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Smackdown - June 18, 2015

Smackdown
Date: June 18, 2015
Location: First Niagara Center, Buffalo, New York
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, Jerry Lawler

Reviewed by Tommy Hall

The ending of Monday's show saw the return of Brock Lesnar as the Authority's big surprise to deal with Rollins, ignoring the history of Lesnar hurting HHH and then Stephanie freaking out on him the night after Wrestlemania when Lesnar destroyed everything and injured Cole, which hasn't been mentioned on TV yet. Let's get to it.


In memory of Dusty Rhodes.

Opening sequence.

Here's Sheamus to get things going. Sheamus holds up the briefcase and laughs at the fans for saying he looked stupid. He feels like a million dollars and promises to be the next WWE Champion. I know it's not a popular opinion but I wouldn't be opposed to that. Sheamus has been making plans to get around Seth Rollins and Brock Lesnar, which would leave everyone out of his way to make him champion.

This brings out Dean Ambrose to remind Sheamus that he pinned him on Monday. Why should that matter? Money in the Bank is a shortcut around silly things like wins and losses and just lets the company put whomever they want in the title scene without putting in the effort. Anyway, Ambrose says the briefcase belongs to Reigns and Dean would have no problem getting it back to its rightful owner. Sheamus wants to fight right now but Kane comes out to uneven the odds. The match is on.

Kane/Sheamus vs. Dean Ambrose

Dean is smart enough to drop to the floor at the bell before he runs back in to low bridge Kane outside. The top rope elbow is broken up though and the double teaming begins. Reigns sneaks in from behind, because somehow he knew Sheamus would be waiting in the normal spot, for the DQ at 1:29.

After a break, the tag team main event is announced.

Roman wants Bray to know he never runs.

Brie Bella vs. Paige

Paige gets a jobber entrance but we're lucky enough to get BRIE MODE. No Nikki here for a change. Brie goes after her to start but Paige drops down as you do when someone is running the ropes, only to have Brie trip over her. Paige's superplex is countered into a sunset bomb (good looking one too) for two as we take a break. Back with Brie putting on a chinlock with her knees in Paige's back before Paige takes her into the corner for some elbows to the jaw. Paige goes up top but Alicia Fox runs out to shove her down, setting up the Bella Buster for the pin and another BRIE MODE at 7:28.

Rating: C. Considering Brie was in there and can't seem to handle running the ropes, this was better than I was expecting. There's something interesting about the Divas going after Paige and her needing reinforcements (say from NXT?) and at least Alicia is 14% more competent than most of the other Divas.

The Bellas pose on the stage and Alicia is given Bella gear.

Stills of Cena vs. Owens II and then Owens attacking Machine Gun Kelly on Monday.

Owens mocks Renee Young for possibly being a Machine Gun Kelly fan but blames Kelly for putting his hands on Owens first and on Cena for not being there to save him. Kevin doesn't need to pander to the crowd and likes it when people earn title shots, meaning there will be no open challenge. This brings in Cesaro, with headphones around his neck, who would love to get in the ring with Owens tonight. He even puts him hands on Owens' shoulder to make sure Owens gets the point.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Bo Dallas

Before the match, Dallas calls Lana a rebound girl. She's broken Rusev's heart and is now with Ziggler, who definitely should have made her swipe left (online dating thing I guess). Ziggler dropkicks him at the bell but Bo grabs a cravate. Rusev is watching in the back as Ziggler ducks a right hand and hits the Zig Zag for the pin at 1:12.

Rusev freaks out over a post match kiss.

Tough Enough stuff.

Xavier Woods vs. Neville

Woods takes over fast and stomps Neville about 20 times in a row. We're already in the cobra clutch for a bit before New Day tries to get involved, drawing out the Prime Time Players to even the odds. Back in and a kick to the head looks to set up the Red Arrow but Kofi offers a distraction to break it up. Everyone on the floor gets into it and a dropkick sets up the Red Arrow to give Neville the pin at 2:57. I'm getting into this six man feud.

