Unlike prior years in which the WWE Super ShowDown events have felt out of place on the company's pay-per-view calendar, the 2020 edition of this Saudi Arabia event had a number of matches with direct implications on the Road to WrestleMania 36. With WWE's biggest show of the year just over one month away, what went down on Thursday afternoon was be the first step ahead of Elimination Chamber in March.
Five of WWE's nine titles were on the line, and two of those actually saw changes -- though only one of them was a major surprise in the main event. The shocking and controversial finish to the show will lead to much consternation ahead of WrestleMania 36. Was it the right decision? Will WWE ultimately benefit from the title change?
CBS Sports was with you the entire way on Thursday updating this story with results and grades from the show along with highlights in the live updates at the bottom of the page. Keep on reading for thoughts on each match and booking decision.
WWE Super ShowDown results, grades
Viking Raiders vs. Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows (Kickoff Show): This was a relatively run-of-the-mill match with good action going both ways. Ivar missed a moonsault that gave The O.C. an opening to hit the Magic Killer for the win with the big man taking the fall. A clean win like this would be a surprise on an episode of Raw, but remember The O.C. was named "best tag team in the world" here during the last event. Anderson & Gallows win via pinfall | Grade: C-
Tuwaiq Trophy Gauntlet: The six-man gauntlet match began with R-Truth vs. Bobby Lashley. Dodging a spear late in the match, Truth took advantage as Lashley banged his head into the middle turnbuckle and put him in a matchbook cover -- R-Truth def. Lashley via pinfall. After the match, Lashley attacked Truth out of anger, and Andrade made his way to the ring. Andrade predictably dominated the start of the match, but after Truth and Andrade "accidentally" bumped heads as Andrade was going for his spinning back elbow, Truth fell atop the United States champion as the referee counted -- R-Truth def. Andrade via pinfall. With Truth still beaten down from his battles with Lashley and Andrade, Erick Rowan was the next entrant. Shortly after the two mixed it up, Rowan's covered cage was knocked to the floor, leading the big man to snap. After a full on assault at ringside, Rowan eventually went too far and was disqualified for using the ring steps as a weapon -- R-Truth def. Erick Rowan via disqualification. AJ Styles was out next after Truth took an Iron Claw Slam from Rowan. Styles taunted and beat down Truth before eventually locking in the Calf Crusher to force a submission and end Truth's impressive run -- AJ Styles def. R-Truth via submission.
Rey Mysterio's music hit twice without the superstar entering before cameras cut to The O.C.'s Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows beating him down backstage. Styles demanded his hand be raised. As the referee began a 10-count, cameras showed O.C. being taken out and a familiar combination of boots and trenchcoat before The Undertaker's music hit and the legend slowly made his way to the ring. Undertaker hit Styles with a chokeslam and scored the pin to capture the Tuwaiq Trophy -- The Undertaker def. A.J. Styles via pinfall to win the Tuwaiq Trophy. That was an absolutely horrid gauntlet match. Nice twist at the end with Taker, but each individual match within it was pretty disappointing. Grade: C-
SmackDown Tag Team Championship -- New Day (c) vs. The Miz & John Morrison: Very good tag action in this match. Morrison and Kofi Kingston have great chemistry, so their one-on-one segments popped hard. After a series of convincing near falls down the stretch, Morrison hit Kingston in the stomach with a chair, allowing Miz to roll up the former WWE champion for the pinfall. With the win, Miz & Morrison become tag champs for the first time in more than a decade. Miz & Morrison def. New Day (c) via pinfall to win the titles | Grade: B
Angel Garza vs. Humberto Carillo: The high-flying, technical affair saw momentum shift back and forth constantly. In the end, with Carillo looking for revenge on Garza, the latter countered a sunset flip into a pinning combination for the 1-2-3. For this being a pay-per-view match, it did not even live up to the Raw showdown between these two just a couple days ago. Disappointing considering how high the ceiling can be when these two step into the ring. Garza def. Carillo via pinfall | Grade: C
Raw Tag Team Championship -- Seth Rollins & Murphy (c) vs. Street Profits: After starting with the clear upper hand early, the Profits were routinely outsmarted by Rollins & Murphy. Montez Ford and Murphy were particualrly great going back-and-forth with their athleticism and innovative offense. Ford hit Rollins with a frog splash finisher, but Murphy pulled the challenger out of the ring by his foot, breaking up the count. Dawkins responded by blasting Murphy over the announce table. The Profits reversed a double pedigree attempt into a double DDT, and Ford followed with a tope cannonball only to be caught but Rollins and Murphy and drilled into the barricade. Back in the ring, Murphy caught an entering Angelo Dawkins with a flying knee, and Rollins hit The Stomp on the ring apron. Exciting, entertaining match that has easily stolen the show to this point, and the right finish. Rollins & Murphy (c) def. Street Profits via pinfall to retain the titles | Grade: B+
