WWE Smackdown review
April 16, 2015
Taped 4/14/15 in London, England
Aired on SyFy
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- Smackdown Open.

- John Cena kicked off the show by coming to the ring. As he did so, they showed a clip of his successful U.S Championship defense against Bad News Barrett, followed by Rusev’s attack and the announcement by Lana of a Russian Chain Match at Extreme Rules. Cena said Monday was painful, but very memorable. He thanked London for being a gracious host for WWE. Cena explained the rules of a Russian Chain Match, saying you’re locked to your opponent by the chain and the only way to win is to incapacitate your opponent and touch all four corners successfully. So, strap match rules. Cena said that match at Extreme Rules may not even involve him, because every time he does a U.S. Open Challenge, the title is on the line. Cena made the challenge for tonight. The team of Tyson Kidd & Cesaro came out, with Natalya.

Kidd said they’re not out there to accept his challenge. Instead, they were out to drop some facts on Cena. Cesaro said they were the greatest champions in WWE today, in part because they don’t pander to the audience. Kidd, referencing Cena’s Monday interview, said London doesn’t deserve a Wrestlemania. The tag champions entered the ring and agreed that there were some great chants on Monday, like a “please retire” chant. Cesaro said everyone wishes they couldn’t see Cena. Cena asked one of them to step up and fight right now. Before they could respond, Daniel Bryan came out wearing his Intercontinental Title around his waist. He had a mic and took issue with the tag champs proclaiming themselves the greatest champions in WWE today. Bryan did some comedy, polling the crowd about the best champions. He offered Cesaro and Kidd a tag shot against Cena and himself. The champs conferred with Natalya and Nattie accepted off-mic, but Kidd made it official by stating it on the mic.

- The returning Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and Byron Saxton were shown on-camera reacting to what we just heard.

- Neville takes on Sheamus tonight.

- Also tonight, we’ll see how the main event segment between Randy Orton and Seth Rollins developed.

- Bray Wyatt is next in a “rare” in-ring Smackdown appearance.

[Commercial Break]

- Confirmed: Bryan & Cena vs. Kidd & Cesaro tonight.

1 – R-TRUTH vs. BRAY WYATT

No entrance for Truth. Wyatt’s entrance was long enough for the both of them, however. Truth connected on his Lie Detector early on in the match. Truth danced while Wyatt popped back up in the spider walk. Truth then ran right into a right hand. The crowd began to sing “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands.” Scissors kick missed, and Wyatt delivered a diving elbow to Truth’s throat. Sister Abigail finished Truth.

WINNER: Wyatt, at 1:38. When you need an enhancement win for Wyatt, you can always count on R-Truth to get the job done.

Replays were shown of the finish.

- The announcers were again shown on-camera. Lawler asked how Cole was doing, and Cole answered quickly before moving on. He threw it to the Spanish announcers, who were also at ringside. They spoke briefly before they went back to the American announcers.

- The announcers narrated clips of the Divas Battle Royal from Monday night. That included Paige’s interview and Naomi’s attack. Cole noted that on doctor’s orders, Paige has been advised not to compete in WWE until further notice. Given WWE’s penchant for outrageous injury updates, this non-update, with little information provided, was probably for the best.

- Speaking of injuries, Roman Reigns was able to walk away from the chokeslam on top of a car that he fell victim to via The Big Show Monday night. Cole sent it to a soundbite from his interview with Reigns, now up on WWE.com, where Reigns discussed what he’ll do to Show in retribution. We’ll see video footage of that from Raw later on tonight.

[Commercial Break]

- The exterior of the O2 arena in London was shown.

- The Miz was in the ring. Miz said Mizdow got lucky last week. He said Mizdow is nothing without him. This feud is petering out in a hurry. They need to figure out how to get Mizdow over on his own before he fizzles. Miz said he made Mizdow, he made Summer Rae, and he made each and every fan. Not sure how that works. Bad News Barrett interrupted. Apparently they’re set for a match, and Barrett, with a mic and walking down the aisle, had to wait for Eden Stiles to announce him before he started his mic work, which was a bit awkward. Barrett said the fans came to see him, the man who will crush the Yes Movement at Extreme Rules.

