Spoilers follow for the June 6th episode of Smackdown.
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Raw shocked the world. Now, the WWE Universe wants answers. We've been promised them on Smackdown. We shall see.
It looks like we're going to get them right off the bat, actually, as Triple H and Seth Rollins come out to the ring. Heavy boos are heard, although given that it's Smackdown, it's impossible to tell how real they are. Triple H claims that he's not here to brag, but to let Seth Rollins answer the "why?" question. Rollins takes the ring and says ... his answers are his own. Boring. Dolph Ziggler's music hits, and Ziggler says he'll probably catch a beating and be pushed further down the totem pole, but Rollins sold out. Triple H responds by saying Ziggler will catch a beating, and a Zigger/Rollins match will happen right now.
Seth Rollins (with Triple H) vs. Dolph Ziggler
I'd be completely fine with a Rollins/Ziggler feud. Both men are very talented in the ring, and if they get a few more matches together, there's a good chance they'd develop some strong chemistry. I mention this because for the first bit of the match, it's nothing special. It starts out slow and without a whole lot of excitement. We go to a commercial break before much happened at all. And then we come back from the break and it gets so much better. If they can improve that much during the match, imagine what they could learn over a few matches. Probably a lot. There are a couple of pretty solid spots here, and the match winds up being something worth seeing. Rollins eventually picks up the win with the Curb Stomp.
Match Rating: ***
Backstage, Big Show interrupts Evolution. He calls Rollins a sellout. Triple H makes a Randy Orton/Big Show match for later tonight.
RybAxel (Ryback and Curtis Axel) vs. The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso)
Remember when it seemed almost inevitable that RybAxel would take the Tag Team Championships from The Usos? Well, we're far removed from that. The Usos win in a short but pretty enjoyable match. There was no downtime in this one -- and for what's essentially a filler match, that's what you want. A quick bout that doesn't get boring for the entire segment, and a good finish.
Match Rating: **1/2
Lana comes out to get some cheap heat by claiming Russia is amazing. Then Rusev is announced and we're getting a match.
Rusev (with Lana) vs. Xavier Woods
Have we forgotten how Rusev already squashed Woods a whole bunch of times already? Because, you know, that happened. And it happens again. Just a couple of moves and The Accolade lead to a Rusev victory. What a complete waste of talent and time. After the match, the Russian flag is flown in the background. Vince McMahon must think we're still in the 1980s.
Match Rating: *
Intercontinental Championship Match: Rob Van Dam vs. Cesaro (with Paul Heyman) vs. Bad News Barrett
Paul Heyman does his Paul Heyman thing before the match, and then joins the commentary team. This match has very poor rationalization, but c'est la vie. I'll take a match that is good but can't be justified over a match that sucks but has weeks of build. The match uses is triple threat stipulation well, and allows each competitor to get a good amount of time on offense. A flurry of signatures concludes the match, as Bad News Barrett picks up the win with the Bull Hammer.
Match Rating: ***
A Bray Wyatt promo comes on after the match. Wyatt talks about something Sister Abigail prophesized, and then proclaims himself reborn. Okay. This means he's done with Cena, yes? Please, please, please let this be the case.
Natalya vs. Alicia Fox
On the main shows, Natalya hasn't done a whole lot in recent months. Perhaps she's been reinvigorated after her match against Charlotte on NXT Takeover. Apart from all of Alicia Fox's "crazy" antics -- which Michael Cole has "diagnosed" as being bipolar -- this is a pretty solid technical match from both Divas. Some decent mat wrestling, some good moves, and a non-rollup finish made this one of the better things Natalya's been a part of on a main show in a while. Alicia Fox continues to have the only real personality in the Divas division, even if it's a grating one that really needs to go somewhere. Natalya wins after countering Alicia's signature move, the tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
Match Rating: **1/2
Santino Marella (with Emma) vs. Bo Dallas
After having a bit of fun at the start of the match, Bo Dallas essentially squashes Santino Marella in just a few moves. If there's one thing this match accomplished, it showed a hint of a bit of a mean streak to Bo Dallas, who looked less than pleased when Santino mimicked his "leave the ring and cheer himself after one takedown" thing. Dallas wins with the BoDog and then cuts a promo about how Santino's not a loser, even though he lost.
Match Rating: *1/2
Big Show vs. Randy Orton (with Triple H)
When was the last time Big Show had a legitimately good match? Or even when he turned in a good performance? I can't think of when it was. Certainly it hasn't been this year. Show is too slow and uninvolving in the ring right now. I don't know if years of injuries have caught up to him, or if his size is a disadvantage at his age, but he's just not good in the ring anymore. Orton has to carry this match, and watching him beat up Big Show for most of the match just isn't very enjoyable. Big Show's limited offense is boring and leaves him winded. The match is short and boring, and ends with Orton getting disqualified after Seth Rollins attacks Big Show.
After the match, all three Evolution members beat up Big Show to send Smackdown off-air.
Match Rating: *1/2
There were only a couple of wasted segments this week, and that's a plus. Smackdown should be used to feature good wrestling, and for the majority of the time, that's what happened this week. The first 80 minutes only had one bad match, and that was the obligatory Rusev squash. If every week was like this one, you have a reason to consistently watch Smackdown.
The Good: Rollins/Ziggler. Intercontinental Championship match. Wyatt promo.
The Bad: Rusev squash. Big Show. Dallas/Santino.
Match of the Night: Rob Van Dam vs. Cesaro vs. Bad News Barrett.
