WWE Smackdown review
May 9, 2014
Taped 5/6/14 in Buffalo, N.Y.
Aired on SyFy
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- WWE Open.

- A video package started the show, focusing on Dean Ambrose losing the U.S. Title in a Battle Royal, as well as The Shield in the main event against The Wyatt Family and Evolution’s post-match attack.

1 – SHEAMUS vs. DEAN AMBROSE – UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

Formal ring introductions were handled by Lilian Garcia. A hard clothesline sent Ambrose down and led to the first cover of the match. The two men traded right hands in the middle of the ring, until Ambrose collided with Sheamus in a modified Thesz Press. The fight went outside the ring where Sheamus hit Ambrose with the rolling senton. They cut to break at 2:54 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 5:45 of the match with Ambrose working out of a rest-hold. Interesting, as that’s usually the spot for the babyface coming out of commercial, and we have two wrestling here. Sheamus missed a corner charge and instead went shoulder-first into the post. Suicide dive through the ropes by Ambrose connected on his target. The back-and-forth continued with Sheamus giving Ambrose an Irish Curse back-breaker for two. Cloverleaf applied by Sheamus. I feel like it’s been a while since he’s pulled one of those out. Sheamus pulled up Ambrose’s shirt and clubbed him with forearm blows. He hauled Ambrose back into the ring and after a kick, Ambrose fell into the ropes, but gathered himself enough to clothesline Sheamus. That was unique. More right hands were exchanged. Ambrose came off the ropes and was Brogue Kicked. Ambrose fell out of the ring. He made it back into the ring at the count of nine. As Ambrose struggled to get back to his feet, Sheamus set up and successfully executed another Brogue Kick to finish off Ambrose.

WINNER: Sheamus, at 11:05. Convincing win for Sheamus, and a good match to boot.

The Brogue Kicks from Sheamus were replayed.

- The rest of The Shield is in singles action tonight as Roman Reigns takes on Mark Henry, while Seth Rollins faces Batista.

- Also, in six-man tag action, The Usos & John Cena vs. The Wyatt Family. Pretty loaded card.

[Commercial Break]

- The most watched shows on the WWE Network for last week were listed.

- Paul Heyman was at the commentary table to help announce the next match, with Cesaro next to him (no headset for him though).

2 – ROB VAN DAM & BIG E. vs. BAD NEWS BARRETT & CESARO

On his way to the ring, Barrett gave some bad news: climate change isn’t just sweeping through WWE, but the entire nation. Thanks for that hot take, Barrett. He was the only one to get an entrance. Springboard thrust kick from Van Dam to Barrett. Cesaro wanted no part of Van Dam, but he suckered his foe in for Barrett to take advantage. Barrett made the mistake of mocking Van Dam, which didn’t end well for him. Big E. tagged in and had his way with Cesaro. Van Dam accidentally kicked Big E., which led to Cesaro giving E. the Neutralizer for the victory.

WINNERS: Cesaro and Barrett, at 2:42. It was short, but it’s good to see multiple contenders feuding for a secondary title.

The finish was replayed.

- On-camera, the announcers talked about Kane vs. Daniel Bryan from Extreme Rules. They showed stills of the forklift moment, amongst others in that match.

- Tonight, we’ll see what transpired between Bryan and Kane on Raw.

- The main event is The Usos & John Cena vs. The Wyatt Family.

[Commercial Break]

3 – KOFI KINGSTON vs. RUSEV

Lana did her Putin-loving pre-match mic work. Rusev man-handled Kingston early on. Kingston did hit the flip kick and a dropkick that stunned Rusev. Rusev came back with an impressive suplex. The Accolade was applied and Rusev picked up another win.

WINNER: Rusev, at 2:06. Rusev doesn’t seem to be standing out enough. He’s got some unique offense, but there’s something missing.

A few key moments of the match were shown, including Lana giving her instructions for Rusev to crush Kofi.

- Backstage, Bray Wyatt cut a promo with the other members of his family behind him. He opined about fire and that somehow led to Bray talking about how Cena fears him. He said he’s willing to go far, and where they’re going, no one ever comes back.

[Commercial Break]

- A Bo Dallas vignette aired.

3 – FANADANGO & LAYLA vs. SANTINO MARELLA & EMMA

Michael Cole noted that Fandango has been out of action a few weeks since The Shield’s attack on him on Smackdown. Fandango got the better of Santino in their early exchanges. He missed a middle-rope knee-drop, leading to the ladies tagging in. Emma applied the Dil-Emma move in the ropes. Splash in the corner by Emma, leading to her own Cobra being pulled out. Fandango got involved, low-bridging Santino out of the ring. That distracted Emma, leading to Layla rolling her up for the win.

WINNERS: Fandango and Layla, at 2:06. This feud is going nowhere. Just having them trade wins every week does not a feud make.

Layla and Fandango made out on the stage in celebration after the match.

- Still to come, Daniel Bryan and Kane’s interaction on Raw.

- Next, Roman Reigns vs. Mark Henry.

