Smackdown Review

Hi guys, I’m here with a review of this week’s Smackdown and I’d like to start by thanking my Sky+ box for allowing me to record Smackdown and fast forward through the ads and all the Raw recaps. Matches and segments will be rated out of 5. 1= poor, 2= decent, 3= good, 4= very good and 5= great. It is as simple as that. Ok then, let’s get started.

Segment:

We start this week’s Smackdown with The Wyatt Family (who have the best entrance in wrestling at the moment). Bray sits in his chair in the ring flanked by Harper and Rowan. He cuts a promo on Kane. Bray says that their actions have been misinterpreted. He then tells a story about a child being bullied at school. The child is revealed to be Kane. He says that Kane’s mask has allowed him to live a life of lies and he’s there to end the lies in the WWE. Kane’s pyro the hits and his music plays. Kane comes through the crowd and takes out Harper and Rowan. Kane and Bray stare at each other. Kane starts to beat down Bray. Harper and Rowan comeback to help Bray and Bray hits Kane with a running forearm. Bray then hits his finisher and The Wyatt Family stand tall.

Segment Rating: 3 out of 5.

Match: Damien Sandow v Christian

Both men exchange moves early on. Sandow takes control after a running knee and gets a near fall. Sandow sents Christian to the outside and then throws him into the steel steps as they go to commercial. When they comeback from commercial Sandow has Christian in a headlock. Christian tries to fight out but Sandow drags Christian to the ring apron and hits him with several knees. Christian makes his comeback after a body drop. He gets a near fall after a reverse DDT. Sandow gets a near fall after a swinging neckbreaker. Sandow hits a Russian Leg Sweep and tries his finisher but Christian rolls him up for the win. Sandow tries to attack Christian after the match but Christian spears him. Then ADR comes out and attacks Christian and cuts a promo about how he’ll never win the world title (boring!). ADR goes for the crossarm breaker but Christian counters into the Killswitch.

Winner: Christian.

Match Rating: 2 out of 5.

Segment:

RVD is backstage being interviewed by Renee. Renee asks RVD about his U.S title match with Dean Ambrose. RVD says he’s going to win the U.S title and that he’s not worried about the rest of The Shield as Big Show and Mark Henry appear. Renee asks Big Show about why he returned. Big Show says that he has unfinished business with The Shield (I guess Big Show is face for the millionth time). Mark Henry says that RVD has nothing to worry about at SummerSlam. RVD says that The Shield will get a taste of justice in their match later on.

Segment Rating: 2 out of 5.

Match: Kaitlyn & Natalya v AJ & Layla

Layla and Natalya start things off. Both divas exchange holds. AJ takes a cheap shot at Natalya allowing Layla to take control. AJ and Layla double team Natalya. Natalya eventually makes the hot tag to Kaitlyn who hits a variety of moves on AJ. The referee gets inadvertently distracted by Natalya. Layla kicks Kaitlyn in the leg followed by AJ hitting a shining wizard for the win.

Winners: AJ & Layla.

Match Rating: 1 out of 5.

Segment:

Ryback is backstage being interviewed by Renee. Renee asks Ryback is the reason he is not on the SummerSlam is because of the brutality he has shown on his opponents (no, it’s not because of the brutality, it’s because he sucks). Ryback responds by mocking Renee. Ryback says that he lives for brutality. Ryback then looks in the distance and asks ‘what are you looking at?’.  He walks over to a stagehand. Ryback intimates the stagehand before assaulting him.

Segment Rating; 1 out of 5.

Match: RVD & Mark Henry & Big Show v The Shield

Rollins and Henry start the match off. Henry overpowers Rollins and tags in RVD. RVD hits a flying kick, monkey flip and standing moonsault on Rollins for a near fall. Ambrose makes a blind tag and takes RVD out from behind. The Shield isolates RVD for a while. Reigns takes a cheap shot at Henry and turns around into a kick from RVD who makes the hot tag to Big Show, Reigns tags in Ambrose. Big Show dominates The Shield until Reigns pulls down the top rope causing Big Show to fall to the outside. Henry takes out Reigns by throwing him over the announce table. Rollins takes out Henry with a suicide dive. Big Show gets back in the ring before the count of 10. He hits Ambrose with a knockout punch and tags in RVD who hits the frog splash for the win.

