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|  #1 Posted on 5.4.17 0851.17
Reposted on: 5.4.24 0851.17 | Live from Orlando, FL.
This wasn't quite SmarkDown, though the crowd was electric all night. They had the announcers do the same spiel as Raw about "we love our passionate fans and even though today they won't cheer and boo like we want them to, we're still all about their freedom of expression." Turned out that the warning wasn't really necessary, and between the opening and closing segments, which we'll get to here in a second, they delivered a solid show that essentially gave the fans exactly what they came for.
Orton and Wyatt continued, unfortunately, though it seemed to take a slight backseat to SmackDown's newly established face megastars. And maybe they deserve to, especially after that horrible Mania match. Anyway, Bray challenged Orton to a "House of Horrors" match at the next PPV, and Orton (who admitted he didn't know what that match was) accepted. It felt like a classic case of booking themselves into a corner. Wyatt *must* win this match - it's a match he came up with, and Orton has no idea what to expect - but there's literally no chance he will.
In the opening segment Erick Rowan returned (with improved sheep mask), only to be thwarted by Luke Harper. While there's no logical reason for Luke to help out Orton (who, remember, single-handedly caused Harper's exit from the Wyatt Family), this sort of thing happens all the time in wrestling and so it's easy to accept. That led to a Teddy Long Special in the main event, which the faces won pretty handily, after Bray just kind of left Rowan to the wolves. I tuned out of Bray a long time ago, so I don't care. BUT I'm a fan of Luke Harper, who I think is exactly the kind of solid midcard hand any good roster needs. And he looks like he's in tremendous shape now, which is always great to see.
Speaking of solid midcard hands, we got the debut of the Perfect Ten himself, Tye Dillinger. I'm a little bummed he never got to finish the Sanity story on top (like he literally lost at every turn), but in his squash he looked pretty good. Tye has the kind of gimmick designed to get reactions, and on Talking Smack they did a good job of building him up as a veteran who's happy to be here but also understands he's deserved this for a long time (15 years in the making!). His perseverance-pays-off storyline is something most people can identify with, and if Tye (and commentary team) can get that across on the main show, Dillinger has some lasting appeal that could cement him in the midcard for years.
Let's talk about the big stars now. AJ Styles turned face after claiming that "SDL is the house that AJ Styles built," and the crowd vehemently agreed with him. AJ's going to get cheered based on his credentials no matter where he goes and what he does, so it makes sense to turn him and let him really play off the crowd. Based on how he was presented, I feel like he'll retain some of the charm of his heel character, and probably just dial back on being a jerkface, and that's a good thing. I really hope he gets to stay on SD, (because I want to see him next week when SD comes to Boston), but I see this being a longshot.
The Miz and Maryse continued chewing up the scenery in their live appearance as "John Cena" and "Nikki Bella." The It Couple claimed they were taking a hiatus, only to be interrupted by the brilliant Lee England, and eventually Shinsuke Nakamura. Shinsuke only made his entrance and left, but boy was he presented as a megastar. Felipe and JBL did their best to establish him as one of the most entertaining, charismatic superstars EVER to come along in the WWE, and that's high praise. I selfishly wish that Graves would've been around for the first time Nakamura wrestles, because that guy really understands how Nakamura the wrestler functions, but hopefully Philips has taken some notes from his time in NXT. In any case, Nakamura was introduced as an attraction you could only miss at your own peril, and that's the best way to present him.
Also let's make Lee England, and Nakamura's bow to him during the entrance a permanent part of SD, shall we?
Naomi defended her Women's Title against Alexa in a nice little match. Naomi's Anaconda Vice got a new name - the Spider Twist. I dunno, man.
