WWE Smackdown Results
August 1, 2014
Corpus Christi, Texas
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
The Smackdown video plays, and we’re brought into the arena to hear the theme song of The Real Americans. A replays is shown from Monday Night RAW when Jack Swagger had a physical confrontation with Rusev after Zeb Colter and Lana went back and forth verbally.
Jack Swagger w/ Zeb Colter vs. Cesaro
They circle the ring and lock up. Swagger applies a waistlock, but Cesaro drops down, spins himself on Swagger, and slaps him in the head. Swagger gets up and hits a pair of waistlock takeovers. Swagger goes for the Patriot Lock, but Cesaro quickly scurries out of the ring. A “USA” chant fires up. Cesaro gets in the ring and kicks him in the midsection. Cesaro punches him to the corner, but Swagger punches back. Swagger sends him to the corner and hits a clothesline. Swagger punches him until the referee backs him up. Cesaro quickly pokes him in the eyes before taking him down with a big boot. Cesaro then dead lifts him and hits a gutwrench suplex for a two count. Cesaro then applies a chin lock. Swagger fights up, but Cesaro kicks him. Cesaro sends him into the ropes and hits a scary looking powerslam before executing a double stomp for a near fall. Cesaro punches him before taunting Zeb Colter. Cesaro drops an elbow for another two count. Cesaro goes back to the chin lock. Swagger fights up, but Cesaro kicks him into the ropes. Cesaro punches him before talking trash and slapping him. Cesaro sends him into the ropes, but Swagger holds on and elbows him in the face.
Swagger ducks a clothesline and hits one of his own. Swagger drives him into the corner with a knee before whipping him into the other corner and big booting him down. Swagger goes for a Swagger Bomb, but Cesaro catches him and tosses him out of the ring.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Cesaro standing on the top rope and punching Swagger. Swagger punches him off and jumps into A Very European Uppercut for a near fall. Cesaro waits for Swagger to pull himself up in the corner before running into his boots. Cesaro quickly big boots and punches him back to the corner. Swagger reverses a whip to the corner, but he runs into a boot. Cesaro then comes off the second rope, but Swagger catches him and hits a waistlock takeover. Swagger does his “We the people” taunt and hits a Swagger Bomb for a near fall. Cesaro rolls to the apron and snaps him off the top rope. Cesaro then hits a double under-hook powerbomb for a near fall. Cesaro hits the ropes and hits a running boot. Cesaro kicks him and yells at him to stay down. Cesaro yells at Colter before Swagger catches him in the Patriot Lock. Cesaro has no choice but to tap out!
Winner by Submission: Jack Swagger
Match Rating: * 1/2
Swagger and Colter stand in the ring with the American flag when Rusev’s music hits. Rusev comes out to the stage waving the Russian Federation flag with Lana. Lana tells them to behold the real red, white, and blue, the flag of Mother Russia. On behalf of Rusev and the greatest leader in the world, Vladimir Putin, they challenge America and Colter to a Flag Match at SummerSlam against the so-called Real American, Jack Swagger. Colter says Real Americans never run from two things: a party and the other is a call to action to defend the fifty stars and thirteen bars of Old Glory. Colter says they have an answer for them right now: “We accept.” It’s not just them accepting – it’s every Real American within the sound of his voice. Colter then has the arena say, “We the people!” Swagger and Rusev passionately wave their flags.
Chris Jericho will face Erick Rowan in tonight’s main event. If Jericho wins, Rowan will be banned from ringside at SummerSlam.
Randy Orton will be out next to explain his attack on Roman Reigns.
-Commercial Break-
If you live in America, you can watch the WWE Network and check out Bash at the Beach 1996 to see Hulk Hogan turn heel and create the nWo.
Randy Orton addresses his attack on Roman Reigns
Randy Orton makes his way to the ring to a chorus of boos from the Corpus Christi crowd. Orton says Triple H informed him last Monday on RAW that Brock Lesnar would be facing John Cena at SummerSlam for the WWE Championship. He has no issue with Lesnar, but everyone knows that he is the one who truly deserves to be in the championship match. The only reason he is not in that match is because of one Roman Reigns. Roman Reigns stands in the way of his legitimate right to become champion. As long as he’s around, he apparently won’t get what he so richly deserves. This past Monday on RAW, he took it upon himself to deliver a message to him. It was a very clear and distinct message. A replay is shown of the vicious assault Orton executed against Reigns on RAW. Orton gave him a hanging DDT off the barricade before giving him two RKO’s on the commentary table, the second of which broke the table.
