Spoilers follow for the June 27th episode of Smackdown.
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I'm sick. It's up to this week's Smackdown to make me feel better. Somehow, I doubt that's going to happen. Money in the Bank is on Sunday, and when was the last time a Smackdown before a PPV was any good? The good matches get saved. That might not be the case now because you're not going to replicate the ladder matches anyway, but we shall see.
Smackdown begins with remaining Evolution members and Seth Rollins in the ring, surrounded by ladders. Triple H is on the mic, hyping up the Money in the Bank ladder matches at the Money in the Bank PPV. Money in the Bank. Money in the Bank. Money in the Bank.
Sorry. I needed to get that out of my system.
After Triple H is done, Randy Orton starts talking. Orton says he'll be the new World Heavyweight Champion. Seth Rollins says he'll also win. A little bit of tension between Orton and Rollins. Could this be the hint at a later feud? Triple H diffuses the situation and announces the next match.
Bad News Barrett vs. Dean Ambrose
Wouldn't it be nice if Barrett wasn't being billed simply as The Authority's lackey? He finally got to do something good and now he's ... just not getting to do a whole lot.
He does get to job out to Dean Ambrose in a rather poor match, though. He loses even though there wasn't a single impressive or interesting moment in the whole match.
Match Rating: **
Jack Swagger comes out afterward to attack Barrett. If heel vs. heel is allowed with Swagger, why hasn't he gone after Rusev yet?
Swagger and Ambrose then brawl. Why? Who cares/knows. Seth Rollins then ambushes Ambrose, because that's what he does. "You sold out," the fans chant. Or maybe that's an insert, because Smackdown isn't live.
Cameron (with Naomi) vs. Paige
Naomi is on commentary. Cameron and Paige are given about two minutes to put on an unspectacular match. Cameron needs to learn how to sell better. Paige hits the Paige Turner with no buildup at all.
Match Rating: *1/2
A brawl between the two women happens after the match. Well, there's hair-pulling and clawing, but nothing really lands.
The two non-Bray Wyatt members of the Wyatt Family cut a Titantron promo after. They're coming for the Usos. Just because. Wyatt then shows up. THEY WILL ALL WIN TITLES AT MONEY IN THE BANK. Maybe. Probably not, though.
Sheamus vs. Bray Wyatt (with Luke Harper and Erick Rowan)
This should be a good brawl. It is a decent brawl. Sheamus shows some athleticism early on in a move to get to the top rope, which was cool. After a commercial break, The Usos come out to help Sheamus. Wyatt and Sheamus work fine together, although they're not going to do anything that would result in injury prior to a PPV. Sheamus wins by DQ after locking in a Cloverleaf and having it broken by Wyatt's family.
Match Rating: **1/2
Everyone brawls after the match. Three straight contests with post-match brawls. Yawn.
Goldust and Stardust are interviewed backstage. They will have a match against RybAxel on Sunday at Money in the Bank. I hope we get more promos and interviews from them in the future. They're so weird that it's awesome.
Alberto Del Rio and Cesaro (with Paul Heyman) vs. Rob Van Dam and Dolph Ziggler
Paul Heyman is on commentary. You know what that means. His ongoing battle of the words with Michael Cole is entertaining at least. The heels dominate most of the match, isolating Dolph Ziggler because he's the best seller of the group. We finally get a match worth watching. Good action, big moves, enough time, strong competitors -- this was good. The finish comes from a countered Five Star Frog Splash by Del Rio and a Cross Armbreaker for the win.
Match Rating: ***
Cesaro then his the Neutralizer on his "partner," because he's a heel. (Apparently.) Hooray for four straight post-match attacks/brawls.
The Usos hype their Money in the Bank match afterward.
Sin Cara vs. Rusev (with Lana)
Lana cuts a promo before Rusev squashes Sin Cara. Again(?). Big E comes out to promote America. Because America needs being propped up. Some "will they or won't they" action between Rusev and Big E. A wasted segment for a terrible feud.
Match Rating: *
It leads perfectly into the Raw flashback, which also functions as a waste of time. At least it's almost time for the main event.
Kane vs. Roman Reigns
It's never clearer how not ready Roman Reigns is for the main event spotlight than when he's forced into a semi-lengthy one-on-one match. His five moves, poor selling, and inability to tell a story don't lead to strong bouts. Kane isn't in prime form anymore, but he could put on a better match with a decent opponent in his sleep. This is a slow, boring match, and it has a DQ ending to boot. Randy Orton comes out and attacks Reigns. We get another post-match brawl. Reigns eventually takes out both attackers to end the show. Le sigh.
Match Rating: **
Match Rating: ***
The Good: Del Rio and Cesaro vs. RVD and Ziggler.
The Bad: All those post-match brawls.
Match of the Night: Alberto Del Rio and Cesaro vs. Rob Van Dam and Dolph Ziggler.
