WWE Smackdown review
May 7, 2015
Taped 5/5/15 in Ottawa, Canada
Aired on SyFy
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- WWE Open.

- They showed clips of Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins from Raw, wherein Ambrose won a spot in the WWE World Title Match at Payback. Also shown: Clips of Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns from later that night.

- Smackdown Open.

- Byron Saxton and Tom Phillips were shown at ringside following fireworks that kicked off the show. They plugged the Fatal Four-Way contract signing set for tonight. They sent it to the ring, where Jerry “The King” Lawler was waiting with a mic. Lawler talked about the King of the Ring Tournament held exclusively “on the award-winning WWE Network.” Ugh. Lawler mentioned the difficulty in winning such a tournament, then introduced the winner of said tournament, Bad News Barrett. Barrett came out with robe, scepter, and crown.

Barrett quickly interrupted Lawler and noted there’s only one King in WWE, and it isn’t Lawler. Barrett said, unlike Lawler, he earned the King moniker. He demanded Lawler start their conversation with “all hail King Barrett.” So they’re basically aping Booker T’s KOTR win. Barrett insulted Memphis and said the only throne Lawler is qualified to sit on is the toilet. He once again told Lawler to say “all hail King Barrett.” Lawler turned him down. Barrett then ended the interview and set up to deliver the Bull Hammer to Lawler. Before he could, Dolph Ziggler came out with a mic. Ziggler said Barrett is coming off like a renaissance fair reject. Referee Mike Chioda materialized out of nowhere and Ziggler promised to drop Barrett. We’ve got a match.

1 – BAD NEWS BARRETT vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER

Barrett booted Ziggler in the corner then delivered a suplex for a two-count. Ziggler came back with a dropkick and Barrett rolled out of the ring. They cut to break at 1:28 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 4:19 with Ziggler fighting out of the corner, albeit briefly, as the King put a stop to the offense. A kick to the face by Barrett led to a two-count. Ziggler hit the ropes, but ran right into Winds of Change for a near-fall at 6:10. Fameasser out of nowhere by Ziggler, but the pin attempt was broken up by an interfering Sheamus.

WINNER: Ziggler, via disqualification, at 6:46. A bit truncated for what one would expect from these two. Good, but nothing particularly memorable.

Sheamus and Barrett double-teamed Ziggler after the match. Ziggler was tied up in the ropes but before further damage could be done, Neville came out to make the save. A tag-team match after the break perhaps?

[Commercial Break]

2 – BAD NEWS BARRETT & SHEAMUS vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER & NEVILLE

Hey, how about this. The match was joined in progress with Sheamus putting the boots to Neville. Sheamus cheap-shotted Ziggler, then delivered the Irish Curse backbreaker to Neville. Barrett tagged in and continued the assault on the back of Neville. Neville was sent into the ropes and Barrett’s boot found the mark. Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker by Sheamus to Neville. Sheamus missed a corner charge and went shoulder-first into the post. Neville, finally made the tag to Ziggler, and Barrett tagged in for the heels. Ziggler went to work on both opponents. The match broke down with all four getting involved, and Neville diving onto Sheamus outside the ring. Barrett rolled up Ziggler and used the ropes for leverage, but Neville knocked his feet off. That allowed Ziggler to hit the Zig Zag for the win.

WINNERS: Ziggler and Neville, 5:46 shown. Usually it’s Ziggler selling most of the match and making the hot tag, but instead, he was the recipient of the tag here with Neville, in the underdog role, doing the selling.

They replayed the finish of the match.

- Still to come, a six-man tag match featuring The New Day challenging Cesaro, Tyson Kidd, and a mystery partner.

- Renee Young was backstage with Dean Ambrose. She asked him about his odds in the Fatal Four-Way match. He said he’s not really a match guy. He said he doesn’t care for rules or schedules…or authority. Ambrose said in a Fatal Four-Way, anybody can win at any time so maybe the last guy you expect will walk out as champion. He had a feeling that nobody will be happy to see him at the contract signing tonight.