Here's Seth Rollins with something to say. After looking at a clip of the end of Raw, Rollins brags about being the biggest star in WWE. However, he's under constant scrutiny and always being disrespected by these fans. That's what happened this Monday on Raw, as people are instantly thinking Lesnar will be the next WWE Champion. Rollins was shocked when he saw Brock but at Battleground, he's going to get to prove that he really is the diamond and he can't wait.

We recap Bray's promo on Reigns from Raw.

Ambrose asks Reigns how long it takes Sheamus to do his hair but Reigns is focused on Wyatt. Dean asks about Bray but Reigns doesn't want to talk about it. Just handle business tonight so he can get home to his family.

Kevin Owens vs. Cesaro

Non-title and Owens pops Cesaro in the jaw to start. Cesaro does just the same to knock Kevin outside for a suicide dive. Back in and Cesaro can't get him up for a suplex so Owens sends him face first into the post as we take an early break from a promising power brawl. We come back to a chinlock of course because how else do you expect to come back from a break? Owens finds it boring as well as he jumps to the middle rope and spins into a tornado DDT for two.

Cesaro comes back with his reverse Angle Slam for two of his own. That earns him snake eyes (a move that hasn't been seen in a while) and the Cannonball for two, shocking Owens, because he's a good heel who can't believe that someone could kick out of any of his offense. A dropkick knocks Owens off the top and both guys are down again. Is there anything Cesaro can't do? I'd bet he's a world class knitter. Owens crotches him to break up the apron superplex and the Pop Up Powerbomb is good for the pin at 10:38.

Rating: B. Owens continues to master the power brawling style and hopefully this leads to a singles push for Cesaro. The guy is incredibly talented and the multiple languages should get WWE some international help if they let him go to some other countries for publicity. This was a fun, hard hitting match though as both guys got to throw each other around, which is always entertaining.

Time for Miz at the Movies where he talks about all the movies starring wrestlers this year. Tonight's movie: Vendetta, starring Dean Cain and Big Show. Apparently Big Show was a jerk and Miz should have had the role, as well as the Intercontinental Title. Miz rants about his resume and wants to know why he isn't being treated like a superstar.

Dusty Rhodes tribute video.

Sheamus/Kane vs. Dean Ambrose/Roman Reigns

Ambrose and Sheamus get things going with the latter stomping away in the corner. Dean comes back with chops and punches as they've forgotten the whole wrestling thing so far. Everything breaks down for a bit and the Shield brethren clean house to take us to the early break. Back with Dean hitting the dropkick against the ropes on Kane but Sheamus pulls him outside to take over.

Some knees get two for Sheamus back inside and it's off to Kane to work on the knee that was destroyed in the ladder match. Smart man that old giant. Sheamus slaps on a Brock Lock for a bit before it's back to Kane, who gently lifts Dean throat first into the bottom rope. It's called a catapult but that's being more generous than it is to call Kane interesting. Dean gets in some right hands and the top rope elbow, finally allowing for the hot tag despite the bad knee.

Reigns comes in off the hot tag and cleans house with a series of clotheslines to Kane and a Samoan drop to Sheamus. The Superman Punch is broken up by Kane grabbing both Shield guys by the throat but the rebound lariat breaks it up. Dean dives on Sheamus but here's Wyatt with the picture of Reigns and his daughter as he sings I'm A Little Teapot. The distraction lets a Brogue Kick connect for the pin on Reigns at 12:57.

Rating: C. This was fine for a long way to build up the Reigns vs. Wyatt story. There was little chance that Wyatt wasn't going to get involved somewhere in here and that wasn't the worst way in the world. I could go for a more sinister Wyatt who gets inside your head instead of just saying he's scary of whatever he meant in the last few months.

Bray says Happy Father's Day and the picture is next to Reigns to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. I liked this better than I was expecting to as they gave us a good match with Owens vs. Cesaro (no real surprise there) and nothing bad. That's a major key to a good show these days, especially with so much stuff packed in: nothing on here was really bad. Some stuff was better than others, but everything was either quick enough to not be bad or good enough to be acceptable. Solid show this week and it went by fast.

