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Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 7.14.16

July 14, 2016 | Posted by Larry Csonka
Kevin Owens
7
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Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 7.14.16  

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Csonka’s WWE Smackdown 7.14.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Sasha Banks beat Dana Brooke @ 3:41 via submission [**]
Non-Title Match: Dolph Ziggler defeated US Champion Rusev @ 8:55 via pin [**¾]
– AJ Styles and Karl Anderson beat Enzo and Cass @ 10:53 via submission [***]
– Kalisto defeated Tyler Breeze @ 2:55 via pin [NR]
Non-Title Match: WWE Champion Dean Ambrose defeated Kevin Owens @ 0:33 via DQ [NR]
– Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens defeated Dean Ambrose and Sami Zayn @ 13.13 via pin [***½]


– They again opened with the little promos backstage and of wrestlers arriving. Owens (in a Finn Balor shirt) stole the show, noting that he still had the birthday card that Zayn gave his son prior to the end of the friendship. Owens never gave it to his son, and revealed that Zayn only gave his son a pathetic $20. Owens then pocketed the money. Others featured were Charlotte, Miz, Dana Brooke, Maryse and Dean Ambrose. I really like that they have done this for a few weeks in a row to make the beginning of the show feel different.

Sasha Banks vs. Dana Brooke w/Charlotte: Banks went for a roll up right away, with commentary pushing the fact that she needs to prove herself to Charlotte to get the title shot. Banks was easily controlling, so Brooke took a powder. Banks followed, but made the mistake of allowing Charlotte to distract her; Brooke rolled her back into the ring and took the heat. Brooke kept to really basic stuff, chinlock, boots, clubbing right to work the heat, which is for the best. She went for the Samoan driver, but Banks escaped and delivered forearms and clotheslines. The high cross got a near fall. Brooke tried to make a comeback, but Banks took out Charlotte, and then got the Banks statement and that was that. That was better than Raw, they kept it short, simple and Banks won clean. No real complaints, it was exactly what it needed to be. I still do not think Brooke is ready for the main roster.

– Post match, Charlotte attacked Banks and then tossed her over the announcer’s table. She then told Banks that she could never beat her before celebrating.

– We get highlights from Raw’s McMahonamania main event segment.

Non-Title Match: US Champion Rusev vs. Dolph Ziggler: Ziggler tried to work is amateur wrestling, which only pissed off Rusev, who stomped the hell out of him. Rusev hit a spinning Uranage, and we went to the break. Post break, Rusev missed a splash off the ropes, Ziggler made a comeback and used his speed to hit a run for a bit until Rusev caught him with a powerbomb and got a near fall. Ziggler managed a sleeper, and then hit a DDT for a near fall. Rusev battled back with a knee strike and high kick. He called for the accolade, and that led to Zack Ryder appearing. He distracted Rusev, for a minute, and he tossed Ziggler to the floor and then slammed him into Ryder. Rusev tossed him into the ring, Ryder rolled out and Ziggler rolled up Rusev for the win. The match was an overall solid outing, not great, but they did some nice things. I get the finish, as it allows Ryder to get some revenge from Raw, but at the same time, Rusev losing does nothing for him as he’s still in a rebuilding phase

– Rusev threw a temper tantrum post match.

– We get a video package/replay of the Wyatts vs. New Day compound battle that aired on Raw.

– We then get highlights of Cena hosting the ESPYs.

– Enzo and Cass made their entrance, did their usual shtick and ran down the Club. They also said that they didn’t want to hurt them before the PPV, but since it’s on their list and they have nothing else to do, they will go ahead and just do it tonight.

AJ Styles and Karl Anderson w/Gallows vs. Enzo and Cass: Enzo and Styles started off, with Enzo fining early success and angering Styles. Cass tagged in and cleaned house on Anderson and Styles. He cleared the ring and then tossed Enzo to the floor onto the Club. We then took a commercial break. Post break, Enzo and Cass worked over Anderson for a bit. Styles finally got involved, allowing the Club to beat down Enzo in the corner and take the heat. Styles worked the leg of Enzo, keeping him grounded and also setting for the calf slicer. We saw quick tags from the Club, with both men keeping the focus on the leg. They gave Enzo some good hope spots, and he sold the knee well, which allowed the crowd to stay invested and actually care. We had a good use of Gallows, cutting off a hot tag from the floor, and then Cass being taken out by Doc and Karl, leading to Enzo tapping to the calf slicer. I liked this, it was a good match and a loss that did not hurt Enzo and Cass as they fell to the numbers game. The work was good and focused, the crowd was invested into Enzo and the heels won by being dick heels, but didn’t overplay the hand in doing so. This all came together into a nice package.

– They discuss Brock Lesnar’s UFC 2000 victory.

