Spoilers follow for the August 15th episode of Smackdown.
http://i55.servimg.com/u/f55/16/09/70/40/smackd10.png
It's the last Smackdown before a PPV, and you know what that means, right? Nothing, really. Perhaps some safer matches, a lot of storyline wrapping, and that's about it. Since it's SummerSlam, we're probably not going to get a late-announced match on the program, like we usually do. SummerSlam is important. It will probably be promoted a great deal. FOR ONLY $9.99 ON THE WWE NETWORK, MAGGLE!
The Miz is out first. We're doing an episode of Miz TV, which is happening to promote SummerSlam. Miz's guest tonight is Roman Reigns. The Miz continually interrupts Reigns during the interview, and eventually Reigns gets sick of his and takes a shot at Miz's face, "the moneymaker." Reigns then cuts a promo about SummerSlam and Randy Orton. So ends a mediocre first segment.
Dean Ambrose vs. Cesaro
Ambrose and Cesaro are two of the top Superstars working right now, at least from an in-ring perspective. They deliver an enjoyable albeit uninteresting match here. There's no reason for it, but it's entertaining and there isn't really a whole lot to complain about. If we could get matches of this quality more often, WWE would be worth watching even more.
Oh, yeah, Ambrose wins. He wasn't going to lose going into SummerSlam.
Match Rating: ***1/2
Following the match, Seth Rollins comes out onto the stage and cuts a promo. He talks about SummerSlam, the match against Dean Ambrose, and basically nothing else. I told you we'd get lots of Summerslam promotion.
After the commercial break, Kane meets with The Miz backstage. Reigns vs. Miz is announced as our main event.
Titus O'Neil (with Heath Slater) vs. Dolph ziggler
Titus dominates a good chunk of the early portion of the match, because Ziggler needs to make a comeback win. And so he does. The match is perfectly serviceable. It is not great, it isn't even really good, but it works to fill its timeslot and it's not like it's bad. We can tolerate a decent midcard match. Ziggler wins after a counter and a couple of moves. He has a match at SummerSlam, O'Neil doesn't, so he has to win.
Match Rating: **
A replay of the Jericho/Wyatt interview is played next. It's still ... weird and okay but not terribly compelling.
Mark Henry (with Big Show) vs. Luke Harper (with Erick Rowan)
Harper and Henry wrestle an incredibly slow and dull match. I know it's kind of cool that Henry's back, but his best days are definitely behind him. Henry winds up winning after Erick Rowan came into the ring and interfered, but, really, I can't imagine this match exciting anyone.
Match Rating: *1/2
Mark Henry and Big Show vs. Luke Harper and Erick Rowan
Good news, everyone! We get to see more of this completely uninteresting battle. During the commercial break, on the WWE App -- which you should, like, totally download and stuff -- Kane came out and made this tag team match. It's just as bad as the singles match. Adding Erick Rowan and Big Show to a match rarely improves things, and it doesn't here. To be fair, their additions didn't make it worse, either, but this isn't worth seeing and most certainly isn't a middle-of-the-show caliber match. Big Show and Henry win, but you and I don't care.
Match Rating: *1/2
After the commercial break, we get a recap of the Brie Bella/Stephanie McMahon feud. Then, we get an interview between Stephanie and Michael Cole. More SummerSlam hype. Then it's time for the match of the night.
AJ Lee vs. Eva Marie
AJ dominates Eva Marie for the majority of the match. Eva's hair extensions are ripped out at one point, which made for a good spot. As is predictable, Paige comes out during the match. AJ jumps her, and beats down Paige, but then gets counted out. Like on Raw, AJ tries to assault Eva (for no reason), but Eva learned and escaped. Paige then beats down AJ.
Match Rating: *****1/2
Jack Swagger vs. Bo Dallas
It seems that WWE has soured on Bo Dallas. Dallas is barely even relevant now, despite starting off his WWE run with a lengthy winning streak. About the only one still trying to sell his awesomeness is JBL.
Case in point: Jack Swagger wins in a squash match. No, really.
Match Rating: *
Lana and Rusev come out to the stage to promote the SummerSlam match. Oh, and remind us what a flag match is, and why it's important. Rusev will dedicate his victory to Vladimir Putin. So he's not winning.
On the WWE App -- which you should, like, totally get -- Bo Dallas cut a promo and made excuses for why he lost. Why show us the whole thing if you want to push the App as being important?
Roman Reigns vs. The Miz
I'd love to tell you about this match. I really would. But I didn't get to see it. For some reason, we had the match between Roman Reigns and Alberto Del Rio from the July 25 the episode of Smackdown edited into our Smackdown feed up here in Canada. Why? I have no idea. So, go re-read that review if you really care. You probably don't, though. Del Rio was released from WWE this week, which makes this edit even more bizarre.
Match Rating: I don't know.
The Good: AJ vs. Eva. Ambrose vs. Cesaro.
The Bad: Rogers editing the Smackdown main event. Big Show/Henry vs. Harper/Rowan. Swagger vs. Dallas.
Match of the Night: AJ Lee vs. Eva Marie.
