WWE Great Balls of Fire Recap #WWEGBOF

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

Goodness gracious great balls of fire!! WWE was live on the WWE Network with WWE Great Balls of Fire, live from the American Airlines Center, in Dallas, Texas. All the major RAW titles were on the line, including the title everyone has been talking about. WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar defended his title against the self proclaimed destroyer Samoa Joe. Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns looked to finally settle their feud in an Ambulance Match. Two former best friends Enzo and Big Cass collided in a one on one match. All that and plenty of more WWE action!

** Great Balls of Fire Card **

- WWE Cruiserweight Champion Neville defended his title against Akira Tozawa.
- Seth Rollins battled Bray Wyatt.
- Enzo battled Big Cass.
- WWE RAW World Tag Team Champions Sheamus and Cesaro defended their titles against The Hardy Boys in a 30 Minute Iron Man Match.
- WWE RAW Women's Champion Alexa Bliss defended her title against Sasha Banks.
- WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz defended his title against Dean Ambrose.
- Roman Reigns battled Braun Strowman in an Ambulance Match.
- Heath Slater battled Curt Hawkins.
- WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar defended his title against Samoa Joe.

** Great Balls of Fire Pre Show **

- "WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match": Neville (c) vs. Akira Tozawa: The match closes out with Tozawa hitting two suicide dives on Neville. Neville lifts Tozawa on his shoulders, but Tozawa counters and traps Neville in an Octopus Stretch submission. Neville rope breaks the submission and dodges Tozawa leaping off the ropes. Neville and Tozawa trade offense, until Neville hits a drop kick for a near fall. Neville hits a forearm on Tozawa sending him into the corner. Neville misses a top rope aerial assault and Tozawa gets a near fall rollup. Tozawa connects with the Shining Wizard and more offense on Neville. Neville catches Tozawa and crotches him on the ropes. Neville then kicks the ropes, injuring Tozawa's groin area even more. Neville plants another kick on Tozawa and scores the pinfall to retain his title.
Winner: Neville, by pinfall, to retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

** Great Balls of Fire **

- Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt: The match closes out with Rollins hitting a springboard right hand for a near fall. Rollins connects with a Slingblade on Bray for a near fall. Rollins unloads elbows on Bray and then counters Sister Abigail and hits an enziguri. Bray hits a clothesline, but Rollins comes back with a near fall Falcon Arrow. Bray crotches Rollins and then sends him into his knee for a near fall. Bray plants Rollins with a Uranage for a near fall. Rollins is back up and unloads on Bray, chasing Bray outside. Bray gets on the apron and pokes Rollins in the eye, but the referee misses the cheap shot. Bray hits Sister Abigail on Rollins and scores the pinfall.
Winner: Bray Wyatt, by pinfall.

- Enzo vs. Big Cass: The match closes out with Cass slapping Enzo around and then hits a fall away slam. Cass splashes Enzo in the corner and talks trash. Enzo tries to land some shots, but Cass grabs Enzo, lays him on the top rope and then unloads forearms. Cass lands a boot and unloads on Enzo in the corner. Cass talks more trash and tells Enzo to bring it. Cass lifts Enzo and tosses him out to the floor. Enzo staggers his way back into the ring and gets drilled with the Cass Big Boot. Cass covers and scores the pinfall.
Winner: Big Cass, by pinfall.

- "WWE RAW World Tag Team Championship, 30 Minute Iron Man Match": Sheamus and Cesaro (c) vs. The Hardy Boys:

** First Fall: Sheamus drills Matt Hardy right when the bell sounds with the Brogue Kick and scores the quick pinfall. Sheamus and Cesaro lead 1-0.

** Second Fall: Cesaro is in control of Jeff as Jeff tries to fight back. Cesaro boots Matt off the apron, but gets back dropped by Jeff. Cesaro hits a running uppercut on Jeff from behind. Sheamus and Cesaro hit a double team on Jeff, score the pinfall and go up 2-0.

** Third Fall: Matt unloads on Cesaro and then sends Cesaro into the turnbuckle repeatedly. Matt hits a clothesline and a running bulldog for a near fall. Matt hits an elbow on Cesaro for another near fall. Jeff comes in, hits Poetry In Motion on Cesaro, Matt hits the Side Effect and then Jeff hits the Twist of Fate for the pinfall. Sheamus and Cesaro lead 2-1.

** Fourth Fall: Sheamus hits an uppercut on Jeff. Jeff hits a mule kick and unloads on Sheamus. The Hardy's send Sheamus and Cesaro outside where Jeff leaps off the top rope and takes both out on the floor. Sheamus grabs Matt and tosses him face first into the ring post. Matt is laid out on the floor and catches the count out. Sheamus and Cesaro lead 3-1.