Dean Ambrose and Baron Corbin went at it in a streetfight that helped make up for their lackluster preshow WM match. Corbin actually hit a Nodowa Otoshi, which I think should become a permanent part of his arsenal. Eventually the action spilled to the outside, and the high spot came when Deano elbow-dropped Corbin through a ringside table. But he killed his (still-)injured ribs in the process and Corbin Ended his Days soon afterwards. This was non-title though, so I imagine it leads to some sort of stip match at the next PPV.
So a lot of fun stuff happened, and some new faces were introduced, but we'll get a better feel for SDL once the roster shuffle happens next week. Meanwhile the poor tag division can't seem to catch a break. Some things change, and some remain the same.
EDIT: Violinist dude's name is Lee England (en.wikipedia.org) and not Lee English. Oops.
(edited by used2bcool on 5.4.17 1055) | Promote this thread! |             | lotjx
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| #2 Posted on 5.4.17 0922.48
Reposted on: 5.4.24 0922.48 | NAKAMURA!!!!
| Tenken347
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| #3 Posted on 5.4.17 1036.07
Reposted on: 5.4.24 1036.08 | Originally posted by used2bcool
While there's no logical reason for Luke to help out Orton (who, remember, single-handedly caused Harper's exit from the Wyatt Family), this sort of thing happens all the time in wrestling and so it's easy to accept.
I don't know, I think it makes sense to me. It's not like Randy and Luke are friends now, but Luke doesn't really blame Randy for what happened - that was just Randy being Randy. Luke blames Bray for not trusting him, for taking Randy's word over that of a guy who'd always been loyal to him. So in that sense, he didn't really come out to help Randy, he came out to attack Bray and Rowan. | Dr Unlikely
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| #4 Posted on 5.4.17 1142.30
Reposted on: 5.4.24 1142.33 | I think we're also supposed to assume that Harper is now free of whatever mental conditioning/voodoo Wyatt had on him as a collateral outcome of Randy Orton destroying Wyatt's Cult and burning down his Devil House as revenge for mildly injuring Randy's ankle. Like, Randy didn't care about setting Luke free, but he did it anyway because it furthered his plans and Harper is cool with that and now gets to dress in slightly cleaner, slightly-better-fitting clothes.
I have to say - and I know it will, in no way, ever be able to live up to what I'm imagining - that I'm incredibly stoked for whatever a Bray Wyatt House of Horrors Match is. Yes, probably it's a WWE version of whatever that TNA match with weapons tied to a cage was (though I guess that's already the "Asylum Match" in WWE?), there is at least the tiniest possibility that this will be a match that takes place in a haunted house, with Randy and Luke chasing Wyatt and Rowan through a bunch of interconnected doors in one long hallway, and Bray spying on Orton through the bored-out eyes of a painting, and Randy yelling things at animatronic ghosts and ghouls and Bray trapped in his own funhouse hall of mirrors only for Orton to unexpected leap out of one for an RKO.
I both marked hard for Nakamura and also kind of wanted him to do/say something at the end of all that. You have to debut him there because that's the crowd that sells him as The Coolest Wrestler In The World that he used to be before they benched him for two WrestleManias, but it just needed a tiny capper at the end, even if just as simple as him getting to drop a YEAH-OH! on the crowd.
Please don't Superstar Shake-up us out of Nakamura/AJ or Nakamura/Cena or Nakamura/Ambrose or - so help me, I want this - Nakamura/Miz before we get any of this.
I guess, to put it simply, please don't Superstar Shake-up Smackdown at the expense of Raw.
(DIY not showing up: confirmation that they're doing one more round with AoP while they build up some more teams?)
| SchippeWreck
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| #5 Posted on 5.4.17 1239.48
Reposted on: 5.4.24 1239.49 | Interesting bit of trivia: Mauro's recent issues meant that Tom Phillips called Nakamura's NXT swan song and his main roster debut in the same week.
I'm assuming it's because of the time constraint two hours, but it was really weird that they had Nakamura and Ziggler work an angle during the commercial break to set up a post-205 Live dark match.
If Miz is Nakamura's first opponent (Ziggler match aside), then it's perfect. And who would have thought that a year ago?