Winners: RVD & Mark Henry & Big Show.

Match Rating: 3 out of 5.

Match: The Miz v Jack Swagger

Zeb Colter cuts his usual racist promo as Swagger makes his entrance. Cesaro is wearing a cape by the way. Swagger and Mix exchange shots early on. Miz works the leg before Swagger hits a powerslam. Swagger dominates and hits Miz with several clotheslines. Miz makes his comeback after hitting a neckbreaker. Miz gets a near fall after a DDT, Miz gets distracted by Cesaro and Swagger knocks Miz off the apron. The referee sends Colter and Cesaro and this distracts Swagger who gets rolled up by Miz for the win.

Winner: The Miz.

Match Rating: 2 out of 5.

Match: Curtis Axel v Zack Ryder

Ryder gets some offence in early on and surprising dominates. Ryder goes for a cross body but missed. Axel takes control and hits a neckbreaker for the win. Ryder is still alive and still a jobber. Heyman grabs the mic and will cut a promo when the show comes back from commercial.

Winner: Curtis Axel.

Match Rating: 1 out of 5.

Segment:

Heyman says he got outsmarted by Punk on Raw. Heyman then congratulates Punk on that feat. Heyman says Punk just proved what Heyman already knew which is that he taught him to be the best. Heyman says at SummerSlam, Punk will be the target of revenge and vengeance will be delivered in the form of Brock Lesnar.

Segment Rating: 4 out of 5.

Match: Daniel Bryan v Wade Barrett

This is a no DQ match. Bryan targets Barrett’s legs early on. Barrett gets some offence after hitting Bryan with a running knee. Bryan comes back into the match and clotheslines Barrett over the top rope. Bryan goes for a baseball slide but Barrett moves out of the way and drives Bryan into the barricade twice. Barrett goes for a big boot against the barricade but Bryan moves. Bryan hits Barrett with several kicks before bring out a table. Barrett drives Bryan into the announce table and steel steps. Barrett gets a kendo stick and beats Bryan with it. Bryan gets the kendo stick from Barrett who leaves the ring promptly. Bryan hits a suicide dive and gets Barrett back in the ring and hits a missile dropkick. Suddenly Vince McMahon’s music plays and outcomes Vince before they go to commercial. When they comeback from commercial Vince is watching from the ramp and Barrett is in control. Bryan comes back into the match and hits a running knee and stares at Vince. Barrett hits Bryan with a suplex and then drives him into the ring post. Barrett gets a chair and beats Bryan with it. Barrett goes for an elbow drop with the chair but Bryan moves and makes his comeback. Bryan beats Barrett with a kendo stick and gets Barrett in the Yes lock but Vince pulls the referee out of the ring as Barrett taps out. Vince and Bryan stare at each other before Barrett hits Bryan with an elbow. Vince brings out Brad Maddox who is wearing a referee shirt but Bryan kicks out. Barrett goes for a pumphandle slam but Bryan counters and kicks Barrett on the back of the head. Bryan covers him but Maddox won’t count. Vince slides Barrett a kendo stick. Barrett tries to hit Bryan but he ducks and hits Maddox. Bryan puts Barrett throw a table. Out comes Triple H wearing a referee shirt. Bryan hits the diving headbutt for the win. Out comes Randy Orton and he stares down Bryan from the ramp as Smackdown goes off the air.

Winner: Daniel Bryan.

Match Rating: 4 out of 5.

Overall I thought it was a decent Smackdown this week. I suggest you check out Daniel Bryan v Wade Barrett, the 6 man tag, Paul Heyman’s promo and the Bray Wyatt/Kane opening segment if you haven’t already.

Well that’s all for now. Please leave your comments below and I will be back next week with another review of Smackdown. You can follow me on twitter @JohnnyWhyte93 and the site @WrestlinRambles.