WWE Smackdown review
January 9, 2015
Taped 1/6/15 in Laredo, Tex.
Aired on USA Network
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- WWE Open.

- We were transported back to Monday night via video package, wherein The Authority returned and by the end of the night, three wrestlers were fired.

- No doubt because of the savings resulting from the aforementioned cuts, the in-arena portion of Smackdown began with fireworks. Seth Rollins was introduced first, and he was flanked by Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble. For the final time, the trio of Tom Phillips, Michael Cole and JBL opened the show on-camera, discussing Rollins being inserted into the WWE World Title match at the Royal Rumble. Rollins was predictably in a good mood and showed a still photo of Cena from Raw after the firings were made. Rollins said he manipulated Cena into doing something he swore he’d never do, that being bringing back The Authority. He also mentioned the firings. The artificial crowd sweetener cheered the same length and same volume to each name mentioned. Funny how that works. Rollins was pumped about being in the main event of the Royal Rumble PPV.

To show that he and The Authority were not vindictive, he asked for ten seconds of silence to acknowledge the “lackluster” careers of Dolph Ziggler, Ryback, and Erick Rowan. They even did the ten-bell salute as the heels stood in the ring, heads bowed. I’m sure some people will have a problem with that. Before they could get through ten chimes, Roman Reigns’ music interrupted and he came out through the crowd. He entered the ring while Rollins kept the stooges at bay. “Good to see you again, brother,” said Rollins, less-than-warmly.

Reigns said he’s sorry to interrupt, but then said he wasn’t sorry. He said Rollins was full of himself…or, full of something else. Reigns quoted Sylvester the Cat (“Sufferin’ succotash) in verbally abusing Rollins, then winked at the camera. The crowd began a “Roman Reigns” chant. He ended up clearing the ring of Rollins, Noble, and Mercury, standing tall as the suits held Rollins back on the stage. The Big Show appeared from backstage to stand at the side of Rollins. Kane then walked out with a mic. He put Reigns in a handicap match against Rollins and Big Show for later in the night. Kane offered Reigns a chance to find a tag partner, but that partner would fall in the disfavor of The Authority. Show took the mic and compared his knockout punch to the Superman punch of Reigns. He said his fist will knock out Reigns and anybody else who gets in his way tonight.

- In addition to that match, the WWE Tag Team Championships will be on the line as The Usos defend in a Triple-Threat Tag Match against Miz & Mizdow and Goldust & Stardust.

- The New Day was backstage. Big E. faces Adam Rose in a rematch, next.

[Commercial Break]

- Kane was on the phone backstage, assuring someone (presumably The Authority) that he has everything under control. Miz and Mizdow walked in and Miz told Kane he’s happy The Authority is back, even if they did cancel Miz TV with Seth Rollins tonight. Miz asked Kane to switch their match to a straight-up tag match for the titles tonight. Kane said that’s fair. Miz asked Mizdow for water, but Mizdow accidentally got it on Kane. Kane turned, saying life isn’t fair and told Miz to thank his stunt double for the fact that the Triple Threat match is still on.

1 – ADAM ROSE vs. BIG E.

No entrance for Rose and the Rosebuds, though Cesaro and Tyson Kidd were also at ringside with him. JBL said New Day is too positive and they must be hiding something. I have a feeling that’s a Vince McMahon opinion of positive people. They showed Cesaro and Kidd surprising Big E. with an attack on Raw. Big E. wasted no time going after Rose. Rose responded with a spinebuster. A wide shot of the ring made it looked like there may be two more Rosebuds in body suits. Big E. worked out of a rest-hold, with clothelines. Belly-to-belly throw from the power-lifter. Big splash with some good height on the move by Big E. Rose stunned Big E. in the corner and hit a Tornado DDT for two. Rose made the mistake of jumping into the arms of Big E., who hit his finisher for the win.

WINNER: Big E., at 2:35. The teaming of Cesaro & Kidd with Rose seems odd, as if they were randomly programmed together simply to give the six-man group of New Day someone to go against. For Rose, at least it’s something better than The Bunny.

A few of the moves from the match were replayed.

- Still to come, the Triple Threat Tag Title Match.

- Also tonight, will Roman Reigns find someone brave enough to partner with him against Seth Rollins and Big Show?