2 – THE MIZ vs. BAD NEWS BARRETT

Miz made a production of taking off his sunglasses, as usual, and as he did so, Barrett set up for the Bull Hammer. Miz turned around right into the finish.

WINNER: Barrett, at :34. Barrett went toe-to-toe with Cena on Raw and got a quick win over Miz here. Not a bad few days in his home country.

- Neville vs. Sheamus, at Neville’s request, takes place tonight.

- Next, we’ll go back to Monday to see what stipulation was added to Rollins vs. Orton at Extreme Rules.

[Commercial Break]

- Lawler thanked Fall Out Boy for “Irresistible,” the official Extreme Rules theme.

- The announcers discussed the WWE World Title Match at Extreme Rules, and Cole pitched it to the Raw Rebound.

- Renee Young was backstage with Damien Mizdow and Summer Rae. She asked Mizdow how it felt to get a victory over Miz on Monday night. Mizdow said it almost feels like a “bright, summer….Rae.” She was about to ask about their kiss when Miz walked up and dismissed Young. Miz was still selling the Bull Hammer. Miz told Mizdow the win was a fluke and he asked Mizdow to stop using his name and mimicking him. Summer said Mizdow does Miz better than The Miz. Miz said he’s the originator, then Mizdow began aping all of Miz’s mannerisms, upsetting Miz. Summer whispered in Mizdow’s ear and Mizdow said the two of them should fight on Raw to keep the Miz name, wardrobe, entrance music…the whole brand. Summer goaded Miz into accepting. Miz said Monday, Mizdow will go back to the unemployment line and Summer would go back to playing Lingerie Football, where her wearing a helmet would be an improvement. She slapped Miz and Mizdow sold it too. They really need to get Mizdow away from the imitations now that he’s a face or else he’ll never make it on his own.

- Sheamus came to the ring. The WWE Trivia question of the night: Which former WWE Superstar is the famous brother of Road Warrior Animal? A) Michael Hayes B) Road Warrior Hawk (Michael Hegstrand) or C) John Laurinaitis. Sheamus vs. Neville is next.

[Commercial Break]

- The trivia answer: C) John Laurinaitis.

- Neville came to the ring for his match with Sheamus. As he did, they showed Sheamus assaulting Dolph Ziggler and Neville on Raw. In the ring, Sheamus got the mic and said Neville is just a tiny little man, just like Daniel Bryan and Dolph Ziggler. Sheamus put over Neville as the home-country guy. He said where he comes from, they don’t like English bastards. Which means he really doesn’t like Neville.

3 – SHEAMUS vs. NEVILLE

Sheamus seemed to toy with Neville early. Neville fired back with a heel kick and kicks to the legs of Sheamus. Neville headscissored Sheamus out of the ring, then dove over the top rope and onto Sheamus. He set Sheamus up for the Red Arrow, but Sheamus rolled away. Neville went after him, which led to Sheamus slamming Neville on the mats outside the ring. They cut to break at 1:45 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 4:50 with Sheamus controlling Neville on the mat. Back-breaker by Sheamus, of the Irish Curse variety. “Are you not entertained?” he shouted to the audience. Back to a rear chin-lock. Not for long, however, as Neville created separation with a jaw-breaker. Sheamus missed a corner shoulder charge. Back in the ring, Neville used more kicks to his advantage. Standing moonsault for only a one-count. Neville was tossed onto the apron, but he wouldn’t allow Sheamus to forearm him in the chest. Missile dropkick off the top by Neville for two. Sheamus was taken down by a kick and Neville came off the middle rope with a twisting splash for two. Now the Red Arrow. Sheamus knocked him off the top rope. Sheamus put Neville on his shoulders but Neville rolled him up for two. Two enziguiris and then a clothesline sent Sheamus over the top and to ringside. Sheamus picked Neville up and dropped him right on the announce table. That, apparently, was enough for a disqualification.

