A special thank you to Wrestleview reader Kyle Aranza for this live report from the WWE Live Event in Manila on September 20.
WWE Manila
September 20, 2019
Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines
Kevin Owens def. Andrade
– Great match to kick-off the show with lots of back and forth from both wrestlers. Owens defeats Andrade with a Stunner.
-Video plays with Bayley talking about how she will prove to Charlotte why she is champion.
– 24/7 Champion R-Truth comes out and is the special guest ring announcer for the next match.
Chad Gable def. EC3
– Gable was awesome in this match. After the match, EC3 rolls R-Truth up to win the 24/7 Title. Truth chases EC3 to the back and they come back running towards the ring. EC3 runs into a suplex from Gable and R-Truth pins EC3 to become a 17-time 24/7 Champ!
Carmella def. Mandy Rose with Sonya Deville
– Decent match. Crowd was solidly behind Carmella all throughout.
– Sami Zayn comes out to introduce Shinsuke Nakamura.
WWE Intercontinental Championship:
Shinsuke Nakamura w/ Sami Zayn def. Ali
– This was the best match of the night with solid back and forth action from both men. Lots of interference from Zayn throughout the match. Nakamura defeats Ali with Kinshasa.
Cool Trivia: It was awesome to see Shinsuke and Ali wrestle inside the Araneta Coliseum. The arena is the location of Thrilla in Manila: Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier. Ali’s name was taken from the famous boxer while Shinsuke’s Kinshasa is a reference to the city where Muhammad Ali’s famous catchphrase “boma ye (kill him)” was coined. It was fitting for both men to wrestle inside this historic place.
– After the match, Sami Zayn (despite his “neck injury”) issues an open challenge to any wrestler at the back. Roman Reigns comes out to answer the challenge.
Roman Reigns def. Sami Zayn w/ Shinsuke Nakamura
– Another solid match with lots of interference from Nakamura. Nakamura was ejected from ringside and the distraction allowed Reigns to deliver a spear to Zayn.
Street Fight – Smackdown Women’s Championship:
Bayley def. Charlotte
– Great match between the two. At one point, the match spilled into the arena. Steel chairs, kendo sticks and a table were used as weapons. Bayley uses a chair wedged into the turnbuckle to score a victory over Charlotte. After the match, Bayley attacks Charlotte but Charlotte was able to defend herself. She delivers a moonsault onto Bayley on the table but the table does not break. Charlotte then delivers a Powerbomb on Bayley through the table but again, the table refused to break. Ouch!
Smackdown Tag Team Championship:
The Revival def. The New Day
– Lots of comedy prior to the match with both teams duelling in a hugging contest. Match itself was solid. Revival defeats New Day with the aid of an exposed turnbuckle. Revival attacks New Day after the match but New Day was able to fend them off.
WWE Championship:
Kofi Kingston def. Daniel Bryan
– Another excellent back and forth match. Technical at first with tons of holds and reversals. Great character work from Bryan who started face by shaking Kofi’s hands from time to time. He eventually loses it and goes on a rampage against Kofi. Kofi defeats Bryan with Trouble in Paradise.
After the match, Daniel Bryan goes full on face and congratulates Kofi. They close the show with a handshake and salute to the Manila crowd.