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As our readers from India and around the world may be aware already, WWE put together a fabulous super show in India recently, and we at Sportskeeda Wrestling were proud to be on ground, as the official media partners.
In our estimation, this year's edition was a significant improvement over the Live Event last year (which wasn't too shabby either). From our perspective, it was a definite thumbs up show, from the beginning to the very end.
For those who may not be aware, this was a RAW branded event, with the main event featuring SmackDown Live superstar Jinder Mahal against Triple H. No titles were on the line, but the hype had to really be seen to be believed.
As it customary after every significant WWE event, we present the 'Best and Worst' from the show for your reading pleasure. If you were present on ground, we'd love to hear from you. What did you think of the show you saw? Let us know in the comments down below.
#1 Best: Super hot crowd
Quite often, we see interesting plots and angles play out on television with very little crowd involvement. Sometimes we see fabulous matches in packed arenas, with very little enthusiasm from the WWE Universe at hand.
WWE Live India was a different experience altogether, really. It had been almost two years since WWE last came down to the country, and the audience was rabid for some sports entertainment. So much so, that the pop for superstars like Roman Reigns and Triple H were deafening.
There were entertaining chants (the usual suspects like 'this is awesome', as well as 'who's your daddy?' for Jason Jordan) and massive booing for heels like Elias and Enzo Amore (both of whom used heel heat to great effect).
Even the simple act of cheering the babyfaces and booing the heels significantly enhanced the quality of the show that we were witnessing.
#1 Worst: CM Punk chants
WWE can travel halfway around the globe, but they still cannot escape 'CM Punk' chants. The chants were clearly meant to throw Triple H off his game (honestly, the pun was not intentional), during the main event match against The Modern Day Maharaja, Jinder Mahal.
The chants made us cringe, not merely because they were a distraction from the action in the ring or because they were disrespectful to the men and women, giving it their all in the ring, but because CM Punk has moved on to other things, unlike the audience.
#2 Best: A legend in action
Triple H visited India ahead of the tour at hand, to prepare the stage for the proposed supershow. It was the love and adulation that he felt from the WWE Universe, that inspired him to step into the ring for the main event match against the local hero, Jinder Mahal.
The fact that India got to witness Triple H in action is a pretty big deal. Triple H does not wrestle full time anymore, and the fact that he stepped into the ring signifies how much the request of the fans meant to him. Jinder Mahal vs. Kevin Owens was the original main event.
Of course, one of the highlights of the event was what went down, following the main event match between Triple H and Jinder Mahal. The bhangra dance celebrations that transpired between the two men (and the Singh Brothers) was a sight to watch, and the pedigree at the end was the right cherry on top.
While the internet wrestling community has been divided with regard to the result (Triple H defeated Jinder Mahal, in his home country), we feel it was definitely the right decision. The WWE Universe was way more in favour of Triple H, than they were in Jinder Mahal's corner. Nobody was really disappointed.
Who knows if Triple H will ever wrestle in India again? He's winding down his illustrious career, and treated Indian fans to a splendid showcase of sports entertainment action.
#2 Worst: Roll ups and DQ
Two of the featured matches on the card, Alexa Bliss vs. Sasha Banks as well as Jason Jordan vs. Elias ended with roll up pins at WWE Live India. While we understand that such finishes protect the performers, fans may have been disappointed to not see their favourites deliver their signature finishers on their dastardly opponents.
The match between Kane vs. Braun Strowman ended in a DQ as well. It's clear that these two monsters are biding their time for a big blow off match. There was a table spot during the match that pumped up the WWE Universe, following the DQ finish.
Guess we'll just have to wait for the pay-per-views to catch the finishers. For what they were worth, the matches were quite entertaining but for the finishes.
#3 Best: A surprise cameo
Because of the scripted nature of sports entertainment, a lot of celebrities from across the world, have derided WWE in the past. Bollywood superstar Varun Dhawan isn't one such person. In fact, he has been a lifelong WWE fan, and showed his fandom at WWE Live India 2017.
He was brought on as the special ring announcer during the match between Samoa Joe, Cesaro and Sheamus against The Shield. He made the crowd go into a frenzy, with a 'Yes' chant, and it was heartening to see a mainstream star vouch for WWE.
All in all, WWE Live India was an experience well worth every single penny spent. We were blessed to see all the superstars we've worshiped on screen, in flesh. Including a Goddess.
