Smackdown
Date: November 14, 2014
Location: Echo Arena,
Liverpool, England
Liverpool, England
Attendance: 2,500
Commentators: Michael
Cole, Tom Phillips, John Bradshaw Layfield
Cole, Tom Phillips, John Bradshaw Layfield
Reviewed by Tommy Hall
We’re wrapping up the
European shows here with the blue show over in Liverpool. By now
most of the Survivor Series main event is set as I believe we have
five guys apiece. It should be interesting to see if any of them are
swapped out again. They’ve done a nice job so far of building up the
people in the match other than Cena, which should be the point of
something like this. Let’s get to it.
European shows here with the blue show over in Liverpool. By now
most of the Survivor Series main event is set as I believe we have
five guys apiece. It should be interesting to see if any of them are
swapped out again. They’ve done a nice job so far of building up the
people in the match other than Cena, which should be the point of
something like this. Let’s get to it.
We open with a long
recap of Raw’s events and all the changes to the teams.
recap of Raw’s events and all the changes to the teams.
Here’s the returning
Chris Jericho for a British Highlight Reel. Jericho has one burning
question: Who is Adam Rose’s Bunny, because he’s AWESOME. He thinks
it’s Funaki, drawing the first Funaki chant in WWE history. That’s
enough hijinks though so let’s get our guests out here. This brings
out HHH and Stephanie, with Steph doing Jericho’s pose in a cute bit.
Chris Jericho for a British Highlight Reel. Jericho has one burning
question: Who is Adam Rose’s Bunny, because he’s AWESOME. He thinks
it’s Funaki, drawing the first Funaki chant in WWE history. That’s
enough hijinks though so let’s get our guests out here. This brings
out HHH and Stephanie, with Steph doing Jericho’s pose in a cute bit.
Jericho would like to
know why the Authority wanted to be on the show. Stephanie says it
was because it’s been too long since Smackdown had the Highlight Reel
and they like to have fun. She sucks up to the fans and calls them
the most important part of the show. We get a YES chant, which shows
how important the fans are because they keep him that popular.
However, he wouldn’t be there without the Authority. Who could run
the WWE without the Authority? Jericho: “I could.”
know why the Authority wanted to be on the show. Stephanie says it
was because it’s been too long since Smackdown had the Highlight Reel
and they like to have fun. She sucks up to the fans and calls them
the most important part of the show. We get a YES chant, which shows
how important the fans are because they keep him that popular.
However, he wouldn’t be there without the Authority. Who could run
the WWE without the Authority? Jericho: “I could.”
Actually he has a
better idea: the fans run WWE. He lists off some humiliating ideas
for HHH, such as cleaning Jericho’s boots, before showing us a clip
of Vickie Guerrero shoving Stephanie into the mud in her retirement
match. That’s enough for HHH who says the wolf doesn’t ask to be
embraced by sheep. The Authority is going to be laughing when they
win at Survivor Series. Jericho should learn that when he calls
again to come back and get his WWE fix, because he might be erased
from the WWE history books by then. Chris thinks this is an arena
full of Jericholics and starts singing the Goodbye song.
better idea: the fans run WWE. He lists off some humiliating ideas
for HHH, such as cleaning Jericho’s boots, before showing us a clip
of Vickie Guerrero shoving Stephanie into the mud in her retirement
match. That’s enough for HHH who says the wolf doesn’t ask to be
embraced by sheep. The Authority is going to be laughing when they
win at Survivor Series. Jericho should learn that when he calls
again to come back and get his WWE fix, because he might be erased
from the WWE history books by then. Chris thinks this is an arena
full of Jericholics and starts singing the Goodbye song.
Video on Wyatt costing
Ambrose the Cell match.
Ambrose the Cell match.
Bray
Wyatt vs. Sin Cara
Wyatt vs. Sin Cara
Bray nails him a few
times to start but misses a charge. Cara goes up for the Swanton but
only hits mat. Back up and the charge hits this time, setting up the
suplex slam. The Spider Walk sets up Sister Abigail for the pin at
2:16. Total squash.
times to start but misses a charge. Cara goes up for the Swanton but
only hits mat. Back up and the charge hits this time, setting up the
suplex slam. The Spider Walk sets up Sister Abigail for the pin at
2:16. Total squash.