** Fifth Fall: Sheamus unloads on Matt, but Matt hits the Side Effect for a near fall. Cesaro hits a boot on Jeff sending him off the apron. Cesaro applies the Sharpshooter submission on Matt. Matt escapes, but Sheamus hits a cheap shot. Cesaro hits a running uppercut and then unloads a series of uppercuts on Matt. Matt backslides Cesaro as Jeff hits the leg split leg drop into a rollup on Cesaro to score the pinfall. Sheamus and Cesaro lead 3-2.

** Sixth Fall: Matt hits a tornado DDT on Sheamus for a near fall. Cesaro hits the ring and fights with Matt. Sheamus sends Matt into the corner then lifts him up on the ropes. Sheamus tries a back body drop off the top rope, but Matt knocks Sheamus off the ropes. Matt gets a near fall moonsault on Sheamus. Sheamus and Matt battle back up to the top rope where Matt hits the Super Twist of Fate off the top rope and scores the pinfall. The score is tied 3-3 with under 5 minutes left.

** Final Fall: Matt and Jeff take out Sheamus and hit the double splash from the top rope for the near fall. Sheamus rolls up Matt, who's bleeding from the head and gets a near fall with 1 minute left. Matt knocks Cesaro off the apron and then brawls with Sheamus. Jeff hits the Swanton Bomb on Sheamus, but Cesaro nails an uppercut on Jeff and scores the pinfall. Sheamus and Cesaro lead 4-3 with under 20 seconds left. Cesaro rolls outside and runs around the ring with Jeff trying to catch him. Back in the ring, Jeff hits the Twist of Fate on Cesaro and covers, but the time limit expires.
Winners: Sheamus and Cesaro, to retain the WWE RAW World Tag Team Championship.

- "WWE RAW Women's Championship Match": Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Sasha Banks: The match closes out with Alexa and Sasha trading shots. Sasha hits double boots on Alexa into the corner. Sasha hits some offense, fights off an Alexa kick and lands a kick of her own. Sasha lands a belly to back suplex on Alexa and then hits a running knee for a near fall. Alexa unloads elbows in the corner, hits some offense and gets a near fall. Alexa has a temper tantrum and then hits a moonsault on Sasha. Sasha counters out and traps Alexa in the Banks Statement submission. Alexa reaches the ropes to escape and then slides outside. Sasha follows, but gets tossed into the barricade by Alexa. Sasha is back in the ring and Alexa is still outside. Sasha unloads on Alexa, dropping her on the floor. Alexa purposely stays outside and gets counted out.
Winner: Sasha Banks, by count out. Alexa Bliss retains the WWE RAW Women's Championship.

- After the match, Sasha chases Alexa onto the stage and attacks her. Sasha sends Alexa into the stage LED board. Alexa unloads on Sasha and they fight over to the announcers table. Sasha sends Alexa flying off the stage and down to the floor below. Sasha climbs onto the announcers table, then leaps off the table, off the stage and drills Alexa with double knees down on the floor.

- "WWE Intercontinental Championship Match": The Miz (c) vs. Dean Ambrose: The match closes out with Miz working on Ambrose and his knee. Miz unloads Yes Kicks, until Ambrose counters and lays out Miz. Ambrose climbs the ropes and hits the top rope flying elbow for a near fall. Ambrose counters the Skull Crushing Finale, but gets dragged to the floor by Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas, as Maryse distracted the referee. Ambrose fights back and hits a flying body press off the top rope and onto Miz, Dallas and Axel outside. Ambrose counters the Skull Crushing Finale with Dirty Deeds, but Maryse puts Miz's foot on the ropes saving him. Miz goes outside and gets sent into the announcers table by a flying Ambrose. Ambrose flips Axel into the ring and then elbows Miz. Dallas lands a cheap shot on Ambrose while the referee is distracted. Miz hits the Skull Crushing Finale and scores the pinfall to retain his title.
Winner: The Miz, by pinfall, to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

- "Ambulance Match": Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman: The match closes out with Reigns and Strowman fighting out to the ambulance. Strowman tries to scoop slam Reigns into the ambulance, but Reigns counters out. Reigns hits a Superman Punch putting Strowman half way in the ambulance. Reigns hits another Superman Punch, but Strowman fights out of the ambulance. Strowman grabs a backboard out of the ambulance and hits Reigns with it. Strowman shoves the stretcher out of the way and then tosses Reigns onto the stage. Strowman misses a charge and eats the LED board. Strowman tries a scoop slam, but Reigns counters and shoves Strowman into the LED board, this time Strowman crashes through it. Reigns drags Strowman to the edge of the stage, but Strowman shoves Reigns off. Reigns unloads on Strowman and gets him set up right by the ambulance door. Reigns goes for the spear, but Strowman dodges it, sending Reigns crashing into the inside of the ambulance. Strowman shuts the doors and wins the match.
Winner: Braun Strowman.