[Commercial Break]

3 – LUKE HARPER vs. FANDANGO

Harper did a slow version of the Fandango, but then caught Fandango by surprise with a boot to the face. Fandango chopped away at Harper and caught the big man with a dropkick. Spinning heel kick followed. Tornado DDT by the dancing man, but Harper seemed to shrug off all the offense Fandango hit him with. He slammed Fandango off the top rope and delivered a big clothesline for the win.

WINNER: Harper, at 1:32. So much for the rejuvenation of Fandango. It wasn’t going to last, anyway. Good, needed win for Harper, too.

After the match, Erick Rowan came to the ring. Rowan de-masked once in the ring and attacked Fandango. Full-nelson slam was delivered, then he left the ring. That’s a good move, too…Rowan was going nowhere as a babyface.

- Still to come: The Payback Fatal Four-Way contract signing.

[Commercial Break]

- Lana was in the ring out of break. She was smiling as the crowd chanted her name. She even thanked the crowd. She asked them not to cheer for her because it angers Rusev. Before she could say anything else, Rusev’s music hit and he marched to the ring with the Russian flag. He was gesticulating wildly at Lana, yelling at her in Russian. He ordered her to the back. Once she left, he began cutting a promo on John Cena, saying Cena’s wins against him were flukes. He said Cena showed Sami Zayn mercy on Raw, and mercy is a sign of weakness. He vowed to win back the U.S. Title at Payback. This Monday on Raw, Rusev wants to tell Cena to his face why he’ll say the words “I Quit.” Short, but effective promo from Rusev.

- The announcers were shown on-camera and they talked about the WWE Network being free to new subscribers for the month of May.

- Renee Young was standing by backstage with Roman Reigns. She talked about the combustible elements that would be in the ring for the contract signing. Reigns said he’s been rivals with Randy Orton since day one. He hates Seth Rollins, but Ambrose is like a brother to him. Reigns said he would bring the biggest fight the world has ever seen to Payback.

- New Day vs. Cesaro, Kidd, and a mystery partner, is next.

[Commercial Break]

4 – THE NEW DAY vs. CESARO & TYSON KIDD & RYBACK

During New Day’s entrance, they showed Kofi Kingston pinning Randy Orton in the tag match on Raw. Ryback got the better of Kofi Kingston. Cesaro held Xavier Woods up in the air on a vertical suplex and Ryback did the same with Big E. Kidd joined them, but gave Kingston a snap suplex as the other two finally brought their men to the mat. Kidd dove through the ropes and onto Woods outside the ring. Cesaro did the same to Kingston while Ryback bowled over Big E. The crowd began a “Feed Me More” chant. Woods managed to dropkick Kidd off the apron. Big E. slammed Kidd’s back into the apron and barricade a number of times. They cut to break at 4:49 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 8:20 with New Day in control. DDT by Woods for a two-count on Kidd. Ryback made the hot tag at 9:53. Cesaro did the running uppercuts again, this time to Kingston. Kidd stood on Cesaro’s shoulders after a tag and Cesaro walked him out to mid-ring. Kidd hit an elbowdrop but Big E. broke up the pin. As Ryback went outside the ring to continue to work Woods over, Bray Wyatt’s logo flashed on the screen and the arena went dark. However, Wyatt didn’t come out. The distraction allowed Ryback to be take out outside the ring and Kingston rolled up Kidd in the ring, using the tights, for the win.

WINNERS: New Day, at 12:17. New Day vs. Cesaro & Kidd has become a compelling tag title feud. I thought I liked Cesaro and Kidd as heels, but I may like them more as babyfaces.

- Randy Orton was backstage with Renee Young. Orton said he doesn’t sweat strategy, as he’ll drop anyone who gets in his way (even Vince McMahon) and suggested that one of his opponents won’t make it to Payback after tonight.

[Commercial Break]

5 – EMMA vs. NAOMI

No entrance for Emma. Naomi was accompanied by Tamina, who returned on Raw. Naomi and Tamina did an inset interview and Naomi talked about the other Divas trying to steal the spotlight. Tamina said on Raw, everyone was reminded what she can do. Naomi slammed Emma’s head into the turnbuckle a number of times. Emma fought out of the corner with forearms. Naomi mounted Emma and hammered away. Neck-breaker, then a kip-up from Naomi. Standing dropkick by Naomi for a two-count at 2:28. Missed corner splash by Naomi and a roll-up by Emma for two. Emma was caught with the Rear View out of nowhere, allowing Naomi to pick up the win.

