[4.0] "This felt like a Smackdown match. I've been one who's said that Austin Theory isn't good enough since early 2022 and I'll continue to stand on that. He's basic and bland. He doesn't mesh well with most. Him and Rey did not click here at all unfortunately."
[4.0] "[2.0*] This did not look like a PLE match at all. Looked like a Smackdown midcard match with Rey really trying to get something from Theory here but Theorys matches just do not hit at all. The crowd was in legit full silence mode and not even Rey could wake them up. They still tried some sequences and the chemistry was not bad at all."
[3.0] "This match was tremendously boring. Which I wasn't expecting, mainly, from Rey. I was excited for this match because I've grown tired of Austin Theory but geez, this was just boring. It wasn't bad but it was the biggest bathroom match. It simply didn't deserve to be on the card over something like Gunther vs. Chad Gable. [*1/2]"
[6.0] "On a complete In-ring perspective, this is the match of the night up to that point, and now I know what I was wondering about Theory for a long time. He is indeed very talented in-ring. He has some flawless executions, he is agile, he is fast, he knows how to sell, but his gimmick is the problem. It's holding him back a lot. The moments where he dominated Rey were absolutely boring, but when he traded attacks and counters he showed a good pace. Rey did a splendid job, and it's amazing how he performs so great like it was the 90's when he is about to reach his 50's. The match really suffered from three things: 1. Nobody cared for the match to beging with. 2. The pace was too slow at moments. 3. The crowd was tired after the first two matches. Maybe it would have suffered from this last point, but having Gunther vs Gable could've been a better idea than this match (*** 1/4)"
[6.0] "it didn't feel important or necessary for this show, and like La Kinght vs the Miz match, it should've taken place at the TV shows. i'm giving 6, because i was impressed by Rey Mysterio's performance in this age, and he's always proved that he never disappoints us! WWE should do something new about Austin Theory, because i see much more potential in him. in conclusion, it wasn't a bad match but it wasn't a PPV material. (***)"
[5.0] "Well. This felt uninspired and clearly not a PPV-level match. Theory seems to be stuck in a place where he relies on the most usual - and quite boring - heel work to try to gain heat (trying to rip Rey's mask, headlocks, etc.) and not even Mysterio can give enough life to this match. Even the finish felt quite uninspired. Nothing bad in the making, but nothing great either. 5/10."
[5.0] "This really should have just been a TV match. At least the Miz Vs Knight had a good build up, this happened just for the sake of it and it was just your average match. There was no build around it, this was nothing more than a rematch clause match. In no way was this match ppv worthy. While I am glad that we got to see the US Title on PPV, it should have been for something bigger than this. The match was average, nothing stood out and nothing was actually bad. Very average. **1/2"
[6.0] "A fine television match that forced its way onto a PLE. It felt like they were killing time for the commercials when their were none. Both wrestlers got to shine a bit towards the end of the match but right when it was picking up it was over. The giant Cinnamon Toast Crunch ads were extremely distracting, especially during the slow parts of the match. 6/10"
[6.0] "The definition of an average PLE match, they didn't do anything wrong, but nothing about this match stands out as spectacular. Mysterio is a legend, but Theory seems like he's a couple years out from being able to deliver, both in ring and as a character."
[6.0] "They got the time that they got and made the best out of it. It was a great, typical Mysterio match with his good selling for the most part and using his quick comebacks to fight back. He's so flawless at everything he does and it's so enjoyable to watch his every move. I don't know what will happen with Theory now, as he probably didn't show as much progress as the US Champion as he should have."
[6.0] "A little disappointing considering this is a PLE match, but it was still pretty solid. However, I feel like these two are capable of a much better match. We all know Mysterio is a fantastic performer, and I know that Theory is capable of some really good matches. There were even some moves here that were good, but they either just didn't click that well here or maybe it was that they didn't have enough time. After all, this was the shortest match on the show. All things considered, I think this was a good match that could have been much more."
[5.0] "This match featured a few cool spots but felt somewhat forgettable. It met my expectations for a decent bout but didn't leave a lasting impression. Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of the match ending with a roll-up. For a title match on a PLE, It's decent to say that disappointed."
[5.0] "The match was incredibly disappointing, considering it was a title match on a PLE. This feud was not attractive, and the match reflected it. Hopefully, WWE will find a way to elevate the US Championship as they did with the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship."
[6.0] "I thought it was a good match. Crazy that at Rey's age he can still perform at such a high level. Theory and Mysterio's matches are always good but not great and this one fell into that same category. The Cinnamon Toast Crunch ad during the match was kind of annoying."