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http://i55.servimg.com/u/f55/16/09/70/40/smackd10.png
I'm sick. It's up to this week's Smackdown to make me feel better. Somehow, I doubt that's going to happen. Money in the Bank is on Sunday, and when was the last time a Smackdown before a PPV was any good? The good matches get saved. That might not be the case now because you're not going to replicate the ladder matches anyway, but we shall see.
Smackdown begins with remaining Evolution members and Seth Rollins in the ring, surrounded by ladders. Triple H is on the mic, hyping up the Money in the Bank ladder matches at the Money in the Bank PPV. Money in the Bank. Money in the Bank. Money in the Bank.
Sorry. I needed to get that out of my system.
After Triple H is done, Randy Orton starts talking. Orton says he'll be the new World Heavyweight Champion. Seth Rollins says he'll also win. A little bit of tension between Orton and Rollins. Could this be the hint at a later feud? Triple H diffuses the situation and announces the next match.
Bad News Barrett vs. Dean Ambrose
Wouldn't it be nice if Barrett wasn't being billed simply as The Authority's lackey? He finally got to do something good and now he's ... just not getting to do a whole lot.
He does get to job out to Dean Ambrose in a rather poor match, though. He loses even though there wasn't a single impressive or interesting moment in the whole match.
Match Rating: **
Jack Swagger comes out afterward to attack Barrett. If heel vs. heel is allowed with Swagger, why hasn't he gone after Rusev yet?
Swagger and Ambrose then brawl. Why? Who cares/knows. Seth Rollins then ambushes Ambrose, because that's what he does. "You sold out," the fans chant. Or maybe that's an insert, because Smackdown isn't live.
Cameron (with Naomi) vs. Paige
Naomi is on commentary. Cameron and Paige are given about two minutes to put on an unspectacular match. Cameron needs to learn how to sell better. Paige hits the Paige Turner with no buildup at all.
Match Rating: *1/2
A brawl between the two women happens after the match. Well, there's hair-pulling and clawing, but nothing really lands.
The two non-Bray Wyatt members of the Wyatt Family cut a Titantron promo after. They're coming for the Usos. Just because. Wyatt then shows up. THEY WILL ALL WIN TITLES AT MONEY IN THE BANK. Maybe. Probably not, though.
Sheamus vs. Bray Wyatt (with Luke Harper and Erick Rowan)
This should be a good brawl. It is a decent brawl. Sheamus shows some athleticism early on in a move to get to the top rope, which was cool. After a commercial break, The Usos come out to help Sheamus. Wyatt and Sheamus work fine together, although they're not going to do anything that would result in injury prior to a PPV. Sheamus wins by DQ after locking in a Cloverleaf and having it broken by Wyatt's family.
Match Rating: **1/2
Everyone brawls after the match. Three straight contests with post-match brawls. Yawn.
Goldust and Stardust are interviewed backstage. They will have a match against RybAxel on Sunday at Money in the Bank. I hope we get more promos and interviews from them in the future. They're so weird that it's awesome.
Alberto Del Rio and Cesaro (with Paul Heyman) vs. Rob Van Dam and Dolph Ziggler
Paul Heyman is on commentary. You know what that means. His ongoing battle of the words with Michael Cole is entertaining at least. The heels dominate most of the match, isolating Dolph Ziggler because he's the best seller of the group. We finally get a match worth watching. Good action, big moves, enough time, strong competitors -- this was good. The finish comes from a countered Five Star Frog Splash by Del Rio and a Cross Armbreaker for the win.
Match Rating: ***
Cesaro then his the Neutralizer on his "partner," because he's a heel. (Apparently.) Hooray for four straight post-match attacks/brawls.
The Usos hype their Money in the Bank match afterward.
Sin Cara vs. Rusev (with Lana)
Lana cuts a promo before Rusev squashes Sin Cara. Again(?). Big E comes out to promote America. Because America needs being propped up. Some "will they or won't they" action between Rusev and Big E. A wasted segment for a terrible feud.
Match Rating: *
It leads perfectly into the Raw flashback, which also functions as a waste of time. At least it's almost time for the main event.
Kane vs. Roman Reigns
It's never clearer how not ready Roman Reigns is for the main event spotlight than when he's forced into a semi-lengthy one-on-one match. His five moves, poor selling, and inability to tell a story don't lead to strong bouts. Kane isn't in prime form anymore, but he could put on a better match with a decent opponent in his sleep. This is a slow, boring match, and it has a DQ ending to boot. Randy Orton comes out and attacks Reigns. We get another post-match brawl. Reigns eventually takes out both attackers to end the show. Le sigh.
Match Rating: **
Match Rating: ***
The Good: Del Rio and Cesaro vs. RVD and Ziggler.
The Bad: All those post-match brawls.
Match of the Night: Alberto Del Rio and Cesaro vs. Rob Van Dam and Dolph Ziggler.
<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.