Dolph Ziggler vs. Mansoor: Before the match began, Robert Roode was ejected from ringside. Ziggler dominated the neophyte in the early going, spending a long time on the mat attempting to submit the local product. Mansoor did hit a springboard neckbreaker that was impressive. A Zig-Zag resulted in a 2.8 count, and an inside cradle that followed soon after provided another near fall. Caught in the corner, Mansoor escaped with an inverted Sliced Bread move into a DDT. He then climbed the top rope and hit a moonsault, drilling Ziggler in the ribs with he knees for the victory. Expected result here because Mansoor cannot lose in Riyadh, but it did not live up to his prior match with Cesaro from October 2019. Mansoor def. Ziggler via pinfall | Grade: C+
WWE Championship -- Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Ricochet: Lesnar avoided a Ricochet attack at the bell, pushing his dropkick out of the way before hitting a vertical suplex. The champion then landed three German suplexes before lifting Ricochet up by the neck for an F5 and the 1-2-3 in less than 90 seconds. Did Lesnar look dominant? Yes. Could it have been booked in a way that Ricochet didn't appear worthless, perhaps with a hope spot for the challenger? Sure. Instead, this was a complete waste of time and another nail in the coffin that is Ricochet's WWE booking. Lesnar (c) def. Ricochet via pinfall to retain the title | Grade: D
Roman Reigns vs. Baron Corbin (Steel Cage): Entering with a chain around his neck, Reigns locked the door behind him to the dismay of Corbin, who attacked him from behind. Corbin reversed a Superman punch into the Deep Six for a near fall and reached into Reigns's pocket to grab the padlock key, unchaining the door. (Why would Reigns keep the key on his person?!) Reigns used an attempted Corbin escape to slam the door in his face, but Corbin again reversed a Superman punch attempt, this time with a chokeslam. Corbin mocked Reigns's mannerisms, so Reigns countered a failed Superman punch with one of his own. The men ascended to the top of the cage, and Reigns almost got over if not for Corbin grabbing his vest. Back in the ring, Reigns hit Corbin with two Superman punches as he was trapped between the ropes; Reigns then grabbed the chain and used it as part of another Superman punch for the win, never ultimately hitting his finisher. Reigns also received a massive amount of post-match victory pyro. This was a fine albeit boring match. If it ends the feud for good, then we are all better off. Reigns def. Corbin via pinfall | Grade: C
SmackDown Women's Championship -- Bayley (c) vs. Naomi: The challenger dominated early with a spinning uppercut and split into a pinning combination on the champion. Naomi then hit a corkscrew plancha as the crowd chanted "this is awesome." Bayley eventually took control by knocking Naomi off the ring apron and even hit a Bayley-to-Belly but was unable to get the three count. Naomi missed a split-legged moonsault, and Bayley capitalized by grabbing Naomi's legs, crossing them and sticking one under her shirt so she was stuck and unable to move. Bayley then planted a prone Naomi face-first into the mat for the 1-2-3. Very good match with an inventive and unique finish given the required attire. One of the best matches on the show. Bayley (c) def. Naomi via pinfall to retain the title | Grade: B
Universal Championship -- "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt (c) vs. Goldberg: An immediate spear to start the match only resulted in a 1 count, absolutely confusing Goldberg. From there, Goldberg hit three straight spears but was unable to capitalize as The Fiend placed his challenger in the Mandible Claw after kicking out at two. It took a bit, but Goldberg eventually broke out of the submission maneuver and lifted The Fiend into the Jackhammer for the clean win. Moments after the match, The Fiend sat up and stared down Goldberg screaming as he celebrated on the turnbuckles. The lights went out and The Fiend disappeared as Goldberg continued to celebrate and fireworks filled the sky. The length of the match made sense due to Goldberg's age and energy level, but the fact that he was able to beat The Fiend so easily whereas a dozen Stomps from Seth Rollins followed by tons of weapon shots could not put him down makes absolutely no booking sense. That's not to mention the fact that a 53-year-old Goldberg went over a guy in Wyatt who WWE has been building up specifically for 'Mania over the last four-plus months in 2:57. Plus, did Goldberg lose a tooth? Goldberg def. The Fiend (c) via pinfall to win the title | Grade: D+