[4.0] "This was every late-career Rey Mysterio and Austin Theory match ever combined. It was at best Smackdown main event material and just felt like a generic plodding match with the usual suspects of events. It was mercifully shorter than it could have been but being left off the card would have been even more merciful"
[6.0] "This was just a perfectly solid match that felt more like being on a TV taping than a PPV. Rey's still got it despite his conflicting age and style he's performing at said age and Theory was decent in this match too. Crowd wasn't really invested into it unfortunately and it didn't lead to anything big like a Theory face turn or LWO turning heel on Rey. It was a good match, but it didn't really belong on PPV at all."
[6.0] "This just felt like the opener to an episode of Smackdown. It was a perfectly solid match, but the crowd weren't really into it, and it didn't end up leading to a Santos heel turn or anything, but there definitely wasn't anything outright terrible about it. Decent match, but this had no place being on a PPV. ***"
[6.0] "This was pretty good for what it was. A quick little match to wrap up these guy's story (I would assume). Both did well hiding the other's weaknesses and had a solid little match despite little interest or heat. Pretty good TV match that felt a little out of place being on PPV. Rey has definitely lost a step, but it's incredible that he's still this good at his age, with his style."
[7.0] "This was a good match that didnt overstay its welcome. Good back and forth action without the cowardly heel shenanigans typical of a Theory match during his title reign. Rey got the spots in that the crowd wanted to see, and Theory showed how he can genuinely get it done in the ring. If only he had some character build and creative that could make him someone to give a damn about. Maybe they can turn him face now and have a total refresh. Good match. Did its job."
[6.0] "Short, but enjoyable. Rey Mysterio is almost 50 years old and performs as if he were 25 years younger. But it felt like an ordinary Smackdown match, instead of a PLE match, and it's because Austin Theory has something (I don't know what) that makes him feel irrelevant in the roster right now. To this day, LA Knight and Grayson Waller are far more entertaining and exciting than him, with half the opportunities he is getting. So, Rey winning was the right choice and I'm now looking forward to see what's next for him (betrayal from Santos Escobar maybe? )"
[8.0] "This was honestly a pretty good match. The story obviously wasn't the strongest, but this shows the story is a lot but not everything. The wrestling is great. This mainly proves that Rey Mysterio's pure ability washes 90% of wrestlers' abilities. My main hope though is that Austin Theory has a character change after this L."
[2.0] "THe match automatically catches the eyes and ears for all the wrong reasons. The cinnamon Toast Crunch thing is bottom of the barrel sellout stuff. Neutralizing any integrity you might think a wrestling promotion might have. It looks like a show made for 5 year olds now. This with the noticeable fake crowd background noise during this match which was otherwise fairly quiet from the actual humans there. As for the actual match Rey is unbearable in the ring these days. Generic nods to when he used to be able to move. His offense as a 50 year old man looks less believable than ever. Theory is excellent. It's a shame he's surrounded by foolishness here in the presentation right down to them using the worst ref they have for this match. He spent a lot of the match looking like he was trying to hide, no reactions, no looking lost and looking like he didn't know what to do between pin attempts. Lame finish then after all that. 3/4* Theory hopefully gets better offerings in the future. No reason he shouldn't be plowing through 50 year old baby faces."
[4.0] "This was legitimately a 10-minute WWE TV match that featured no commercials. Theorys work over Rey wasnt interesting at all here and the crowd seemed to agree with me considering how quiet they were whenever he was on offense. Rey hit some cool offense and then this just ended abruptly. If you can't have a good match Rey of all people you probably don't have a bright future.**1/4"
[5.0] "It doesn't matter how good the moves are or the storytelling is. Austin Theory is so profoundly lacking in charisma that I simply cannot pay attention to anything he is involved in. I don't know why they keep putting him on my screen, I tune out every single time."
[8.0] "I Really, Really enjoyed this match specially the smoothness by austin theory this match looked belieavable and i loved it, it made me even more interested for austin theory the way he handled mysterio and the small touches on this match was great, exceeded my expectations."
