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Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 5.19.16

May 19, 2016 | Posted by Larry Csonka
Chris Jericho Dean Ambrose
7
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Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 5.19.16  

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Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 5.19.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Kevin Owens defeated Cesaro @ 13:50 via pin [***½]
– Dana Brooke defeated Paige @ 2:18 via pin [NR]
– Dolph Ziggler defeated Sheamus @ 10:20 via pin [**¾]
– New Day and Big Cass defeated The Vaudevillains and The Dudley Boyz @ 10:10 via pin [**½]
Non-Title Match: Champion Roman Reigns defeated Luke Gallows @ 10:35 via DQ [**¾]


– We get highlights from Raw, focused on the four-way IC Title feud.

– Miz, Maryse and Sami Zayn are all out for commentary.

– We’re starting with a match tonight, how awesome would it be if Raw did that more than once every 18-months?

Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens: Cesaro took control right away and worked uppercuts and hit a great dropkick for a near fall as Miz and Zayn argued on commentary. After a short brawl on the floor, the returned to the ring and Cesaro kept control. Owens eventually bailed back to the floor, but he didn’t run far enough because Cesaro chased him down and destroyed him with a running uppercut. Maryse yelled at Cesaro, distracting him and allowing Owens to slam him to the steps shoulder first. Owens took the heat and mocked Miz while he worked over Cesaro; Owens is a great man. The main annoyance here is that the commentary is largely focused on Miz and Zayn’s back and forth, which takes away from the match a bit. Cesaro countered the running senton, looked to make a comeback but Owens crotched him on the ropes and hit the cannonball for a near fall. They worked through the commercial break, and when they came back Owens was still in control. He went up top, but spent too much time talking and Cesaro connected with the uppercut. He then hit a dropkick to Owens as he sat up top and hit the gut wrench superplex. Cesaro then lit into Owens with uppercuts, including the repeated running uppercuts and then the high cross for a near fall. Owens countered the neutralizer, and then stunned Cesaro off the ropes. On the floor, Owens laid out Zayn and then ate a cannonball by Cesaro off the apron. Cesaro then shoved Miz down, and returned to the ring and hit the swing. Miz then distracted Cesaro, who ate a superkick but that only got a near fall. Zayn then ran in the ring, Cesaro took him out but Owens rolled up Cesaro with a hand full of tights for the win. Post match Miz, Zayn and Cesaro brawled as Owens watched on and laughed. That was a really fun and great match to kick off the show, I would have preferred that guys in the four-way didn’t lose before the PPV, but that was a loss where Cesaro was protected due to the shenanigans.

– Becky Lynch is out for commentary.

Dana Brooke vs. Paige: Brooke tried to se her power early, but Paige tripped her up and hit a running knee. She then hit the knees in the ropes, but Brooke tripped her up and sent her to the floor. Back in the ring Brooke controlled and did some posing. Brooke then worked the body scissors; Paige escaped and hit a sidekick to the gut. More kicks followed, and then the high knee in the corner and charging nee connected for a near fall. Brooke hit a jawbreaker and then the Michinoku driver for the win. The match was ok for the time given, they seem dedicated to the Dana Brooke push so far. While I do not think she’s ready for the spot, at least they aren’t 50-50 booking her already.

– Renee Young interviewed Rusev and Lana. We see footage of Rusev destroying Sin Cara and Kalisto on Raw. Lana says Kalisto is weak, and that Rusev is the greatest US Champion of all time. Rusev agrees, and says that he humbled Kalisto on Raw.

Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler: I like the pairing here, as it feels like a match where the face is purposely trying to fight someone similar (bigger, stronger) to his upcoming opponent. Ziggler controlled early, using his speed and using a lot of hit and run. Sheamus then cut him off with the double sledge and got a near fall as we went to a commercial. Post break, Sheamus controlled with ease, just beating down Ziggler. Sheamus slowed things with the chinlock, Ziggler tried to fight back but Sheamus caught the superkick and then worked the 10-beats in the ropes. Sheamus went back to the chinlock for a bit, Ziggler again fought to his feet and managed to send Sheamus to the floor. Sheamus back in, missed the brogue kick and Ziggler got the fameasser for a near fall. Ziggler was putting a good run together, but Sheamus cut that off with the back breaker. Sheamus took forever to get back on the attack, and then Ziggler hit a desperation superkick for the win. The match was pretty good, but never got going into a higher gear. The best thing is obviously Ziggler winning as he heads into his match with Corbin; it was exactly what it needed to be.

– Post match, Baron Corbin arrived. He did not seem impressed by Ziggler’s performance. Corbin had a mic, and said that on Sunday he does what he does best, he will hurt Ziggler, and there is nothing that anyone can do to stop him.

