WWE Smackdown review
June 13, 2014
Taped 6/10/14 in Green Bay, Wis.
Aired on SyFy
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- WWE Open.

- A video review aired, focusing on the WWE World Title announcement made by The Authority Monday night. Also shown were highlights of qualifying matches for the WWE World Title Ladder Match at the Money in the Bank PPV.

- Smackdown Open.

- In the arena, the camera focused on the two titles hanging above the ring, signifying the WWE World Championship. The Shield’s music played, and the remaining members of the group came to the ring through the crowd. As they did so, cilps from The Wyatts vs. The Shield from Raw were shown. Dean Ambrose said everyone knows what The Authority is trying to do. He called Triple H “kiddo,” and threatened him. He also said he’d be shutting down “The Seth Rollins business” for good. He handed the mic to Roman Reigns. Reigns addressed Randy Orton, saying Orton will want a permanent vacation when he gets hold of him. He pointed out Orton didn’t even qualify for the title match at MITB, but was handed it. Reigns said he and Ambrose may beat Orton to the title. Triple H appeared on the TitanTron from backstage. He said he has only one slot for the MITB title match, and there are two Shield members. He flipped a coin and awarded Dean Ambrose a qualifying match tonight against Bray Wyatt. As for Reigns, he and the rest of the Wyatts will be banned from ringside. Ambrose is banned from ringside for the next match, Reigns vs. Bad News Barrett. Triple H even did a Barrett impression, saying he had some “bad news” for Reigns.

1 – ROMAN REIGNS vs. BAD NEWS BARRETT

Barrett put his head down after whipping Reigns into the ropes, leading to a Reigns suplex. Hard clothesline by Reigns after Barrett wandered out of the corner. Barrett was then clotheslined over the top rope. They cut to break at 2:13 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

The show returned, 5:06 into the match. Reigns missed a corner dive and Barrett took advantage. Reigns surprised Barrett with a Samoan drop at 6:57 after Barrett had dominated post-break. After a few clotheslines, Reigns nailed Barrett with his jumping kick from ringside. Superman punch found the mark. As Reigns set up for his spear, 3MB, in their final appearance as a group, came to ringside. They entered the ring to attack Reigns. The bell rang to end the match.

WINNER: Reigns, via disqualification, at 8:26. This was a glimpse of the future, showing off Reigns’ potential as a major singles star down the line.

3MB got the better of Reigns at first, but it didn’t last long. Drew McIntyre was clotheslined over the top, Jinder Mahal was on the receiving end of a Superman punch, and Heath Slater went over the top. Reigns wasn’t done though – He tossed Mahal over the announce desk, McIntyre was speared, and Slater, coming off the steps, was speared in mid-air. They replayed the post-match beat-down by Reigns.

- Later tonight, Sheamus takes on Cesaro.

- Also, Jey Uso faces Erick Rowan in singles action. That one is next.

[Commercial Break]

2 – ERICK ROWAN vs. JEY USO

Rowan and Luke Harper were already in the ring. Perhaps they lose their entrance powers without Bray Wyatt. During Jey’s entrance, they showed how this match came upon, via Main Event on the WWE Network. Almost immediately, Jey low-bridged Rowan out of the ring, then flew over the top rope and onto him. Back in the ring, Rowan took over on offense. Rowan fought out of a Samoan drop, and pulled Uso by the hair off the second rope. Side slam by Rowan for the victory.

WINNER: Rowan, at 1:32. Surprisingly quick win for Rowan. It further establishes Harper and Rowan as contenders for the tag titles, though.

The finishing sequence was replayed.

- Tonight’s main event: Bray Wyatt vs. Dean Ambrose.

- A Bo Dallas vignette aired. He’s next. It’ll be tough to top his performance on NXT last night.

