Smackdown!s viewership seems to be somewhere around the same level as TNA Impact on this board Or at least nobody feels like discussing it. Was a pretty solid pre-PPV show, as the format of the two ladder matches allows for a variety of 1-on-1 previews. Here's what happened this week:
We start the program with New Evolution in the ring, as HHH tells us how he plans to have Orton regain the belts and Rollins be holding onto the briefcase for safe keeping. Orton and Rollins then start having a clash of egos, but HHH calms them both down and says Dean Ambrose will be facing Bad News Barrett.
Barrett comes out first and spends an extended period catering to the crowd while Maccal and JBL get in their required shilling, then Ambrose comes out with his awesome new entrance music. Really fits him. The two have a decent back and forth match but nothing really all that special. Ambrose hits his new finisher, Dirty Deeds, to pick up the victory, then we have a minor clusterfuck as Swagger comes out to first beat up on Barrett then start to brawl with Ambrose after Dean dives out of the ring onto him. Ever the opportunist, Rollins shows up to throw Ambrose around some more and then deliver a Curb Stomp to his skull. Buy the PPV!
Also, apparently Barrett injured himself at some point in this match, but if so, it was edited out in post-production. Hope he'll be able to compete Sunday.
Paige and Cameron have a brief match that's a bit disappointing after some solid work by Paige lately. Paige really put the mouthy Funkadactyl in her place, showing she's zero threat to her title (or is just too green to put on a good match). Naomi is on guest commentary, and they have a staredown after the match, exacerbated by Cameron shoving the two into each other. Buy the PPV!
The Divas match was so short, here's the Wyatt family to cut a promo! Though Harper and Bray are still the only ones who really talk; Rowan's still only got one word, "Run." Have a feeling next time we see the Family, there'll be some tag team gold on their shoulders.
Speaking of the Wyatts, Shaemus goes up against Bray for our halfway point main event. The Family becomes involved during the commercial break, leading the Usos to come out for backup and additional face time. Shaemus manages to lock in the Clover Leaf but Harper runs in for the DQ ending, leading to a 3-on-3 brawl that clears the ring. Buy the PPV!
Double Dust cuts a promo where they accept Rybaxel's challenge at MitB. Cody is clearly having a blast with this StarDust character, and he and Goldust play off of each other wonderfully. You can tell Goldust loves being the normal one of the group for once, even if he still loves to freak out the interviewer guy.
There's a match between RVD and Ziggler from the briefcase match vs Cesaro and Del Rio from the title match. Ziggler and RVD have no problems teaming up but aren't able to get it done against Del Rio and Cesaro, who win when RVD goes for a 5 star and gets Del Rio's knees to the midsection, then gets slapped in the Cross Armbreaker. Afterwards, Cesaro and Del Rio argue, and Cesaro hits Del Rio with the Neutralizer. Buy the PPV!
Our main event this week is Kane vs Roman Reigns. They have a decent brawling match that gets broken up by Orton showing up at the end. Kane drags a ladder into the ring and at first Orton cowers, then realizes the Big Red Machine is apparently on his side. Kane sets up the ladder and allows Orton to climb the ladder, despite shaking it once to scare him. Orton poses with the belts and then prepares to give the Punt Kick to a fallen Reigns, only to have him rise back up and deliver Spears to both Orton and Kane. Reigns then poses with both belts as the show concludes. Buy the PPV!
A pretty solid show that was still pretty much one long advertisement for Money in the Bank. Though I'm sure that anyone who has the Network will probably be watching already and I'm not sure they did a good enough job selling it to convince new subscribers to join just for this.
If I'm home on a Friday night, I usually flip between SD! and the Phillies, so I catch pieces of it.
Originally posted by Blind_GuardianBarrett comes out first and spends an extended period catering to the crowd while Maccal and JBL get in their required shilling, then Ambrose comes out with his awesome new entrance music. Really fits him. The two have a decent back and forth match but nothing really all that special. Ambrose hits his new finisher, Dirty Deeds, to pick up the victory, then we have a minor clusterfuck as Swagger comes out to first beat up on Barrett then start to brawl with Ambrose after Dean dives out of the ring onto him. Ever the opportunist, Rollins shows up to throw Ambrose around some more and then deliver a Curb Stomp to his skull. Buy the PPV!