Orton says he dares Reigns to step into the ring with him at SummerSlam. He is a venomous, cold-blooded Viper who will inject poison into his veins and watch him writhe in agony on the floor. He’ll curl up into a little ball just like he did on RAW. Orton says, “Roman, you can believe in that.” Orton’s music plays, and he does his signature pose on the turnbuckle.
A video is shown of Brie Bella quitting WWE before slapping Stephanie McMahon in the face at WWE Payback. We’ll see their face-to-face confrontation from this past Monday on RAW.
Dean Ambrose will face Seth Rollins and Kane in a 2-on-1 Handicap match later tonight.
-Commercial Break-
Footage is shown of Bo Dallas viciously assaulting R-Truth following his loss on Monday Night RAW, ending Dallas’ undefeated streak.
R-Truth vs. Bo Dallas
The bell rings, and Dallas extends his hand for R-Truth to shake. R-Truth instead takes him down and punches him. Dallas quickly gets away and leaves the ring. R-Truth follows him out, so Dallas gets back in the ring. Dallas kicks R-Truth into the barricade and leaves the ring, but R-Truth punches back at him. R-Truth sends him into the barricade before punching him and putting him back into the ring. Dallas sidesteps a splash in the corner and hits some short-arm back elbows. R-Truth ducks a third and rolls him up for a two count. R-Truth goes to a backslide for another two count. There appears to be a sloppy spot as they heavily edited the camera angles, but it ended with R-Truth hitting a running cross-body for another two count. Dallas powers him to the corner and knees him in the midsection before hitting some stiff clotheslines in the corner. The referee backs him up, but Dallas goes back to viciously punching him. The referee disqualifies him.
Winner by Disqualification: R-Truth
Match Rating: 1/2 *
Dallas continues punching and kicking him before stopping and screaming. Dallas gets him to his feet and punches him before taking him down and punching him some more. Dallas screams again before choking him with his shin. The crowd chants, “You suck” toward Dallas. Dallas takes a microphone and smiles. Dallas says he Bolieves that R-Truth got exactly what was coming to him. Dallas says Bolieving is a spiritual experience. He knows that the people of Corpus Christi have not lost faith because they all deep down inside truly Bolieve in him! The crowd boos as he raises his arms up in the air.
AJ Lee is seen skipping backstage. She’ll be in action, next.
-Commercial Break-
Rosa Mendes vs. AJ Lee
Before the match begins, a replay is shown of Paige accidentally calling AJ Lee “crazy” on RAW. AJ then attacked her until Paige ran away.
The bell rings, and Rosa yells to AJ that she wants a title shot from her. AJ kicks her in the midsection before applying the Black Widow for the submission victory.
Winner by Submission: AJ Lee
Match Rating: 1/4 *
AJ skips up the ramp and holds the title up. All of a sudden, Paige runs up from behind and pushes her off the stage! AJ is out cold on the floor as Paige yells that she still loves her. Referees and trainers run out to assist AJ, and Paige insists that she is fine. Paige yells at the crowd that AJ is her best friend before skipping off.
Dean Ambrose is seen backstage. Ambrose says that Seth Rollins thinks that he’s safe because he brought his chaperone, Uncle Kane, to face him in a 2-on-1 Handicap match. He’s sure that Triple H thinks this is funny. It was probably his idea because all The Authority does is place obstacles in front of him to protect their precious little investment in Rollins. Kane is a demon, but he knows a thing or two about demons. He’s crazy, but he’s not stupid. He knows what he’s dealing with tonight. He’ll go through Kane to get to Rollins. When he gets to Rollins, no man or demon can pull him off. He hopes Kane brought two masks because when he’s done with Rollins’ face, he’s going to need one.
Dean Ambrose will face Seth Rollins and Kane, next.
-Commercial Break-
Replays are shown of Paige pushing AJ Lee off the stage. AJ was taken out of the arena wearing a neck brace on a stretcher. She was still unconscious.
Kane and Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose
Before the match begins, a replay is shown from last week’s Smackdown. Dean Ambrose defeated Cesaro in a No Disqualification Match. Seth Rollins then attacked him after the match and gave him the Curb Stomp for good measure.
Kane will start the match for his team. Ambrose goes to attack Rollins, and Kane attacks him from behind. Kane uppercuts him before sending him to the corner. Ambrose sidesteps him and punches away at him. Kane pushes him away and uppercuts him down. Rollins wants to be tagged in now that Ambrose is down. Ambrose punches back at Kane before running into a big boot. Rollins tags in, and he stomps away at Ambrose. Rollins stretches Ambrose’s injured shoulder out before talking trash to the fans. Rollins punches him down in the corner before choking him with his boot. Rollins sends him into the ropes, but Ambrose takes him down by the hair. Ambrose can’t follow up, as his shoulder is hurting. Kane is tagged in, and he clotheslines him down. Kane wrenches the arm before pulling him down onto the joint. Kane applies a hammerlock before sending him shoulder first into the ring post. Ambrose screams in agony as Rollins comes around to ringside to talk trash to him. Kane leaves the ring and uppercuts Ambrose. Rollins tags in, and he slaps Ambrose while Kane holds him up. Rollins boots him in the face a few times, but Ambrose punches him down. Rollins takes him out with a running knee to the skull. Rollins then kicks away at him before powering him to his corner. Kane is tagged in, and he stretches out Ambrose’s injured shoulder from more. Kane sends him to the corner and clotheslines him. Kane sends him to the opposite corner, and he runs into a boot. Ambrose punches back and hits the ropes, but Kane catches him with a sidewalk slam.
Rollins tags in and circles him. Rollins says he’ll give Ambrose one last chance. Rollins goes for a powerbomb, but Ambrose counters with a back body drop. Ambrose then clotheslines him out of the ring. Kane runs in, and Ambrose pulls the top rope down to get him out of the ring as well. Ambrose then takes the two of them out with a suicide dive. Ambrose throws Rollins into the ring before giving Kane a drop-toe-hold into the steps. Ambrose gets a crazy looks on his face and attacks Rollins. Ambrose chases him to the corner and viciously clubs him down. Ambrose kicks away at him and talks trash before throwing him across the ring by his hair. Kane pulls Ambrose out of the ring and throws him into the timekeeper’s area. Kane gets in the ring to check on Rollins. Ambrose runs in with a steel chair and cracks Kane in the back with it. The referee disqualifies him.
Winners by Disqualification: Kane and Seth Rollins
Match Rating: * 1/4
Ambrose hits Rollins in the midsection and back with the chair. Ambrose then turns into a big boot from Kane. Kane goes to give Ambrose a Chokeslam on the steel chair, but Ambrose gets out and DDTs him on the chair. Ambrose turns to find that Rollins is retreating up the ramp. Ambrose looks wild as he stares at Rollins. Ambrose then hits Kane in the midsection and back with the chair before running at him with the chair to get him out of the ring. Ambrose continues to stare at Rollins.
Renee Young is backstage with Chris Jericho. Replays are shown of Jericho being attacked in his locker room by The Wyatt Family two weeks ago on RAW. Then this past Monday, Jericho had Seth Rollins beat when The Wyatt Family showed up and attacked him again. Jericho says WWE Battleground was one of the greatest nights of his career. He finally got his hands on Bray Wyatt, and he beat him. It was Y2J’s night. Ever since then, he’s been paying the price. Beat down after beat down. He can’t beat 3-on-1 odds. That’s why the stipulation has been made. If he can beat Erick Rowan tonight on Smackdown, he’ll be banned from ringside at SummerSlam. If he beats Rowan, it’ll be one down and two big, dark, dirty spiders left. He is going to beat Rowan. He’ll do whatever he has to do. If The Wyatt Family wants to get crazy, then they can get crazy. After tonight and SummerSlam, The Wyatt Family will never, ever be the same again.
-Commercial Break-
Stardust is backstage looking skittish. He talks about stars shining like diamonds in the sea lighting the way. Goldust is seen in a cowboy hat. Stardust says the cowboy with the red sash rides at dusk. Stardust then asks what color the cowboy’s saddle is. Stardust freaks out while he waits for Goldust to answer. Goldust asks if it’s brown, and Stardust hisses at him. Stardust says the answer is always written in stardust. Stardust rains from the sky, and Goldust flips out.
Fandango vs. Diego w/ Summer Rae, Layla, and El Torito
Replays are shown of El Torito goring Fandango in the groin on Monday Night RAW.
The bell rings, and Fandango viciously attacks him. Fandango punches him before hitting a short-arm clothesline. Diego punches back, but Fandango knees him in the midsection and throws him to the apron. Diego shoulders him in the midsection and flips into the ring, but Fandango counters into a backbreaker. El Torito twerks on the apron, so Fandango chases him at ringside. Summer Rae and Layla stop him. Fandango snaps Diego off the top rope and gets in the ring. Fandango’s music hits, and he turns to see Summer Rae and Layla dancing with El Torito. Diego hits a backstabber for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Diego
Match Rating: 1/4 *
Fandango looks extremely frustrated as he watches Summer Rae and Layla celebrating with Diego and El Torito.
Replays are shown of John Cena’s promo from Monday Night RAW. Cena says he’s going to go to SummerSlam and beat Brock Lesnar. Paul Heyman then came out to taunt Cena about how he’ll be beaten, victimized, and conquered at SummerSlam. Cena then talked about the passion he has for WWE.
-Commercial Break-
The Miz is on commentary for the next match. He shakes hands with Michael Cole and JBL before rubbing his hands with Purell. Replays are then shown of Dolph Ziggler beating The Miz two weeks ago on RAW.
Alberto Del Rio vs. Dolph Ziggler
The bell rings, and Del Rio immediately attacks Ziggler and takes him down. Del Rio stomps away at him before taunting the crowd. Del Rio then sends him into the ropes, but Ziggler ducks a clothesline and dropkicks him down. Ziggler drops an elbow before punching away at him. Del Rio reverses a whip into the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Ziggler then runs into a flapjack. Del Rio stomps him for a one count. Del Rio goes to a chin lock, but Ziggler soon fights up. Ziggler gets out with a jawbreaker and sidesteps a splash. Ziggler hits a running clothesline before splashing him in the corner and hitting a neckbreaker. Ziggler stares at The Miz before Del Rio avoids a famouser. Del Rio hits a German Suplex with a bridge for a two count. Del Rio waits for Ziggler to get up, but he misses a running kick. Ziggler then hits a big DDT for a two count.
The Miz asks for quiet on the set. He stands on the commentary table before saying he forgot to thank a few people in his acceptance speech last week because he was so rudely interrupted. Miz thanks his parents, his dogs and cats, and his wife Maryse. Del Rio rolls Ziggler up for a two count. Ziggler avoids a step-up enzuigiri before hitting a famouser for a near fall. Miz then says he wants to thank Ziggler for making all of this happen. He thanks Ziggler for losing in the Battleground Battle Royal. Ziggler isn’t as good as he is. Ziggler chases Miz, and he escapes through the crowd. Ziggler tried to punch him in the face, but he missed. Ziggler gets back on the apron, and Del Rio catches him with an enzuigiri. Del Rio then applies the Cross Arm Breaker for the win.
Winner by Submission: Alberto Del Rio
Match Rating: 3/4 *
The Miz comes back to ringside and grabs his WWE Intercontinental Championship. The Miz smiles and claps for Ziggler as he goes up the ramp. Ziggler shakes with anger as Miz smiles at him.
We’ll take a look at the confrontation between Stephanie McMahon and Brie Bella from Monday Night RAW, next.
-Commercial Break-
Michael Cole announces that AJ Lee has been taken to a hospital and will stay overnight for observation.
The RAW Rebound shows the confrontation between Stephanie McMahon and Brie Bella. Stephanie committed battery against Brie two weeks ago on Monday Night RAW and was arrested. This past Monday, Stephanie begged Brie to drop the charges against her. Brie demanded that Stephanie give back her job. She also demanded a match against Stephanie. Stephanie reluctantly accepted before viciously slapping her down. Stephanie said she would make Brie her bitch at SummerSlam. Brie then attacked her, and they brawled until Triple H and the agents ran down to break it up.
Footage is shown of Brie Bella’s interview on WWE.com with Michael Cole. Brie says she doesn’t care what will happen the night after SummerSlam. If she beats Stephanie, she’ll reflect on that for the rest of her life. If Stephanie tries to torture her with handicap matches, she’ll smile knowing that Stephanie will remember being beaten and embarrassed by her at SummerSlam.
“Corpus Christi… we’re here.”
The Wyatt Family makes their way to the ring. The fireflies have their cellphones lighting the arena. Bray Wyatt sits in the middle of the ring in a rocking chair. Wyatt asks why Chris Jericho keeps coming back. Wyatt wonders if it’s for the thrill or the bright shining lights. Maybe it’s the rush he gets when people chant his name. Wyatt says it may be that he came back because he knew he’d be here waiting for him. Jericho is dirty, but after SummerSlam, he’ll just be dirt. She warned him about Jericho. She warned that Jericho would wear the mask of deception. She said that every word that comes out of his mouth would be an empty promise. She said Jericho would ride in on his white horse and shout from the mountaintops that he would save them all. Jericho lied to him and all the people. Now they see right through Jericho. They only hear his words and see his visions. At SummerSlam, they will see their savior, Bray Wyatt, destroy the imposter that is Chris Jericho. There is no dignity left in Jericho’s martyrdom. There is only his demise. At SummerSlam, he will save no one, especially himself.
Erick Rowan will be in action against Chris Jericho, next. If Rowan loses, he’ll be banned from ringside at SummerSlam.
-Commercial Break-
If Erick Rowan loses, he’s banned from ringside at SummerSlam
Erick Rowan w/ The Wyatt Family vs. Chris Jericho
The bell rings, and Rowan immediately powers Jericho to the corner. Rowan punches and kicks him down. Rowan throws him out of the ring in front of Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper. Jericho gets on the apron, and Rowan pulls him back into the ring. Rowan stomps him before throwing him to the corner. Jericho sidesteps him before punching and kicking him. Rowan pushes him away, but Jericho quickly pushes him back. Jericho punches, and Rowan pushes him back again. Rowan powers him down before sending him into the ropes. Jericho holds on and pulls the top rope down to get the charging Rowan out of the ring. Rowan quickly gets back on the apron, so Jericho takes him down again with a springboard dropkick. Jericho hits him with a baseball slide for good measure. Jericho throws him back into the ring, and Harper sweeps his feet. The referee was checking on Rowan and didn’t see. However, when the referee turned and saw that, he threw Harper out from ringside. Wyatt whispers some instructions to Rowan.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Rowan digging his knuckles into Jericho’s temples, but Jericho punches him back. Rowan quickly catches him in a pump-handle backbreaker for a near fall. Rowan drops an elbow before looking toward Wyatt. Jericho chops the chest a few times, but Rowan puts him in the corner and clubs him in the chest. Rowan sends him hard into the corner, and Jericho crashes into the mat. Rowan then kicks him out of the ring. Rowan bounces him off the apron before giving him a forearm into the face. Rowan picks him up and slams him spine first into the ring post before letting out a primal yell. Rowan puts him in the ring for a near fall. Rowan applies a neck vice, but Jericho soon fights up and punches out. Rowan pushes him into the ropes, but he lowers his head and eats a kick. Jericho chops his chest before having a whip reversed. Jericho ducks a clothesline, but he’s caught by Rowan. Rowan goes for a slam, but Jericho counters into a DDT for a near fall.
Jericho kicks him in the ribs a few times before going to the second rope for a missile dropkick. Jericho picks up a near fall, and Wyatt looks like he’s getting anxious at ringside. Jericho charges Rowan, and Rowan takes him out with a spinning crescent kick for a near fall! Rowan knees him in the midsection and hits the ropes to hit a running kick to the side of the head. Rowan tries to repeat the move, but Jericho counters into a roll up for a two count. Jericho catches him with a step-up enzuigiri and a low dropkick to the head. Jericho hits a Lionsault for a near fall. Wyatt yells instructions to Rowan. Jericho charges into a back elbow, and Rowan mauls him with an avalanche. Rowan puts him on the top rope and goes for a super fall-away slam, but Jericho punches him off. Rowan quickly punches him to the apron, but Jericho punches him back. Jericho goes to the top rope and jumps into a big boot. Rowan picks up a near fall.
Rowan scoops Jericho up and applies a bear hug. Rowan tosses him around like a ragdoll. Rowan goes to slam him into the corner, but Jericho gets out and sends him face first into the top of the ring post. Jericho follows up with a Codebreaker for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Chris Jericho
Match Rating: * 1/2
Erick Rowan is banned from ringside at SummerSlam, and Bray Wyatt looks none too pleased. Jericho taunts Wyatt that he took one of his guys out. Wyatt stands up from the rocking chair, and Jericho looks prepared to fight in the ring. Wyatt simply extends his arms and calmly walks up the ramp.
————————
Quick Match Results
Jack Swagger def. Cesaro via Submission
R-Truth def. Bo Dallas via DQ
AJ Lee def. Rosa Mendes via Submission (non-title)
Kane and Seth Rollins def. Dean Ambrose via DQ
Diego def. Fandango
Alberto Del Rio def. Dolph Ziggler via Submission
Chris Jericho def. Erick Rowan; Rowan is banned from ringside at SummerSlam
Mike’s Quick Thoughts
* I kind of felt like doing one of these tonight. I normally have a few thoughts about the show as I recap it, but I just don’t have the energy to write a second elongated thoughts section. I can’t guarantee I’ll do this every week, but it seemed like a good idea this time.
