WWE South Africa: Here are some highlights from the tour

This past week, WWE closed the chapter of their recent four-night spectacle through three cities in South Africa.

The pro wrestling promotion is currently going through a transitionary period, so that mixed with a rare appearance in our country made for a special live experience. Keep note that the Superstar Shakeup just happened days before the shows.

It may be the last time we ever see some of these matches due to many Raw superstars being signed to Smackdown LIVE.

Match results

The winners and losers of these 4 nights have some interesting implications for what’s in store for WWE’s future.

18 April, Cape Town

Woken Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt def. The Bar and Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson in a Triple Threat Tag Team Match
Cedric Alexander (c) def. Drew Gulak for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Bayley def. Sasha Banks
Seth Rollins (c) def. Finn Balor for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
Titus Worldwide (Apollo Crews & Titus O’Neil) def. Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel
Nia Jax (c) def. Sonya Deville for the WWE RAW Women’s Championship
Roman Reigns def. Braun Strowman and Elias in a Triple Threat Match

Sasha and Bayley have never had a clear finish to a singles match since their NXT days in 2015. For ages, fans have been wondering how they stack up against each other on WWE’s main roster now. Bayley wins the battle, for this night at least. We’ll see who wins the war when they lock up on a grander stage in the future.

19 April, Cape Town

WWE Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins & Finn Balor def. Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas
Braun Strowman def. Elias
Cedric Alexander def. Drew Gulak for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Woken Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt def. Cesaro and Sheamus
Asuka def. Bayley and Sasha Banks in a Triple Threat Match
Titus O’Neil and Apollo def. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson
Nia Jax (c) def. Mandy Rose for the WWE RAW Women’s Championship
Roman Reigns def. Samoa Joe

For the first time, Bray and Woken Matt have definitively overcome The Bar, as opposed to having Gallows & Anderson involved like the night before. Could we see new WWE RAW Tag Team Champions at The Greatest Royal Rumble?

20 April, Pretoria

Bray Wyatt & Woken Matt Hardy def. Cesaro and Sheamus
Cedric Alexander (c) def. Drew Gulak
Braun Strowman def. Samoa Joe
Asuka def. Sasha Banks and Bayley in a Triple Threat Match
Titus Worldwide (Apollo Crews & Titus O’Neil) def. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson
Nia Jax (c) def. Sonya Deville for the WWE RAW Women’s Championship
WWE Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, & Finn Balor def. Elias, Curtis Axel, & Bo Dallas

For the third night in a row, Cedric Alexander has successfully defended his WWE Cruiserweight Championship against Drew Gulak. This is definitely good momentum going into The Greatest Royal Rumble where Cedric defends his title against Kalisto. Then again, the fatigue might set in from Gulak’s technical offence, giving Kalisto a better chance at claiming the Cruiserweight gold for a second time.

21 April, Johannesburg

Seth Rollins & Finn Balor def. The Bar
Cedric Alexander def. Drew Gulak
Asuka def. Sasha Banks and Bailey in a triple threat match
Woken Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt def. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
Titus Worldwide (Apollo Crews & Titus O’Neil) def. Curtis Axel & Bo Dallas
Nia Jax def. Mandy Rose
Braun Strowman & Roman Reigns def. Samoa Joe & Elias

For the entirety of the tour, Roman Reigns has been undefeated, besting the likes of Elias, Braun Strowman, and his Backlash opponent Samoa Joe. They’re all big guys but, they may be cannon fodder compared to the final boss of wrestling, Brock Lesnar. Another peculiar thing, is this tag team match a sign of a new alliance with Roman’s former nemesis Braun Strowman? We will see where The Big Dog ends up after the next few weeks that are critical to his career.

Outside the ring

Engaging in combat wasn’t all the WWE did during their stay here. They’re also fun, regular human beings outside of their action-packed jobs.

The #BalorClub got a new member in #WWEPretoria…@akaworldwide! #SupaMega ?? @FinnBalor pic.twitter.com/2wH9uXdSLK

— WWE (@WWE) April 20, 2018

Finn Balor isn’t shy from meeting fans in the WWE Universe. This fan in particular is a notable one; South African hip-hop star Supa Mega.

Getting a bit closer with the people, Finn Balor and Sonya Deville helped out Waves For Change, an organization that heals victims of abuse and mental illness with Surf Therapy. Finn is surely empathetic with these kids, having some (literal) inner demons himself.

Lucky people of Cape Town, they got a free concert to go with their wrestling show.

Today was the last hurRAW for #TheBar Thank you ?? #GoodbyeRAW hello #SmackDownLive Tuesdays are about to star #TheBar pic.twitter.com/m6ZeGH8U9u

— Cesaro (@WWECesaro) April 21, 2018

The Bar had a blast during their last hurrah as RAW superstars. They’re not too shabby with their rugby skills. Sheamus especially would make a great free kicker with that Earth-shattering Brogue Kick.

Even the Deleters Of Worlds were having a WONDERFUL time here. I wonder if they took any sharks home to guard the Lake Of Reincarnation.

Wrestlers aren’t always the mean and furious beasts you see on TV. They can be teddy bears, or lion cubs so to speak.

And with that, Roman Reigns says “thank you” for coming to the shows and catching up here on The South African.