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http://i55.servimg.com/u/f55/16/09/70/40/smackd10.png
It's the last Smackdown before a PPV, and you know what that means, right? Nothing, really. Perhaps some safer matches, a lot of storyline wrapping, and that's about it. Since it's SummerSlam, we're probably not going to get a late-announced match on the program, like we usually do. SummerSlam is important. It will probably be promoted a great deal. FOR ONLY $9.99 ON THE WWE NETWORK, MAGGLE!
The Miz is out first. We're doing an episode of Miz TV, which is happening to promote SummerSlam. Miz's guest tonight is Roman Reigns. The Miz continually interrupts Reigns during the interview, and eventually Reigns gets sick of his and takes a shot at Miz's face, "the moneymaker." Reigns then cuts a promo about SummerSlam and Randy Orton. So ends a mediocre first segment.
Dean Ambrose vs. Cesaro
Ambrose and Cesaro are two of the top Superstars working right now, at least from an in-ring perspective. They deliver an enjoyable albeit uninteresting match here. There's no reason for it, but it's entertaining and there isn't really a whole lot to complain about. If we could get matches of this quality more often, WWE would be worth watching even more.
Oh, yeah, Ambrose wins. He wasn't going to lose going into SummerSlam.
Match Rating: ***1/2
Following the match, Seth Rollins comes out onto the stage and cuts a promo. He talks about SummerSlam, the match against Dean Ambrose, and basically nothing else. I told you we'd get lots of Summerslam promotion.
After the commercial break, Kane meets with The Miz backstage. Reigns vs. Miz is announced as our main event.
Titus O'Neil (with Heath Slater) vs. Dolph ziggler
Titus dominates a good chunk of the early portion of the match, because Ziggler needs to make a comeback win. And so he does. The match is perfectly serviceable. It is not great, it isn't even really good, but it works to fill its timeslot and it's not like it's bad. We can tolerate a decent midcard match. Ziggler wins after a counter and a couple of moves. He has a match at SummerSlam, O'Neil doesn't, so he has to win.
Match Rating: **
A replay of the Jericho/Wyatt interview is played next. It's still ... weird and okay but not terribly compelling.
Mark Henry (with Big Show) vs. Luke Harper (with Erick Rowan)
Harper and Henry wrestle an incredibly slow and dull match. I know it's kind of cool that Henry's back, but his best days are definitely behind him. Henry winds up winning after Erick Rowan came into the ring and interfered, but, really, I can't imagine this match exciting anyone.
Match Rating: *1/2
Mark Henry and Big Show vs. Luke Harper and Erick Rowan
Good news, everyone! We get to see more of this completely uninteresting battle. During the commercial break, on the WWE App -- which you should, like, totally download and stuff -- Kane came out and made this tag team match. It's just as bad as the singles match. Adding Erick Rowan and Big Show to a match rarely improves things, and it doesn't here. To be fair, their additions didn't make it worse, either, but this isn't worth seeing and most certainly isn't a middle-of-the-show caliber match. Big Show and Henry win, but you and I don't care.
Match Rating: *1/2
After the commercial break, we get a recap of the Brie Bella/Stephanie McMahon feud. Then, we get an interview between Stephanie and Michael Cole. More SummerSlam hype. Then it's time for the match of the night.
AJ Lee vs. Eva Marie
AJ dominates Eva Marie for the majority of the match. Eva's hair extensions are ripped out at one point, which made for a good spot. As is predictable, Paige comes out during the match. AJ jumps her, and beats down Paige, but then gets counted out. Like on Raw, AJ tries to assault Eva (for no reason), but Eva learned and escaped. Paige then beats down AJ.
Match Rating: *****1/2
Jack Swagger vs. Bo Dallas
It seems that WWE has soured on Bo Dallas. Dallas is barely even relevant now, despite starting off his WWE run with a lengthy winning streak. About the only one still trying to sell his awesomeness is JBL.
Case in point: Jack Swagger wins in a squash match. No, really.
Match Rating: *
Lana and Rusev come out to the stage to promote the SummerSlam match. Oh, and remind us what a flag match is, and why it's important. Rusev will dedicate his victory to Vladimir Putin. So he's not winning.
On the WWE App -- which you should, like, totally get -- Bo Dallas cut a promo and made excuses for why he lost. Why show us the whole thing if you want to push the App as being important?
Roman Reigns vs. The Miz
I'd love to tell you about this match. I really would. But I didn't get to see it. For some reason, we had the match between Roman Reigns and Alberto Del Rio from the July 25 the episode of Smackdown edited into our Smackdown feed up here in Canada. Why? I have no idea. So, go re-read that review if you really care. You probably don't, though. Del Rio was released from WWE this week, which makes this edit even more bizarre.
Match Rating: I don't know.
The Good: AJ vs. Eva. Ambrose vs. Cesaro.
The Bad: Rogers editing the Smackdown main event. Big Show/Henry vs. Harper/Rowan. Swagger vs. Dallas.
Match of the Night: AJ Lee vs. Eva Marie.
<color=D6D9DA>_________________________________________________________________________________
If you wish to be notified whenever I post something new, please join this <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/2-50-Reviews>user group.
For an archive of all my previous WWE reviews, please go <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.846764-Marters-WWE-Reviews-Archive>here.
Talk to me on the Twitter, <url=https://twitter.com/martertweet>@martertweet.
