Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 4.14.16

Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 4.14.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Baron Corbin defeated Zack Ryder @ 3:05 via pin [*]
– Emma defeated Paige @ 3:15 via pin [*½]
– Tag Team Tournament Match: Enzo Amore and Big Cass defeated The Ascension @ 4:18 via pin [**]
– AJ Styles defeated Alberto Del Rio @ 13:00 via pin [***]
– Tag Team Tournament Match: The Vaudevillians defeated @ 2:05 via [NR]
– Sami Zayn defeated Chris Jericho @ 14:00 via DQ [**¾]

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Miz TV: Maryse was in the ring to introduce the Miz. These two are completely fucking annoying already, and I mean that as a compliment. Miz announced Maryse as his guest, and they put over each other, with Maryse calling the Miz an inspiration to children around the world and telling him he will win sexiest man alive for 2016. Zack Ryder then made his way out to interrupt things. Maryse said Miz was a real man and killed Ryder’s Mania moment in under 24-hours. Ryder claimed Miz wore more makeup than she did, before saying that he had his Mania moment and Miz can’t take that away from him. Ryder then said he’d taker the title from Miz right here and now. Maryse and Miz teased the match, but then said that Ryder was already booked for tonight, against Baron Corbin.

Baron Corbin vs. Zack Ryder: Ryder tried his best to gain an advantage, but Corbin cut him off and beat him down. Ryder managed a jawbreaker, and then ate clotheslines. Ryder managed to make a comeback, hit the dropkick off the second rope and then Corbin avoided the broski boot. Thy spilled to the floor for a moment, back in and Ryder ran into the end of days and that was that. Post match Corbin tried to inflict more damage, but Dolph Ziggler made the save and Corbin bailed. The bad news is that Ryder is already back to being a goof after the cool Mania moment, but the Miz and Maryse act is good, and Corbin has a PPV program with Ziggler. The match was solid for the time given.

– Renee Young interviewed Kevin Owens, and asked him about Zayn’s match with Chris Jericho. He said he’ll be in the building tonight and no one can help Sami tonight. He then told Renee to talk with Sami about what’s to come tonight.

Emma vs. Paige: Emma pie-faced Paige, which led to Paige laying the boots to her in the corner. Emma quickly slammed her to the corner and hit the running cross in the corner and then beat her down with rights. Emma kept control, hitting a butterfly suplex for a near fall. Emma grounded Paige with a full nelson; Paige fought back, proclaimed it was her house, and then hit a high knee and a charging knee for a near fall. Paige worked over Emma in the corner, they went up top but Emma slipped out and slammed Paige’s face off the buckles and got the cover for the win. Much like the first match, it was only ok for the time given, but you can’t do much in three minutes. Emma won, as she should, because they are setting a program for she and Becky Lynch.

– We get highlights of the Tag Team Tournament starting, as well as the debuts of Anderson and Gallows. The tournament continues tonight.

– We get highlights from Monday’s Raw.

Tag Team Tournament Match: The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor) vs. Enzo Amore and Big Cass: Enzo and Cass did their usual entrance shtick, which is always fun. The Ascension took control early on Enzo, who bumped well for them, but he fought back and got a tag to Cass. They worked some double teams on Viktor, Konnor then distracted Enzo and he was sent to the floor. The Ascension took the heat, clubbing down Enzo and working the blandest heat this side of the Premiere Athlete Brand. Enzo managed to avoid attacks, Viktor to the floor and Konno posted himself, Enzo made the tag, and Cass ran wild. Fun hot tag from Cass, who is more mobile than most think Konnor sent to the floor with a big boot from Cass, Bossman slam to Viktor and then the rocket launcher connects for the win. How you doin? It was solid, with the right team winning and more energy than the previous matches.

– JoJo interviews AJ Styles backstage. Styles says he has to fight his way to the top everywhere he’s ever been. While he has never faced anyone like Reigns, Reigns has never fought anyone like him. Alberto Del Rio arrived, and says that Styles can’t compete against someone like Del Rio. He wants to know if the hype is real and wanted to face Styles tonight, but just looking at Styles, he knows he doesn’t belong. Styles says he doesn’t belong here talking, he belongs in the ring.

