coulson: This was a good show let down by booking and a bad crowd. The CM Punk chants were god awful. Just horrible. And they became quiet in the last few matches. Perhaps it was the Wyatts/Lesnar issue that deflated them, but regardless it definitely hurt the second half of the show.
A big positive this show had was the commentary. Michael Cole is infinity better on live specials when he isn’t so overproduced. He talks about history. He calls moves. He adds drama. The commentary team did quite well here. We had several good matches and everybody worked hard. It would be hard to call this show anything but a success. A success with a few big disappointments, sure, but a success nonetheless.
Oh and I lost in predictions again. I feel like Dean Ambrose. I just can’t get a big win to save my life. But welcome, Brock. It was a pleasure and I look forward to crushing you (and that dastardly Jon Potter) one day.
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