WINNER: Naomi, at 3:24. It looks like Naomi is still trying to find a rhythm and a moveset on offense as a heel.

Tamina and Naomi laid out Emma again after the match. The finish was then replayed, as was Tamina’s post-match superkick.

- On camera, the announcers discussed the returning WWE Tough Enough. They showed some tapes that had been sent in.

- The Fatal Four-Way contract signing is still to come.

[Commercial Break]

- Renee Young was joined backstage by Seth Rollins and J&J Security. Rollins said he shocked the world by capturing the title at Wrestlemania and could do it again at Payback. Rollins reacted to what Kane said, as brought up by Young, and Rollins called Kane pathetic and jealous of him. He said brains are the one thing he has over Kane.

6 – LOS MATADORES vs. LUCHA DRAGONS

No entrance for Los Matadores. Kalisto took down Fernando with a headscissors. Sin Cara came in and matched Kalisto with a headscissors take-down of his own. Tilt-a-whirl back-breaker by Diego on Cara. After Fernando kicked Cara to ringside, El Torito dove onto him from the apron. They cut to break at 2:38 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 5:59 with Cara being suplexed by both members of Los Matadores. Kalisto made the tag and wowed the crowd. Saxton said Kalisto’s offense is “dynamic velocity.” Kalisto opened the ropes for Cara to dive through onto Fernando, but Cara came up short as his feet seemed to get caught in the ropes. It was a pretty ugly landing. He was back in the ring soon after however, and he small packaged Diego for the win.

WINNERS: Lucha Dragons, at 8:01.

They replayed a few key spots in the match. After the match, one of the matadors shoved Torito to the mat. The other matador was yelling at him.

- Next, the contract signing for the Payback main event.

[Commercial Break]

- Kane was in the ring for the contract signing. He said it was his job to make sure the voices of the fans were heard, which is why the Payback title match is a Fatal Four-Way. He said the match will be sanctioned tonight when the participants sign on the dotted line. Randy Orton came out first. Next was Roman Reigns. Dean Ambrose was third, followed by the WWE World Champion Seth Rollins and J&J Security. Rollins and his security members didn’t quite make it to the ring, as they stayed on the stage. Kane tried to commence the activities, but Ambrose demanded Rollins’ presence. Rollins said he wasn’t coming to the ring. Reigns said he was going to sign the contract then kick Seth’s ass. Reigns signed first as Orton gave Rollins a newsflash, that they’re all after Seth’s title. Orton then signed and Ambrose threatened to drag Rollins to the ring. He signed third.

Rollins said Kane has the authority to sign his name to the contract. That seems odd. Kane said it’s correct in theory. However, Kane heard what Rollins said about him in his interview earlier tonight, about how Kane was obsolete and irrelevant. Kane said if Rollins was physically unable to attend the signing, he’d be able to sign as Rollins’ proxy. I learn so much about contract law through wrestling. Kane insisted Rollins come to the ring to sign himself. Rollins and his security then walked to the ring. “Justin Bieber” chants greeted Rollins. Joey Mercury was sent into the ring as Rollins stayed on the stairs. Rollins insisted on reviewing the contract that Mercury took for him. Rollins called Ambrose a “low-rent Roddy Piper,” attributing the quote to Roman Reigns back in their Shield days. Rollins tried to stir the pot amongst the three of them.

Rollins finally felt comfortable enough to enter the ring. He signed the contract and shoved it into the chest of Kane. Ambrose started clearing the table as Rollins and Kane argued. Ambrose set up the table in the corner as Rollins and security finally saw what was going on. Ambrose tossed Mercury into the table, but it didn’t break. Everybody began brawling. Ambrose hit Jamie Noble with a chair that he tossed to ringside, then Ambrose took out Kane with a suicide dive. Superman punch by Reigns to Kane. Rollins outsmarted Reigns and Ambrose but turned around into an RKO. He was able to leave the ring before Orton could connect however. Reigns and Ambrose began arguing. RKO to Ambrose, Superman punch to Orton and a running knee by Rollins to Reigns. Rollins stood tall as his music played 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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