I'm out on Bray's SPOOPY OOPY MAGIC until it stops being dumb. DAH!-ing out of the ring only to have Rowan eat the pin? I think everyone was expecting something...anything...else when the lights went out. | Quezzy
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| #6 Posted on 5.4.17 1607.49
Reposted on: 5.4.24 1608.05 | Originally posted by Tenken347
Originally posted by used2bcool
While there's no logical reason for Luke to help out Orton (who, remember, single-handedly caused Harper's exit from the Wyatt Family), this sort of thing happens all the time in wrestling and so it's easy to accept.
I don't know, I think it makes sense to me. It's not like Randy and Luke are friends now, but Luke doesn't really blame Randy for what happened - that was just Randy being Randy. Luke blames Bray for not trusting him, for taking Randy's word over that of a guy who'd always been loyal to him. So in that sense, he didn't really come out to help Randy, he came out to attack Bray and Rowan.
Eh, that's pretty flimsy reasoning. Harper should hate Bray and Randy. Why wouldn't he blame Randy for being Randy? He hated Randy because he was being Randy.
This was my biggest problem with Raw and Smackdown this week. They had all these big moments to try and make us mark out and yet both shows ended with their usual cliche boring two faces vs. two heels tag team and in both cases the face teams were made up of guys who shouldn't be friendly with each other, or at the very least just aren't known to be allies. In other words, the usual bad booking.
It was weird that they introduced Shinsuke only for him to not do anything? Maybe they're waiting until the Superstar Shakeup until they decide new feuds?
| kellogs
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|  #7 Posted on 5.4.17 1617.24
Reposted on: 5.4.24 1617.25 | Nakamura was fantastic. He did nothing apart from his 'walk' to the ring but had everyone loving it. Will that happen next week with a 'normal' crowd? Hopefully they will give him a match against an Aiden English now he has no partner or someone like that so he can show off what he can do in the ring as well. Keep the entrance as last night. They have a lot of potential here to have a lot of great matches. Miz could be a good start, but there is a part of me that wants Miz to move up. But then again Miz v Orton isn't anything to want so this is a good spot for him.
Orton and Wyatt just isn't working, and adding a random match that no-one understands yet is going to make a difference. Orton has to win or there are just way too many changes since the start of the year. Harper has the chance to become someone that people want to see, maybe he can face Wyatt after this random match. But there is only so often you can beat Bray. Actually that is the usual so maybe that will continue.
Dillinger enjoyed himself and hopefully that will continue if he has some good matches.
My guess is Alexa goes to Raw and someone comes over to replace her. Would also guess it needs to be a heel. I'm not a fan of Naomi - she just doesn't do it for me. Divas is doing well for her, and being married to an Uso, so she will be there for a while.
Will be interesting to see what happens next week with the shake up. Rollins can move and might help him and take advantage of his win at Mania. Styles is brilliant and who wouldn't want to see him v Nakamura? He has shown he can go against anyone, so who wouldn't want to see him against pure quality? Vince?!
| dMp
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|  #8 Posted on 5.4.17 1648.41
Reposted on: 5.4.24 1649.41 | Nakamura's entrance was all he needed.
And I'm sure (I hope?) next week Miz will be peeved that his spotlight was stolen.
No clue what to expect from the "don't call it a draft"
I am hoping Harper goes to Raw. Being away from Wyatt will allow his new man-in-black persona to develop.
I don't think I'd shake up the SD uppercard, or at least not take away from it.
And maybe send Sami or Cesaro to SD. With Cesaro it would be funny because of last year when he really wanted to go.
But they're the #1 contenders, so maybe not..
Poor Hawkins, getting squashed each and every week.
But a nice debut by Dillinger.
A few years ago I thought Naomi would be great. Now, she's just okay. She might have a good run though.
I figure they quickly wrapped up the Alexa feud cos she is moving? I can see Alexa vs Bayley.
