Superstar Spectacle 2023: WWE Came Back to India and Let the Crowd Be the Story

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn against Sanga and Veer begins as a straightforward tag match before Jinder Mahal's involvement pulls the contest away from a normal finish. The early minutes are built around the size difference, with Owens and Zayn creating movement while Indus Sher tries to slow the pace and turn every exchange into a power fight. The match never develops a true finishing stretch because the no contest is mainly a bridge to the six-man bout that follows. That makes it difficult to grade as a complete wrestling match even though the crowd is engaged with the personalities. At C- / 5.9, the score reflects an intentionally incomplete opener whose primary job is to create a larger confrontation rather than provide a satisfying standalone result.

The impromptu six-man tag gives the opening angle the payoff it needs by adding Drew McIntyre and letting the crowd reset around a clear heroes-versus-villains structure. McIntyre's arrival immediately raises the energy, while Owens and Zayn are more effective once the match can move through faster tags instead of asking them to work underneath two larger opponents for long stretches. Mahal anchors the heel side through familiarity, and Sanga and Veer provide the power spots that keep the babyface comebacks meaningful. The finish is direct and crowd-friendly, with McIntyre helping his side secure the victory rather than extending the segment through another angle. At B- / 7.2, it is strong house-show-style entertainment elevated by the setting and the audience's investment in the returning stars.

Natalya steps into the scheduled spot against Zoey Stark after Becky Lynch cannot make the trip, which gives the match a strange burden before the bell even rings. Stark brings the sharper athletic bursts, while Natalya uses experience and familiar timing to keep the contest structured for an audience that came expecting a different opponent. The wrestling is competent and reasonably physical, but the crowd's disappointment over the change hangs over parts of the match and prevents the atmosphere from matching the performers' effort. Natalya eventually earns the pin and gets a useful victory before appearing again later in the evening. At C+ / 6.8, the match is professional and functional without becoming memorable. Its lasting relevance comes more from the circumstances surrounding the substitution than from any individual sequence.

Gunther defending the Intercontinental Championship against Shanky is built around an obvious mismatch, but the Hyderabad setting gives the challenger enough local connection to keep the result from feeling completely academic. Gunther controls the match through pressure, chops and a refusal to treat Shanky's size as something that requires panic. Shanky gets brief opportunities to use his reach and power, yet the champion repeatedly brings the match back into the disciplined rhythm that defines his reign. There is little genuine suspense because Gunther is operating at a different level and the broader championship story is never in danger. The finish therefore functions as reinforcement rather than surprise. At C+ / 6.6, the match is competent championship presentation, carried more by Gunther's authority and the crowd's interest than by competitive uncertainty.

Bron Breakker and Odyssey Jones bring a developmental showcase into the middle of a card otherwise dominated by established main-roster names. The match works best when it leans into physicality: Breakker's explosiveness contrasts with Jones' size, creating a simple test of whether speed and acceleration can overcome mass. There is not enough time or story for the bout to become a deeper character piece, but it does provide the audience with a look at two wrestlers WWE is still evaluating for larger roles. Breakker's offense has the sharper impact and the finish reinforces him as the prospect with greater upward momentum. At C+ / 6.9, this is useful supporting action rather than a hidden classic. Its value comes from variety and from preserving Breakker at an interesting point before his broader main-roster emergence.

Rhea Ripley defending the Women's World Championship against Natalya gives the event a second legitimate title match and a clearer competitive structure than Natalya's earlier bout. Ripley carries herself like the star the crowd expects, using power and confidence to control long stretches without turning the challenger into a complete afterthought. Natalya's second match of the evening gives the story an easy layer of fatigue, allowing Ripley's dominance to feel logical rather than excessive. The challenger still earns enough offense to keep the audience involved before Ripley takes over and closes decisively. At B / 7.5, the match succeeds because it delivers what a touring championship defense should: the champion looks important, the crowd gets recognizable signature offense, and the result never relies on unnecessary interference or a compromised finish.

John Cena and Seth "Freakin" Rollins against Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser is designed as the night's purest star-delivery match, and that is exactly why it works. Cena's first in-ring appearance in India gives every entrance beat and comeback more weight than the wrestling alone could create. Rollins supplies the faster exchanges, while Imperium provide disciplined opposition that can control the match without stealing the emotional center. The structure is familiar touring-main-event wrestling: isolate one hero, tease the comeback, then build toward the signatures the audience has waited to see. Cena and Rollins ultimately win cleanly, allowing the event to close on celebration rather than storyline complication. At B / 7.8, the match is not technically ambitious, but it is extremely effective live-event booking and an appropriate ending for a sold-out return to India.