Post match Bray says he
can feel Ambrose screaming for help in his heart. Dean used to feel
unloved and woke up every Christmas morning, hoping that daddy would
come back. But when he came downstairs, only darkness was waiting
for him. That’s what life has become for Dean, but Bray is the light
he’s been searching for his entire life.
can feel Ambrose screaming for help in his heart. Dean used to feel
unloved and woke up every Christmas morning, hoping that daddy would
come back. But when he came downstairs, only darkness was waiting
for him. That’s what life has become for Dean, but Bray is the light
he’s been searching for his entire life.
Salvation is at hand so
let Bray fix him. Cue Ambrose but Bray bails and calls Dean
predictable. All he has to do is push the right buttons and Dean
will be there right on time. Ambrose wants to punish him, just like
he wants to punish his daddy. Bray gets in but gets knocked out by a
single right hand. As he walks away, Bray says Dean is crying out
for help and that he is the key.
let Bray fix him. Cue Ambrose but Bray bails and calls Dean
predictable. All he has to do is push the right buttons and Dean
will be there right on time. Ambrose wants to punish him, just like
he wants to punish his daddy. Bray gets in but gets knocked out by a
single right hand. As he walks away, Bray says Dean is crying out
for help and that he is the key.
Xavier Woods’ new day
is coming.
is coming.
Goldust/Stardust
vs. Adam Rose/The Bunny
vs. Adam Rose/The Bunny
Non-title. Rose is a
bit less energetic on the way to the ring this week. We get a clip
from Main Event where the Bunny took out Goldust, allowing Rose to
roll up Stardust for a surprise pin to get back in Adam’s good
graces. Adam runs over Goldust to start but gets thrown into the
corner for a tag off to Stardust. The Express tries to fire up Rose
as he fights out of a chinlock. Goldust and Rose bang heads and the
hot tag brings in the Bunny. Stardust gets taken down and won’t tag
out, allowing Stardust to block a splash with knees. Dark Matter
ends the Bunny at 2:03.
bit less energetic on the way to the ring this week. We get a clip
from Main Event where the Bunny took out Goldust, allowing Rose to
roll up Stardust for a surprise pin to get back in Adam’s good
graces. Adam runs over Goldust to start but gets thrown into the
corner for a tag off to Stardust. The Express tries to fire up Rose
as he fights out of a chinlock. Goldust and Rose bang heads and the
hot tag brings in the Bunny. Stardust gets taken down and won’t tag
out, allowing Stardust to block a splash with knees. Dark Matter
ends the Bunny at 2:03.
Rose Party Fouls the
Bunny post match.
Bunny post match.
WWE2K15 stuff.
Dolph Ziggler looks at
what the Authority has put him through in recent weeks and isn’t
worried about his triple threat elimination title defense tonight.
He says he’s survived everything they’ve thrown at him and if this is
the night he loses, he’s going down with a fight and staying on Team
Cena. All he has to do is survive until Survivor Series and then the
Authority is gone.
what the Authority has put him through in recent weeks and isn’t
worried about his triple threat elimination title defense tonight.
He says he’s survived everything they’ve thrown at him and if this is
the night he loses, he’s going down with a fight and staying on Team
Cena. All he has to do is survive until Survivor Series and then the
Authority is gone.
Video on Ryback.
Ryback says he’s on his
own team and the only person who needs to worry about survving is
Kane, who he faces tonight. What you saw on Monday was just an
appetizer and unfortunately for Kane, it’s almost feeding time.
own team and the only person who needs to worry about survving is
Kane, who he faces tonight. What you saw on Monday was just an
appetizer and unfortunately for Kane, it’s almost feeding time.
Intercontinental
Title: Tyson Kidd vs. Cesaro vs. Dolph Ziggler
Title: Tyson Kidd vs. Cesaro vs. Dolph Ziggler
Ziggler is defending
under elimination rules. Kidd gets shoved away to start and Cesaro
kicks Dolph in the face. The smaller guys dropkick Cesaro down but
Dolph has to kick out of a rollup from Tyson. They trade rapid fire
rollups for two each until Dolph dropkicks Cesaro down again. We
take a break and come back with Cesaro suplexing both guys at the
same time in a nice power display. A powerbomb plants Dolph and Kidd
comes back in with a springboard elbow drop.
under elimination rules. Kidd gets shoved away to start and Cesaro
kicks Dolph in the face. The smaller guys dropkick Cesaro down but
Dolph has to kick out of a rollup from Tyson. They trade rapid fire
rollups for two each until Dolph dropkicks Cesaro down again. We
take a break and come back with Cesaro suplexing both guys at the
same time in a nice power display. A powerbomb plants Dolph and Kidd
comes back in with a springboard elbow drop.