The Ambrose Asylum With Chris Jericho: Chris Jericho makes his way to the ring as the Asylum cage is present above the ring. We get highlights from the feud between he and Ambrose. Jericho calls the Asylum a barbaric structure created by Dean Ambrose, a complete lunatic. Jericho isn’t worried, because he’s been in every match created in WWE. He says he is crazier than Ambrose, and last week’s attack on Ambrose was proof of that. Hell he put him in the hospital for a day after attacking him with Mitch. Imagine how long he can put Ambrose into the hospital with all of these toys. He demands the Asylum be lowered, and starts to discuss how he will se the weapons and how long they will place Ambrose in the hospital for. Ambrose was dressed as one of the guys securing the cage, making sure he was in the cage as it got locked into place as Jericho monologued and promised to deliver the gift of Jericho. Ambrose attacked, slamming the gift of Jericho around the cage. Ambrose used the kendo stick on Jericho for a bit, but Jericho then escaped and ran for his life. Jericho was a dick, Ambrose out smarted him and they got to tease the match for the PPV. Good stuff.

– We get another video with Darren Young and Bob Backlund. Backlund wanted Young to name all of the presidents in order. Backlund chastised Young for saying damn, and ordered him to do 200 jumping jacks.

– We see highlights from Raw, where the Vaudevillains attacked New Day and destroyed their New Daylorean.

New Day and Big Cass vs. The Vaudevillains and The Dudley Boyz: Back and forth to begin, Bubba talked a lot of trash and ended up taking the unicorn stampede in the corner. The faces stood tall as the heels ran to the floor, and we took a commercial after about two minutes. Post break, Woods was in control until Bubba cut him off. The Dudleyz and Vaudevillains argued a bit, as the Vaudevillains had enough of the Dudleyz not doing well enough and tagged themselves in and took control of the hear. Good heat by the Vaudevillains, isolating Woods and not giving a shit about what the Dudleyz have to say. Bubba finally got a tag, and worked the usual Dudleyz heat; which was yelling banter and slow strikes. Woods then got the tag to Cass; he ran wild clearing out most everyone and then getting a near fall on Devon. It broke down, Kofi hit a big assisted dove to the floor and then the Dudleyz took control on Cass. Cass kicked Devon in the face and then ht the empire elbow on Bubba to pick up the win. It felt a bit off in the ending sequence, but overall another solid match here. I get that they want to keep Cass relevant, but I feel that this was a time where they should have had the Vaudevillains win to make sure they have good momentum for the PPV. But if they couldn’t win, at least the Dudleyz took the loss for the team.

– They hype the Shane McMahon podcast, which takes place on Monday night.

– We get a big video package on the Charlotte vs. Natalya feud. It was really good, and nice to see the women getting more videos like this.

Non-Title Match: Champion Roman Reigns w/The Usos vs. Luke Gallows w/Karl Anderson and AJ Styles: HOSS FIGHT! Right away Mauro noted how a match with someone the size of Gallows could soften Reigns up for Sunday’s PPV match. It’s the little things. They did big man power spots, with both refusing to go down at first. Gallows finally took Reigns down and sent him to the floor. The Usos gave Reigns some positive re-enforcement, and sent him back into the ring with the promise of punch and pie post match. Reigns attacked with rights, Gallows kept fighting back but ran into a Samoan drop. He then connected with the drive by kick, and stood tall as Gallows recovered on the floor. They went to the break, and when we came back Gallows hit a running lariat and got a near fall. Gallows took the heat, delivering a series of elbow drops and then working the chinlock. Reigns would escape, but then get cut back off as Gallows continued to control things. Reigns would fight out of the chinlock, and made his comeback with some clotheslines. He then hit a clothesline off the second rope, and that got a near fall. Reigns had things under control and stared down Styles, Anderson distracted Reigns and Gallows got a roll up for 2. Reigns then hit the Superman punch, looked for the spear but Styles then distracted him. This led to the Usos attacking and the big brawl on the floor. Reigns to the floor and rook out Styles, he returned to the ring and Gallows hit the Gallows poll (tree slam) for a near fall. Styles then told Anderson to help Gallows, and we got the DQ. This was enjoyable work from both, not great by any means, but a pretty good big man match.

– Post match, Gallows and Anderson ht he boot of doom on Reigns, and Styles gets some chairs and tosses them into the ring. The Usos make the save, Styles clears them out and then attacks Reigns. He sends him to the floor, and he dismantled the commentary table but Reigns starts to fight back. Gallows and Anderson then attack, the Usos return and we get another big brawl. Styles and Reigns tumble over the table as we fade to black. That was a good closing segment to close the show, and sell two matches on the PPV. I do think that it would have meant more had they aired this promo with Styles that they debuted earlier this week…

In the video, Styles discusses the situation with Doc and Karl, and also proclaims that he will, “do anything and everything it takes to be the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.” I would have cut the Dane Brooke vs. Paige match for that video, as it was a quality piece that needed to be better utilized (it only has 328,292 views as of this writing, more need to see it) and is way more important to the main angle and Sunday’s PPV than Brooke vs. Paige (which isn’t important at all at this time).

* End scene.

* Thanks for reading.

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“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.0
The final score: review Good
The 411
Overall I enjoyed tonight’s show, felt it was a good program that was easy to watch and honestly ended up making me more excited for Extreme Rules than Raw did.
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