Aug 315 min read

Bash In Berlin Review

Kevin Owens vs. Cody Rhodes Universal Championship 82/100 B

The match started as a stalemate. Neither Cody nor Kevin could get their regular offense going. They both had to get creative to get going. Cody had to disaster-kick Kevin as he was getting back in the ring because it was the only time he wasn't ready. Kevin had to hit the frog splash on the outside to catch Cody by surprise.

However, for much of the match, Kevin Owen's wasn't truly Kevin. He didn't have his killer instinct. He woke up during intense back and forths in a couple of moments, but only briefly. But in that moment, he was great. Kevin hit Cody with a Green Bay Plunge off the top rope and a super fisherman suplex. However, Owen faces the ultimate crossroads when Cody hurts his leg.

Kevin Owens hesitated to go after Cody's hurt knee, but Cody said he was fine and punched him. KO immediately attacks the injured leg and then goes to powerbomb him on the edge of the ring but stops himself. They went on to kick out of each other's finishers until Cody put his knees up on Kevin's Frog Splash and then hit CrossRhoads for the win. This match is rated lowly because their story took too long to develop. I would have liked Kevin to struggle over his killer instinct more, and I wish he would have given in. Because in the end, we were left with a Kevin Owens, who took this match reluctantly and wrestled it the same way and missed his shot.

Bianca Belair & Jade Cargil vs. Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn 85/100 B

Bianca and Jade Dominate early, but Alba and Isla take control with superior teamwork and some dirty double teams. They kept Bianca Down by infuriating Jade and making Jade the distraction, trying to get into the match early. Jade gets tagged in and takes over. Alba fights both women alone, buying enough time for Isla Dawn to swing the tide.

However, just when it seemed like the tag champs had Bianca dead to rights caught in the surfboard as Alba preyed on her from the top rope, Jade came in and pulled Bianca off, and Alba landed on Dawn. Jade and Bianca epically disposed of them. Bianca threw Alba out of the ring, and Jade caught her and threw her into the wall. Then Bianca Jade hit Isla with the codebreaker and kicked into the German suplex for the win. This match was fun from start to finish. It was a great showing by the former champs Isla and Alba, but it also showed why Bianca and Jade beat them here. Bianca and Jade are attractions that you have to have on every card. Their athleticism and creativity are a banger waiting to happen every PLE.

Drew McIntyre vs. Cm Punk Strap Match 95/100 A

Drew and Cm Punk started the fight before the match started, but it was all Drew once it did. Drew was beating Drew like a government mule. Then, out of nowhere, Cm Punk hit a G2S, but he didn't try to win; instead, he went to punish Drew more. Conversely, when Drew hit CM Punk with a claymore right to the center of CM Punk's bleeding face, he did try to win the match, but CM Punk dragged him into a chair that Drew set up. Finally, CM Punk tried to win the match as fatigue set in, but Drew's revenge was brutal, as he picked CM Punk up like a baby and dumped his circus through a table.

However, Drew almost made a brutal mistake by carrying Cm Punk around as he hit the buckles to try and win the match because Cm Punk hit them too, but they were able to stop each other, resting all corners. This match may be the most brutal in WWE, lowkey. Having to drag your opponent across all four corners consecutively with no loss of momentum or you have to start over is brutal. CM Punk even put Drew in a sharpshooter, and Drew tapped out, and it didn't matter.

This match forces you to leave no doubt in your victory. You have to break your opponent's mind and body while keeping your own. CM Punk did just that when he hit Drew with four consecutive Go To Sleeps. He went around tapping the corners, and then Cm Punk took his bracelet back and won the match. Drew and CM Punk may be equal in wins, but this feels like two in one. Excellent match.

The Terror Twins Damian & Rhea vs. The Power Couple Liv Morgan & Dominik 87/100 B

Rhea & Damian dominate early, but Liv's distraction gives them their only chance to take over when Dom throws Damian into the steps. Not only does Rhea take back over the match, but Rhea beats up Dom, which serves as the perfect distraction for Liv to take on Rhea and do some new version of the Code Red from an abdominal stretch position.

However, Liv keeps them alive, but when that doesn't work, Judgment Day gets involved, and it looks like Dominik had it with a Frogsplash 619 combo, but Damian kicked out. Damian's endurance bought them enough time to rally, leading to Rhea hitting Liv with the Eradicator and winning the match—Rhea Title rematch loading. The Terror Twins are so good it makes you wish there was a mixed tag team title.

Randy Orton vs. Gunther World Heavyweight Title 76/100 C

The Crowd is firmly behind Gunther, something Randy hasn't experienced in a while. This match is rated just under their last match, which was also rated pretty low. Randy Orton is kind of an opponent-driven wrestler, and so is Gunther. Together, they wrestled a slow match that really could have been on regular TV. The match was way too long. The highlight of the match was Randy hitting an RKO and almost winning, and ironically, that moment was rushed through.

This was a poor first-title defense for Gunther. There was a big dip in quality from when Damian was champion. Also, the match ending on a chokeout was boring. This match would have been so much better if Randy had been in the driver's seat working a faster pace style, making us believe he would finally surpass Triple H, only for Gunther to end all hope of that with a dynamic offensive sequence and then the choke out. But the slow end to the match after such a slog was just off-putting.