PUTTIN’ THAT SMACKDOWN…What Happened Last (Tuesday) Night [Apr. 30th, 2015]

I have to say, I’ve been touching on the seeming “baseline” the WWE has been establishing of late and on this week’s SmackDown that seemed more or less confirmed.  For the first time since I started this blog, there have been at least 2 consecutive weeks of decent programming. I suppose someone is listening. This is promising yet, as the wise would suggest, the key is long-term planning. Let us hope that this new “formula” being implemented ensures that this never-ending marathon which is the WWE’s presence on television maintains and evolves for as long as the WWE Universe itself remains relevant.

We open in Moline, IL (about 2hrs west of Chicago) with Seth Rollins and Dad (Kane) still not fully getting along.  Rollins doesn’t like how he’s being treated backstage, he doesn’t have enough towels and his hair isn’t wet enough.  All sorts of stuff is wrong and in his mind it’s Dad’s fault.  Dad has a hard time believing this and keeping his patience but, he hears Rollins out.  Even so, Rollins still isn’t appeased.  You know what, old man!  This all boils down to you being all washed up!  You’re not relevant anymore.  All you do is book matches and lose!   We don’t need you anymore!  You want to do something for me and the Authority?  Why don’t you do something that actually helps for once!  Dad doesn’t respond immediately but his look and demeanor speak volumes.  Well, I’m sorry that you feel that way, Seth.  So, let’s start off with something for the paying customers, huh?  Why don’t you and Dean Ambrose close, tonight?  Happy!

As for what’s going on in the arena, it’s apparently Roman Reigns. The crowd seems less torn this time out and more willing to cheer as opposed to boo. He also has something to say.  First off, he’d like to wish Dean Ambrose well on his match with Rollins later on tonight. That’s his boy.  They know what dealing with him is like.  They came in together and he broke them apart.  He’s their figurative “little brother” so, treat him like one…you know, that you can’t stand.  Besides that, he’s not scared of Rollins going into Payback and he’ll be going into it ready for whatever Rollins or Randy Orton’s got.  I would say this was a good opening for Reigns.  We see that he is certainly improving for he actually seemed comfortable on the mic for once.  There wasn’t anything I could really knock because it was no different than anything anyone else could have come out and said.  As I said, he’s starting to “get it” in terms of performance and I was pretty sure that was only a matter of time.  Glad to know that I was right.  He along with everyone else of note should only get better.  Nevertheless, before Reigns can go into detail about his intentions at Payback, Dad comes marching down the ramp and disrobes as he does so.  Apparently, he’s got a match and apparently, Reigns does too.  Dad is deliberate tonight and pulls no punches with Reigns, which I thought was great.  Enthusiasts, you see me ranting and raving about how Dad has to be booked better.  He’s so underused and underappreciated that it makes me sick.  Dad is great!  He’s just being presented poorly.  Yet, with the storyline needling Dad into upping his game, Creative may be setting up to present him more like I think he should be, like “Dad”.  This match was a good start.  Early on, Dad controls much of the match by throwing Reigns into ring posts, dealing devastating blows to the face and slamming him down anywhere it looks like it would hurt. Yet, we’ve seen Reigns take hits.  Seems like he can take ‘em all day so, it’s no surprise he’s resilient.  He manages to give Dad some hits too and starts to make a late comeback.  With Dad’s patience already running low, he doesn’t want to fuck around so he goes for the Chokeslam but Reigns wriggles out.  Dad then goes for the Tombstone Piledriver but Reigns comes back with a DDT and follows that up with a Superman Punch.  Reigns lines up for the Spear but Dad has had enough of this kid.  He takes the countout and calls it a day…for now.

To follow, we have Damien Sandow continue to re-establish himself in singles competition up against the new preferred jobber, Curtis Axel.  That being said, Axel commences the match as if he’ll put a real hurt on Sandow.  He emphasizes such by tearing off his shirt as Hulk Hogan once did but alas, Sandow is not intimidated by the display.  In quick time, Sandow dispatches of Axel and seems to “wash his hands” of him after.  I liked the gesture.  Sandow seems to be half-keeping his previous persona of being a Grade A condescending dick but, seeing how We the Audience have embraced him, he tries to keep this more in a humorous vein.  Yet, he can certainly show disdain towards those he has vanquished.  He might as well go all the way and actually wipe his hands clean and toss the used towel onto his fallen opponents.  Think it would be a nice touch.

