WWE Stomping Grounds 2019 - Grading each match at the PPV

#4 United States Championship match - Samoa Joe (c) vs Ricochet

Ricochet won his first main-roster title at Stomping Grounds

Despite the ability of the two participants, I was a little surprised that this wasn't better. Joe was in control for most of the match, using submission skills to keep Ricochet grounded. Perhaps that's why I was a little disappointed with this match. We were spoiled with Ricochet facing Cesaro twice in two great matches, so I was expecting the same with Samoa Joe.

It was still a pretty good match but like some of the other matches on the card, merely felt like a match that could have been on RAW or SmackDown instead of being on a PPV. Joe is one of the best heels in the company, but consistently losing matches like these make him look more and more like Bray Wyatt - all bark and no bite.

He's dangerous up and until the actual match but is destined to lose once the bell rings. He lost to Rey Mysterio in under a couple minutes, which shouldn't have happened to a heel of his standing. And although the match was competitive and longer than his loss to Mysterio, he was defeated by a much smaller face.

It was apparent by the backstage celebrations that Ricochet is someone that Triple H wants to push hard. Being greeted by several Superstars after he went through the curtains isn't something that is usually seen after a title changes hands. It was both interesting and weird to see a group consisting of Charlotte Flair, Heavy Machinery, Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins backstage together.

Match Grade - B