Super ShowDown (2019)

In early 2018, the WWE began a 10-year strategic multiplatform partnership with the General Sports Authority in support of Saudi Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's social and economic reform program.[4][5] The first event under this new partnership, the Greatest Royal Rumble, was held at the King Abdullah Sports City's King Abdullah International Stadium in Jeddah on April 27, 2018.[6][7] The third event, Super ShowDown, was announced to occur on June 7, 2019, at the same venue.[8] This also marked the second event under the Super ShowDown chronology, the first of which was held on October 6, 2018 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.[9]

Similarly to the two previous WWE in Saudi Arabia events—Greatest Royal Rumble and Crown Jewel (both the previous year)—several WWE wrestlers were not authorized or refused to participate at Super ShowDown due to it taking place in Saudi Arabia.

John Cena and Daniel Bryan, both of whom had previously refused to participate for the Crown Jewel event in the wake of the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, also refused to participate at Super ShowDown. Bryan's reasons to refuse to appear at Crown Jewel had also reportedly included the treatment of LGBT people by the country and because of Sami Zayn's ban from the Greatest Royal Rumble event.[10][11]

WWE chose not to put Aleister Black on the show, reportedly because of fears the religious symbolism on some of his tattoos would be offensive to their Saudi hosts.[12]

Sami Zayn, who had previously not been authorized to compete at the Greatest Royal Rumble due to being of Syrian descent, as Saudi Arabia has strained relations with Syria, also declined participating at Super ShowDown.[13][14] Kevin Owens also refused to participate at Super ShowDown in support of Zayn, his friend. Owens was reportedly slated to face Kofi Kingston for the WWE Championship, leading WWE to schedule Dolph Ziggler, who had been inactive since January to focus on his stand-up comedy career, to replace him.[15][16][17]

Due to the limited rights women have in Saudi Arabia, all WWE female wrestlers are banned from participating in WWE events in the country.[18][19][20] Just hours before Super ShowDown, however, reports emerged that WWE were attempting to add a women's match to the card, which would have seen Alexa Bliss face Natalya. The two women joined WWE personnel for the trip, but the match was ultimately rejected by the Saudi Arabian government.[21][22]

The card consisted of ten matches, including one on the Kickoff pre-show. The matches resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches, with results predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw, SmackDown, and 205 Live brands.[23][24] Storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live.[25]

On May 13, 2019, a match between Goldberg and The Undertaker was scheduled for Super ShowDown, marking the first one-on-one match between each other. Goldberg's last match occurred at WrestleMania 33 in April 2017.[8]

A match between Triple H and Randy Orton was also scheduled on May 13.[8] A promo aired during the May 21 episode of SmackDown, recapping the two's various rivalries that originally began in 2004 when Orton won the (now retired) World Heavyweight Championship, resulting in Triple H turning on him and kicking him out of their stable, Evolution.[26]

Also on May 13, a 50-man battle royal was scheduled, marking the largest standard battle royal in WWE history.[8]

A match between Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley was scheduled on May 18.[27] On the June 3 episode of Raw, Strowman and Lashley competed in an arm wrestling match which Strowman won, afterwards, Lashley attacked Strowman with a Running Powerslam.[28]

On the April 15 episode of Raw, Andrade defeated Intercontinental Champion Finn Bálor in a non-title match.[29] Bálor was subsequently moved to SmackDown the following night during the Superstar Shake-up.[30] Andrade, along with his manager Zelina Vega, were then moved back to SmackDown the following week,[31] and both Bálor and Andrade took part in the men's Money in the Bank ladder match at the namesake event, where both fought each other, though ultimately lost the match. Bálor was then scheduled to defend the Intercontinental Championship against Andrade at Super ShowDown.[32]

On the April 16 episode of SmackDown, after WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon had introduced Elias as "the biggest acquisition in SmackDown history", they were interrupted by fellow new draftee Roman Reigns, who attacked Elias and performed a superman punch on Mr. McMahon.[30] The following week, Shane McMahon challenged Reigns to a fight for attacking his father. As Reigns came out, he was attacked from behind by Elias, who was then assisted by Shane in attacking Reigns.[31] On the May 20 episode of Raw, Reigns, who appeared via the wild card rule, was interrupted by Shane, who was still bothered by Reigns' attack on his father. Reigns then challenged Shane to a match which Shane accepted for Super ShowDown.[33]

On the May 21 episode of SmackDown, Dolph Ziggler, who had been inactive since January's Royal Rumble event, made a surprise return and attacked Kofi Kingston. Ziggler, appearing via the wild card rule, later explained that it should have been him who got the opportunity to go to WrestleMania 35 and win the WWE Championship instead of Kingston. He then said he would defeat Kingston for the title at Super ShowDown, which was made official.[26]

At Money in the Bank, Seth Rollins retained the Universal Championship against AJ Styles.[32] On Raw the next night, Baron Corbin took offense that Styles got that title shot even though Corbin had previously pinned Rollins in a tag team match.[33] The following week, Styles was scheduled to take part in a four-way match for another opportunity against Rollins at Super ShowDown, but was still ailing from injuries sustained from his match at Money in the Bank, and was replaced by Corbin, who attacked Styles while the latter was in a trainer's room. Corbin then defeated Braun Strowman, Bobby Lashley, and The Miz in a fatal four-way elimination match to earn the title match.[34]

