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Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 4.23.15

April 23, 2015 | Posted by Larry Csonka
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Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 4.23.15  

Introduction
As a reminder, this will not be another traditional recap, but instead it will be a mash up of the Rs, Instant Analysis and my usual Twitter ramblings I would do during the shows; completely uncensored and as the ideas flow unfiltered to the old keyboard. Remember, this is a review; and I am here to review the show. As always, I encourage discussion and even disagreement, just do so in a respectful manner. I will be doing the review for Raw and most PPVs and iPPVs going forward.

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Thursday Night Smackdown 4.23.15

OFFICIAL RESULTS
~ Non-Title Match: Neville and Dolph Ziggler defeated Bad News Barrett and Sheamus @ 9:07 via pin [***]
~ Naomi defeated Natalya @ 2:25 via pin [NR]
~ Ryback defeated Rusev @ 9:54 via DQ [**¾]
~ Kofi Kingston defeated Cesaro @ 1:28 via pin [NR]
~ Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose defeated Seth Rollins and Luke Harper @ 15:12 via pin [***]


Everybody Talks Too Much: Seth Rollins, along with J&J Security are out to kick off the show. After seeing footage from Raw, where Orton ran wild and hit RKOs on people, Rollins they said he didn’t need any help to retain the title at Extreme Rules. He ran down Kane, noting that he is an aging former monster, and then of course he appeared. Kane said that he could be Rollins best friend and help him on Sunday, they argued a bit and Rollins said that Triple H felt sorry for him, so he gave him his role at the PPV. Rollins was completely condescending as he talked down to Kane. They seemingly agreed to calm down and Kane said that all would be well if Rollins laid down for him to pay him back. Kane called for a referee, reassured Rollins that it was a non-title match and “the match” started. As Rollins tried to get out of it, Kane threatened to rip his insides out. Rollins laid down but it was just a joke by Kane. Kane then booked Rollins in a match with Ambrose, to remember what extreme means. I hate all of this “lay down for me” bullshit. Tell me a good story, with people I care about. As Ambrose came out to the ring, Harper also came out. Everyone (but Kane) brawled, the heels beat down Ambrose and Roman Reigns then appeared, remembering that he and Ambrose are friends and ran off the heels. This of course led to…

This was not a bad opening segment, it was just the same opening segment we see on Raw and Smackdown every week. Someone comes out to talk, there is some sort of confrontation, they set up some sort of match and we move on. It’s just the same old shit every week and I’d just like to see something different to make it feel as if they weren’t booking with fill in the blank story sheets.

Neville and Dolph Ziggler vs. Bad News Barrett and Sheamus: Ziggler and Sheamus of course face off this weekend, and Ziggler and Neville both have had issues with Sheamus so it makes sense (especially with Bryan out hurt). Sheamus cut the same promo, running down his opponents for being small and adding that the underdogs never win. Neville ran wild in the first minute, eventually ending his opponents to the floor and hitting a dive prior to the break. Wrestling wise this was a fun little opener, and they guys work well together, I actually wished they had a bit more time because I felt that they were really just getting going when it ended. Ziggler connected with the zigzag, and then Neville scored with the red arrow to get the pin on Barrett. Right now it makes NO SENSE for Barrett to lose on the show before the PPV when he is currently set for an IC Title match. In theory that could change due to Bryan’s situation, but I have no clue why you have the guy lose right before that title match. But remember, when he lost that match to Cena “it was only because it was Cena and it won’t happen against others”. Champions and Challengers should both look strong heading into the PPV, it’s a basic thing and I wish that they could book that way more often. THE ONLY saving grace is if Bryan has to relinquish the title at the PPV, and for Barrett to get the title he has to agree to defend it right there and then Neville comes out.

* Bray Wyatt cut a creepy promo from backstage. He will expose his next victim for the “weakling that he is.” What use is there for a butterfly without wings?

Natalya vs. Naomi: These two have had issues from before Mania, and now Naomi prepares to challenge Nikki Bella for the divas title on Sunday. It feels awkward though since Natalya (Kidd & Cesaro as well) are still booked as heels, but reportedly going face due to recent reactions. Naomi is the only one as of late that has any real reason to turn and even as a heel has the best justification. Naomi won a short but solid little match. She’s done very well adapting to working heel in both the mannerisms and the ring work so far.

* The Prime Time Players made fun of Cesaro and Kidd. Apparently they do not wrestle anymore, they just do stand up comedy. I appreciate them trying to give these guys some personality, but perhaps working some good matches and earning wins could happen at some point? It wasn’t bad, I just want these guys to actually put some wins together to go along with the new personality.