WINNER: Neville, via DQ, at 10:27. I was okay with Neville’s loss to Rollins, and still okay with a follow-up loss to Cena. A loss here to Sheamus would’ve been a bit much, though, so good to see they didn’t pull the trigger on that.

Sheamus continued the attack on Neville post-match, dropping knee after knee into the sternum of Neville in the ring. Ziggler finally ran out to make the save and chase off Sheamus. Ziggler took a mic and said he knows why Sheamus doesn’t like the English, because they don’t like him either. Ziggler ran down a list of people who don’t like Sheamus, and that’s because he’s a bully. Ziggler said he’s standing up to a bully and challenged Sheamus right now. From the entranceway, Sheamus got a mic from…somewhere…and told Ziggler to kiss his arse. Sheamus said he actually meant that literally, as he and Ziggler will compete in a “Kiss Me Arse” match at Extreme Rules. They’re really straining for “extreme” stipulations these days. Ziggler agreed because he just wanted to face Sheamus. He said he’ll grind and stretch Sheamus so bad, he won’t know which way is up, and then he’ll make Sheamus kiss his own arse.

They replayed the “blatant” DQ and Ziggler’s save.

- Daniel Bryan and John Cena were presumably discussing strategy backstage (no audio) ahead of their tag match later on.

[Commercial Break]

- More exterior shots from London.

- Los Matadores were in the ring out of break. Byron Saxton said Torito was looking “vascular” tonight. Big E. said The New Day was there to bring foggy London some sunshine. Kofi said you don’t see them getting bent out of shape when the fans yell “New Day sucks” because they clap or they snap. So they’ll clap on…and on…and on.

4 – LOS MATADORES vs. BIG E. & KOFI KINGSTON

The chops were laid in to Big E. early on. Big E. exploded out of the corner with a clotheslines and showed some intensity before tagging out to Kingston. Springboard by Kofi, but he was caught with a dropkick coming down. Tag made by Los Matadores. Flying back elbows by Diego found the mark. Springboard dive into a cover was broken up by Big E. Kofi caught Fernando with Trouble in Paradise. A Diego roll-up got two. Torito got on the apron to cheerlead, and Xavier Woods took him down. Torito sent him flying however. The finishing sequence was out of sync a bit as Kofi avoided a back-stabber, tagged Big E., and they performed their double-team finish for the win.

WINNERS: The New Day, at 2:31. Strange to think the rejection of The New Day as babyfaces has led to a renewed push for them.

- The announcers sent it to a clip of Fandango losing to Stardsut after the match, with Fandango then leading the crowd in Fandango-ing.

- Backstage were Rosa Mendes and Fandango. Fandango let Rosa down and said she had to let the whole world “Fandango.” Rosa seemed upset as Fandango walked off. She was passed by the Rosebuds in the hallway. Adam Rose told Rosa that he sees her for what she truly is. And if she makes the right move, she could be number one again in a certain someone’s life. He told her to think about it.

- The Big Show was walking backstage. He’s on his way out next to talk about his assault on Roman Reigns.

[Commercial Break]

- The Big Show came out. He stopped at the top of the entranceway. Show said it became obvious to him Monday night that people from England suck. He said they don’t appreciate him. Show said no one in the world can stop him, not even Roman Reigns. He said some people in The Authority see Reigns as a threat. But he sees him as a victim of an automobile crash after what happened Monday. The car on Smackdown was the same one as on Raw, so it still had the dents. He talked about each time he threw Reigns into the car, backed up by video evidence. Show sat atop the car and continued to insult England. He said he could’ve finished off Reigns on Raw, but didn’t, because he likes to do things on his time. And that time is at Extreme Rules, when he’ll face Reigns in a Last Man Standing Match. He vowed that Reigns wouldn’t be the last man standing at Extreme Rules. “Respect that,” he closed.

