Saturday, 25 June 2016

SMACKDOWN 23/06/2016 - A sign of things to come?


Much like a phoenix bursting into flame, this episode of Smackdown was on fire! It had very much the same format as last week with only one or two segments and the rest just wrestling, which is a good thing because if it ain't broke, don't fix it. With the drafts coming up in a short few weeks, how did this show pan out?


Opening segment
This was a very short, yet very strange segment. It basically started out with Seth Rollins on the mic, saying he deserves to face Ambrose one-on-one for the title and then issuing an open challenge to anyone on the roster for the main event later that night. The call would then be answered by Sami Zayn and shortly after this Dean Ambrose would could out, set up the "Ambrose Asylum", ask one or two questions that wouldn't get answered, which would then lead to Rollins leaving the ring and that would be the end of it. It was very confusing and, in my opinion, could have been done differently. I think it should have opened with Seth being interviewed backstage, saying exactly what he said in the ring and then still having an open challenge which could have either been answered at the main event slot or Sami Zayn could have just showed up at the interview and said he is going to answer the challenge. This would have been a better way to do it and it would have made more sense as to what was happening. I might just add that it is still being advertised as a triple threat match at Battleground for the world title which further indicates that WWE knew beforehand that Reigns had failed the wellness policy. While I believe Seth and Ambrose can do a great job in promoting the match, I just think that Reigns should not be a part of it as with him being away, it makes the match more about Amrose and Rollins and just makes Reigns a third guy in the match. Again, WWE could have done so much if they just decided to take Reigns out of the match. It should also be noted that it is unlikely to be mentioned why he is not at any of the shows or the fact that he failed the wellness test.
Rating: 6.5

Cesaro VS Alberto del Rio
Mauro Ranallo happily accepting a high five from Cesaro
Two really great competitors, I need not say just how good these two are in the ring together. There was a lot of back and forth action and del Rio would target the shoulder of Cesaro throughout, which is more understandable if he still used the Armbreaker as a finisher. Del Rio probably has the worst finisher in WWE history, yes even worse than Santino's Cobra. The Cobra would at least be struck as someone was getting up or turning around, with del Rio's corner stomp, the opponent just hangs there, holding themselves up waiting for him to do it. I really hope this changes soon as the Armbreaker is a realistic finisher and submission hold and no one else uses it on the current roster. But overall I really enjoyed the match and feel on a PPV these two can really steal the show.
Winner: Cesaro
Rating: 8

Apollo Crews VS Sheamus (MITB rematch)
A match I wasn't really looking all that forward to when I saw it advertised for Smackdown, yet these guys managed to really impress me. We know that both guys can do well in the ring, but their MITB match felt really lacklustre. There match here felt like they were really trying to prove something and boy did they ever. They were very physical with each other with the match going back and forth throughout. It was a strange finish though, because Sheamus had set the steel step up vertically on the outside and would then Brogue kick Crews into it, and would then get a count out victory. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but should that not have technically been a disqualification? I'm not complaining as it was a very good match overall, but it's times like these that the rules in WWE become very confusing.
Winner: Sheamus
Rating: 8

AJ Styles VS Jimmy Uso
A decent match at best. The Usos are yet to really show off something significant, although they do occasionally impress when it comes to certain spots. I would really like to see the Usos turn heel again, I feel like (much like Roman Reigns) they are much better at being heels.
Winner: AJ Styles
Rating: 7

New Day VS the Vaudevillians
It seems to now be official: the Vaudevillians have been labeled as jobbers. Much like when the Ascension burst onto the scene, the tag team looked like a team possibly to be reckoned with, however it seems like creative have hit a blank again as they no longer seem to know what to do with them. Let's hope I'm wrong and that they will rise up come the brand split. Nothing really significant happened in this match, it was more once the match was over that something happened. While the New Day were celebrating, the lights went out and on the screen appeared the Wyatts. Bray Wyatt, as usual, did all the talking because he's great at it. What was most significant during this was the look on Xavier Woods' face as he looked genuinely scared, which is great! Woods is one of the few guys that is absolutely great with reactions, so good job once again. It must be assumed that these two teams will clash at Battleground, however you have to wonder if it will be a six-man tag team match or a normal tag team match for the tag team championships. Either way, it should be a good one and I'm excited.
Winner: New Day
Rating: 7.5

Becky Lynch VS Dana Brooke w/Charlotte
Dana Brooke's "roll up" pin 
Much like on RAW, this match proved that WWE are once again moving forward with the Women's division. This was actually a pretty good match, although it is evident that Dana Brooke is still green in certain areas most evident when she went for the roll up pin to finish the match, she did not hook herself properly to Becky Lynch. But otherwise, I am seeing big improvements from both Women. While Becky has always been good, there is a different feel to her since Natalya turned her back on her.
Winner: Dana Brooke
Rating: 8

Seth Rollins VS Sami Zayn
Now this is how every main event show should look like. What a spectacular match between these two! A lot of back and forth action, some highflying moves, quick paced, it was all just very good and made me a happy, happy man. What was probably the best to see was that Seth Rollins got a clean victory over Sami Zayn AND the fact that neither guy looked bad by the end of it.
Winner: Seth Rollins
Rating: 9

As is evident, this show was a really great show overall. Much like the way you like it in bed, Smackdown gave RAW a pure beating! This is surely a sign of these to come by the time the brand split comes rolling around.

