WWE Stomping Grounds 2019 - Grading each match at the PPV

#9 Universal Championship match with Special Guest Referee Lacey Evans - Seth Rollins (c) vs. Baron Corbin

Seth Rollins retained his title, although in strange fashion

As storytelling and theatrics go, this match was perfectly fine. It made storyline sense to have Corbin pick Lacey Evans as the guest referee due to her involvement with Becky Lynch and the Raw Women's Championship. Seth Rollins is also in a relationship with Becky Lynch, so that was a potential pot waiting to boil over during the match.

It also made plenty of sense for Evans to abuse her power by refusing to count Corbin out, thus turning it into a 'No Count Out' match. While it would have made more sense for her to make the match 'No DQ' as well before Corbin bashed Rollins with a chair numerous times, it also was fine. And you knew that Lynch would be coming out at some point to even up the odds.

As a professional wrestling match, however, this was the type of match that has been on RAW lately - it could be good until it happens. Corbin has a slower style for the most part, outside of his slide under the ropes move and finishing moves. But during the middle of the match, it dragged a lot and even had the crowd chanting 'Boring', 'AEW' and 'Daniel Bryan' throughout various points of the match.

It didn't come across as a Seth Rollins match other than fighting back from under to win. Hopefully his next challenger, after the Extreme Rules match, will be a more exciting person. Corbin, despite getting boos from the crowd, just isn't a performer who makes you excited for a match in the veins of Finn Balor, Ricochet or Rollins.

Match Grade - C+