And did AJ really turn face? I'm not convinced yet. I mean he was less of a true hell but we'll see.. | texasranger9
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| #9 Posted on 5.4.17 2256.02
Reposted on: 5.4.24 2256.05 | I want to see Cena vs Nakamura. Two years ago I would of never thought this. With Owens and AJ as examples A and B I believe he could work well with Nakamura.
I thought new Wyatt family member when it WAH-ed. But they have SAnitY. So no more crazy groups than one. Harper needs to go to RAW as well.
Would Flair be the one to goto SD? She lost back to back nights and Brooke has fully broken away from her. Asuka will be there soon but as face or heel?
I thought Corbin won the belt, but I wasn't fully paying attention. I see shield vs hhh stable so Dean goes over. Why not Sheamus and Cesaro for Dean and Harper. New US challenger. New tag team for SD. Zayn and Owens need to be separated. I don't see a US for IC swap. The Zayn for Eva Marie deal finally goes through. Instant feud over IC with Corbin. Crews needs to be on RAW too. Rusev needs a change too. | thecubsfan
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| #10 Posted on 6.4.17 0033.21
Reposted on: 6.4.24 0033.31 | Originally posted by texasranger9
Would Flair be the one to go to SD? She lost back to back nights and Brooke has fully broken away from her.
That was my thought too. They've done about the most they can do with her on RAW, SmackDown needs someone, and that felt like a conclusion on Monday. | Big Bad
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|  #11 Posted on 6.4.17 0035.08
Reposted on: 6.4.24 0035.19 | Originally posted by Dr Unlikely
I have to say - and I know it will, in no way, ever be able to live up to what I'm imagining - that I'm incredibly stoked for whatever a Bray Wyatt House of Horrors Match is. Yes, probably it's a WWE version of whatever that TNA match with weapons tied to a cage was (though I guess that's already the "Asylum Match" in WWE?), there is at least the tiniest possibility that this will be a match that takes place in a haunted house, with Randy and Luke chasing Wyatt and Rowan through a bunch of interconnected doors in one long hallway, and Bray spying on Orton through the bored-out eyes of a painting, and Randy yelling things at animatronic ghosts and ghouls and Bray trapped in his own funhouse hall of mirrors only for Orton to unexpected leap out of one for an RKO.
I'm a sucker for the old Punjabi Prison match. Could they dust off that set, add some cobwebs, and make it the House Of Horrors?
Either that, or else Bray is in for a gimmick change. He shows up to the Orton match dressed as the Godfather with seven women on his arm. "I didn't say House Of Horrors, I said House Of..." | Spank E
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| #12 Posted on 7.4.17 1204.55
Reposted on: 7.4.24 1205.23 | I have a feeling that AJ is moving to Raw, for quite possibly the weirdest fucking reason in the history of logical thought.
Over on my friend and yours, Xavier Woods' YouTube channel, they were talking about the Madden '17 tournament final which is slated to be AJ vs Seth (or PoP vs The Champ, if you prefer) during their Wrestlemania stream, and they said something to the effect of "something's going down soon and we're having the tournament final this month". Hold on, let me go and watch it back and see if I can get a direct quote
Originally posted by Austin Creed
After Mania, things are gonna occur, so in April, Madden finals...
There you have it. Read into that what you will. | andy1278
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| #13 Posted on 7.4.17 1707.49
Reposted on: 7.4.24 1708.07 | | Just a few simple tweaks.. I'd move Sasha to SD just to break up that Raw lull, but that might mess up the slow burn they have with Bayley going. Swap AJ and Roman maybe. Depending on what they do with AJ, switch Gallows & Anderson to SD to be with him or switch Enzo & Cass and bring Raw American Alpha. And god please, New Day to SD just to start them fresh somewhere. | | ALL ORIGINAL POSTS IN THIS THREAD ARE NOW AVAILABLE |
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