Results
Kane/Sheamus b. Dean Ambrose via DQ when Roman Reigns interfered
Brie Bella b. Paige – Bella Buster
Dolph Ziggler b. Bo Dallas – Zig Zag
Neville b. Xavier Woods – Red Arrow
Kevin Owens b. Cesaro – Pop Up Powerbomb
Kane/Sheamus b. Roman Reigns/Dean Ambrose – Brogue Kick to Reigns


Remember to check out my website at kbwrestlingreviews.com and head over to my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Comments

  1. They took time away from an Owens/Cesaro match to promote a Dean Cain movie. Vince, you son of a bitch.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Has there ever been a wrestler that is more of a freak than Cesaro? I know people talk about how Danny Hodge could crush apples with his bare hands and survived a broken neck, but Cesaro seems like the most athletically freakish dude ever. Like, in another life he should've been an Olympian or something.

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  3. Listening to Lawler call Owens a jerk is pretty funny if, like me, you've been watching a lot of 1994 Raw on the Network.


    And hey, Lawler is certainly on expert on forced apologies. Remember the trash can incident?

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  4. Ziggler-Lana-Rusev is a strong contender for the 2015 Gooker Award.

    ReplyDelete
  5. "She's broken Rusev's heart and is now with Ziggler, who definitely should have made her swipe left (online dating thing I guess). "

    Lol, you might be too old for this show.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Not if the Royal Rumble is a contender for the award.

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  7. Reigns has come a long way since then and at this point I'm not sure if WWE are going to treat him as just another guy now after being the one to take the pin in a tag match.

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  8. Yes he has. But that match was still a disaster. When fans are very loudly chanting "Refund" in the main event of the second biggest PPV of the year, they fucked up. I personally dont see how anything can beat that match for the gooker. That was the worst Royal Rumble I have ever seen. At least the audience was into the 1999 Rumble.

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  9. Rusev is doing great work though.

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  10. Tommy not knowing how Tinder works is probably the greatest single mark in his favor.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Mickie James was thrown in front of a train. I think the race for Gooker is over.

    ReplyDelete
  12. kbwrestlingreviewsJune 18, 2015 at 10:36 PM

    I think I might be as well and that disturbs me like no other.

    ReplyDelete
  13. kbwrestlingreviewsJune 18, 2015 at 10:38 PM

    My fiance (who I met online oddly enough, though it was on a wrestling forum like any proper relationship should start) is the one that gets all this stuff. She constantly has to explain it to me and thankfully she's smart enough to realize I don't care and keeps it brief.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I mean this completely sincerely and without a shred of sarcasm because I know online is tough:

    "who I met online oddly enough, though it was on a wrestling forum like any proper relationship should start)"



    My respect for you went up 20 mil notches. That is awesome!!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. kbwrestlingreviewsJune 18, 2015 at 10:44 PM

    To make it even more complicated, she lives in England and we've flown across the Atlantic for over four years to see each other. The wedding is next month.

    ReplyDelete
  16. kbwrestlingreviewsJune 18, 2015 at 10:44 PM

    Much appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  17. That was actually during a pretty good story line, though.

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  18. That's a good sign, realizing when you clearly don't give a fuck.


    Keep her.

    ReplyDelete
  19. kbwrestlingreviewsJune 19, 2015 at 2:14 AM

    As a bonus, I'm learning when I go into some wrestling rant and she just zones out.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Belee_Matt!_INDEED!!!June 19, 2015 at 6:11 AM

    That right there is awesome sauce.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Belee_Matt!_INDEED!!!June 19, 2015 at 6:14 AM

    Great review as always, Tommy.


    They've officially made me turn against Bray. It may have taken me longer than it did for others, but here I am. He's driving me nuts with his nonsense. If any of it led to anything that made sense, it would be absolutely fine, but it never does. It's just gibberish, and then he loses his feud (except to Bryan) and goes to the next one. I'm officially over him.

    ReplyDelete
  22. They completely castrated Reigns at Money in the Bank for this idiotic feud with Bray Wyatt.

    ReplyDelete
  23. kbwrestlingreviewsJune 19, 2015 at 10:19 AM

    Much appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I dunno, having Wyatt target Reigns' daughter is certainly his first outright heel act in ages, and it obviously the fans are going to support a guy who's protecting his kid.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Instead of saying evil stuff, he needs to DO evil stuff.

    ReplyDelete

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