[7.0] "Pretty good match like the last one. This one managed its time better. At no point was it a great match. There wasnt anything wrong with it really. It just never reached that next gear. A lot of the moves were really smooth and well done while there was the tiniest bit of sloppiness when it came to Rey coming off the top or going for a roll up of some kind. I figured Rey would win, so Im curious what the next step for him would be. I would expect a one-on-one between him and Santos soon. 6.5/10. ***1/4"
[5.0] "A decent match between Rey Mysterio and Austin Theory for the U.S. Title. This didn't have a big match feel going in and nothing interesting happened to make anybody watching care. Some of Rey's usual spots and Theory trying to rip off Rey's mask were the only things that got a reaction. The finish being a roll up was bad, obviously meant to protect Theory, but for a PLE this should have had something a little more decisive. This could have been on an episode of SmackDown. Nothing advanced, nothing changed. 5/10"
[5.0] "This title reign sucks but this wasn't terrible. Mysterio carried and seemed to expend more effort here than he usually does on weekly TV. Would have much rathered this match be cut and stuck on Smackdown and replaced with Gable/Gunther, because the only thing PPV quality about it was the lack of commercials. I didn't notice the crowd being quiet, but I was a bit busy marveling at how well Mysterio moves at his age. Maybe they were too."
[6.0] "Good to see the US Championship back on PLE. Rey Mysterio is a freak for being to be able to go like he does after all this time, Austin Theory did great here and bumped like crazy where he needed to, Austin Theory can go but i feel his move set has been shackeld for some reason. A fun finish that kept everyone strong."
[4.0] "This was a Smackdown match stuck right in the dead zone of a ppv so it was about what I expected. A pretty boring and uninteresting bout. Rey tried his best; Theory did as well, and that's the sad part. This is about all he can offer right now and it does not move me whatsoever."
[5.0] "I'm sorry but this match didn't feel important at all, it just felt like another Smackdown filler match at a Premium Live event, I hope Santos Escobar turns soon on Rey Mysterio or that La Knight goes towards that title soon , because compared to the intercontinental title, the U.S Title is very, very undervalued."
[6.0] "It was fun to see Mysterio being thrown around the ring. Theory had had his moments, but ultimately fell victim to Rey's retaliation. Not a PPV match material, would have rather seen Gable vs Gunther instead of this one. Not boring, just fine bout there"
[7.0] "Short but fun. Rey retaining is the right choice, I don't want to see Theory champion again, maybe after a Face turn I don't know. I thought that Santos would turn against Rey, it could be fun! I think that the match should have been on SmackDown not Payback, it's not a PPV match but still okay. Finish was great!"
[7.0] "Short but very good. Mostly heatless and also felt a little rushed but these two are great workers and they did what they could with the time they were given. It's a bit weird what's happening to Austin Theory, year ago he was a Star with endless possibilities and now he's just kind of... there. I don't know what's next for him, last year he was labeled a future champion. What a fall from grace."
[6.0] "3* flat, I am not able to figure out why a match like this took place in a PLE. The action wasn't bad and this was a good showcase for Rey, it's just too normal. The finish was also cold and Theory didn't deserve this, I don't understand if WWE really wants to do something with this guy. ***"
[5.0] "This match wasn't terrible however it failed to impress me or the audience in attendance as for most of the match they were very quiet. Rey Mysterio and Austin Theory managed to have a few innovative spots that elevated the quality of the match but at the end of the match it ended with yet another Austin Theory match ending with a rollup and an ending that was completely obvious from the very start. This match felt unnecessary and didn't add much to the PLE. This was a match they probably should've done on Smackdown and wasn't on the same level as the rest of the card. (**1/2)"
[6.0] "I have never been very high on Austin Theory. He just seems like a Vince McMahon project, where he's going to push the guy no matter how much he falls falt until we have no choice but to accept him as a top guy. Rey Mysterio comes out and I'm immediately intrigued, especially with the LWO shirts in the old nWo font shirts they have. Not sure why they didn't go with the original Red, White, and Green of the WCW chapter, but I don't guess it matters all that much. This match wasn't all that exciting and they just seemed to go out there and fill time, although the slide DDT to the floor by Rey was sweet."
[8.0] "-// **** //- It was a great match, nothing too surprising in terms of the result, especially considering Rey's recent win, but the quality of the match was never in question as Mysterio takes on someone that's roughly his age and it still made it work. The crowd wasn't super hyped during Theory's offensive moments, but they did get into it when Rey pulled off his high-flying maneuvers and clever counter to everything Theory tried dominating with. This was still a good match despite the finish but that was never the bigger picture here."
[7.0] "Short, sweet, straight to the point. Nothing crazy happened. Austin Theory and Rey Mysterio have great chemistry between them. Austin probably felt like Brock Lesnar in this match () , he was carrying and lifting Rey like nothing. Rey and I are of the same height and weight, so it boggles me there are people who can lift me like nothing. That aside, what is the direction this US championship going? There was no indication. Are we getting an Escobar heel turn and Theory going to the tag team side with Grayson Waller for some time?"