[Commercial Break]

4 – ROMAN REIGNS vs. MARK HENRY

As he made his way to the ring, an inset interview with Mark Henry aired. He said he had a score to settle with Reigns and The Shield, after being a recipient of a past Shield beating. Reigns and Henry jawed with each other, then traded blows. Henry got the better of it early on, with the announcers playing up a possible injury to Reigns after the Evolution beat-down Monday night. Henry concentrated especially on the ribs and mid-section of Reigns. Following a desperation clothesline by Reigns, Henry regained control. Henry went to the second rope, but Reigns put him on his shoulders for a Samoan drop. A spear followed for the win.

WINNER: Reigns, at 3:47. The story was Reigns gutting this one out and still getting the win. It worked, as Reigns sold well.

A replay of the spear was shown.

- Still to come, Seth Rollins vs. Batista.

- Also, in the main event, The Wyatt Family vs. Cena & The Usos.

[Commercial Break]

- Cole thanked Kongos for “Come With Me Now,” the official Extreme Rules theme.

5 – DREW MCINTYRE & HEATH SLATER & HORNSWOGGLE vs. LOS MATADORES & EL TORITO

Stills from the WeeLC match at Extreme Rules were shown. The heels worked over one of the Matadores early on. They splashed Hornswoggle onto, let’s say, Fernando. Fernando’s first offensive move was an ugly headscissors on McIntyre. Diego tagged in and went on the offense, including knocking Jinder Mahal off the apron. After a double cross-body, Horny and Torito tagged in. Torito bit the rear end of Hornswoggle. Hornswoggle decked Torito with a right hand. Torito got up and gored Horny. An irate Hornswoggle reentered the ring. Even Slater was laughing, which Horny was not happy about. Hornswoggle missed a butt splash and Torito splashed him. Slater broke up the pin and tossed Horny to the corner so he could tag in. Torito hit a springboard moonsault onto Slater for the win.

WINNERS: Los Matadores & El Torito, at 4:17. A comedy match with some teased dissension between Hornswoggle and 3MB – wonder if it’ll go anywhere.

- The Raw Rebound aired.

- Batista takes on Seth Rollins, next.

[Commercial Break]

- The exterior of the First Niagara Center in Buffalo was shown.

- Inside the arena, a few Buffalo Bills were shown at ringside.

- A special Mr. T Mother’s Day tribute video aired.

- The announcers talked about the latest WWE Network deal, wherein a friend who refers someone to the Network can get $25 worth of gift cards to WWEShop.com.

6 – BATISTA vs. SETH ROLLINS

Rollins dropkicked Batista into the corner to start, but Rollins missed a splash in the corner. Batista was kicked out of the ring by Rollins, who then was going for a suicide dive. Batista moved, however, and Rollins ended up going for a baseball slide only to be caught up in the apron skirt by Batista. They went to break at 1:44 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

The show returned 5:39 into the match. Batista was still in domination mode. He sent Rollins face-first into the middle turnbuckle. Vertical suplex by Batista for two at 7:07. Rollins finally went on offense and put the boots to Batista in the corner. Batista countered a neckbreaker and Rollins rallied to take Batista down. Rollins kicked Batista from the apron, but ran right into a spinebuster. After dodging a Batista Bomb, Rollins gave Batista an enziguiri. Batista rolled out of the ring and Rollins went to the top. Batista side-stepped Rollins, leading him head-first into the announce table in a terrific-looking bump. Batista made it into the ring as the ref counted Rollins out.

WINNER: Batista, via count-out, at 10:28. Batista needed a win, but he needed a more convincing one than this. I just don’t get the booking of Batista.

Highlights of the match were shown. As refs and medics checked on Rollins after the match, Batista decided he hadn’t had enough. He rolled Rollins into the ring and continued his assault. He gave Rollins a Batista Bomb.

- The main event is next.

[Commercial Break]

- As the Wyatts came to the ring, they showed stills from Wyatt vs. Cena at Extreme Rules. The Usos and John Cena made separate entrances. The match begins after break.

[Commercial Break]

7 – THE WYATT FAMILY vs. THE USOS & JOHN CENA

Cena and Erick Rowan began the match. Cena was aggressive and on the money early in the contest. Luke Harper tagged in, briefly slowing the match to a lull. Cena got the better of Harper too, then tagged an Uso. This allowed the Wyatts to finally go on offense. The crowd chanted “Uso.” Bray tagged in for the first time at 3:40. He used his unorthodox offense against Uso. Splash in the corner by Wyatt. Jey Uso fought out of the heel corner and low-bridged Bray out of the ring. Harper tagged in and didn’t allow Jey to make the tag. A big boot returned Jey to the mat. A missed splash by Rowan and both men sought tags. Jimmy tagged in at 6:59 of the match. Bray got the tag as well and Jimmy shined against him. Cena punched Bray when he got too close to the babyface corner. Superkick by Jimmy on Harper for two. Cena and Wyatt brawled at ringside. Jey dove onto the non-legal men. Inside the ring, Jimmy was clotheslined by Harper, with Harper picking up the pinfall.

WINNERS: The Wyatt Family, at 8:17.

The finish was replayed. The Wyatts posed at the bottom of the ramp, looking toward the ring, as the show closed.


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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