[Commercial Break]

- The Ascension came to the ring for a match. Eden Stiles said, “Introducing first…” when announcing The Ascension, but then didn’t bother with the jobbers. Viktor too the mic and mentioned past dominant tag-teams such as The Road Warriors, who Konnor said couldn’t carry their shoulder-pads. Next was the Powers of Pain. Konnor said their power would cause them pain.

2 – THE ASCENSCION vs. TWO YOUNG UP-AND-COMERS

Konnor booted the doughy jobber, then dumped him outside the ring. Viktor clotheslined him outside the ring. As the legal man, he nailed the other opponent, sending him flying off the apron (Phillips noted Viktor hit the other “Superstar” in the match. I’m sure he got in trouble for calling THAT guy a “Superstar”). The Fall of Man led to the pinfall.

WINNERS: The Ascension, at :44. I’m sure Vince and those in WWE liked how controversial the comments made by The Ascension on Monday turned out to be on social media.

- Byron Saxton was backstage with The Usos. They decried the return of The Authority and the fact that they have to defend their titles in a Triple Threat Tag Match, but by the end of the match, were hyped enough to look forward to it.

[Commercial Break]

- Total Divas won the PopSugar.com award for 2014 Best Reality Show.

3 – ALICIA FOX vs. NAOMI

No entrance for Fox. They showed her getting in Naomi’s face backstage on Raw, resulting in an attack. When Naomi came to the ring, they aired an inset interview with her, calling Fox “shady” and “psychotic.” She said she’s going to get Uso crazy on Naomi. Naomi delivered as promised once the bell rang. Hard whip into the buckle followed up by a splash from Naomi. Fox tried to flip Naomi, but Naomi landed on Fox for a one-count. Monkey-flip by Noami found the mark, as did a hurricanrana. Fox rolled Naomi up out of the corner and illegally used the ropes for leverage with her long legs. The ref didn’t see it and counted the pin.

WINNER: Fox, at 1:12. We’ve gotten to the point where Divas matches are going back to one-minute specials on TV. Sad, especially with the work being done by the Divas in NXT.

- The announcers talked on-camera about Triple H’s Wednesday WWE.com interview with Michael Cole. A snippet was played where Triple H talked about the three fired wrestlers and their involvement at Survivor Series.

[Commercial Break]

- The announcers talked on-camera about Smackdown’s move to Thursday nights, as well as the WWE Network finally arriving for UK customers.

- Clips were shown of Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt in an Ambulance Match from Raw.

- Backstage (or from some smoky abyss), Bray Wyatt cut a promo. He said he used to think Ambrose was different, but instead, he’s like the rest of them, an insect trying to climb out of a jar. He said fate is a pretty girl with a sword in her hand. Wyatt said as fate closed in on Ambrose, the ambulance door shut. He said the long, winding road will lead him to a new destination. He discussed his participation in the upcoming Royal Rumble match. He said 29 others will join him and 29 others will fall.

- The Usos came to the ring for the tag title match, followed by Goldust & Stardust. Stardust had silver face-paint for the occasion. They cut to break before Miz & Mizdow’s entrance.

[Commercial Break]

- The Miz & Damien Mizdow made their entrance out of break.

4 – THE USOS vs. GOLDUST & STARDUST vs. DAMIEN MIZDOW & THE MIZ – TRIPLE-THREAT TAG-TEAM MATCH FOR THE WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

Shoulder knock-down by Miz as the match began slowly. Jey Usos and Miz traded pin attempts, with Jey going to a headlock take-over when no pin was registered. Jimmy tagged in, but Miz caught him with a jawbreaker. Stardust tagged himself in when Miz was running the ropes. He curtsied to Jimmy then locked up. Back heel kick by Jimmy. Jey came in and hit a diving headbutt for just a one-count. Goldust landed a cheap-shot right hand then tagged in. Miz and Goldust & Stardust were sent to ringside, so Mizdow followed suit. Jimmy held the ropes open so Jey could fly through the ropes and onto them. Falling Star by Stardust on Miz and Jey. Jimmy was crotched on the top rope and Stardust went for a pin, getting two. The babyface champs were in peril as they went to break at 5:56 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 9:26 with Miz tagging Jimmy to become the legal man against Stardust. Miz refused to tag Mizdow, which allowed Stardust to roll him up for two. Mizdow tagged himself in and got in some offense against Stardust. Mizdow moved into some selling at the hands of Goldust and Stardust. Miz was kicked off the apron, and when Mizdow made his way to the corner in desperation, there was no one to tag. Goldust was launched out of the ring and Mizdow had no choice but to tag Jey. Double superkick felled Goldust, who had to kick out because Miz was late breaking up the pin. Everything broke down at that point. Stardust accidentally low-bridged his brother out of the ring, and Jimmy dove onto Stardust. Jimmy then returned to the ring and splashed Goldust for the win.

