If Main Event gets any shorter, it might as well be called Speed. Thursday’s show was the shortest episode in the program’s history, running 13:31.
Bad luck accounted for the shorter runtime, as last Friday, before SmackDown, Jordynne Grace injured her ankle in a bout taped for Main Event against Alba Fyre. Instead of airing any of it, WWE opted for a one-match show. And what a match it was.
Battling Babyfaces
In a match worthy of standing on its own, Je’Von Evans faced Dragon Lee in a battle of two high-flying babyfaces.
Their announced weights stood out early: Lee at 165 pounds and Evans at 195.
Despite a 30-pound weight advantage and a clear edge in height, Evans wrestled like the smaller man. When a standing clothesline failed to send Lee over the ropes, Evans had to make a running start to build enough momentum to knock the luchador to the floor.
Meanwhile, Lee muscled Evans up several times into a Styles Clash position. His strength was on display late as he drove Evans into the canvas with a sit-out powerbomb.
The closing moments got spicy when Evans went for a springboard cutter. Lee shoved him off, sending Evans crashing awkwardly onto the top turnbuckle. The former World Tag Team Champion followed with a double stomp to the chest for a two count.
The most stunning moment came when “The Young O.G.” bounced off the bottom rope and caught Lee with a German suplex. Undeterred, Lee won a strike exchange and climbed the ropes, but Evans cut him off with a Spanish Fly.
Evans finished it with a spinning leg kick from the bottom rope that struck Lee in the back of the head to score the victory. In a display of good sportsmanship, the two shook hands and hugged before Lee raised Evans’ hand as Main Event faded to black.
The Final Bell
Not since Speed aired on X has WWE produced a one-match show. Yet, Evans and Lee delivered, playing their greatest hits, each landing dives over the top rope before heating up down the stretch.
A perfect watch for fans, especially those in need of a quick jolt, this match also fits neatly into both men’s storylines and trajectories.
On Raw, Kofi Kingston approached Evans and floated the idea of the former NXT standout joining The New Day.
“I know you got dreams, and you don’t have to do it alone. Know what I’m saying?” Kingston said.
Evans didn’t give him an answer, but his win Thursday showed he can stand on his own. If Evans keeps winning, he may reject Kingston’s offer outright, setting up a showdown where Kingston has Xavier Woods and Grayson Waller watching his back.
As for Lee, this was his first match since a heartbreaking loss to Gunther on the March 2 episode of Raw, which also saw him lose his mask. WWE tried to shield his identity, but viewers still caught a clear glimpse of his face, albeit briefly.
There is some good news, though. Last month in AAA, Lee won a No. 1 contender’s match for the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship against Jack Cartwheel in a battle worth seeking out. Lee was especially impressive, showing a more aggressive side that fans rarely see from him on Monday nights.
After recent losses, time away from Raw and a focus on AAA and the Cruiserweight title could do him good. If he succeeds, a return to WWE TV with gold could help mend his image after back-to-back setbacks.