Cesaro throws Tyson
down to cover Ziggler for two and the fans think this is awesome.
Dolph gets two off a Fameasser to Kidd but gets caught in the Tree of
Woe. Now it’s Kidd with some delayed dropkicks to Dolph’s face but
Cesaro nails a clothesline for two on the Canadian. The champ comes
back in with a high cross body to Cesaro as JBL rips on Ziggler for
complaining too much. Ziggler neckbreakers Kidd and DDTs Cesaro at
the same time for two each. Kidd pops back up with a neckbreaker of
his own to the champ but gets caught with an uppercut on the top.
down to cover Ziggler for two and the fans think this is awesome.
Dolph gets two off a Fameasser to Kidd but gets caught in the Tree of
Woe. Now it’s Kidd with some delayed dropkicks to Dolph’s face but
Cesaro nails a clothesline for two on the Canadian. The champ comes
back in with a high cross body to Cesaro as JBL rips on Ziggler for
complaining too much. Ziggler neckbreakers Kidd and DDTs Cesaro at
the same time for two each. Kidd pops back up with a neckbreaker of
his own to the champ but gets caught with an uppercut on the top.
They all head to the
corner and grapple up top until Cesaro superplexes Ziggler while Kidd
powerbombs Cesaro for the Tower of Doom. Cesaro covers Ziggler but
Kidd slaps on the Sharpshooter to the European at the same time.
Pure leg strength breaks the hold though and Cesaro counters the
running DDT with Swiss Death. We take another break and come back
with Kidd hitting a Blockbuster on Cesaro, driving him into Ziggler’s
raised knees at the same time.
corner and grapple up top until Cesaro superplexes Ziggler while Kidd
powerbombs Cesaro for the Tower of Doom. Cesaro covers Ziggler but
Kidd slaps on the Sharpshooter to the European at the same time.
Pure leg strength breaks the hold though and Cesaro counters the
running DDT with Swiss Death. We take another break and come back
with Kidd hitting a Blockbuster on Cesaro, driving him into Ziggler’s
raised knees at the same time.
For once that hurts the
knees so Kidd puts on the Sharpshooter with Cesaro adding a Crossface
at the same time. In what JBL calls a very stupid move, Kidd lets go
of his half and stomps on Cesaro, earning him a Cesaro Swing.
Ziggler comes back with the running DDT for two on Cesaro but Kidd
kicks the champ in the face, right into a German suplex from Cesaro.
Back up and a Zig Zag nails Cesaro but Kidd dropkicks the champ down
and steals a pin to eliminate Cesaro at 18:17.
knees so Kidd puts on the Sharpshooter with Cesaro adding a Crossface
at the same time. In what JBL calls a very stupid move, Kidd lets go
of his half and stomps on Cesaro, earning him a Cesaro Swing.
Ziggler comes back with the running DDT for two on Cesaro but Kidd
kicks the champ in the face, right into a German suplex from Cesaro.
Back up and a Zig Zag nails Cesaro but Kidd dropkicks the champ down
and steals a pin to eliminate Cesaro at 18:17.
So it’s Ziggler vs.
Kidd for the title now with the champ on the floor. Tyson
headscissors him down into the steps before running the barricade for
a kick to the face. Back in and Kidd chokes on the ropes but gets
rolled up for two. A Moss Covered Three Handled Family Credenza gets
two for the challenger so Kidd springboards with a dive only designed
to get superkicked down for two. Tyson pops back up and grabs the
Sharpshooter, only to have Dolph roll through into the Zig Zag for
the pin at 21:43.
Kidd for the title now with the champ on the floor. Tyson
headscissors him down into the steps before running the barricade for
a kick to the face. Back in and Kidd chokes on the ropes but gets
rolled up for two. A Moss Covered Three Handled Family Credenza gets
two for the challenger so Kidd springboards with a dive only designed
to get superkicked down for two. Tyson pops back up and grabs the
Sharpshooter, only to have Dolph roll through into the Zig Zag for
the pin at 21:43.
Rating:
B+. This had the time to get
going and worked out quite well by the end. I
like that Kidd is getting a solid push and getting to show off his
skills instead of just being an accessory to Natalya. This feud is
doing a great job to build up Ziggler, and more importantly the
Intercontinental Title, which have been needed for a long time now.
Really good, long match here.
B+. This had the time to get
going and worked out quite well by the end. I
like that Kidd is getting a solid push and getting to show off his
skills instead of just being an accessory to Natalya. This feud is
doing a great job to build up Ziggler, and more importantly the
Intercontinental Title, which have been needed for a long time now.