At Money in the Bank, Lucha House Party (Kalisto, Gran Metalik, and Lince Dorado) came out for a match, but they were randomly attacked by Lars Sullivan and the match never occurred.[32] The following night on Raw, as Sullivan was about to be interviewed in regard to the incident, Lucha House Party interrupted and attacked Sullivan, who fended them off.[33] A 3-on-1 handicap match pitting Sullivan against Lucha House Party was then scheduled for Super ShowDown.[34]

After being drafted to Raw in the Superstar Shake-up, The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) began a rivalry with The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder) where The Usos repeatedly embarrassed Revival on numerous occasions. The two teams faced off on the May 20 episode of Raw, where The Revival were victorious.[33] Another match was then scheduled for the Super ShowDown Kickoff pre-show.[35]

During the Super ShowDown Kickoff pre-show, The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) faced The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder). In the end, Jimmy and Jey performed a "Superkick" on Dawson and Wilder, respectively, followed by a double "Superkick" on Dawson to win the match.[36]

The actual pay-per-view opened with Seth Rollins defending the Universal Championship against Baron Corbin. Corbin focused on Rollins' injured ribs for the majority of the match. During the match, Corbin continuously argued with referee John Cone whenever Rollins kicked out of a pin. The end came when Corbin attempted to use a chair only for Cone to intervene, leading to another argument between Corbin and Cone. Rollins took advantage of the situation and rolled-up Corbin to retain the title. After the match, Corbin attacked Rollins with the "End of Days". A chair wielding Brock Lesnar then came out, alongside Paul Heyman, to cash in his Money in the Bank contract on Rollins. As Heyman was getting in the ring to hand the contract to the referee, Heyman tripped on the ring rope, which distracted Lesnar. Rollins performed a low blow on Lesnar, attacked him with the steel chair, and performed "The Stomp" on him on top of the briefcase. Due to Heyman's accident, the contract was never cashed in, thus Lesnar kept the contract.[37]

Next, "The Demon" Finn Bálor defended the Intercontinental Championship against Andrade. In the end, Bálor performed the "1916" on Andrade off the top rope followed by the "Coup de Grace" to retain the title.[37]

After that, Roman Reigns faced Shane McMahon (who was accompanied by Drew McIntyre). As Reigns attempted a "Superman Punch", Shane performed a chop block on Reigns mid-air. Shane applied a "triangle choke" on Reigns only for Reigns to lift Shane up for a "Powerbomb". Shane performed a "Spear" on Reigns for a nearfall. In the end, Reigns punched Shane, causing Shane to bump into the referee. With the referee down, McIntyre attacked Reigns with a "Claymore", allowing Shane to pin Reigns to win the match.[37]

After that, Lars Sullivan faced Lucha House Party (Kalisto, Gran Metalik, and Lince Dorado) in a 3-on-1 handicap match. Sullivan dominated most of the match until Lucha House Party ganged up on Sullivan, causing them to be disqualified. After the match, Sullivan ran up the ramp and attacked the trio.[37]

Next, Triple H faced Randy Orton in their first one-on-one match since 2010. Orton performed an "RKO" on Triple H for a nearfall. As Orton then went for the "Punt Kick", Triple H caught Orton's foot and performed a "Pedigree" on Orton for a nearfall. Triple H applied the "Crossface" on Orton only for Orton to reach the ropes to force the break. Outside the ring, Triple H dropped Orton on an announce table several times. In the end, Orton performed a second "RKO" on Triple H to win the match.[37]

In the next match, Braun Strowman faced Bobby Lashley. Lashley performed a "Running Powerslam" on Strowman for a nearfall. Strowman performed a "Running Powerslam" of his own on Lashley for a nearfall. In the end, Strowman performed two "Running Powerslams" on Lashley to win the match.[37]

Next, Kofi Kingston (accompanied by Xavier Woods) defended the WWE Championship against Dolph Ziggler. Kingston performed an "S.O.S" on Ziggler for a nearfall. In the end, Ziggler performed a "Superkick" on Woods outside the ring and while the referee was distracted, Woods kicked Ziggler which allowed Kingston to perform "Trouble in Paradise" on Ziggler to retain the title.[37]

The penultimate match was the originally scheduled 50-man over the top rope battle royal, but had 51 participants. Mansoor, an NXT superstar from Saudi Arabia, last eliminated Elias to win the match.[37]

The main event was the first-time ever match between The Undertaker and Goldberg. Goldberg started by executing two spears on Undertaker for a nearfall. After this, Undertaker performed his signature sit up. As Undertaker attempted a Chokeslam, Goldberg countered into a leg-lock submission hold, however, Undertaker was able to reach the ropes. As Goldberg went for a third spear, Undertaker dodged and caused Goldberg to collide with the ring post, busting his head open. This gave Undertaker the advantage and he was able to perform Old-School. He then executed a Chokeslam and a Tombstone Piledriver for a nearfall. Goldberg countered a big boot and performed another spear. He then executed a Jackhammer for a nearfall. As Goldberg attempted a Tombstone Piledriver, both men fell – the last of several botches that occurred during the match. Undertaker then performed a second Chokeslam on Goldberg to win the match.[37]