WWE Smackdown review
January 31, 2014
Taped 1/28/14 in Toledo, Ohio
Aired on SyFy
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- I’m five minutes late, but The Shield (specifically Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose) were arguing in the ring, while Seth Rollins tried to play peace-maker and focus their rage on the Wyatt Family. Specifically, they were upset about not being in the Elimination Chamber match at the PPV of the same name. Dean Ambrose vowed to wipe the Wyatts off the face of the earth. Vickie Guerrero interrupted and vowed to make history. Before she could do so, Triple H’s music played and he relieved her and walked to the ring. Hunter told The Shield to “let it go” as it pertains to the Wyatts, but Reigns got in Triple H’s face and said they’re not looking for his approval. Hunter put The Shield in a six-man tag match with The Wyatt Family at Elimination Chamber.

- The announcers talked on-camera about the match that was just made, and plugged Christian vs. Jack Swagger in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match.

- In a split-screen, Dolph Ziggler and Antonio Cesaro were walking backstage. They face each other in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match, next.

[Commercial Break]

- The Wrestlemania XXX sign was the focus as Dolph Ziggler made his entrance for an Elimination Chamber qualifying match.

1 – DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. ANTONIO CESARO – ELIMINATION CHAMBER QUALIFYING MATCH

Zeb had a sign that said “Illegals make me ill” and on the other side, “I prefer my ‘aliens’ from Mars.” Cesaro dropkicked Ziggler right at the bell for a two-count. The two men traded pinning combinations early on. Fameasser for two at :44. Ziggler chased Cesaro outside the ring and back in, fell victim to a back-breaker for two. Double-underhook suplex for two by Cesaro. Cesaro clotheslined Ziggler over the top rope and to the outside. They cut to break at 2:23 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 6:19 with Cesaro still in control. Big dropkick by Ziggler caught Cesaro flush in the face. Ziggler countered a tilt-a-whirl suplex into a sleeper hold. Cesaro countered that into a gutwrench suplex. Cesaro went for the uppercut, but Ziggler turned it into a DDT for two at 8:22. Cesaro shrugged off the Zig Zag as Cesaro gave the Cesaro Swing to Ziggler, though with not as many rotations as you’d expect. He hit the Neutralizer for the win.

WINNER: Cesaro, at 9:31. This was one of those matches where, no matter who won, I wouldn’t be upset. Both men deserved to be in the Chamber.

The finish was replayed after the match. A graphic was then shown with one more blank in the WWE World Title Elimination Chamber Match.

- Tonight, in a six-man tag match, Daniel Bryan & Rey Mysterio & Sheamus face The Shield.

- Fandango and Summer Rae were walking (and dancing) backstage. They’re in action next.

[Commercial Break]

- The WWE Network Countdown clock was shown. Then, a video package aired on the new WWE Countdown show scheduled to air on the Network.

2 –XAVIER WOODS vs. FANDANGO

No entrance for Woods, and the very end of the entrance for Fandango. R-Truth joined the announcers on commentary. Woods and Fandango went back-and-forth, with Fandango getting the upper-hand under a minute in. Fandango settled into a chin-lock and Woods tried to get the crowd behind him to break out. Waist-lock drop by Woods and both men were down. Woods has shaved the mustache, by the way. Dropkick sent Fandango out of the ring. He somersaulted over the top and onto Fandango. Summer Rae took Emma’s sign, as she was at ringside, and angrily broke it over her knee. Emma took another #Emmalution sign and held it up. Fandango planted Woods, who was perched on the top rope, suplexing him off for the win.

WINNER: Fandango, at 3:15. Basic mid-card storyline advanced here.

As Fandango wanted to inflict more punishment, R-Truth got involved and hit his finish on Fandango. The Funkadactyls celebrated with Woods and Truth after the match.

- Jack Swagger vs. the returning Christian in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match is still to come tonight.

[Commercial Break]

3 – CURTIS AXEL & RYBACK vs. THE PRIME TIME PLAYERS

The entrance of the Players was just finishing up as the show returned from break. JBL lauded the Rybaxel tag team. Michael Cole wished a happy birthday to Fit Finlay, who he said, shares a birthday with the Giant Gonzalez. No mention of Gonzalez’s death. Axel quickly pinned Darren Young, who never tagged out, with his neckbreaker maneuver.

