WWE Smackdown review
February 19, 2015
Taped 2/17/15 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Aired on SyFy
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- WWE Open.

- A video package aired with highlights from Raw, recapping the Daniel Bryan-Roman Reigns situation.

- Smackdown Open.

- Daniel Bryan came to the ring for a match. The Miz and Damien Mizdow were out next. As Miz and Mizdow came to the ring, they showed a “strategy session” with Miz and Mizdow backstage earlier. Miz reminisced about mentoring Bryan on NXT, and they even showed stills of that. Miz compared Mizdow to Bryan and said he doesn’t like all the things he makes Mizdow do, but he’s teaching him so he can become better. He said if Mizdow breaks away from Miz, he’ll never work in this town again.

1 – DANIEL BRYAN vs. THE MIZ

As soon as the match began, Miz had already gotten fed up with Mizdow playing to the crowd, so he sent him to the back with an Egyptian cotton towel to wipe his sweat. Miz told Mizdow, “Bye Felicia!” quoting both the movie “Friday” and more contemporarily, Keith Olbermann. Bryan hit all of his signature moves almost immediately. Miz did manage to take over on offense long enough to work the leg of Bryan. Yes Lock was hooked in before long, and Miz tapped.

WINNER: Bryan, via submission, at 2:54. Surprisingly quick match. Had it been longer, they could’ve played off the backstory between the two a little more.

Mizdow consoled Miz after the match.

- Later on tonight, Roman Reigns vs. Luke Harper.

- Also tonight: Dolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins, with J&J Security barred from ringside.

- Ryback came to the ring for the next match. He faces Kane after the break.

[Commercial Break]

2 – RYBACK vs. KANE

Kane had already made his entrance out of break. The two went back in forth with Kane getting the advantage following a succession of high-impact maneuvers. Ryback came back with a spinebuster for only a one-count. Kane regained control and sent Ryback outside the ring. Out of nowhere, Ryback picked Kane up for Shell Shock for the pinfall.

WINNER: Ryback, at 3:51. Serviceable for what it was. Could’ve been worse.

They replayed a few moments from the match.

- The announcers were shown on-camera discussing the Intercontinental Title Match made for Fastlane. They showed clips of Ambrose forcing Bad News Barrett to sign the contract on Raw.

- Dean Ambrose entered the arena. He’s joining the commentary team for Bad News Barrett’s match, which is next.

[Commercial Break]

3 – BAD NEWS BARRETT vs. R-TRUTH

Truth was making his way to the ring out of break, and a fan kept hitting him in the face with a sign as he got close to the railing. Strangely, no entrance for Barrett. Ambrose had his feet up on the announce desk as he did his thing. Barrett ran into a back elbow from Truth, and Truth nailed him with a few right hands. Barrett exploded out of the corner with a big boot. The announcers questioned Ambrose about why he thinks Barrett’s signature that he got on Monday is binding. Ambrose said he went to WWE.com and it said he’s in a match with Barrett for the title at Fastlane, so it must be true. They keep bringing up a legitimate question, how is Barrett’s signature on Monday legal, but they don’t seem prepared with a legitimate answer. Side kick by Truth for two. Axe kick missed and he was shoved into Winds of Change. Barrett kicked Truth out of the ring and hammered away at Truth right in front of Ambrose. He had been distracted by Ambrose’s mere presence all match. Ambrose turned his back on the match while Barrett kept trying to get his attention. Truth rolled up Barrett for the win.

WINNER: Truth, at 3:08. So…does R-Truth now get a title shot against the winner of Ambrose vs. Barrett at Fastlane?

- We’ll see how Rusev got crushed on Raw, next.

[Commercial Break]

- Mr. McMahon’s cover of Muscle & Fitness Magazine was shown.

- Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and Byron Saxton talked on-camera about Fastlane, specifically, John Cena vs. Rusev. Cole sent it to a video of what happened between Cena and Rusev on Raw.

- A Bray Wyatt promo aired from a dark, smoky place. “Time is tickin’, man,” he said. He told this person to find him, or he’ll find the person himself.

[Commercial Break]

- A video aired hyping the return of Sheamus.

4 – BIG E. & XAVIER WOODS vs. THE ASCENSION

An inset interview aired with The Ascension. They talked about how they’d destroy the two legends who were on Raw, Dusty Rhodes & Ric Flair. The Ascension said New Day, but same story tonight. The heels double-teamed Woods in their corner as Kofi Kingston tried to get his teammate back into it. Big E. was finally able to tag in at the two-minute mark. He took out his hanky and wiped his brow after putting down Viktor. Viktor got his knees up on a splash, though. The Fall of Man was hit to end the match.

WINNERS: The Ascension, at 2:51. In a battle of two teams, each with very big flaws, the right team probably went over.

The finish was replayed.

- Next: Roman Reigns vs. Luke Harper.

[Commercial Break]

5 – LUKE HARPER vs. ROMAN REIGNS

Harper was already in the ring. Punches and kicks were the offensive moves of choice for an aggressive Reigns early on. He plowed over Harper with a clothesline outside the ring. Harper, however, tossed Reigns into the steps and booted him down. Back in, Harper launched himself over the top and landed on Reigns. Reigns shook off a back elbow and clobbered Harper in the corner with more clotheslines. Jumping clothesline from Reigns for two. Reigns ran into a side slam for two. Harper set up for a powerbomb, but Reigns turned it into a Samoan drop. Superkick by Harper, but it barely rattled Reigns, who connected on the Spear for the win.

