2/7 WWE Smackdown HOLT report: In-person notes from attending live TV event in Indianapolis, Styles and Bryan popularity

WWE SMACKDOWN IN-PERSON REPORT
MARCH 7, 2017
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. AT BANKERS FIELDHOUSE
REPORT BY MAT LAVORE, PWTORCH SUBSCRIBER

The crowd was really into the show and it was a fun audience to be a part of.

Biggest pop of the night was by far Daniel Bryan. The crowd in Indy was in love with him and popped big every time he came out. He’s the only person that came out that got all cheers. For Indy, Daniel Bryan is WWE’s biggest babyface. Next biggest pop would be John Cena with A.J. Styles a close second to him. Randy Orton got a top star reaction as well.

Most Heat: Alexa Bliss

Most signs in the audience for any one star were for Randy Orton.

Tons of fans wearing John Cena gear. The Cena & Nikki teaming was really over with the crowd. Not sure how it came across on TV, but The Miz got a main event star reaction from the crowd with about half the audience cheering him and half booing him.

For a heel there were lots of kids in Styles gear: hats, shirts, gloves. The fans seem to just be waiting for permission to cheer Styles. Lots of Styles chants throughout the night with about half the crowd cheering him in the main event.

There was a long stretch in the middle of the show of about 30 minutes where everyone in the arena was getting pretty restless just watching the screens for commercials and the Dean Ambrose-Baron Corbin backstage segments. Tons of the same commercials played throughout the night. I must have watched the commercial for their app video game 8-10 times.

The crowd was really into the Orton-Styles match. I was really excited to see it as I had just been telling my girlfriend a few days before that I would really like to see those two go up against one another. Awesome main event that really made the show a hit.

About 25-30 percent of the audience left after Smackdown was over and didn’t stick around for 205 Live. During 205 Live, the crowd seemed to be really into Neville, Austin Aries, and Jack Gallagher though. I got my first ever arena chant going last night during 205 Live with “We want Jack! We want Jack!” Pretty cool to come home and watch 205 Live on the WWE Network and hear Mauro Renallo reference the crowd chanting for Jack Gallagher.

The dark match at the end wasn’t much of a match. Dean Ambrose came out still selling the injuries from the forklift spot earlier which was a nice touch for the live crowd. He did some mic work saying they love putting on a good show for the WWE Universe and were happy to be in Indy even though the night hadn’t gove well for him, referencing his forklift injury from Smackdown. Baron Corbin’s music then hit and interrupted him and he came down to the ring and attacked Ambrose. The Miz then came out and they both doubleteamed Ambrose until Cena ran out to make the save. In sync, Cena and Ambrose both hit their finishers on Corbin and The Miz. The heels ran off and the faces celebrated. Ambrose walked to the back and Cena stayed ringside for a bit shaking hands, giving away his gear, and taking pictures with kids. I’ve seen him do this several times at events and it’s always cool to see a star using their celebrity status to make kids’ nights like that.

I took my girlfriend to the Clash of Champions PPV last September in Indy and she had a great time. This was her first Raw or Smackdown, though, so I wasn’t sure how she would enjoy a non-PPV event, but she loved it and we had a great time. Indy is a great crowd for WWE. Excellent show for us attending live.

NOW CHECK OUT THIS LIVE EVENT REPORT: 3/4 ROH in New York City: Hardys and Bubba Ray show up, Cole vs. Fish for Title, full detailed report by first-time ROH attendee

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