WINNERS: Rybaxel, at 1:30. Surprisingly quick win for Axel and Ryback.

A replay aired of the finish. Titus O’Neil stayed on the apron, seemingly annoyed with his partner’s ineptitude. O’Neil verbally harassed Young after the match, but Young got a mic and, somehow bleeding from the mouth, reminded O’Neil they were a team, and like family. O’Neil said they’re not family and since partnering with Young, it’s the first time he’s been known as a loser. He said he came to WWE to be a champion. O’Neil said he was getting rid of the dead weight of Darren Young on his back. O’Neil then attacked Young with a big boot. O’Neil continued the attack with rights and boots. He kicked Young out of the ring. The beat-down continued at ringside, with O’Neil throwing Young into the barriers. That break-up came out of nowhere, and it appears WWE is down one tag-team.

- The announcers talked about the break-up that just happened. They transitioned into the WWE Hall-of-Fame and the Jake Roberts HOF video aired.

- Up next, Christian faces Jack Swagger for the final spot in the Elimination Chamber match.

[Commercial Break]

- A pre-taped vignette aired on Alexander Rusev, and it included his handler, Lana. He said the Rusev legacy starts now.

4 – JACK SWAGGER vs. CHRISTIAN – ELIMINATION CHAMBER QUALIFYING MATCH

No entrance for Swagger. Cole plugged WWE’s musical director, Jim Johnston, on Steve Austin’s podcast on PodcastOne.com. After Christian’s entrance, they showed clips of the tag match on Raw, notably, where Zeb Colter slapped Swagger. JBL got Zeb’s attention at ringside and asked him to join in on commentary. Colter defended his slap as a way of “inspiring” Swagger. Cole noted that Christian has never been in an Elimination Chamber match. Swagger got the best of Christian early on. Christian fought out of the corner, but fell victim to a knee-lift. Swagger Bomb for two at 2:04. Tornado DDT by Christian for two at 3:15. Christian continued the momentum with a dropkick off the middle rope. Cover got two at 3:59. Forearm off the middle rope from Christian. Swagger fired back with a gutwrench powerbomb for a near-fall. Sprinboard sunset flip by Christian for two. Swagger locked in the Patriot Lock. Christian countered to a roll-up for two. Frogsplash off the top from Christian for the win.

WINNER: Christian, at 5:52. Probably the better choice of the two to go into the Chamber. Nothing new from Christian here, but a convincing win heading into the Elimination Chamber PPV.

Parts of the previous match were replayed. Zeb Colter was not happy after the match.

- A graphic was shown with the final six men in the Elimination Chamber match.

- Mysterio, Sheamus & Bryan vs. The Shield is tonight’s main event.

- Damien Sandow was walking backstage. He faces Kofi Kingston next.

[Commercial Break]

- Wrestlemania XXX is in 65 days.

- Christian was walking backstage when he came upon Renee Young. She asked him how he felt. Christian felt good about earning his spot in the Chamber match and admitted that his window of opportunity is starting to close as far as being the champion and headlining Wrestlemania. He said he hopes his opponents mistake his desperation for weakness. A good post-match promo from Christian.

- Kofi Kingston was in the ring. They showed his feat of athletic ability in the Royal Rumble match in slow-motion.

5 – KOFI KINGSTON vs. DAMIEN SANDOW

An inset interview with Sandow was shown, after a still-shot of his quick elimination in the Rumble. He assured fans he’d emerge from this slump even stronger. Sandow was aggressive to start, and locked Kingston in an abdominal stretch. Kingston suplexed him out of that. Kingston made his comeback just over a minute in. He missed a springboard cross-body and Sandow covered him for two at 1:26. Trouble in Paradise missed, but Kingston hit the SOS for the win.

WINNER: Kingston, at 1:56. This isn’t exactly a great follow-up to his win over Orton, but hey, it’s something positive.

- Coming up next, Cody Rhodes vs. Road Dogg in singles action.

[Commercial Break]

- Cole plugged Wrestlemania Axxess.

