WWE Smackdown review
July 4, 2014
Taped 7/1/14 in Newark, N.J.
Aired on SyFy
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- A quick, Independence Day-themed video package welcomed fans to a special episode of Smackdown.

- WWE Open.

- Clips aired of Stephanie McMahon and Triple H’s opening speech on Raw, along with brief bits of video from the two main MITB matches. They also showed part of Cena’s promo on Monday and the announcement of Cena’s title defense at Battleground. In addition, video aired from the main event of Raw, and the aftermath with Seth Rollins trying to cash in.

- The show proper began with Seth Rollins walking out holding his MITB briefcase. He was dressed all in black. Rollins had a message for Cena: The champ got lucky on Monday night. Rollins vowed to cash in sooner or later to become champion. He told everyone that his face would be the new face of WWE. Dean Ambrose’s music interrupted and Ambrose walked on stage.

Ambrose called Rollins “delusional.” He reminded Rollins that his number one goal is to prevent Rollins from cashing in. A video cut in showing Ambrose stop Rollins from cashing in on Monday, which we also saw in the opening video. Ambrose told Rollins to get used to that for the next year. He said it’s every excuse he needs to ruin the life of Rollins. Rollins said he knows Ambrose better than anyone, and he knows Ambrose can’t keep that up for a year. Ambrose wanted to start things right now. Single-leg take-down by Ambrose, and the two brawled in the ring.

Randy Orton ran out to make the save for Rollins. After a few seconds, The Shield music hit and Roman Reigns ran out from the back to even the score. Reigns fought off Rollins and Orton, allowing Ambrose to get a few more shots in on his former partner. As Orton and Rollins headed back up the ramp, Triple H came out. Hunter put Ambrose in a match with Orton for tonight. As for Reigns, if he interferes in the match, he’s out of the Fatal Four-Way at Battleground. “Good luck, boys,” he told the babyfaces. JBL made a good point, saying Ambrose should have to go it alone in that match – after all, Randy Orton is. Michael Cole countered that Hunter didn’t ban Rollins from getting involved.

- Chris Jericho returns to Smackdown tonight.

- The United States Championship is on the line when Sheamus defends against Alberto Del Rio, next.

[Commercial Break]

- Cole and JBL spoke of the virtues of the WWE Network. And debuting On Demand after Raw this coming week: WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event.

1 – SHEAMUS vs. ALBERTO DEL RIO – UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

Cole talked about the rivalry between these two men over the past few years. Sheamus landed a knee-drop to the face of Del Rio. Del Rio missed a stomp, but continued putting the boots to Sheamus. At ringside, Del Rio whipped Sheamus into the steel steps. Back-stabber on the apron by Del Rio, who had Sheamus in a bad way heading into break 2:55 into the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 6:50 of the match with Sheamus hitting Del Rio with a cross-body, sending both men over the top rope and crashing to the floor. Sheamus came up shaking out his left arm. After they exchanged right hands in the middle of the ring, Sheamus hit the Irish Curse back-breaker. Del Rio countered Sheamus into a nice DDT for two. Del Rio made his way to the top rope too slowly, allowing Sheamus to halt his momentum. In fact, with Del Rio seated on the top rope, Sheamus gave him his clubbing forearms across the chest. Top-rope shoulder tackle followed. Sheamus missed a Brogue Kick and Del Rio locked in the cross arm-breaker. Sheamus rolled Del Rio on his back, however, and hooked in the Cloverleaf. Del Rio reached the rope to break. Sheamus tried White Noise, but again, Del Rio countered into his submission move. Sheamus lifted Del Rio off the mat and slammed him into the corner. Sheamus missed a shoulder-first corner charge. Moonsault was rolled through by Del Rio, but he walked right into a Brogue Kick.

WINNER: Sheamus, at 12:12. Slightly more entertaining than their tedious World Title matches some years ago. Del Rio was given a lot late in the match.

- Tonight’s main event: Dean Ambrose vs. Randy Orton.

[Commercial Break]

- WWE aired a graphic with part of the Declaration of Independence. The voice-over man welcomed us back to a special edition of Smackdown. I guess this replaces the usual backstage party we see on these holiday shows.