- The all-champions tag match is still to come.

- But next, a Triple-Threat Divas Match with Natalya, Alicia Fox, and Cameron.

[Commercial Break]

5 – ALICIA FOX vs. CAMERON vs. NATALYA – TRIPLE-THREAT MATCH

Natalya only had the end of an entrance. They showed the finish of Fox vs. Natalya last week with Cameron as the special ref, followed by Cameron’s post-match attack. Both Fox and Nattie went after Cameron to start. Natalya tried to lock the Sharpshooter on Fox after Cameron slipped out of the ring. Fox took Natalya over with a headscissors. Short dropkick by Nattie. Cameron pulled Natalya out of the ring and pushed her into the barricade. Running boot by Fox on Cameron. She missed another boot in the corner, though. To the top they went and of course we had to do the three-person suplex/powerbomb spot, just because. The ladies traded pin attempts, with Nattie then taking Fox down with a tornado clothesline. Cameron and Nattie exchanged roll-ups, but Nattie locked on the Sharpshooter. Cameron tried to reach the ropes, but Natalya pulled her away. Nattie had to get off when Fox went for a scissors kick. Sharpshooter to Fox, but Cameron broke it up. Terrible scissors kick by Fox on Natalya. Cameron threw Fox out of the ring and stole the pin.

WINNER: Cameron, at 4:30. There was a lot of action in this one, but the quality was varied at best.

- The main event tag match is still to come.

[Commercial Break]

6 - ADAM ROSE vs. FANDANGO

No entrance for Rose, but Fandango came out to his old music. Shoulder tackle by Rose, but Fandango caught him with a dropkick. Clothesline sent Rose to the outside. Fandango went flying with a cross-body onto Rose. Rosa Mendes ran to the ring and argued with Fandango. Rose took advantage with a baseball slide. Rose seemed happy to see Rosa. As Rose worked over Fandango in the ring, Rosa got on the apron. That distracted Rose and allowed Fandango to roll him up for the win.

WINNER: Fandango, at 1:23. A little surprised they’re putting this much effort into Fandango this week, but not so surprised they’re trying to recreate something that was cool two years ago.

- A Bray Wyatt backstage promo aired. Wyatt was clearly addressing someone, though we still don’t know who.

- Daniel Bryan came out for the main event, followed by his tag partner, John Cena. The match is next.

[Commercial Break]

- This Monday on Raw, Triple H will make a big announcement related to the return of Tough Enough.

7 - DANIEL BRYAN & JOHN CENA vs. TYSON KIDD & CESARO

Cesaro and Kidd quickly double-teamed Cena to keep him away from his corner. Cena ran into a boot by Kidd, and Kidd got a two-count off of it at 2:21. Cena was able to kick Cesaro out of the ring and try to make a tag. He was crawling three minutes into the match as if he had been in a grueling, 15-minute affair to that point. Gutwrench suplex by Cesaro. The tag champs kept taking Bryan off the apron when a tag was about to be made. Kidd ran into an Attitude Adjustment, but Kidd landed on his feet. Dropkick with Cena on his knees for two. Bryan finally tagged in at 5:44. Bryan hammered away on Kidd. Bryan kicked Cesaro, who was out of the ring, through the ropes. Kicks to the chest of Kidd by Bryan. Bryan alternated kicking Cesaro and Kidd in the chest. Natalya got on the apron and Kidd inadvertently ran into her, knocking her intot he arms of Cesaro. Cesaro dumped Nattie and ran into the ring, only to fall victim to a Cena Attitude Adjustment. Bryan forced Kidd to tap to the Yes Lock.

WINNERS: Cena and Bryan, at 7:52.

The faces celebrated to end the show.


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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