- The announcers talked on-camera about what happened on Raw. We saw a clip of Paul Heyman, with Brock Lesnar, threatening Brad Maddox. We also saw Lesnar taking out his rage on Cody Rhodes & Goldust later on in the night.

- Part of Cole’s sit-down with Triple H was shown, relating to Brock Lesnar’s attack. Triple H said there would be another rematch with Goldust & Cody Rhodes facing the New Age Outlaws on Raw, and it will be in a Steel Cage.

6 – CODY RHODES vs. THE ROAD DOGG

Rhodes was seconded by Goldust, and was already in the ring. The Outlwas were still shaking hands as they came to the ring. The Outlaws did their usual entrance before the match. Cole said Lesnar has been fined $10,000 for manhandling a ref at the Royal Rumble. Rhodes had his left arm wrapped up. Dogg took advantage of the arm and worked it over. Sunset flip out of the corner by Rhodes for two at 2:27. Springboard dropkick by Rhodes as Billy Gunn and Goldust got into it at ringside. Gunn got on the apron and Rhodes gave him the Disaster Kick. Rhodes fought off a roll-up by Road Dogg and Rhodes hit him with a Disaster Kick for the win.

WINNER: Rhodes, at 3:50. Good win for Rhodes heading into Monday’s Steel Cage Match.

All four men brawled after the match. The Outlaws ended up retreating as the Rhodes Brothers stood tall.

- Next, the six-man tag main event.

[Commercial Break]

- Smackdown returned with no sound for me, which wasn’t helped by the fact that they showed the announcers on-screen. They sent it to a video package of another WWE Network original show, The Monday Night War.

- The Shield, already in the ring, were interrupted by a Wyatt Family promo. Luke Harper actually got to speak, and Bray sent a warning to The Shield.

- The six-man tag match occurs after the break.

[Commercial Break]

- A graphic was shown for a six-man tag at Elimination Chamber, featuring The Shield facing The Wyatt Family.

7 – THE SHIELD vs. SHEAMUS & REY MYSTERIO & DANIEL BRYAN

Sheamus gave a hard shoulder tackle to Seth Rollins, who summarily tagged out to Roman Reigns. Sheamus blocked a hip-toss and clotheslined Reigns to the mat. A neck-breaker followed that for a one-count at 1:49. Dean Ambrose tagged in and went to work on Sheamus in the heel corner. Sheamus responded by hanging Ambrose gut-first over the top rope and giving him the forearms to the chest treatment, and it was to Ambrose’s exposed chest. Sheamus blasted the other members of The Shield off the apron for good measure. They went to break at 3:27 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 6:56 of the match with Bryan putting Rollins in a surfboard. Mysterio came in and took over on offense until Rollins kicked him in the gut. Mysterio headscissored Rollins into the 619 position, but he made a blind tag to Ambrose. Ambrose registered a near-fall at 8:15. Mysterio was tossed out of the ring and worked over on the outside by Reigns. The Shield cut off the ring against Mysterio. Cole talked about the egos on The Shield and how much it takes to keep those egos in check. Rollins had Mysterio up for an electric chair, but Mysterio turned it into a headscissors, sending Rollins head-first into the turnbuckle. Bryan made the hot tag and worked over Reigns with kicks. He low-bridged Reigns out of the ring. Suicide dive connected. He hit one on Ambrose on the opposite side of the ring. Everyone got involved at this point with Bryan hitting Reigns with a missile dropkick for two. Yes lock on Reigns, interrupted by Ambrose. Sheamus pulled him out of the ring, giving him the Brogue Kick. Mysterio tagged in, and Reigns was set up for the 619, but Reigns speared Mysterio instead for the win.

WINNERS: The Shield, at 13:23.

Some of the action at the end of the match was shown. The Shield celebrated outside the ring as the babyfaces regrouped in the ring.


Did you watch Friday's Smackdown episode? Send your 0-10 score & Reax to pwtorch@gmail.com for our TV Reax feature.

Greg Parks has been covering WWE Smackdown for PWTorch.com since January of 2007. He is the host of “Moonlighting with Greg Parks,” a PWTorch VIP-exclusive audio show posted each weekend. Follow him on Twitter @gregmparks for live Tweeting during Raw, Impact, and PPVs, as well as other bits of wisdom. Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

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