After that, Ryback and Luke Harper have at in brute force fashion.  I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one but it turned out to be the collision one would think.  Being such large gentlemen, power is the theme and both demonstrate plenty.  Ryback managing the vertical suplex/Shell Shock is just an example.  Harper manages to man-handled Ryback in his own special way but it’s Ryback who gets the win and who makes a sudden appearance to congratulate him? Bray Wyatt.  Wyatt slams Ryback into a turnbuckle before landing his Sister Abigail, completing his 2^nd statement.  I was actually surprised by how easily Wyatt seemed to maneuver Ryback. Ryback may have helped with the sell but with Wyatt built somewhat sloppily, you wouldn’t think he’d be a physical match for Ryback but I suppose it’s simply size that matters in some respects.

Up next, we have some a Tag Team Championship action with The New Day battling Cesaro & Tyson Kidd once again.  This was a very good match.  There was non-stop action from start to finish and what I liked most about it was the interchanges from everyone.  Big E. Langston and Kofi Kingston went in for the New Day and these 4 fellows were able to string all the moves together without it all looking like a big mess.  You can’t deny the chemistry these guys have.  And though the New Day put “blinders” on and try to coerce the crowd to their side, every time they call out “NEW DAY!” the audience responds with a resounding “SUCKS!”  The New Day try to go along with this and try to make their chant “New Day Rocks!” but you can still hear the “Sucks!” pretty clearly.  Yet, if the New Day continues to perform well, this may become part of their shtick. Towards the end it looks like Tyson Kidd might pin Langston for the win but Xavier Woods and Kingston jump in to cause the disqualification.  Though some may not have cared for the DQ finish, I thought it was a good way to use the tactic.  Seeing how the title was on the line, they rather take the DQ than lose the title.  At least they use their noodles.

We look to the docket and find that we have Divas action next with Cameron taking on Nikki Bella.  Even with Cameron involved, this wasn’t a bad match.  This was set-up by a promo that had Summer Rae and Cameron talking shit backstage until Nikki Bella walks up and says, say it to my face!  Cameron does her heel duty and talks all kinds of shit in the ring but for all her digs, she soon succumbs to the Rack Attack.

After another hilarious promo from the Prime Time Players hating on The New Day, we come to the main event with Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins.  Well, what can I say Enthusiasts?  We all know what to expect when these 2 come together.  Ambrose is always up to kick that Rollins ass!  Yet, I feel I should mention that since the animosity wasn’t drudged up for this bout, there wasn’t nearly the intensity that there was in the past but the grudge I feel will always remain as long as Ambrose and Reigns are faces and Rollins is a heel.  Neither one disappoint though as Ambrose takes more of a “so we meet again” type tone and is more methodical in dealing his pain to Rollins.  Rollins proves wily more in this match, since he has to back up all his previous talk of being able to do things himself.  Dad stands by ringside as well, ready to get involved if necessary along with J&J Security.  There’s a moment when Ambrose does an elbow drop off the top rope to nullify Dad and J&J and as they all get back to their feet, I thought it was funny how Rollins comes rushing into the shot to keep pounding away at Ambrose.  When shit like that happens, it’s a good match in my humble opinion.  Shit is just going down. It was also funny how when getting back up J&J, well-aware of Dad’s shorter than usual fuse, take some time to make sure Dad is all right and quickly apologize for landing on him. Little details like that definitely sell the action. In any case, they manage to get on the same page enough to distract Ambrose and Rollins is able to use his new DDT-like finisher to get the win.  Afterwards, to rub salt in the wound the heels all get in the ring and serve up a jumping to Ambrose, much like the ones he used to deal with the SHIELD.  Well, with this merciless beatdown in effect it’s just a matter of time before Reigns shows up and we do get his entrance music but where is he!  There!  He sneaks in from behind the ramp and starts to clear the ring.  Dad gets knocked out of it and J&J, for what can only be called blind loyalty, try to squelch Reigns’ charge but they get pushed away.  They come back at him again and get Double-Speared!  So it’s up to Dad but, as soon as he gets in to do something, Spear!  A recovered Ambrose thanks his brother from another mother and the 2 of them shit talk Rollins to black.

All in all, it was a solid, strong SmackDown.  Don’t really have too much to bitch about for once and I’m glad.  As I stated in my intro, I want the WWE to reinvent itself.  All things must adapt to survive.  I think the WWE was clinging to an old model that no longer applies.  Yet, not all of it needs to go.  Some things should be eternal yet, presentation is always subject to the times.  Let’s hope this marks the beginning of a true evolution.

See You Monday,

-Nicole Alexis (^_~)