WWE Put on a Memorable Show For The WWE Universe at WWE Superstar Spectacle In Hyderabad

The buzz leading up to the WWE Superstar Spectacle at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad was all about the appearance of John Cena, the 16-time WWE world champion. And Cena’s first ever WWE in-ring appearance in India lived up to the hype, delivering a stellar all-around show despite some last-minute changes to the card.

This event marked a significant departure from WWE’s previous visit to India at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Stadium, which had a capacity of 15,000. However, the 5,000 enthusiastic fans in Hyderabad made sure to create an electrifying atmosphere.

The path from the Telangana Sports Authority complex to the Indoor stadium was lined with Superstar Spectacle posters. As the crowd trickled in, it became abundantly clear who they were there to see. The complex was flooded with fans wearing “Hustle, Loyalty, Respect," “Never Give Up," “Cenation," and “Cena Army" T-shirts, while some paid tribute to Bray Wyatt. “Judgment Day" T-shirts were also a popular choice among the crowd, some of whom had traveled from as far as Chandigarh and Assam to witness a WWE live event in India for the first time in six years.

The decision to open the show with Indian talent helped build momentum for the main event. Natalya stepped in for the absent Becky Lynch and put on solid matches against Zoey Stark and the Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley, showcasing why she is considered one of the all-time greats in the company.

Initially announced as the headlining act by Jinder Mahal, the team of Indu Sher (Veer and Sangha) challenging the Undisputed WWE tag team champions Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens ended up as the show opener.

While Veer and Sanga have come a long way from their time in developmental and NXT, facing Zayn and Owens was always going to be a test of how well the two veterans could make Indus Sher shine. Mahal opened the show with a pep talk and, despite his previous WWE championship run, now played the role of a manager. He intervened in the match early, leading to a disqualification for his team. However, the match was restarted as a six-man tag team contest, with Drew McIntyre joining forces with Mahal and Sami. McIntyre and Mahal, real-life close friends, put on an exciting match, with McIntyre hitting the Claymore and Mahal selling it like a pro. Matt Riddle also made an appearance late in the piece with MacIntyre’s sword (Angela), which kind of looked odd. Later, Mahal and McIntyre, along with Sami, danced to the tune of RRR’s Oscar-winning song “Nattu Nattu," while Sanga proudly displayed the Indian flag in the middle of the ring.

The second match of the night featured Natalya facing off against Stark, with the stipulation that the winner would challenge Ripley for the Women’s World Championship. Originally, Natalya was set to go against Ripley, but Lynch’s inability to travel due to visa issues led to the last-minute change. After the opener, the crowd felt a bit subdued for this match. Nevertheless, Stark showcased her in-ring prowess before Natalya, as expected, secured a quick victory with a roll-up.

The first match earned “This is Awesome!" chants from the Gachibowli crowd and set the tone for the night. The Intercontinental championship was the first title defended on the show, with Gunther taking on Shanky.

Shanky had been absent from WWE TV for over a year, and his reception from the crowd hinted at some uncertainty, but well-informed WWE fans made him feel at home. They embraced Shanky’s Punjabi entrance music and supported the 7-footer from Punjab as he faced the “Ring General," Gunther. The match was evenly paced, with Gunther selling Shanky’s moves effectively. In the end, Gunther retained the title with a Powerbomb.

After the break, the excitement continued with Bronn Breakker and RAW’s newest recruit, Odessey Jones, putting on an entertaining match. These two big men showcased their strength, with vertical suplexes on the 400-pound Jones impressing the crowd. Breakker secured the victory with a sensational spear followed by the Military Press Powerslam.

Two hours in, it was time for the co-main event. Before that, WWE surprised the audience with the special appearance of WWE’s 2021 Hall of Famer, The Great Khali.

Khali received a thunderous welcome as the TitanTron displayed some of his career’s highlights. However, Khali’s mic skills left much to be desired, and it seemed at one point that he was calling the locker room “gore" (foreigners) to confront him, but that did not materialize. After acknowledging the crowd, Khali made a slow exit from the ring.

In the co-main event, Natalya returned to the ring, but it was Ripley who received the loudest reception of the night. Ripley fully embraced her “Mami" persona, and the crowd chanted in unison. Natalya had been on the receiving end of quick losses in her previous matches against Ripley, but in Hyderabad, she put up a competitive 10-minute match before Ripley sealed the victory with the Riptide, retaining her title.

Anticipation reached its peak for the main event, and when Sarah Schreiber announced it was time, the crowd erupted into chants of “Cena! Cena!" The 5,000-strong crowd, along with the hundred or so staff members, had one thing on their minds: John Cena. Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci were also well-received, with Kaiser’s entrance effectively generating heat from the audience.

When Seth Rollins’ theme, “Visionary," played, it felt like a concert. However, even amid the popular theme song, Cena’s entrance drowned out everything else. Finally, the moment arrived, and “The Time is Now" hit. The atmosphere was electric as front-row seats became even more sought after, with everyone on their feet and standing on chairs to catch a glimpse of the “Greatest of All Time."

For the first time in his illustrious career, John Cena sprinted to the middle of the ring, raised his arms, removed his shirt, in India and soaked in the moment. The crowd’s enthusiasm overwhelmed even Cena himself.

Cena started the proceedings against Giovanni Vinci, with Rollins and Kaiser taking center stage later on. All four men knew how to engage the crowd at every step of the way. This tag team match stole the show, with Vinci reminding everyone that he shouldn’t be relegated to just the third member of Imperium. It is disappointing to see how underutilized he currently is, but that’s likely due to the dominance of Gunther and the equally entertaining Kaiser.

Kaiser performed well throughout the match, while Rollins and Vinci delivered impressive work. After an initial burst, Cena let Imperium take control of the match. Rollins continued to work the crowd as Imperium drew them in. Cena, visibly exhausted, showed signs of his age catching up to him, but he extended his stay in the ring before coming in after a hot tag. Cena’s flurry of moves, including shoulder blocks off the ropes, a spinning powerbomb, the “Five Knuckle Shuffle," and the “Attitude Adjustment," drove the crowd wild. Rollins picked up Kaiser for the Falcon Arrow and in a double pin, Rollins and Cena had their hands raised to signal the end of a Spectacular Superstar Spectacle.

Cena cut a promo after the match saying ‘Thank you. I dreamed of this moment for 20 years and it finally happened. Thank you’. And that was the curtain call at Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad.