WWE Smackdown 15th Anniversary Results
October 10, 2014
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
A video package starts the show that showcases some of the biggest moments of WWE Smackdown, for example there was the episode where Eric Bischoff was dressed as the old man overseeing the wedding of Billy and Chuck, and Rhyno giving Chris Jericho a Gore through the wall of the staging area.
Three Smackdown General Managers appear
Stephanie McMahon, the first General Manager of Smackdown, is introduced to the stage. She comes out waving to the crowd. They boo her as she goes down to the ring. Michael Cole talks about being an announcer in 1999 for the show while JBL was still wrestling and Tom Philips was only ten years old. McMahon welcomes the crowd to the fifteenth anniversary of Smackdown. She asks if anyone remembers the superstar who coined the phrase “Smackdown.” It was the People’s Champion, the man who lost to her husband, Triple H, on the very first episode of Smackdown, The Rock. She is so proud because as the first General Manager of Smackdown, she gets to share many moments with the people tonight.
John Laurinaitis’ music hits, and the creator of People Power makes his way to the ring smiling and waving to the crowd. Laurinaitis asks if somebody said, “People.” The crowd chants, “People Power.” Laurinaitis reintroduces himself to the crowd before saying he created the greatest movement ever in WWE history, “People Power.” Laurinaitis says he’s been doing a lot of research on the WWE Network. McMahon says he is living proof that anybody can use the WWE Network. Laurinaitis says he’s learned a lot and has a lot of matches to make.
Teddy Long’s music hits, and the longest running General Manager in Smackdown history makes his way to the ring. JBL gets up and does a few two-steps before enthusiastically shaking hands with Long. Long gets in the ring, and the crowd chants, “Teddy.” Long says he was the General Manager of Smackdown for six years, and he’ll be damned if he’s going to watch Laurinaitis take it away again. Laurinaitis says there is a reason he replaced Long: he was better then, and he still is today. Long says, “The proof is in the playa.” Laurinaitis says he’ll give the WWE Universe exactly what they want: a tag team match. It’ll be Miz and Cesaro versus Sheamus and Jack Swagger. Long asks if that’s all he’s got because he’d make it a six-man tag match. Long adds Mark Henry and Bo Dallas. Laurinaitis makes it a ten-man tag adding Gold and Stardust and The Usos. Long says this is the fifteenth year anniversary of Smackdown, he’ll propose something that has never been done before: a fifteen-man tag team match! Laurinaitis says that’s not possible, but Long says he’s the Mac Militant. Long adds Mini Gator and Slater Gator as well as Los Matadores, El Torito, and Tito Santana!
McMahon says Santana isn’t even here, but she likes it. McMahon says the people love Long so much they’ll cheer whatever they do. McMahon says these two are always in competition, so she’ll steal something from WrestleMania XXVIII. They’ll decide which team to captain, and the winner will be deemed the greatest general manager of all time.
McMahon says her husband, Triple H, announced on Monday Night RAW that John Cena would face Dean Ambrose at the Hell in a Cell PPV. The winner of the match will go on to face Seth Rollins inside Hell in a Cell. Tonight, to talk about that match and what will happen, The Miz will host a face-to-face with Dean Ambrose and John Cena.
Adam Rose makes his way down to the ring with the Exotic Express. Rose wishes Smackdown a happy birthday before saying it’s time to party. What’s a party without him? Rose then tells McMahon to not be a lemon; be a rosebud! McMahon says it is party time since it is the fifteenth anniversary of Smackdown. Rose should be in action, so after the break we’ll see him face Kane! The Exotic Express stops dancing while Rose looks quite glum. McMahon then starts dancing to his music with Teddy Long. Laurinaitis then does a very, very awkward dance.
A video highlight shows the first two-hour network episode of Smackdown from August 26, 1999. It shows Shawn Michaels giving The Rock some Sweet Chin Music to cost him a match against Triple H.
-Commercial Break-
Kane comes out with a microphone. Kane says he isn’t a cheeseburger, a bunny, a lemon, or a rosebud. From time to time, he’s a demon, but tonight he’s a party pooper.
Adam Rose vs. Kane
The bell rings, and they circle the ring. Rose rolls away from him and gets the Exotic Express dancing. Kane angrily looks at them. Rose kicks and punches him before Kane sends him into the ropes. Rose jumps on his back and applies a sleeper hold, but Kane powers him to the corner. Kane runs into a boot. Rose comes off the top rope, and Kane uppercuts him out of mid-air. Kane then gives him the Chokeslam for the win. This is Adam Rose’s first pinfall loss on WWE television.
Winner by Pinfall: Kane
Match Rating: 1/4 *
The Exotic Express stops dancing and are in complete shock. They run into the ring to check on Rose after Kane leaves. Kane gets back in the ring and clears it of Rosebuds. Kane corners the bunny. Kane gives a Chokeslam to two individual Rosebuds before giving a dual Chokeslam out. This causes the bunny to escape.
We’ll see a fifteen-man tag team match of Team Teddy versus Team Johnny match later tonight.
Another Smackdown video highlight package is shown, this time from June 27, 2002 when John Cena debuted to take on Kurt Angle. Cena took the fight to Angle in a losing effort, but he opened a lot of eyes that night.
AJ Lee makes her way to the ring. She’ll be in competition, next.
-Commercial Break-
AJ Lee vs. Alicia Fox w/ Paige
They bell rings, and Alicia knees her down. Paige is hugging the WWE Divas Championship at ringside. Alicia hits a northern lights suplex for a two count. Alicia applies a chin lock while talking trash. AJ fights up and elbows out. Alicia counters into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a two count. Alicia goes for another backbreaker, but AJ counters into the Black Widow for the win.
Winner by Submission: AJ Lee
Match Rating: 1/4 *
Paige attacks her from behind at the sound of the bell. AJ fights back and throws Alicia Fox into Paige before taking her title and leaving the ring.
Dolph Ziggler will face Rusev later tonight in a non-title match.
A video highlight package is shown that showcases all of the crazier moments of Smackdown. The package included Eddie Guerrero’s Frog Splash on JBL from the top of the cage, highlights from TLC III in 2001, Rey Mysterio doing a cross-body from the top of the cage on the night he debuted, Kane jumping onto Mideon and Viscera during an Inferno Match in 1999, Mark Henry assaulting Batista and Kurt Angle in 2007, The Shield giving The Undertaker a Triple Powerbomb through the commentary table in his last appearance on the show, Stephanie McMahon slapping her mother, Linda, down, Rhyno giving Chris Jericho a Gore through the stage, and the superplex heard ’round the world with Brock Lesnar and Big Show destroying the ring in 2003.
-Commercial Break-
Kofi Kingston vs. Seth Rollins
Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury are at ringside for Rollins. Footage is shown of Rollins being sprayed by the green goo from his briefcase two weeks ago due to Dean Ambrose tampering with it.
The bell rings, and Rollins viciously kicks Kingston down and out of the ring. Rollins sends him into the barricade a few times before dropping him on the apron. Rollins throws him into the ring and clotheslines him down. Rollins rubs his head into the mat before ripping at his face. Rollins punches and stomps him down in the corner. Rollins throws him across the ring by his hair. Rollins stretches him out on the ropes while ripping at his face. Kingston surprises him with an inside cradle for a two count. Kingston kicks him back and hits a pair of clotheslines. Kingston hits a dropkick before missing a jumping clothesline. Rollins catches him with a spinning headlock slam. Rollins then powerbombs him into the corner. Rollins does it a second time before hitting the Curb Stomp for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Seth Rollins
Match Rating: 1/2 *
A video package highlights Luke Harper being released to the world by Bray Wyatt.
-Commercial Break-
A video highlight package shows the times the Money in the Bank contract has been cashed in on Smackdown. Edge cashed in on The Undertaker in 2007. Jack Swagger also cashed in on Chris Jericho in 2010.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Rusev w/ Lana
Footage is shown of The Rock making a surprise return on Monday Night RAW and making fun of Rusev and Lana. The Rock then punched Rusev out of the ring.
The bell rings, and Ziggler quickly evades him. Rusev soon grabs him and knees him down in the corner. Rusev stomps away at him before choking him with his foot. Rusev applies a chin lock, but Ziggler fights up and elbows out. Ziggler dropkicks him to the corner, but he misses a stinger splash before falling out of the ring.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Ziggler punching away at him, but Rusev soon catches him and knees away at him before hitting a fall-away slam. Rusev taunts the crowd before letting Ziggler pull himself up on him. Rusev applies a front face-lock, but Ziggler punches out eventually. Rusev stomps him and chokes him with his foot again. Rusev talks some trash, but Ziggler surprises him with a jawbreaker. Ziggler punches him before dropkicking him down. Ziggler punches away at him in the corner before Rusev pushes him off. Rusev counters a big DDT before trying a fall-away slam, but Ziggler lands on his feet. Ziggler avoids an avalanche and hits the famouser for a two count.
Rusev blocks a superkick and flips him over. Rusev then takes him down with a vicious thrust kick. Rusev stomps the spine and applies the Accolade for the win.
Winner by Submission: Rusev
Match Rating: 1/2 *
The crowd boos as Lana takes a microphone. She says Philadelphia is the birthplace of America. That explains why the country never had a chance to succeed. This past Monday on RAW, they encountered an All-American, The Rock. The Rock is a coward. Lana gets so flustered that she begins speaking frustratedly in her native tongue. Rusev says The Rock will pay for the consequences. As for Big Show, he’ll pay for this too. Rusev challenges him to a match on Monday Night RAW. Rusev says Big Show will be crushed. The Russian Federation flag unfurls above the ring as Rusev celebrates.
We’ll see Miz TV featuring Dean Ambrose and John Cena as the guests. We’ll see The Rock and The Authority together celebrating Smackdown, next.
A video highlight package showcases the absolutely incredible, entertaining, and memorable supermarket brawl between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Booker T from December 2001.
-Commercial Break-
Members of the Philadelphia Eagles are shown at ringside.
After RAW this past Monday, The Rock walked in and greeted Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. Triple H talks about how this Friday is fifteen years of Smackdown. The Rock mentions it feels like it was yesterday. They talk about being in the main event of the show before Triple H mentions that he beat him. The Rock says he cheated before saying he got revenge on the next episode. Triple H says it was a long time ago and hard to remember before saying that he left The Rock laying more times than not. The Rock laughs before mentioning they should go and main event one more time at WrestleMania. The Rock makes fun of Triple H’s entrance theme before saying he’d Rock Bottom him at WrestleMania. Triple H says he’d move away from the People’s Elbow and beat his ass. The Rock gets a little angry before saying he’d knock his teeth so far down his throat that he has to stick a toothbrush up his ass to brush them. Triple H says he’d turn the electricity off on Mr. Electricity.
They go face-to-face before The Rock wonders why they’re that close. Triple H talks about the intensity before saying he can’t just back down. They argue over who will back off first. The Rock tries to three, but neither backs up. They finally back away from one another before they continue arguing over who will kick the other’s ass. Stephanie says they’re both winners before saying they should go get something to eat.
A Smackdown cake is seen at the commentary table before JBL smashes it all over Tom Philips. Booker T is then introduced to the crowd before joining the commentary table.
Teddy Long makes his way to the ring with his team. His team will face Team Johnny, next.
A video highlight package is shown of Stone Cold Steve Austin destroying the DX Express in April of 2000.
-Commercial Break-
Team Teddy vs. Team Johnny
Sheamus, Mark Henry, Jack Swagger, The Usos, and Los Matadores vs. Gold and Stardust, Slater Gator, Bo Dallas, Damien Mizdow, and Cesaro
Goldust will start the match against Fernando. Goldust taunts him before punching him. Goldust puts him in the corner and continues to punch away at him. Fernando chops away at him before Goldust runs to his corner. Goldust teases a test of strength before punching him. Fernando comes back with an elbow before hitting a leaping hurricanrana. Stardust runs in, and Fernando cuts him off. Diego is tagged in, and he takes Stardust down. All fifteen competitors get in the ring (seven men on each team and two midgets counting as 0.5 a person each, so “fifteen”), and we’re at a standstill.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Titus O’Neil punch Jimmy Uso down. Goldust is tagged in, and he punches him. Heath Slater is tagged in, and he stomps Jimmy down. Stardust is tagged in, and Jimmy punches him down before tagging in his brother. Jey chops the chest a few times before sending him to the corner. Goldust provides a distraction, allowing Stardust to knock him to ringside with a Disaster Kick. Stardust sends him into the barricade before rolling him into the ring. Goldust is tagged in, and he drops a few elbows. Goldust stomps him in the corner before The Gator tags in. The Gator splashes him a few times before tagging Slater in. Damien Mizdow is tagged in, and he body slams Jey before dropping a knee for a one count. Mizdow applies a chin lock, but Jey fights up. Mizdow quickly takes him down, and O’Neil tags in. O’Neil kicks him down before hitting an over-the-shoulder backbreaker. The crowd is chanting for Mizdow. Jey takes O’Neil down with a boot to the face. Cesaro is tagged in, and he hits a deadlift gutwrench suplex.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Jimmy fight Slater off. Jimmy hits him with an enzuigiri. Cesaro is tagged in, and he knocks some guys off the apron. Jimmy hits Cesaro with a back body drop and tags in Sheamus. Sheamus hits an Irish hammer before knocking everyone off the apron. Sheamus hits a running shoulder thrust in the corner before hitting Cesaro with the 10 Beats of the Bodhrán. Stardust runs up, and Sheamus does that to him as well. Slater runs up and meets the same fate. Sheamus then trades off the 10 Beats on each man.
Cesaro snaps him off the top rope, but Sheamus comes back with White Noise. Mizdow breaks it up. Swagger slams Mizdow down. Slater takes Swagger out with a sidekick. O’Neil clotheslines Swagger out of the ring. Jimmy and Jey Uso pull Slater and Gator out of the ring and allow Los Matadores to take them out with suicide dives. The Usos back body drop Gold and Stardust out of the ring. The Usos then take everyone, including John Laurinaitis, out with stereo over the top rope dives. El Torito takes Mini Gator out. Bo Dallas then powerbombs El Torito out of the ring. Henry goes to give him the World’s Strongest Slam, but Dallas gets out and pulls the top rope down to get him out of the ring. Dallas celebrates wildly before eating a Brogue Kick.
Cesaro sneaks up on Sheamus and does the Cesaro Swing! JBL counts fifteen swings before Jimmy Uso kicks him. Stardust takes him out as Mizdow is tagged in. Mizdow goes for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Sheamus gets out. Jey Uso tags in as Sheamus hits Mizdow with a Brogue Kick. Jey finishes with a top rope splash for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Team Teddy
Match Rating: ** 1/4
Teddy Long celebrates big time with his team in the ring, as John Laurinaitis looks devastated at ringside. Long’s team puts him on his shoulders as Booker T recites some of his classic lines.
The Erick Rowan video package is shown.
-Commercial Break-
Miz TV with special guests John Cena and Dean Ambrose
The Miz is in the ring, and he mentions that everyone is lucky to see the moneymaker on the fifteenth anniversary of Smackdown. He has two guests that will face each other at the Hell in a Cell PPV. This might be the most combustible Miz TV yet because of what happened on Monday Night RAW. Footage is then shown from RAW where Dean Ambrose walked out on John Cena before coming back at the end of the night with a hot dog cart to attack The Authority. Ambrose then laid Cena out with a Double Arm DDT. The Miz then announces that the match will be a no holds barred contract on a pole match.
The Miz first introduces Dean Ambrose to the ring before bringing out John Cena. Cena leaves the stage to go greet a Make a Wish child in the crowd. The Miz mentions that Ambrose left Cena lying on RAW before asking why. Ambrose says he did it so Cena knows that he doesn’t care who he is or what he’s done – nobody crosses him. Ambrose says he doesn’t take crap from anybody. If you do wrong by him, he’ll hunt you down and make you pay. Seth Rollins crossed him by stabbing him in the back. Rollins inside Hell in a Cell belongs to him. Cena is coming dangerously close to stealing that from him. Ambrose says nobody steals from him. It doesn’t matter how high up the food chain he is.
Cena says he’s impressed as well as the WWE Universe. Cena says he listens to ever sound made, and the decision makers are worried about Ambrose. No one knows what Ambrose will do because he’s unstable. Cena mentions that Ambrose has passion for the business as well as “it”. Groups like The Authority waste so many precious resources looking for that guy, and Ambrose proved he has it. Cena takes some baseballs from his pocket. Cena says these are what it takes to be a success. Cena says Ambrose impressed him. For years and years, people have been waiting for someone to get a set of balls to knock him down. Cena says they are cut from the same cloth. There is a reason night after night, he can walk down the ramp with his head high and a smile on his face because he’s proven that after twelve years that he’s got his balls and his word, and he won’t break them for nobody. Cena tells Ambrose to bring his A-game to Hell in a Cell before saying he likes his chances.
The Miz mentions that Cena likes his chances. Cena has beaten everybody in his path before asking Ambrose if he thinks he has a chance. Ambrose simply says, “Yep.” The Miz asks how he thinks he’ll do it, and Ambrose says he doesn’t think it; he knows it. The Miz tries to taunt Cena before he tells him to shut up. Cena says he’ll see Ambrose at Hell in a Cell.
Miz says this is the fifteenth anniversary, and they should fight because it makes rating go up. Miz goes wild and says it’s what they want to see. Cena says people do want to see him and Ambrose fight. They’re going to fight together against The Miz. Cena and Ambrose attack Miz. Cena goes for an AA on Miz, but he slides him off and sends him to Ambrose, who hits Miz with a Double Arm DDT. Cena then hits Ambrose with the AA. Seth Rollins is seen backstage laughing. Cena celebrates as the show ends.
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Highlights: http://www.wwe.com/videos/playlists/smackdown-highlights-oct-10-2014
Exclusive Videos: http://www.wwe.com/videos/playlists/smackdown-exclusives-shared-oct-10-2014
Quick Match Results
Kane def. Adam Rose
AJ Lee def. Alicia Fox via Submission (non-title)
Seth Rollins def. Kofi Kingston
Rusev def. Dolph Ziggler via Submission (non-title)
Team Teddy def. Team Johnny
Mike’s Quick Thoughts
* It seems like I already picked the wrong show to go to this week. As much as I enjoyed being there live for the surprise appearance of The Rock, I think I’d have enjoyed this show as a whole a lot more. Hell, just to see Teddy Long and John Laurinaitis again would be enough. This segment was great with them trying to one-up each other before Stephanie McMahon brought it all together. The dance the three of them did after Stephanie spoiled Adam Rose’s party was absolutely hilarious as well.
* I didn’t mind seeing Adam Rose take his first loss here in a squash match against Kane. That Kathy Lee and Hoda garbage from RAW was so bad that someone had to take the fall for it. I don’t actually think that’s the reason he lost, but it makes me feel better for having spent money to be in the arena for that awfulness. That RAW was the first time I’d been to a WWE event where I felt like I was legitimately being robbed of my money. Anyway, the Adam Rose character does absolutely nothing for me. This may be a sign that it’s being taken down quite a few pegs.
* What was one of the better Diva feuds in a while (or at least most intriguing in terms of wanting to see what they can do in a match against each other) is now completely and totally stale. This will be four PPVs in a row where AJ Lee and Paige have fought in some fashion. It seems like they’re on a never-ending weekly crusade of one-upping each other in meaningless match after meaningless match. You know what, as I watch what’s going on so far, maybe I didn’t get too ripped off from RAW.
* I liked the intensity from Seth Rollins in that squash match against Kofi Kingston. I know they had to redo that match. I wonder what could have been so bad the first time. In any event, it seems like the embarrassment of having to do it again brought out the great intensity from Rollins. Hopefully he keeps that up.
* I am not in love with the decision at all for Rusev to essentially squash Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler did get some offense in there, but no more than the usual guy who is getting squashed does. That’s my opinion at least. I just feel like there are plenty of other guys on the roster that could have been fed to Rusev. I don’t think it had to be Ziggler.
* Well that backstage segment with Triple H and The Rock will certainly get people talking. I highly doubt they would tease a WrestleMania match if they weren’t seriously considering doing one. Let the speculation begin. If there is one segment you need to see, this is the one. I thought it was really well done and funny.
* The “Fifteen” Man Tag Match was just straight fun right out of the usual playbook Smackdown has been run by for years. It was the usual heels on top for a bit, everyone hit your finisher, and the faces come out on top win. I believe it would qualify for my former broadcast partner Greg McNeish’s Smackdown tag team formula. It was good fun and the best thing on the show.
* The Miz TV segment was ok. The biggest news coming out is that the contract is on a pole for Cena and Ambrose. That protects Cena and Ambrose from being pinned I suppose. Gives Ambrose an even better chance, but a pinfall win over Cena would do wonders for his career. Cena laying him out could be seen coming a mile away. That’s not always a bad thing. Let’s see how they follow up on this on RAW. I have a feeling this show was a brief respite in what is going to be a very long few weeks until the PPV.
E-Mail – MikeyT817@gmail.com
Twitter – @MikeTedescoWV
I’ll be back to recapping RAW this Monday night. Many thanks to Adam Martin and Jason Namako for covering that for me.
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Thanks for reading!