Kalisto w/Sin Cara vs. Tyler Breeze w/Fandango: This is a follow up to the tag match from Raw, which FaBreeze won. Breeze attacked right away, but Kalisto was able to use his speed and make the comeback, hitting a lucha arm drag. Fandango distracted Kalisto, allowing Breeze to hit a superkick for a near fall. Breeze took the heat, it was a bit lethargic; Kalisto then made his comeback and picked up the pace well. He then hit Salida del Sol and picked up the win. This was solid for the time given, you can’t ask for much more. Kalisto picks up the predictable win after losing on Raw in the tag match as commentary continued to tease that the teams could be broken up in the draft.

Miz TV with Darren Young and Bob Backlund: Miz and Maryse welcomed us to the show and brought out Young and Backlund. Miz praised Backlund and even showed a video package on Backlund’s career. Miz then teased a highlight package for Young, but nothing but a test pattern appeared. Young laughed it off and said that he was going to win the title at Battleground. Miz then ran him down, noting that he did not win a title shot, everyone else lost it. Backlund said that Miz would never be a great champion, because he is not a role model. Maryse called him old and Miz then ran down Backlund, calling him Howdy Doody and Forrest Gump. The joking ended and they got serious, going face to face. Young mean mugged Miz, and that led to he and Maryse bailing. The segment was solid overall to build up the IC Title match, Young came off well with good fire and Miz continues to be fun in his pairing with Maryse. It will be interesting to see if they can pull off this Young angle. On one hand I hated how he won his match on Raw to get a title shot, but they could do something really good with it. Basically the story being told is that Young felt like a failure and got a life coach, and in his big return won without winning, which Miz mocked. They need to layer this with various levels of accomplishments to tell the story of his new rise; they could start at the PPV, he loses to Miz after looking strong and running wild, but Miz cheats to win. Then you rebuild him with some TV wins, where he looks more impressive and dominating while he chases Miz. IF, and this is important, IF the crowd reacts well to him, you can then do the title change later as the culmination of the redemption of Young, and he actually becoming great (again). In theory, it’s a good story, but they need to actually take the time to tell that story, which is where I have my doubts.

– I guess we’re not getting the Zack Ryder vs. Alberto Del Rio match that was reported in this week’s spoilers.

– The trainers check on Sasha Banks in the back. Charlotte arrives and offers her a match at Battleground. Charlotte and Dana will face Sasha and a partner, if she can find one.

– Seth Rollins heads to the ring prior to the main event; he’ll join us on commentary.

Non-Title Match: WWE Champion Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens: Owens attacked Ambrose, who was distracted by Rollins. We got 30-seconds of wrestling, and then Rollins attacked for the DQ. Zayn hit the ring and we got the big battle. Ambrose and Zayn cleared the ring.

– Post commercial, we came back and I think we all know what happened…

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– Shane will be just fine as Smackdown GM.

Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens vs. Dean Ambrose and Sami Zayn: So we’re getting the tag match main event now, they brawled right away and Owens and Rollins took control and worked over Ambrose. Owens was a lot of fun as always, mocking Zayn and doing a cartoonish “put up your dukes” pose. Ambrose managed to get the tag to Zayn, he ran wild on Rollins and sent him to the floor. He then tosses Owens and the faces hit stereo slingshot planchas. Owens would distract Zayn, allowing Rollins to hit sling blade for a near fall. Zayn got cut off, Owens tagged in and started the heat as we took a commercial break. Post break, Owens and Rollins continued the heat on Zayn. Zayn is a great face, selling the heat well, playing to the crowd when he fires up just enough and playing the hope spots at just the right time. Zayn finally got the hot tag to Ambrose, he ran wild on Owens and then sent Rollins to the floor. Owens and Ambrose worked well together, as usual, Rollins got a sneaky blind tag and then he and Ambrose had a great counter sequence, leading to a near fall. It then broke down with all four in, and we got the signature move buffet and then Ambrose and Rollins teased finishers before Zayn got the tag and a near fall off of a high cross. Zayn hit the XPLODER to the corner, but got distracted by Owens. Ambrose with a suicide dive, but Owens caught him and sent him to the steps. Zayn tried to fight off Rollins, but Owens pulled him out of the way of the Helluva kick, and the pedigree on Zayn finished him off. This was a really good main event from these four, which I think we all expected. The finish was good as well, Rollins needed to win to get momentum for Monday’s title match, Zayn was rocking and had the match in hand, but Owens fucked him out of a victory yet again, adding fuel to their fire.

– Post match Ambrose saved Zayn from an apron powerbomb, and then he brawled with Rollins to set the stage for the big main event on Raw.

* End scene.

* Thanks for reading.

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“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.0
The final score: review Good
The 411
Overall, while many will look at this as a throw away show, it was a quality two hours. There was nothing bad, the main event delivered, they moved some stories along and made sure to constantly hype the draft and move to Tuesdays.
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