- Stardust and Goldust did their thing backstage, in the dark, with a few lights playing as stars in the background. Stardust called their tag team “a celestial entity the likes of which the world has never seen.”

- Byron Saxton was backstage with Roman Reigns. Saxton asked for his reaction to watch Triple H said earlier. Reigns said Triple H will do anything to protect Rollins, and that he has confidence Ambrose can do it on his own tonight. Reigns talked about who he has to go through at Battleground to win the title, then said he would do just that.

- Cole and JBL talked about the chances of Reigns in that match, then Cole sent it to a video from the MITB pre-show of Bryan addressing his health. Oh, and Bo Dallas showed up, too.

- Bo Dallas came out in front of the live crowd. He called Bryan “a special little fella.” He also said he’d win the Battleground Battle Royal for the I.C. Title in honor of “little Daniel.” Somewhat ironic given Bo’s own stature. He came to the ring for his match, which is next.

[Commercial Break]

2 – BO DALLAS vs. DIEGO

Dallas seemed amused by El Torito and Diego’s pre-match routine, which was just finishing up out of break. Bo tried his own “Ole!” but the fans weren’t digging it, and Diego met him with a dropkick. JBL claimed Fernando’s injury was the result of a gore from Torito’s uncle. After some back-and-forth, Dallas hit the Bo-Dog for the win.

WINENR: Dallas, at 1:33. Another good enhancement win for Bo Dallas.

After the match, Dallas talked to Torito. He said Torito is a bovine and said if he wants to grow taller, all he has to do is Bolieve. Dallas turned around and Torito gored him in the butt. Dallas went over and shook his finger at Torito, lecturing him that he shouldn’t do that. Torito danced in response. So Bo lifted Torito over his head and slammed him. A replay aired of the slam.

- JBL and Cole talked about how exciting Raw was this past week. They showed a video of The Miz’s return, followed by Chris Jericho’s. Finally, they showed the Wyatts attacking Jericho.

- Next, Chris Jericho returns to Smackdown for the first time in almost a year.

[Commercial Break]

- Chris Jericho came to the ring. Jericho gave a brief rah-rah speech about coming back. He spoke in quieter tones about the “poisonous spider” that is Bray Wyatt. He said the beat-down on Monday was “not good.” He thanked the Wyatts for the beating, which reminded him that WWE is about more than lighted jackets, entrances, etc. It’s about survival. Jericho assured the Wyatts that he can be a little dangerous, too. He said he’s unlike anyone else, and that’s what makes him the best in the world at what he does. Jericho said if the Wyatts want to get crazy, he can get a little crazy. He said the Wyatts will never, ever be the same again, but then was stopped in his tracks by the Wyatts’ signature interruption.

The Wyatts spoke on the video wall. Bray formally introduced himself to Jericho. He said he’s known by many names including seducer, and destroyer. Wyatt turned around Jericho’s “Save us” catchphrase by telling him to save himself. Jericho implored Wyatt to come out from backstage. Instead, The Miz came out. Miz asked Jericho how it felt to be interrupted. Miz said he could’ve helped Jericho take down the Wyatts, but Jericho broke the golden rule: He tried to hurt Miz’s moneymaker (his face). Miz continued talking as he entered the ring, and Jericho simply gave him a Codebreaker.

- Dean Ambrose vs. Randy Orton is tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- Big E came to the ring for his match. They aired an inset interview with Big E, talking about avenging the beating of his friend Kofi Kingston Raw. He was still doing his silly preacher voice. Please, make it stop. They showed the finish of Cesaro vs. Kofi Kingston on the WWE App Monday night, followed by Cesaro’s attack post-match. Paul Heyman came out and it sounded like he did some mic work that was edited out. All they left in was his introduction of himself and then Cesaro. Cesaro came to the ring and attacked Big E before the match even began. A chair was involved. Big E was then thrown over the announce table. Big E fought back and gave Cesaro an overhead throw outside the ring. Heyman gathered Cesaro and forced him up the ramp while a coterie of officials held Big E back.

- A.J. Lee was skipping backstage. She’ll be wrestling next.