- After the match, Reigns busts out of the ambulance, attacks Strowman and shoves Strowman into the ambulance. Reigns drives the ambulance to the backstage area and rams the ambulance backwards into a parked semi trailer with Strowman still in the back. Kurt Angle appears and yells for someone to call 911.

- Heath Slater vs. Curt Hawkins: Slater wins the match, however, it's hardly shown at all due to what's still going on backstage with paramedics and Braun Strowman.
Winner: Heath Slater.

- Backstage, the fire department arrives and uses the jaws of life to rip open the crushed ambulance that Braun Strowman is still trapped in. Strowman finally emerges a bloody mess, pushes away all the paramedics and tells them to leave him alone. Kurt Angle demands Strowman to accept medical help, but Strowman keeps pushing everyone away and walks off on his own staggering.

- "WWE Universal Championship Match": Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Samoa Joe: Before the match can even start, Joe attacks Lesnar and puts him right through the announcers table with a Uranage. The match closes out with Joe unloading on Lesnar in the corner and lands some offensive moves. Joe goes for the Coquina Clutch submission, but Lesnar escapes and hits three german suplexes. Joe low blows Lesnar and then hits a Uranage for a near fall. Joe goes for the Coquina Clutch submission, but Lesnar fights it and won't let Joe lock it in.

Lesnar escapes and hits a side slam on Joe. Lesnar grabs Joe and hits three more german suplexes on him. Lesnar goes for the F5, but Joe counters it and finally traps Lesnar in the Coquina Clutch submission. Lesnar tries to escape by shoving Joe into the corner, but Joe keeps it applied and locks in the pressure. Joe gets Lesnar down to one knee as Lesnar is turning red and fading. Lesnar suddenly pops back up, escapes and hits the F5 out of nowhere on Joe to score the pinfall and retain his title.
Winner: Brock Lesnar, by pinfall, to retain the WWE Universal Championship.

WWE Great Balls of Fire Preview

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

WWE Great Balls of Fire arrives on the WWE Network this Sunday night live at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. WWE Great Balls of Fire is making its debut as a yearly pay per view event. The show will headline with the WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar defending his title against Samoa Joe. The WWE Intercontinental Championship, WWE RAW Women's Championship, WWE RAW World Tag Team Championship and the WWE Cruiserweight Championship will also all be on the line along with a lot more action. 

- "WWE Universal Championship Match, The Beast Meets The Destroyer": Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Samoa Joe: WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar finally returns after winning the title from Goldberg at Wrestlemania 33. RAW General Manager Kurt Angle announced a Fatal Five Way Match at WWE Extreme Rules to determine a new #1 Contender to the title. Samoa Joe went on to defeat Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Finn Balor and Bray Wyatt at WWE Extreme Rules to become the #1 Contender. Samoa Joe then went on to have a face to face meeting with Brock Lesnar's agent Paul Heyman. Joe told Heyman that he wanted everything Lesnar has. He wanted Heyman as his agent, the part time schedule and the WWE Universal Championship. Joe then gave a message to Heyman to send back to Lesnar. Joe said he didn't fear Lesnar at all and then proceeded to choke out Heyman in the Coquina Clutch submission. Lesnar arrived the following week and was confronted by Joe, who attacked and brawled all over the arena with Lesnar. Joe and Lesnar were finally separated by WWE officials, security and the RAW locker room. Can Samoa Joe defeat The Beast and leave WWE Great Balls of Fire the new WWE Universal Champion? Will Brock Lesnar take down the self proclaimed Destroyer and retain his title?

- "WWE Intercontinental Championship Match": The Miz (c) vs. Dean Ambrose: Last month at WWE Extreme Rules, The Miz defeated Dean Ambrose to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Dean Ambrose would go on to ruin Miz's victory celebration the next night on RAW by attacking Miz. Miz became paranoid thinking Ambrose would attack from anywhere, which caused a little friction between Miz and his wife Maryse. Miz would then recruit Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel as his entourage, who attacked Ambrose and helped Miz beat Ambrose down. Miz would go on to defeat Heath Slater one week before WWE Great Balls of Fire to retain his title with the winner meeting Dean Ambrose at WWE Great Balls of Fire. Can Dean Ambrose get his revenge on Miz and get back his WWE Intercontinental Championship? Will The Miz continue his Intercontinental Championship tour with another win over Ambrose?

- "WWE RAW World Tag Team Championship, 30 Minute Iron Man Match": Sheamus and Cesaro (c) vs. The Hardy Boys: Last month at WWE Extreme Rules Sheamus and Cesaro successfully defeated The Hardy Boys in a Steel Cage Match to win the WWE RAW World Tag Team Championship. The Hardy Boys would get their rematch two weeks later on RAW in a 2 Out of 3 Falls Match. The match ended in a 1-1 draw as both teams were counted out in the third and deciding fall and Sheamus and Cesaro retained the titles. RAW GM Kurt Angle announced that Sheamus and Cesaro would defend their titles one more time against The Hardy Boys at WWE Great Balls of Fire and this time it'll be a 30 Minute Iron Man Match with the team with the most wins at the end of the time limit winning the tag team titles. Can The Hardy Boys win back the tag team titles? Will Sheamus and Cesaro retain and finally defeat The Hardy Boys?