I'm pretty sure Wade was hurt when Swagger threw him into the barricades after the match, you could see some of the refs starting to check on him, but the show moved on to Ambrose/Swagger/Rollins.
Originally posted by Spiraling_ShapeIf I'm home on a Friday night, I usually flip between SD! and the Phillies, so I catch pieces of it.
Originally posted by Blind_GuardianBarrett comes out first and spends an extended period catering to the crowd while Maccal and JBL get in their required shilling, then Ambrose comes out with his awesome new entrance music. Really fits him. The two have a decent back and forth match but nothing really all that special. Ambrose hits his new finisher, Dirty Deeds, to pick up the victory, then we have a minor clusterfuck as Swagger comes out to first beat up on Barrett then start to brawl with Ambrose after Dean dives out of the ring onto him. Ever the opportunist, Rollins shows up to throw Ambrose around some more and then deliver a Curb Stomp to his skull. Buy the PPV!
I'm pretty sure Wade was hurt when Swagger threw him into the barricades after the match, you could see some of the refs starting to check on him, but the show moved on to Ambrose/Swagger/Rollins.
You could definitely tell where it happened; Barrett went down, and when Swagger went to continue with the spot, Barrett grabed his leg and and started tapping frantically. Swagger immediately moves away and the refs come to check him.
I like Ambrose's new Lunatic Fringe nickname. That will make for potentially good shirts. But I'm not sold on his outfit. Is he supposed to seem more "real" because he doesn't wear wrestling gear? I thought the Shield guys would use the group's breakup as a chance to wear less clothing and maybe remain cooler during matches. Nope. He's out there in full jeans. He IS nuts.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
Everything Ambrose has done since the break-up is gold. I'm ecstatic, because I was afraid he'd get lost in the shuffle, with Reigns going superface and Rollins as the hot heel. Threatening his way into MitB was brilliantly done, though, and he seems just far more intense and chaotic than, well...anyone on the roster. Since, like, Foley.
God, I hope we can someday get a full on feud with him and Punk.
I love the new weird theme for the Wyatt family team and I'm pretty sure they're taking the gold. The Usos, though, have benefited immensely from their run and got really over, which is great.
Dolph Ziggler is just amazingly good. Maybe even the best.
"Never piss off a hawk with a blowgun" - Conan O'Brien
Originally posted by Matt TrackerI like Ambrose's new Lunatic Fringe nickname. That will make for potentially good shirts. But I'm not sold on his outfit. Is he supposed to seem more "real" because he doesn't wear wrestling gear? I thought the Shield guys would use the group's breakup as a chance to wear less clothing and maybe remain cooler during matches. Nope. He's out there in full jeans. He IS nuts.
Rollins does wrestle without a shirt these days, though Reigns has retained the Shield gimmick pretty much in its entirety (flak vest, Shield theme, enters through the crowd) and yeah, Ambrose seems to wrestle in street clothes these days. I can't really see him in traditional tights (leggings or briefs), though, or a singlet.
Originally posted by Blind_Guardian I can't really see him in traditional tights (leggings or briefs), though, or a singlet.
(edited by John Orquiola on 28.6.14 1641)
I stand corrected ... I will def have to check this match out, 30 minute Iron Man match between two future members of the Shield. The black Stone Cold style briefs don't look too bad on him.
Not to drag up an old thread, but thanks so much for the video John Orquiola. That was a tremendously entertaining match, I will have to watch more of Rollins and Ambrose's indy work. I forget how exciting and raw the smaller promotions feel compared to the WWE 'style'. The wrestlers just seem to work a whole lot harder. Maybe it's because they don't want the younger super-talents to show up the older, established stars who can't do the things they can?
Thread rated: 5.16
#
Or at least nobody feels like discussing it. Was a pretty solid pre-PPV show, as the format of the two ladder matches allows for a variety of 1-on-1 previews. Here's what happened this week:
