PUTTIN’ THAT SMACKDOWN…What Happened Last (Tuesday) Night [Jan. 2nd, 2015]

Happy New Year, Enthusiasts!  It is now 2015 and we get a retroactive taste of what we’re in for with this week's episode of Smackdown out of Norfolk, Virginia.  So far, I don’t hesitate in saying that 2015 is looking promising.  Smackdown was fairly solid from beginning to end so, at the very least, We the Audience may be appeased with a happy medium as the WWE attempts to push their agenda while satisfying ours.

The only thing I had a real problem with for this installment was the opening. I’m not sure what the WWE plans to do with The Authority angle this time around but, decrees and faux lawsuits are kinda ridiculous.  No one gives a shit. What would be genius kayfabery would be what’s going on with CM Punk.  If that shit just turned out to be one long tease, it would be amazing when he got back.  Like, if they’re going to “evolve” first thing the WWE needs to do is get with the times.  Wrestlers should have Twitter battles n’shit because that’s how shit is nowadays.  They’re going to have to really rethink everything if they wanna play bullshit angles.  We the Audience aren’t that interested half the time and the loose storylines in place have so much to be desired, it’s just kinda foolish to think we’d care…in my humble opinion. Anyway, after some long-winded babbling, we get some of the night’s matches like, Big Show vs. Ryback and the Main Event in Roman Reigns vs. Rusev.  But before all that, let’s have an intriguing match up with Bray Wyatt and Erick Rowan.

This match was interesting.  I liked the hint of drama that permeated. Bray Wyatt was great in how he approached the match, facing a former disciple. He sits in the corner, staring at the one he “raised” seemingly a little disappointed that it has come to this.  He attempts to utilize his authority and demands that Rowan lay down once he gets in the ring.  Rowan thinks about this and decides that it is best to fight.  And they do.  Wyatt is very manipulative during this match.  Though Rowan comes at him aggressively, Wyatt simply waits for his openings.  He soon takes to his knees and pleads to Rowan.  Doesn’t he remember him?  How he saved him? Loved him? Rowan does seem to remember and shows some compassion to his mentor and Wyatt blesses him with Sister Abigail.  His hand forced, Wyatt dispatches his disciple.  This is all a warning for Dean Ambrose.

Up next, Ryback and Big Show have a Big Ol’Guy Match.  This match was actually a lot more entertaining than I thought it would be.  It is kinda hard to watch Big Show lumber about the ring sometimes.  It just all looks like it hurts but, Ryback was very explosive and played up his hits very well.  Big Show in heel mode at the moment reminds us of Ryback’s little speech last RAW and keeps going for his battle scars, attacking the once broken leg and ankle. Ryback fights back and seems to start to get the jump on Big Show when the Russian flag drops and Rusev and Lana strut out to serve as a distraction.  Big Show takes the opportunity to knock Ryback out of the ring to get the win via count out.  Assuming he is defeated, Rusev gets Ryback back in the ring to serve him up an Accolade but The Big Guy still has some fight left in him and battles Rusev off.  Rusev was expecting easier pickings and scurries out the ring with Lana close behind.  He does have another match tonight, remember.

After that, Tyson Kidd and Cesaro are apparently a Tag Team now with Natalya tagging along for support.  They go up against Los Matadores in what was a very fun match.  These guys are technicians all around and their skill was allowed to shine quite fluidly.  Cesaro and Kidd get the win in creative fashion with their double-decker slam off the top of the ropes. There was a little drama on the sidelines and in the short promo they showed with Nattie feeling a little left out but, meh.  It’s just something to do.

To follow, Dean Ambrose comes out to squash Curtis Axel in swift fashion and call out Bray Wyatt for their upcoming, first ever, Ambulance Match to be held on Monday’s RAW.  I’m not really looking forward to this and I don’t say that pessimistically I’m just saying that though it’s being hyped, I’m just not all that excited about it.  Their matches aren’t nearly as epic as they could be and if they don’t up the ante, Creative has to double check the point.

Next up, The Ascension come out and quickly end some local wrestlers.  I still have a hard time not laughing when I see them, though. I think they should go with that.  They should be a little campy because…they are.  Nevertheless, that segues into an awesome 6-Man-Tag with The Usos and R-Truth up against The Brothers Dust and Adam Rose.  This match was a lot of fun.  I thought StarDust was hilarious with his antagonizing and hamming it up.  Goldust executed one of his better PowerSlams and The Usos were exciting per usual. The Faces take this exchange for shits and giggles and it doesn’t bother me one bit.

This brings us to the "Piéce de Resistance" in the Main Event of Rusev versus Roman Reigns.  This is a match that I'd figure to go forever and I did not bridle at its length.  It seemed like what you’d expect it to be.  Not as clean as I’d like but at the same time, I didn’t really mind the sloppiness.  It seemed somewhat understandable.  The match itself moved well and when Big Show comes out to throw a wrench in the works, I think Reigns “handles” the situation very well.  Though an interruption such as this could have upset the rhythm of the events, I think and I could be wrong, that we got a little sense of Reigns’ character here because though he was dealing with Rusev, when he sees Big Show, he did a good job of expressing intent.  Big Show is a problem that needs to be dealt with.  Solution? Superman Punch him in the mouth.  Problem solved. This is application I can agree with and feel should be implemented more often. Smackdown gets what I’m going for (^_~) In any case, Reigns takes a lot hits in this one with Rusev showing plenty of frustration. But, with the Big Show intervention the match ends in a Disqualification so no one officially loses face but, Reigns does manage to return the favor from RAW and dumps the announce table on Big Show in the end.

See You Monday,

-Nicole Alexis.