Drew McIntyre’s athletic display in the Wrestlepalooza main event left WWE analyst Sam Roberts stunned. The Scottish Psychopath executed a flawless Over The Top Rope Suicide Senton while challenging Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Speaking on the Wrestlepalooza Recap Show, Roberts admitted he was completely caught off guard, comparing McIntyre’s agility to Montez Ford’s. “I’m sitting here when he’s winding up for that dive. I thought he was going to do like a tope suicida through the ropes or something like that and go like, ‘Why is this guy diving when he leaps like he’s Montez Ford clearing the top rope, flipping in midair and landing on Cody Rhodes?’ I go, ‘What are we seeing?’ That flip caught me totally by surprise. I legitimately yelled. … I mean, shoulders like boulders. The fact that he’s doing that is insane.”
The high-risk dive was part of McIntyre’s aggressive game plan inside Indianapolis’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where he looked to exploit Rhodes’ potential ring rust following the champion’s break to film the Street Fighter movie. McIntyre came close to victory on multiple occasions, including after a top-rope White Noise and a crushing Claymore Kick.
But his aggression proved costly. Riding momentum from the dive, McIntyre went for another high-impact move, attempting a Claymore through the announcers’ table. Rhodes dodged, sending McIntyre crashing leg-first into the wood.
The American Nightmare seized the opening, connecting with a Cody Cutter and finishing with a single Cross Rhodes for the pinfall win.
The event, WWE’s first premium live show under its new partnership with ESPN, ended with Rhodes celebrating as the company’s top babyface.