[7.0] "Even though the match was relatively short, Theory delivered a good performance, maybe the best he's been in since last year's summerslam. It's clear they might revisit this feud given the finish, and I hope Theory gets the chance to showcase more of his abilities. As for the outcome, it was somewhat predictable, and it appears they might be building towards some kind of familia drama with Santos Escobar and Mysterio being the epicenter of it. In terms of the match itself, it had some unique reversals and sequences that added excitement but not enough time to tell a convincing story."
[8.0] "The rematch between Rey Mysterio and Austin Theory was a solid match overall, but it did have its flaws. It's impressive to see Rey Mysterio still performing at such a high level despite being nearly 50 years old, and the crowd appreciating accordingly. Predictable? Surely, guess they're building for LWO implosion with Santos getting the W and he'll benefit from here. Theory has the criticism of being very generic as they come but I'd disagree here, even though the match was relatively short, this was still a good performance by him. They'll likely revisit this again indicated by the finish and I really hope he gets to show more of what he can do."
[6.0] "An overall solid title defense for Rey here. Theory is far from my favorite as I think he can be pretty bland and dull but he has shown in the past to play a good base to a smaller high flyer and this was a fine showcase of that. At the same time, it also is indicative of just how far Theory has fallen in terms of perception when the crowd was as quiet as they were for much of his control segment. They had some unique moments that at least stood out from the pack and Rey at this stage of his career is a marvel to me in how well he moves."
[8.0] "The rematch between Rey and Theory was indeed a solid match along with some of its flaws, but the crowd didn't seem to fully get into it, except for some of the time when Rey was on the counter because why else they won't cheer for a guy who's in his near 50s and still moves like a man half his age. Rey's counter into the pinfall was a creative moment, but the moment came abrupptly after a fairly good showing of Theory. The ending might have lacked a bit of impact since it wasn't sealed with a finisher, making it feel more like a regular TV match rather than a big pay-per-view encounter, but it's a upper echelon of good TV match"
[6.0] "Crowd was really dead for this match. Austin Theory has been about a 6 year project now for the WWE since they started having him booked in Evolve. Its not working no matter how hard they try. Its not even that people dislike him, they just dont care. He was working with one of the best sympathetic babyfaces of all time and couldnt manage to get any heat. Theory bumped decently well and provided a good base for Rey on his tijeras and his sliding tornado ddt. Always like when a victory roll actually works for a victory. **1/2"
[7.0] "This was yet another fine match , the finish just being a roll up was underwhelming I expected more. The match itself had. Lot of unique reversals and sequences. Theory looked really good against Rey , Theory works great on top as a heel. The mask stuff was good too , Rey vs Santos should eventually happen. Not only would it be a good match , Rey putting over Santos would be big for Santos's career. Though that is not a guarantee because Theory beat Cena and hasn't been presented well since WrestleMania."
[7.0] "The fight seems great to me to give another way to Austin Theory. Hopefully Rey can give a worthy reign because who knows how long he will be here in WWE, so I emphasize that this can be a run for Rey to be what he wants and even if it is a midcard title well we know what they represent, so I'm glad for the decision to continue reigning the Mexican. Who knows if eventually some story comes out with LWO, who knows. I hope they take advantage of these last years of Rey."
[7.0] "An enjoyable match. Probably going to be one of the weaker shows on this PPV but I can't have too bad of a time with a match that ends with Austin Theory losing. Making Rey Mysterio United States Champion late into his career was an odd choice and he hasn't really defined his tenure yet. But I'm just so glad that Austin Theory isn't champion anymore that I'm willing to overlook that. I've heard rumblings that Santos Escobar will be the next U.S. champ after turning heel on Mysterio but I kind of hope that happens without him turning (could easily be Mysterio granting Escobar the challenge he was supposed to get and losing with honor) but I'm fine with almost everything now that the nightmare scenario of Austin Theory getting it back is over."
[7.0] "3.50 Stars. Obviously the worst match of the night up until this point (which is a somewhat unfair statement with how good the first two matches were). This match was just vintage underdog Mysterio, overcoming the much more dominant heel. Match was fun, but really there was nothing to take away from it, other than it being a decent a defence for Reys reign. They also brought back the cinnamon toast crunch sponsorship from WrestleMania, which meant it had to be on the barricade the whole match, which was stupid."
[7.0] "Crowd was so dead for this one lmao, but I really enjoyed it. While the storyline leading up to it was pretty awful, the match itself was fun to watch. Essentially just ten minutes of Rey Mysterio proving hes still got it, performing all the classic moves. Theory sold well, and hes upgraded his move set for the first time in forever. He sells the unlikeable heel character really well - this is the most Ive enjoyed him since his US title run. Very solid midcsrd match, and its always great to watch a legend of the game."
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