[Commercial Break]

3 – BO DALLAS vs. R-TRUTH

Dallas had a big smile on his face and even danced (goofily) a little when Truth rapped in the ring before the match. Truth asked Green Bay to make some noise. Luckily for Truth, this time they were actually in Green Bay. Dallas took the mic and tried to follow Truth’s lead, asking, “Green Bay, what’s going on!?” Truth frustrated Dallas as the match began. Dallas regrouped and after a forearm, claimed to the ref, “he was attacking me!” Suplex by Dallas, followed by a thumbs-up and a knee-drop. Truth came back against Dallas and landed a front suplex. Hook of the leg, and a two-count for Truth. Dallas dodged an axe kick and hit the Bo-Dog for the win.

WINNER: Dallas, at 2:40. Bo’s goofiness is growing on me. I’m not sure what the ceiling is for this character, but WWE is wisely taking it slow and letting it grow as a mid-card deal.

Dallas shook Truth’s hand and hugged him after the match.

- In a split-screen, Cesaro (with Paul Heyman) and Sheamus were walking backstage. They clash, next.

[Commercial Break]

- The most-watched shows on the WWE Network from last week were shown.

- Cesaro and Paul Heyman were in the ring with mics. Cesaro spoke in another language, and Heyman translated for him. Of course, Cesaro seemed to echo everything Heyman likes to say in his promos. Cesaro’s fists were taped as he was ready not to sports entertain, but to fight. Heyman called his opponent, “Sheamus the shameless.” After more bloviating from Heyman, Sheamus’ music interrupted and he came out for the match.

4 – CESARO vs. SHEAMUS

Sheamus took the beating to Cesaro early in the match. Back suplex by Sheamus for only a one-count at 2:00. Both Cesaro and Sheamus ended up down at ringside as they cut to break at 3:18 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 6:24. Sheamus tried to position Cesaro to slam his forearms across his chest, but Cesaro fought out. Cesaro pulled Sheamus off the apron by his boot, with Sheamus landing back-first at ringside with a thud. Back in the ring, Cesaro gave Sheamus a double-stomp. Cesaro peppered Sheamus with rights and lefts in the corner. There was no stomping on the mat for effect, either. More forearms from Cesaro, and eventually Sheamus seemed to become immune to them. Cesaro got a knee up on a corner charge, but was then knocked off the top rope and to ringside by Sheamus. Back in the ring, Sheamus built some momentum with his offense. He finally connected on the forearms across the chest. Irish Curse back-breaker for two from Sheamus. Cesaro landed the uppercut for two at 12:13. That was all the offense Cesaro could muster at the time, because Sheamus nailed him with a rolling senton, then set up for the Brogue Kick. A distraction by Heyman stopped the Brogue Kick, but Sheamus lifted Cesaro off the mat. Cesaro rolled him up into a small package, held the tights, and got the win.

WINNER: Cesaro, at 13:35. Another hard-hitting match in a long line of them between these two men. I liked the finish as it played into their feud.

- The announcers talked on-camera about what happened to open the show. Triple H’s announcement that Ambrose would face Wyatt was replayed.

- Bray Wyatt, with Harper and Rowan in the background, cut a promo on the TitanTron. He said he used to dream of happiness, but woke up to realize he’s stuck in this rotten world. Until he met “her,” who convinced him that he’d change the world. He said that above the ladder lies his absolution, his power. And Dean Ambrose stands in his way.

[Commercial Break]

- Fandango and Layla were finishing up their dance out of break. From Raw, they showed Summer Rae’s backstage attack on Layla. Then, they showed an interview with Summer on Main Event, with Layla attacking her with kitty litter and milk.

5 – FANDANGO vs. ADAM ROSE

“This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve seen in my entire life,” JBL remarked about Rose’s entrance. Rose whacked Fandango on the bum, which made Fandango upset. Fandango became aggressive after that. Suplex by Fandango for two. Not long after, Fandango had his finisher countered, and Rose responded with the Party Foul finish.

WINNER: Rose, at 1:42. Rose won the battle of the catchy entrance themes.