This is Stuverro signing off. PEACE!

Friday, 17 June 2016

SMACKDOWN 16/06/2016 - How Spectacular!




As indicated in the title, this week's Smackdown was absolutely spectacular! In fact, it was so good, I dare go as far as to call it...phenomenal!

We started the show off with Chris Jericho's highlight reel with his guest, surprisingly, being one Dean Ambrose. It felt a bit strange that of all people he would have on the show he would have Ambrose, especially with the two being "mortal enemies" and knowing the chaos that Ambrose can cause. It soon escalated into interruption after interruption happening starting with Kevin Owens leading to Sami Zayn, which would then lead to a brawl between all six Money in the Bank competitors. It was short, it was good, it was funny and worked really well. I rate this segment an 8.

What made this show even better was the fact that (excluding the few backstage interviews) it started with a segment and the rest of the show was just pure wrestling matches. Which brings us to the first match of the night: Big Cass VS Aiden English VS Kofi Kingston VS Luke Gallows (Fatal Four Way Match). For a four-minute match, these guys did a really good job. I wasn't left disappointed at the outcome, I wasn't upset, I was as happy as can be.Well done to all of those guys for keeping me invested. I give this match a solid 8.

The next match that would occur is Baron Corbin VS Zack Ryder with Dolph Ziggler on commentary. Unfortunately for Zack, he has not been able to build momentum since Wrestlemania and is a guy I personally feel deserves better treatment, however against Baron Corbin I would have to give Corbin the win. Side note, Baron Corbin is ONE of my favourite guys on the roster and so I want to see huge success for him. This was yet another short match, unfortunately not done as well as the one before. Have to give this match a 7 - sorry Corbin.

 So the next part was meant to be a match, but Rusev ended up beating up Kalisto before the match even started and then beat up Sin Cara when he tried to help him...A lot of beating up. Wow didn't quite realise how much WWE liked their bully characters until now, perhaps it's a reflection of a certain authority figure? Nudge nudge ;) ;) rhymes with Mince VcVahon. Haha. But with all kidding aside, after the hellacious beating by Rusev, we predictably (very, very predictably) saw Titus O Neil come out and save the little men, but also give one hell of a beating to Rusev in the process, turning Rusev from the Beater to the Beatee. Despite it being very predictable, I give this little segment a 7.5.

We would then see an interview with "The Club" (how original) during which the New Day would interrupt and AJ Styles would challenge Xavier Woods to a one-on-one match without anyone at ringside. This would be up next and OMG, pull my socks off and call my grandma! What a phenomenal match! So we already knew that AJ Styles can pull off spectacular matches, but not much had been seen from Woods in the past. This match proved that Woods can go in the ring and would do spectacularly well as a singles competitor. WWE, when you do split New Day up, please oh please give Woods a run at a singles title. Loved this match very much and give it a 9.

Natalya VS Charlotte would be the next match on the card and I am heavily disappointed, and this isn't just to do with this match. I have felt that since Wrestlemania, WWE have dropped the ball on the Women's division. So I know that we are going to have a big match between Charlotte and Sasha Banks at Summerslam, and I'm ok with waiting for that. I'm not ok, with very mediocre storylines and matches. Natalya should have only faced Charlotte once at the PPV and then they should have moved onto someone else like Paige or Becky Lynch. Charlotte isn't even defending her title at MITB which absolute bull! Over the last few weeks I have resorted to skipping to the end of the Women's matches or just not paying attention to it. I give this match a 5. We've seen it before, the result was boring and stupid and it's really not where the Women's division should be right now. Here's to hoping for better storylines after MITB.

We are finally here now with the main event! It was a six-man tag team match featuring Cesaro, Sami Zayn & Dean Ambrose VS Kevin  Owens, Chris Jericho & Alberto del Rio. All six men went into a brawl as soon as the bell rang which saw I don't know how many beautiful uppercuts by Cesaro both in and outside of the ring. We also saw an early Cesaro swing first on del Rio, then Jericho, then Kevin Owens. Del rio would then take advantage straight after this with a cheap shot. It was a great wrestling match, with perfect tags and reactions. Fast forward to the end where Cesaro accidentally uppercuts Ambrose, is then chucked out the ring with Owens, and is then dived onto by Zayn.
After this chaos del Rio tags Owens in telling him to "get in and do something" which would result in a superkick to del Rio then a superkick to Jericho and finally getting a 1-2-3 victory over Ambrose after a pop-up powerbomb....oh wait that didn't happen. After the superkicks to his partners, Ambrose would deliver Dirty Deeds to Owens to get the victory. So I'm in two minds about this. For one thing, I would not have given the win to Ambrose, but would rather have let Owens pick up the victory and gain momentum. On the other hand, perhaps the loss will make it look like he's least likely to win it and then he does go onto winning it and we all win - hooray! But honestly though, I don't think that Ambrose will be winning on Sunday. He has gained way too much momentum and it has been mentioned way too often by commentators and himself how he could go onto win and then cashing in that night on either Roman Reigns or Seth Rollins. But this was a good, solid match, with a really good ending. I give this a solid 8.5.

And that is the end of Smackdown. This show absolutely blew RAW away like your mom blowing your dad some bubbles. I am really excited for the brand split, I believe there are some really big things to come. Hope you enjoyed this review, keep an eye out for other posts to come.

This is Stuverro signing off. PEACE!