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http://i55.servimg.com/u/f55/16/09/70/40/smackd10.png
Raw shocked the world. Now, the WWE Universe wants answers. We've been promised them on Smackdown. We shall see.
It looks like we're going to get them right off the bat, actually, as Triple H and Seth Rollins come out to the ring. Heavy boos are heard, although given that it's Smackdown, it's impossible to tell how real they are. Triple H claims that he's not here to brag, but to let Seth Rollins answer the "why?" question. Rollins takes the ring and says ... his answers are his own. Boring. Dolph Ziggler's music hits, and Ziggler says he'll probably catch a beating and be pushed further down the totem pole, but Rollins sold out. Triple H responds by saying Ziggler will catch a beating, and a Zigger/Rollins match will happen right now.
Seth Rollins (with Triple H) vs. Dolph Ziggler
I'd be completely fine with a Rollins/Ziggler feud. Both men are very talented in the ring, and if they get a few more matches together, there's a good chance they'd develop some strong chemistry. I mention this because for the first bit of the match, it's nothing special. It starts out slow and without a whole lot of excitement. We go to a commercial break before much happened at all. And then we come back from the break and it gets so much better. If they can improve that much during the match, imagine what they could learn over a few matches. Probably a lot. There are a couple of pretty solid spots here, and the match winds up being something worth seeing. Rollins eventually picks up the win with the Curb Stomp.
Match Rating: ***
Backstage, Big Show interrupts Evolution. He calls Rollins a sellout. Triple H makes a Randy Orton/Big Show match for later tonight.
RybAxel (Ryback and Curtis Axel) vs. The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso)
Remember when it seemed almost inevitable that RybAxel would take the Tag Team Championships from The Usos? Well, we're far removed from that. The Usos win in a short but pretty enjoyable match. There was no downtime in this one -- and for what's essentially a filler match, that's what you want. A quick bout that doesn't get boring for the entire segment, and a good finish.
Match Rating: **1/2
Lana comes out to get some cheap heat by claiming Russia is amazing. Then Rusev is announced and we're getting a match.
Rusev (with Lana) vs. Xavier Woods
Have we forgotten how Rusev already squashed Woods a whole bunch of times already? Because, you know, that happened. And it happens again. Just a couple of moves and The Accolade lead to a Rusev victory. What a complete waste of talent and time. After the match, the Russian flag is flown in the background. Vince McMahon must think we're still in the 1980s.
Match Rating: *
Intercontinental Championship Match: Rob Van Dam vs. Cesaro (with Paul Heyman) vs. Bad News Barrett
Paul Heyman does his Paul Heyman thing before the match, and then joins the commentary team. This match has very poor rationalization, but c'est la vie. I'll take a match that is good but can't be justified over a match that sucks but has weeks of build. The match uses is triple threat stipulation well, and allows each competitor to get a good amount of time on offense. A flurry of signatures concludes the match, as Bad News Barrett picks up the win with the Bull Hammer.
Match Rating: ***
A Bray Wyatt promo comes on after the match. Wyatt talks about something Sister Abigail prophesized, and then proclaims himself reborn. Okay. This means he's done with Cena, yes? Please, please, please let this be the case.
Natalya vs. Alicia Fox
On the main shows, Natalya hasn't done a whole lot in recent months. Perhaps she's been reinvigorated after her match against Charlotte on NXT Takeover. Apart from all of Alicia Fox's "crazy" antics -- which Michael Cole has "diagnosed" as being bipolar -- this is a pretty solid technical match from both Divas. Some decent mat wrestling, some good moves, and a non-rollup finish made this one of the better things Natalya's been a part of on a main show in a while. Alicia Fox continues to have the only real personality in the Divas division, even if it's a grating one that really needs to go somewhere. Natalya wins after countering Alicia's signature move, the tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
Match Rating: **1/2
Santino Marella (with Emma) vs. Bo Dallas
After having a bit of fun at the start of the match, Bo Dallas essentially squashes Santino Marella in just a few moves. If there's one thing this match accomplished, it showed a hint of a bit of a mean streak to Bo Dallas, who looked less than pleased when Santino mimicked his "leave the ring and cheer himself after one takedown" thing. Dallas wins with the BoDog and then cuts a promo about how Santino's not a loser, even though he lost.
Match Rating: *1/2
Big Show vs. Randy Orton (with Triple H)
When was the last time Big Show had a legitimately good match? Or even when he turned in a good performance? I can't think of when it was. Certainly it hasn't been this year. Show is too slow and uninvolving in the ring right now. I don't know if years of injuries have caught up to him, or if his size is a disadvantage at his age, but he's just not good in the ring anymore. Orton has to carry this match, and watching him beat up Big Show for most of the match just isn't very enjoyable. Big Show's limited offense is boring and leaves him winded. The match is short and boring, and ends with Orton getting disqualified after Seth Rollins attacks Big Show.
After the match, all three Evolution members beat up Big Show to send Smackdown off-air.
Match Rating: *1/2
There were only a couple of wasted segments this week, and that's a plus. Smackdown should be used to feature good wrestling, and for the majority of the time, that's what happened this week. The first 80 minutes only had one bad match, and that was the obligatory Rusev squash. If every week was like this one, you have a reason to consistently watch Smackdown.
The Good: Rollins/Ziggler. Intercontinental Championship match. Wyatt promo.
The Bad: Rusev squash. Big Show. Dallas/Santino.
Match of the Night: Rob Van Dam vs. Cesaro vs. Bad News Barrett.
<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.