After Rose left ringside, one of his Rosebuds (looking like the Gobbledygooker, according to JBL) wearing a chicken mask stayed behind. The bird unmasked, and it was Summer Rae. The two Divas brawled in the ring, while Fandango and Charles Robinson tried to separate them. Fandango finally pulled Layla out of the ring.

- Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt, for a spot in the World Heavyweight Title match at MITB, is still to come.

[Commercial Break]

6 – JACK SWAGGER vs. BIG E.

No entrance for Swagger and Zeb Colter. Swagger was fired up from the get-go, with JBL attributing it to Colter slapping him on Raw. Big clothesline by Swagger felled Big E at ringside. In the ring, Swagger charged at Big E, only for E to back-drop him to the floor. E took Swagger down and splashed him. As he readied for his finish, Rusev’s music played and Lana came out with a mic. She spoke in Russian to E. The distraction allowed Swagger to recover and connect on a big boot. Colter walked up the ramp and told Lana to leave. She gave him a nasty look before finally heading to the back. Swagger waited all that time for some reason, then went for the Swagger Bomb. Big E hopped up and caught him, giving him the Big Ending for the win.

WINNER: Big E, at 2:55. I’m still not sure why Swagger was distracted when Colter tried to convince Lana to leave the stage.

Colter argued with the ref after the match.

- Ambrose vs. Wyatt is the main event.

- Next, an exclusive interview with Seth Rollins.

[Commercial Break]

7 – AKSANA vs. ALICIA FOX

This is Aksana’s final WWE appearance, given her release yesterday. Fox feigned being sorry for what happened Monday, offering a handshake. Aksana slapped her, however. A clothesline and a snap suplex by Aksana got her only a one-count. A “Go Pack, Go” chant started. It is almost football season. Fox got her knees up on a splash attempt by Aksana. Northern Lights Suplex on Aksana for two. Fox settled into a rear chinlock. Fox put her leg around Aksana’s neck and brought her down to the mat face-first in a unique move that ended the match.

WINNER: Fox, at 2:28. A sensible end to this friendship/feud.

Fox celebrated her win by jumping around in the ring and yelling at fans.

- Cole and JBL discussed the Seth Rollins situation on camera. They replayed part of Cole’s interview with Rollins from Raw.

- Bray Wyatt made his entrance. The main event is next.

[Commercial Break]

8 – BRAY WYATT vs. DEAN AMBROSE

Wyatt clotheslined Ambrose, then rubbed his eyes across the top rope like an old-school here. A neckbreaker by Ambrose got him a one-count at 1:27. Ambrose jumped over the top rope and onto Wyatt, only Wyatt caught him with one arm and slammed him back-first into the apron. They went to break at 2:09 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 6:30 of the match, Wyatt still in control. Out of nowhere, Ambrose planted Wyatt with a DDT. Wyatt sought out Ambrose’s injured shoulder, sending him shoulder-first into the ring post. The announcers surmised that it was the move where Wyatt sent Ambrose back-first into the apron that injured Dean’s shoulder. Ambrose went to the top rope, but Wyatt cut him off. Ambrose was basically fighting with one arm at this point. Wyatt was headbutted down and after a number of counters, Ambrose clotheslined Wyatt to the mat and got a two-count. Wyatt readied for a corner splash, but Ambrose met him with a forearm. Suicide dive through the ropes by one of the two remaining Shield members. A roll-up by Ambrose for a near-fall. Missile dropkick off the top from Ambrose, who landed on his shoulder on the way down. He dragged himself over for a cover, in which he got two. Wyatt launched himself into Ambrose with a running forearm. Wyatt tried a suplex but Ambrose small packaged him for two. Dirty Deeds by Ambrose, but before he could make the cover, Seth Rollins appeared on the announce desk. Ambrose chased Rollins around ringside and back into the ring, where Wyatt caught Ambrose and gave him Sister Abigail.

WINNER: Wyatt, at 14:20.

The show closed with Wyatt posing 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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