Ryback vs. Rusev: Lana cut a promo prior to the match, discussing Rusev’s attack on Cena from Raw and also hyping their PPV match on Sunday. Rusev ranted in his mad man styling that I love, and the BIG GUY appeared for his match. They worked a good power match here. The good thing about these guys is that they can work the power match, but they also can keep a friendly pacing to it and that allows you to stay invested. Ryback was looking to finish off Rusev, but Rusev rolled to the floor to avoid the shell shock. When The BIG GUY chased, Rusev attacked with the Russian Chain for the DQ. He then laid him out and applied the chain-assisted accolade. Ryback looked good, he didn’t lose, Rusev didn’t lose heading into his title match with Cena and opted to cheat so that he didn’t get pinned. I liked this overall.

* Rollins was searching in the dark for Luke Harper, which led to a conversation with Noble explaining that he and Harper are related. It involved a sister, cousin and a mechanic. Anyway, they found him and Noble tried to tell Harper to do what Rollins says tonight. Harper stared into the abyss as they talked. Mercury broke his concentration with faux sign language, and he got pissed. He promised violence.

Cesaro vs. Kofi Kingston: New Day cut an intentionally over the top and silly promo about the issues in WWE, making you hate them. They worked for a minute, Kidd brawled with the New Day on the floor, distracting Cesaro. Kofi hit trouble in paradise and won. I get why Kofi had to win here, as they needed to make New Day look like some kind of legit threat to the champions. Also, Kofi won after a distraction, solidifying the fact that they can’t win clean (Monday was another example of this). But it really would have meant more if Cesaro and Kidd didn’t lose clean to Orton on Raw and then Bryan and Cena on Smackdown last week. Instead it feels like the champions being booked like just another set of guys, which is why so many guys have issues getting over and staying over in WWE. The bottom line here is that it’s not so much that THIS LOSS bothered me, it was this loss followed the poor booking from last week, and that bothers me. But WWE doesn’t care about the champions or the odd, no explanation face turn; this match is exiled to the pre-show, and that tells you all you need to know about the level of fucks they give.

Seth Rollins and Luke Harper vs. Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose: Kane was out at ringside for the match. The heels got an early heat segment on Reigns, but he got the Luke warm tag to Ambrose. Ambrose worked over Rollins a bit before getting crotched and sent to the floor where J&J worked him over and then Harper hit the big boot on him. Harper and Rollins controlled as we came back from the break, getting the more extended heat on Ambrose. It was fine action, and the work was clean but it was rather boring at times. Reigns finally got the hot tag, cleaned house and then had to take out J&J before they could interfere. It broke down with all four men in the ring, Ambrose took Harper to the floor. He went for the suicide dive, but Harper shoved him away and tossed him to the barricade. Reigns was then left alone, and then ate two superkicks from Harper for a near fall. Rollins tagged in and hit the knee off the top for a near fall. Rollins hit the buckle bomb and the Harper hit a clothesline for another near fall, but Ambrose was alive and made the save. Ambrose then tagged in, sent Rollins and Harper to the floor and then hit the big elbow drop onto them and J&J. Kane then rolled Rollins into the ring, Ambrose tagged Reigns in and he hit the spear for the win. After a boring start, they turned things around and that was overall enjoyable. I do not care about Kane, I do not care about his angle because it doesn’t interest me and I do not think it is a particularly well-executed angle. And then, Rollins loses days before he defends the title. But hey, that’s just par for the course in WWE these days.

* End scene.

* Thanks for reading.

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“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

6.0
The final score: review Average
The 411
The final show before the Extreme Rules PPV, and I feel that they did nothing to get me excited for the show. I liked that Neville picked up a win that felt important (in a quality match), but I thought that it came against the wrong man at the wrong time. Naomi’s win was fine leading into the title match, but she’s the only one that has changed (as far as heels and faces go) that had any real justification that you can get behind. Ryback and Rusev was done well prior to the PPV (another good match), not hurting Ryback overall but still helping in building Rusev. Kofi winning was needed, unfortunately it means next to nothing due to the poor booking of the champions leading into this. The main event was a good match, but the fact that Kane got involved and then Rollins lost just feels so wrong heading into the PPV. It isn’t that I feel the company does everything wrong, I do not and feel that there was good ideas on this show. Unfortunately poor booking leading into this show and the wrong people losing at the wrong time is what constantly holds it back. Smackdown continues to exist, nothing feels important and while there is good it almost always seems to be nullified by the bad. In some ways this was a fun an easy to watch show, I didn’t hate it, but the lack of basic booking really becomes frustrating.
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