- "WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match": Neville (c) vs. Akira Tozawa: Akira Tozawa has been a wanted man this month and not just by Neville. Titus O'Neil has been seeking Tozawa to join his Titus Brand Faction with the guarantee of titles and money for Tozawa. Neville, meanwhile, felt that he was being disrespected by Tozawa after Tozawa stated that he could beat Neville. Titus O'Neil interrupted and stated that it was true and he knew for a fact that Tozawa could beat Neville anytime anyplace and could guarantee that with Titus' help Tozawa could capture the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. Two weeks before WWE Great Balls of Fire, Titus announced that Tozawa was now an official member of the Titus Brand and he worked out a deal to get Tozawa a WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match against Neville at WWE Great Balls of Fire. Can the rising star from Japan defeat Neville and capture the title? Will Neville prove to Tozawa, much like he's done to the other cruiserweights in the division, why he's the self proclaimed King of the Cruiserweights?

- "WWE RAW Women's Championship Match": Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Sasha Banks: Last month at WWE Extreme Rules, Alexa Bliss defeated Bayley in a Kendo Stick On A Pole Match to end their feud for now. RAW General Manager Kurt Angle announced a Gauntlet Match between all the top ladies in the RAW Women's Division to determine a new #1 Contender to the WWE RAW Women's Championship. Nia Jax ran through the whole roster during the gauntlet, only to fall short in the last match and losing by submission to Sasha Banks. After the match, Alexa Bliss confronted Sasha Banks face to face, but was immediately attacked and laid out by Sasha. Can Sasha defeat the self proclaimed queen of the RAW Women's Division? Will Alexa fend off Sasha and leave WWE Great Balls of Fire still the WWE RAW Women's Champion?

- "Ambulance Match": Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman: With the WWE Universal Championship picture heating up, both Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman continued to try to stop the other from getting a title shot. Strowman battled Reigns at WWE Payback, came out victorious and then continued to attack Reigns after the match. Strowman would again attack Reigns during an edition of RAW Talk, but Reigns fired back, beat up Strowman and slammed his arm into an ambulance door repeatedly. Strowman, with his arm in a sling stated he was injured, but would be back for Reigns once 100% healed. Reigns again attacked Strowman and beat on the injured arm with a steel chair. Strowman returned 100% healed a few months later and viciously attacked Reigns, after arriving in an ambulance. Strowman challenged Reigns to an Ambulance Match at WWE Great Balls of Fire, which Reigns accepted. Strowman showed up again, attacked Reigns and stuffed him in the back of an ambulance after Reigns accepted the match. Can Strowman defeat Reigns and claim what Reigns now calls his yard? Will Reigns defend his self proclaimed yard and finally defeat the monster Strowman?

- Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt: The Seth Rollins and Bray Wyatt feud began back before WWE Extreme Rules, when Bray called out Rollins and stated that there was no way Rollins could ever beat Brock Lesnar, if given the opportunity. Rollins stated he could and called out Bray as being a gutless coward. Bray would then distract Rollins, causing him to lose to Samoa Joe a week later, forcing Rollins to call out Bray again as being a gutless coward. Bray promised Rollins a match at WWE Great Balls of Fire and stated that Rollins may have slayed a King at Wrestlemania 33, but there is no way he could slay a God like Bray. Two weeks before WWE Great Balls of Fire, Seth Rollins was announced as the wrestler on the cover of WWE 2K18, which brought out Bray Wyatt again, who attacked and beat down Rollins. Can Seth Rollins slay the self proclaimed God of the WWE? Will Bray Wyatt prove that Seth Rollins is in fact in over his head and overrated as a King slayer?

- Enzo vs. Big Cass: For several weeks a mystery began to unravel on who exactly was attacking Enzo and Big Cass from behind backstage. After weeks of questioning people such as The Revival and Big Show it was finally discovered that it was Enzo's partner Big Cass that was orchestrating the attacks all along. Cass stated that he was sick of Enzo running off at the mouth all the time and continuing to have to back Enzo up from all his ass kickings he took. Cass would then fake forgive Enzo and join back with Enzo only to set Enzo up and beat him down again. A week before WWE Great Balls of Fire it was announced that the former close partners would go one on one. Enzo couldn't wait as he found Cass backstage and jumped Cass until WWE Officials pulled them apart. Can Enzo get revenge on the man who he once considered his brother? Will Cass finally shut Enzo's mouth permanently?