WINNER: Reigns, at 5:09. Reigns is like the embodiment of the Chris Jericho 1,004 holds promo: “Clothesline…jumping clothesline…Spear….clothesline…” This match got Bryan and Reigns on equal footing heading into Fastlane, which is where WWE wants them to be.

A replay aired of several key moments in the match.

- The announcers plugged Fastlane during the free month on the WWE Network.

- They showed clips of Triple H’s interaction with Ric Flair on Raw.

- The Big Show came out for a match. He takes on Erick Rowan, next.

[Commercial Break]

- Erick Rowan came to the ring for his match with Big Show. Show went after him before Rowan even got into the ring. Show whipped Rowan into the steps, and Rowan came up holding his shoulder. Show then sent Rowan into the ring-post, shoulder-first. Saxton talked about how this was Big Show letting out frustration. In the ring, the referee backed Show away from Rowan and he asked Rowan if he wants him to start the match. Rowan said yes and the ref obliged him.

6 – THE BIG SHOW vs. ERICK ROWAN

Show gave Rowan little time to recover, going right back after him as soon as the bell rang. A bodyslam followed. Show choked Rowan across the middle rope. Chokeslam by Show.

WINNER: Show, at 1:26. A total squash. Ryback won earlier in the show, Dolph Ziggler is positioned in the main event…and Rowan continues to job. Just interesting to see how Rowan seems to be the odd man out amongst those three.

Show’s chokeslam was replayed.

- Speaking of Ziggler, he faces Seth Rollins tonight with J&J Security barred from ringside.

[Commercial Break]

- The Bella Twins were on commentary for the next match.

7 – CAMERON vs. PAIGE

As Paige came to the ring, they showed Paige in her towel from Raw, having her gear stolen by the Bellas. She ended up dressing up as a Rosebud. Cameron was a little too cocky for her own good to start. Paige responded with knees to the mid-section. Cameron took Paige over and put the boots to her. Splash in the corner from Cameron, then a face-plant for a two-count. Paige took Cameron down with clotheslines and a dropkick. Superkick “connected” to the chin of Cameron. PTO for the win.

WINNER: Paige, via submission, at 2:08. It’s probably not a popular opinion, but Paige’s offense has really regressed lately. A lot of her stuff seems to show a ton of light. That’s not always her fault, sometimes the opponent taking the bump early, but it’s been happening more and more it seems.

- The announcers discussed the growing frustration between Goldust and Stardust, and they showed father Dusty getting involved on Raw.

- Renee Young interviewed Goldust backstage. She asked Goldust about facing his brother at Fastlane. Goldust said he and Cody once rekindled their brotherhood as part of this tag team. But then, darkness crept in. He said slowly, his brother slipped from him. Goldust said Stardust is a cancer who is eating his brother alive. He said tonight, he’ll have to do the most difficult thing he’s done in his career – beat his brother at Fastlane. Stardust appeared on the monitor behind Goldust. Stardust gave a Stardust stumper, then said after Fastlane, Cody won’t be the only one who ceases to exist: The universe will forget the name “Goldust.” Really nice work from Goldust here.

- Jimmy Uso came out for a singles match, accompanied by Jey and Naomi. He faces Tyson Kidd, next.

[Commercial Break]

8 – JIMMY USO vs. TYSON KIDD

Kidd and Cesaro (along with Natalya) did an inset interview before the match. Kidd said teaming with Cesaro was the greatest decision of his life. Natalya had a disgusted reaction to that and Kidd basically pretended she wasn’t there during the entire promo. Jimmy bodyslammed Kidd, then chopped him in the corner. As Uso continued to work over Kidd in the corner, Rusev came out and attacked Jey outside the ring. Then he entered the ring and beat up Jimmy and Kidd. Jey tried to get back in but was superkicked for his efforts.

WINNER: No Contest, at :56. I wish they would’ve used two guys in this spot that WEREN’T going to be in a title match at Fastlane.

Rusev continued pummeling Jimmy, then grabbed a mic at ringside. He ranted about John Cena in Russian.

- Next, Rollins vs. Ziggler.

[Commercial Break]

9 – DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. SETH ROLLINS – J&J SECURITY BARRED FROM RINGSIDE

During Ziggler’s entrance, they showed J&J Security getting involved in Ziggler vs. Rollins on Raw. The match began slow and went to break with Rollins putting the boots to Ziggler at 1:57.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 4:53 of the match. Kane and Big Show had made their way to ringside, while Ryback and Erick Rowan were on the opposite side. Short-arm clothesline from Rollins. Rollins still took things slowly. Ziggler jumped in the air and collided with Rollins. Didn’t look like both men were necessarily on the same page there. A corner charge by Rollins missed and Ziggler hit a neck-breaker. Standing switch into a roll-up by Ziggler for two. Rollins took back over with a shot to the mid-section. He couldn’t capitalize however, and a fameasser registered a two-count at 8:11 for Ziggler. Ziggler sent Rollins to ringside near Ryback and Rowan. Rollins took shots at both men, but Ziggler retaliated for the both of them. Kane tried to get involved once the two men were back in the ring, but Ziggler kicked him off the apron. However, a Rollins buckle bomb and curb stomp did the job.

WINNER: Rollins, at 9:36.

The finish was replayed. J&J Security joined Show, Kane, and Rollins at ringside to celebrate. Rollins found the odds in their favor and wanted to attack. Rowan and Ryback were challenged by the five men, and after Ryback was sent out of the ring, Rowan was able to fend off J&J Security until Kane and Show gave him a double chokeslam. Ryback came back after the theme of Rollins began playing and did some damage. He clotheslined Show, taking him off his feet. The heels recovered and attacked, once again standing tall following a Rollins curb stomp.


Did you watch Thursday’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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