[Commercial Break]

3 – EVA MARIE vs. A.J. LEE

No entrance for Eva. Paige was sitting at ringside, but refused to join the commentators, indicating she wanted to focus on the action. They showed how Paige ended up losing the title on Raw. Paige didn’t seem to be playing much of a heel at ringside. Eva pie-faced A.J. a couple times, then ran to the ropes when A.J. came after her. Evan tossed A.J. to ringside, where the Divas Champion exchanged glances with Paige. A.J. jumped on Eva’s back for a sleeper. Eva turned it into a side slam, but before she could execute the move, A.J. hooked in the Black Widow for the tap-out win.

WINNER: A.J., via submission, at 1:20. Even in that short of a match, Eva got too much offense.

Paige congratulated A.J. after the match, shook her hand and clapped for her.

- Another plug for Orton vs. Ambrose, still to come tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- Another July 4th-inspired video welcoming us back to Smackdown.

- Damien Sandow was in the ring dressed as Bruce Springsteen. He did his Springsteen impression but before he could get any further, Rusev’s theme hit and he came out with Lana. Sandow went after Rusev as soon as the Bulgarian entered the ring, but Rusev was having none of that. Lana worked the mic and told the crowd to shut up. She talked about it being America’s birthday and how the only thing we show the world on that day is how much fatter we get. Vladimir Putin was again shown on the Titan-Tron, but his picture was quickly replaced by Jack Swagger’s entrance video.

He and Zeb Colter walked out, with Colter on the stick. Colter said he hates illegal immigrants, and ungrateful illegal immigrants. He said they’re probably both illegals. Colter said it wasn’t a Russian who invented the Internet (Al Gore, duh), the automobile, or put the first man on the moon. He said the only good thing that came out of Russia was vodka. Lana told the “American swine” Colter to shut up. Colter and Swagger entered the ring as the crowd chanted “USA.” He then told Lana to shut up. He said he and Swagger want to get something straight with them. I’m assuming he was talking a fight, because Swagger took off his jacket. Colter asked the real Americans to repeat “we the people.” And they did so. They even chanted “we the people” which turned into a “USA” chant and back into “we the people.” That was weird. Rusev and Lana exited the ring without any physicality being exchanged.

- Orton and Rollins were walking backstage in a split-screen. They’re up next.

[Commercial Break]

- A Happy 4th of July from WWE.

- On Raw Monday night, Chris Jericho will face The Miz.

- Seth Rollins joined the announce team for the main event.

4 – RANDY ORTON vs. DEAN AMBROSE

Ambrose, with his left shoulder taped, did enough to Orton to get the Viper to take a walk at ringside early on. Orton slammed Ambrose early on as Cole questioned Rollins’ scruples. Ambrose tied Orton up on the mat. Orton kicked Ambrose in the bad shoulder, sending him outside the ring. The show cut to break 3:24 into the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 6:54 of the match. Ambrose came off the top and Orton moved out of the way of the dropkick. Did Cole really ask how we can take Rollins at his word, that he built the Shield, when Cole himself called Rollins “the architect” of The Shield for MONTHS? Ambrose, in desperation, sent Orton shoulder-first into the ring post. Ambrose peppered Orton with right hands. Off the second rope, Ambrose connected with a back elbow. Orton was then clotheslined over the top rope. Suicide dive followed. Ambrose sent Orton into the barricade. Orton was thrown into the ring, then Ambrose ran over to Rollins, diving over the announce table and onto his foe. He returned to the match and rolled up Orton for two. Ambrose tried his finish, but Orton hit him with a powerslam. Slight “RKO” chant from the crowd. Ambrose back-dropped Orton over the top and in front of the announce table. Ambrose tried another dive, but Rollins hit him in the shoulder with the briefcase for the disqualification.

WINNER: Ambrose, via DQ, at 12:40.

After the match, Orton RKO’d Ambrose. They tore the tape off Ambrose’s shoulder, and Rollins went to the top. Roman Reigns ran out and pushed Rollins off the top. Superman punch to Orton. Rollins pulled Orton out of the ring before Reigns could deliver a spear. The copyright logo was cued up as Reigns checked on Ambrose 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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