WINNERS: The Usos, at 15:24. Good effort all around. Solid TV tag match, furthering the credibility of The Usos by having them successfully defend against two teams.

- In tonight’s main event, Roman Reigns may go it alone against Seth Rollins and The Big Show.

[Commercial Break]

- Bad News Barrett came out for a match. After he came to the ring, highlights of Barrett’s Intercontinental Title win over Dolph Ziggler were shown. He got the mic and gave good news, that he’s the new I.C. Champion. To show there are no hard feelings, he asked Ziggler to come out for his championship rematch. Barrett sarcastically said he remembered Ziggler was fired on Monday. He also officially announced himself as a participant in the Royal Rumble match.

5 – BAD NEWS BARRETT vs. SIN CARA

Barrett immediately delivered a big boot to Cara. He put a beating on Cara in the corner. Sprinboard headbutt by Cara, then a clothesline. Springboard cross-body for two. Barrett hit Winds of Change as Cara came off the ropes, but it only got him a two-count. He picked Cara up for Wasteland, but Cara slipped out the back and rolled him up for two. Barrett missed a charge and Cara kicked him in the head. Cara went to the top and hit a senton for…the win?

WINNER: Cara, at 2:03. Really?

After the match, Barrett attacked Cara in the aisle. He brought Cara back into the ring and delivered the Bull-Hammer elbow. They replayed Cara’s finish and his victory, followed by the attack.

- The announcers plugged the WWE Network and the Royal Rumble title match that will be on the Network.

- Up next, we’ll relive the firings of three talents on Monday and hear their comments that were recorded immediately following Raw.

[Commercial Break]

- The announcers hyped the move of Smackdown to Thursday (poor Tom Phillips was so on board with the move).

- They showed comments made by Ryback, Erick Rowan, and Dolph Ziggler after Raw, exclusively (not so much now) on WWE.com. All were quite subdued.

- Back to the announcers, who reacted to the comments and the firings.

- Roman Reigns was shown walking backstage. His match is next.

[Commercial Break]

- Michael Cole hyped Daniel Bryan’s return to in-ring action, scheduled for next Thursday night on Smackdown.

- Seth Rollins and Big Show were in the ring for the main event, with Kane, Joey Mercury, and Jamie Noble looking on from ringside. As Reigns came to the ring, they showed the end of Show vs. Reigns from Raw. They also showed Rollins and Reigns going toe-to-toe earlier tonight. Before the match began, Dean Ambrose walked out to partner with Reigns. As soon as Ambrose hit the ring, a brawl broke out amongst the four men. Ambrose and Reigns cleared the ring of the heels.

6 – THE BIG SHOW & SETH ROLLINS vs. ROMAN REIGNS & DEAN AMBROSE

Ambrose’s manic offense kept the heels off balance. Show threatened Ambrose that he’d “knock your ass out.” Show pulled Rollins out of the ring to give him a breather. They went to break at 2:01 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 5:20 with Show and Rollins back in control. On the WWE App, fans saw Big Show taking out the knee of Ambrose during the break to turn the tide. A thumb to the eye gave Ambrose a quick respite, but Rollins was right back on him, working the knee and leg. J&J Security worked over Ambrose outside the ring while the ref was distracted. Show finally tagged in and gave Ambrose a shot to the ribs. Tornado DDT by Ambrose on Show and both men were down. The tag was finally made to Reigns at 10:15 of the contest. As you’d expect, Reigns had his way with Rollins. Kane distracted Reigns, but Reigns threw Rollins into Kane. Superman punch to Rollins, then to J&J at the same time. Show came in and chokeslammed Reigns. Ambrose delivered a dropkick to Show off the top rope. He went to the top again and dove onto everyone but Rollins and Reigns. Reigns avoided the Curb Stomp and Speared Rollins for the win.

WINNERS: Reigns and Ambrose, at 11:39.

Some action from late in the match was replayed. Ambrose and Reigns celebrated in the aisle 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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