SMACKIN’ IT DOWN… What Happened Last (Tuesday) Night [Sept. 27th, 2014]

Looks like we still got a ballgame as SmackDown keeps hope alive.  Though this may have been just making lemonade out lemons, they made it mighty tasty for once.  It was a solid show, with solid performances.  Even the flubs smoothed out to present a well-played evening.  Once again, all is not lost.

                   

 We start out with our substitute “It Guy” in Dean Ambrose set to finish up what The Miz started on Main Event.  It was true to form.  Ambrose didn’t really take The Miz too seriously, as he shouldn’t and The Miz was pompous and punk-ass as usual with Damien “Mizdow” on the sidelines providing support.  Just as Ambrose is about to put a nail in the proverbial coffin, wouldn’t you know it, Seth Rollins saunters out with Dad/Korporate Kane as back-up.  Well, we all know Ambrose can’t resist that scent.

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Yet, he keeps his cool enough to get the win and then proceeds to dish out his usual business to Seth Rollins.  Dad, naturally, “interjects” on the Authority’s behalf but, you just can’t stop the crazy once it gets going.  Ambrose eventually sends Dad over the ropes and is left to attack Rollins uninterrupted.  He even takes advantage of Rollins losing sight of the “Money in the Bank” briefcase and decides to head off into the sunset with it. You know, through the crowd.  They all just love breaking the 4^th wall.  I did too when I was in drama class.  It changes the perspective. It’s fun.  In any case, Rollins is left to huff & puff and commiserate with Dad given the sudden turn of events.

Next up we have a Battle Royal for a shot at the Intercontinental Title because, why the hell not which, in all honesty, I don’t mind.  If they can keep whatever they send out interesting, I won’t.  It doesn’t necessarily have to facilitate a plot, as loosely as the term is used in this biz.  Anyway, just about everybody you hadn’t seen in a minute are in this one.  It looked like they just called up the benches and had them go for it.  And at the beginning that was what is was, a straight up free for all.

Eventually, the crowd starts to thin out and we’re left with Bo Dallas, Jack Swagger, Kofi Kingston, Cesaro with Damien Mizdow as “fish” in the middle.  Naturally, it doesn’t take long for the other 4 to start the jump party and soon we’re left with 3.  Now, word is that there was a serious botch that could’ve landed Kofi Kingston in the hospital but I missed it.  What I didn’t miss though, was how good Cesaro looked in this match.  He came out on top decidedly by propelling both Kingston and Swagger over the ropes in one move.  Impressive all around.  Again, I feel like I’ve underestimated some of these guys.  Now, I’m beginning to see that they may not be getting a chance.  Unfortunate to discover but it is somewhat comforting to see that the roster may have more depth than Creative gives them credit for.   Sometimes, you just have to let people show you what they can do and you work from that middle ground.  RAW writers may want to take note.

Moving along, we have a short segment between Renee Young and The Usos which displayed why I love those guys so much.  They’re fucking hilarious!   I mean, they just seem like they're a lot of fun to hang out with.  Why wouldn’t you be their friends?   In any case, they have themselves another match with Gold/Stardust and I was about to complain about this but once they got into it, I shut-up.  These 4 continue to be entertaining and you know what, good for them!   They even managed to work in some palatable drama by showing how  by both teams being brothers is the key to their strength.  Oftentimes, truth is better than fiction.

We then get into Rollins all pissed off about losing his briefcase and swears all bloody hell if he doesn’t get it back.

Whatever.  Then we have some ladies go at it fronted by my gal, Natalya followed by Rosa Mendes up against Summer Rae and Layla again.  This time, all the ladies get into it.  Nattie leads off strong, showing that she can, in fact, “wrestle” and the other ladies aren’t bad either.  Yeah, not too surprisingly, Summer Rae took a tumble but she played it off like a pro and just went along with it like her giraffe-like sensibility kinda allows.  There was some sloppiness.  I’m not all that sold on Rosa Mendes but Layla was creative in her moves.  Word about the web is that this was piss poor but, I guess they made it presentable in post.  All in all, Layla picks up the win for the B’s.

After that, we find ourselves with a match between Dolph Ziggler and Cesaro for the Intercontinental Title.  This wasn’t a bad match.  Both fellows know their roles and played them well.  I particularly liked how due to some "shoddy" referee-ing, Ziggler was able to retain the title though Cesaro technically didn't lose the match, a nice touch of realism.  You see, hope.

The lead up to the Main Event was kinda funny, actually.  Lana is settling into her haughty Russian persona very well and was condescendingly splendid.   As for the Main Event itself, I think it allowed Big Show to show-off how it's not so bad being a veteran and it definitely played up Rusev as the “fer-ren” heel.

Big Show represented as only he could in good ol’Arkansas and did America proud.  Even did as he said he would and laid Rusev out, with Lana trying with all her might to sabotage his efforts.   They stopped just short of being cartoony but I was thoroughly entertained nonetheless.  There may just be life in this old heap yet.

See You Monday….

-Nicole Alexis.