* I was really getting into the Jack Swagger versus Cesaro match, but it ended kind of abruptly. It seemed like it was picking up to move into the next gear, but Swagger just caught him in the Patriot Lock and that was that. This is a feud that never really had a resolution. Cesaro just kind of left the Real Americans with nothing really done about it. They very briefly feuded, but there was no real finish to it. Now Cesaro is kind of just lost in the shuffle, though he did have a really good match against John Cena on RAW. I’m quite glad that they’re going with the Flag Match at SummerSlam between Swagger and Rusev. That’s going to be a lot of fun to watch. This is one of my favorite feuds of the year. Almost every segment they do is red hot. I just hope it translates well to the Los Angeles crowd at SummerSlam.
* I really liked Randy Orton’s promo to challenge Roman Reigns to a match at SummerSlam. Orton hit on all of his points succinctly and delivered them well. After Orton was kind of lost in the mix during the lead up to WrestleMania XXX and even after, he is back with the spotlight on him. Orton is back to doing what he does and is doing some really great work. The beat down of Reigns from this past Monday was really well done. I’m looking forward to their SummerSlam match.
* Bo Dallas did well with the crazy beating of R-Truth before composing himself and talking about Bolieving. It was a surprise to see R-Truth beat him on RAW, but I liked it because it makes you expect the unexpected, but I already talked about that. I just like that Dallas is moving from the introductory phase of his character to the transition spot where he becomes a full-fledged member of the roster. I’m hoping to see him get involved in his first major feud soon. This guy is great.
* I really liked the quick interaction with AJ Lee and Paige. The fall off the stage wasn’t ridiculous. The stage is about three feet off the ground, but AJ sold it like she was thrown off a three-story building. Paige was fantastic while insisting that AJ was fine to the referees and doctors. This is what was missing from their feud last month. The “frienemy” thing was stupid. Hopefully they’re given time and can let loose at SummerSlam.
* Before I get started on the thoughts on the Handicap match, I have to say this. I know that WWE is cutting back on a lot of production expenses and it appears to have hit the music department as well. The music that has been given to Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and even Cesaro is so generic it’s almost embarrassing. They’re better than that. As for the handicap match, it really lacked any type of excitement or heat. I like the feud between Ambrose and Rollins, but it wasn’t clicking tonight. I’m just so tired of handicap matches. How many handicap matches have we seen since The Authority has been running wild with power? This one completely lacked any excitement. They tried hard, but it just wasn’t to be tonight.
* Sorry – I can’t hide it anymore. I can’t stand the crap with Fandango, Summer Rae, and Layla. What makes it worse is the fake laughter by Michael Cole at some of the things they do. It’s literally the crappy storyline that will just never end.
* Yikes… Alberto Del Rio’s eye looked pretty nasty. Kudos to him for being able to perform with that. Then again, this is a guy who got into a bar fight the night before last year’s SummerSlam and went on to have a really good match against Christian. The Miz was fantastic on commentary. The guy looks totally rejuvenated. I said it quite a few times earlier this year. The Miz simply needed a few months away from TV to press the reset button and get back on track. He’s back on track, and he’s involved in a nice feud against Dolph Ziggler. I’m interested to see what happens with them at SummerSlam. Side note – I found it interesting that it’s only been a little over a year since the Ziggler/Del Rio matchup was for the World Heavyweight Championship. Now it’s a throwaway match on Smackdown in the middle of the second hour. It was a good match, but it’ll be all forgotten about come Monday Night RAW.
* Bray Wyatt cut another good promo before the Rowan/Jericho match. I’m really looking forward to this match at SummerSlam. It’s still unclear exactly what Jericho lied about. I always took when Jericho said he was here to save the WWE, he meant he was going to save us from the “same old, same old” crap. Is Wyatt saying that Jericho didn’t do that, and WWE is still filled with the “same old, same old” crap? It kind of seems that way to me. Many would argue that Wyatt isn’t wrong.
* The main event with Chris Jericho and Erick Rowan lacked some serious heat, which was a common theme for this show. Granted, there wasn’t a lot on the show to get excited about. However, they could have at least pumped some crowd noise so they could save a little face for the main event. They did that for the Fandango match. Fandango attacking Diego at the beginning of the match couldn’t be the hottest the crowd got… could it? They worked hard, but the difference in styles was too great even for a pro like Jericho to overcome. Rowan is banned from ringside at SummerSlam, so there’s that. This certainly wasn’t the best Smackdown I’ve seen.
E-Mail – MikeyT817@gmail.com
Twitter – @MikeTedescoWV
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