AJ Styles vs. Alberto Del Rio: Some early back and forth, with Del Rio trying to bully AJ around with his size advantage. AJ then used his speed, and hit the dropkick out of the international. AJ then hit a knee strike from the apron, rolled Del Rio back in and got a near fall. Odd spot as Del Rio looked to shoot AJ to the corner, but they were a bit off. Del Rio took control, sending AJ to the floor and slamming him to the barricade. Back in and Del Rio went up top and hit the double sledge for a near fall. Del Rio posted himself when AJ sidestepped a charge, but before AJ could put much together Del Rio sent him to the floor with an enziguri. A dropkick followed, and we took a commercial break. After the break, Lawler waxed poetically about Del Rio’s hair and physique as AJ made a comeback on Del Rio. AJ then hit the corner clothesline and the Ushigoroshi for a near fall. Del Rio hit the backstabber, which AJ sold awesomely. Del Rio looked to continue his attack, but ate a PELE for a near fall. As AJ went up top, Del Rio crotched him and AJ fell into the tree of WHOA. Del Rio then fucking killed him with the reverse suplex out of the corner, AJ landed on his head as his foot got caught on the ropes, and Del Rio scored the near fall. Back to the tree of WHOA, Del Rio missed the double foot stomp but then countered the springboard forearm into the rolling arm breaker attempt; AJ went into the Oklahoma roll for the win. That was a good match overall and a quality win for AJ. That spot out of the corner looked really bad though, AJ is lucky he did not come away with a major injury, It was scary.

– Truth and Goldust met backstage, Goldust will not be teaming with Truth tonight. Goldust will be teaming with Fandango as “Goldango.” Fandango and Goldust danced as Truth watched on.

Tag Team Tournament Match: Goldust and Fandango vs. The Vaudevillians (Gotch and English): Fandango looks so happy to actually be on TV. English attacked Goldust right away to take control. Good and clean work from the Villains early, with Goldust selling well for them. Goldust managed to hit the snap slam, Gotch and Fandago tagged in; they seemed off at times but it wasn’t bad. It broke down, Goldust and English to the floor and them Fandango got distracted and the Villains hit the whirling dervish for the win. It wasn’t pretty at times, but the result and the way they got there was what it needed to be. The Vaudevillians should have won, and they should have dominated because they are a real team, while Goldust and Fandango were literally thrown together at the last minute.

– JoJo interviews Chris Jericho. He runs down Styles, Ambrose and Zayn as amateurs that need to learn respect. Jericho says he is the greatest of all time, he proved it when he beat The Rock and Steve Austin on the same night and is giving San Diego the gift of Jericho. He also compared himself to Halley’s Comet, greatness like him only comes around once every 76-years, while guys like Zayn come around once a week. He’s the best in the world at what he does.

– We get another promo from Epico and Primo. Again, you have to respect the fact that they’ve kept their jobs for so long. Vince REALLY wants Carlos’ video library. “Come to Puerto Rico, The Shining Star of the Caribbean!”

Chris Jericho vs. Sami Zayn: Jericho didn’t seem impressed with Sami, well that was until Sami hit a series of arm drags and sent Jericho to the floor. As Jericho threw a fit on the floor, Kevin Owens made his way out to the ring. And then Dean Ambrose came out and had flyers for his “Ambrose Asylum” show, one he taped to Owens’ chest. That was a good time for the commercial break. Post break, Owens and Ambrose bantered back and forth on commentary as Jericho took control in the ring. They did the usual deal where they then focused too much on commentary as opposed to the match. I mean, if you’re going to giveaway first time matches on TV with no build, at least make them the focus of the segment. Don’t get me wrong, Owens and Ambrose are entertaining, but they not only had they consistently go back and forth but the camera was on them way too much. So after Jericho controlled, Sami made his comeback and connected with clotheslines and then a high cross for a near fall. Jericho countered back with the butterfly back breaker for a near fall. Sami would hit the lucha run up into a tornado DDT for a near fall as EVERYONE TALKED TOO MUCH. Sami countered the walls, but Jericho hit the running bulldog and went for the lionsault but ate knees. Sami missed the helluva kick and Jericho got the walls. Sami escaped and went to the apron, and Jericho dropkicked him to the commentary table. Jericho then shoved Ambrose down and attacked him; Sami then backdropped Jericho onto Owens. Jericho and Sami back into the ring, Jericho yelled a lot and slapped Sami, who then ht the XPLODER into the corner. Owens then hit the ring and attacked Sami for the DQ. Ambrose then arrived and all four brawled, with Sami and Dean clearing the ring to stand tall. This match had flow issues big time, as every time it felt as if they were locking into something, they focused on the commentary or the commentary was completely overbearing to the point that it took away from the match. Sure they were entertaining, but it felt as if they completely wasted Jericho vs. Zayn here. At least it did play into the build for Sami vs. Owens and Jericho vs. Ambrose

* End scene.

* Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

6.0

The final score: review Average

The 411

This was an overall average show, with some solid wrestling and angle advancement it’s not a bad show to sit through, but there’s nothing must see this week.