Really good, long match here.
Natalya
vs. Layla
vs. Layla
Layla
steals the shirt Natalya is about to throw into the crowd. Natalya
rolls out of a wristlock ala Owen Hart but Layla rolls out of an
early Sharpshooter attempt. They
trade some hard forearms until Layla just kicks her in the head.
Some choking on the ropes gets two for Layla and we hit a figure four
neck lock. Off to a body vice instead as we keep cutting to Summer
Rae on the floor, even though she hasn’t done anything. Layla
poses a lot but gets dropkicked down for two. Natalya
gets thrown out to the floor but slaps Summer hard in the face. Back
in and a quick Sharpshooter makes Layla tap at 3:55.
steals the shirt Natalya is about to throw into the crowd. Natalya
rolls out of a wristlock ala Owen Hart but Layla rolls out of an
early Sharpshooter attempt. They
trade some hard forearms until Layla just kicks her in the head.
Some choking on the ropes gets two for Layla and we hit a figure four
neck lock. Off to a body vice instead as we keep cutting to Summer
Rae on the floor, even though she hasn’t done anything. Layla
poses a lot but gets dropkicked down for two. Natalya
gets thrown out to the floor but slaps Summer hard in the face. Back
in and a quick Sharpshooter makes Layla tap at 3:55.
Rating:
D+. Eh Summer looked good in a
short black dress and Layla is always good looking. I’m not sure why
I’m supposed to care about this though but I’m assuming it’s
something related to a show that doesn’t air with the rest of WWE’s
shows and is about four months removed from current events.
D+. Eh Summer looked good in a
short black dress and Layla is always good looking. I’m not sure why
I’m supposed to care about this though but I’m assuming it’s
something related to a show that doesn’t air with the rest of WWE’s
shows and is about four months removed from current events.
Recap
of the opening segment.
of the opening segment.
Kofi Kingston’s new day
is coming as well.
is coming as well.
We recap Bray’s promo
on Dean earlier.
on Dean earlier.
Ambrose shouts about
being sick of Bray Wyatt. Bray jumps him from behind and lays
Ambrose out. He says this world isn’t made for people like them and
labels are the way the world puts them in a box.
being sick of Bray Wyatt. Bray jumps him from behind and lays
Ambrose out. He says this world isn’t made for people like them and
labels are the way the world puts them in a box.
Ryback
vs. Kane
vs. Kane
HHH and Stephanie are
at ringside. Kane grabs a headlock to start as we’re already in the
slow power counters stage. Ryback runs him over with a shoulder but
eats an uppercut for his efforts. Cole wants to know what HHH and
Stephanie could possibly do if they lose at Survivor Series because
it’s all the know. A suplex puts Kane down and we take a break.
Back with Ryback hitting his Thesz Press and slamming Kane’s head
into the mat.
at ringside. Kane grabs a headlock to start as we’re already in the
slow power counters stage. Ryback runs him over with a shoulder but
eats an uppercut for his efforts. Cole wants to know what HHH and
Stephanie could possibly do if they lose at Survivor Series because
it’s all the know. A suplex puts Kane down and we take a break.
Back with Ryback hitting his Thesz Press and slamming Kane’s head
into the mat.
The Meat Hook is
stopped by a big boot and an elbow drop gets two for Kane. Ryback
fights back with chops but gets whipped hard into the corner. We hit
the chinlock for a bit but Ryback powers up and breaks a chokeslam
attempt. Now the Meat Hook connects but Kane escapes the Shell Shock
and takes it to the floor where a chair to Ryback’s ribs draws a DQ
at 11:45.
stopped by a big boot and an elbow drop gets two for Kane. Ryback
fights back with chops but gets whipped hard into the corner. We hit
the chinlock for a bit but Ryback powers up and breaks a chokeslam
attempt. Now the Meat Hook connects but Kane escapes the Shell Shock
and takes it to the floor where a chair to Ryback’s ribs draws a DQ
at 11:45.
Rating:
C-. Watchable power match here
with neither guy doing anything of note but enough big crashes to
make it work. Ryback continues to look good in the ring and capable
of doing more than big spots, though I’m not sure why they couldn’t
have Kane take a pin here. I don’t know why they keep letting him
lose by DQ but it’s not going to kill him to lose to a fairly big
name.
C-. Watchable power match here
with neither guy doing anything of note but enough big crashes to
make it work. Ryback continues to look good in the ring and capable
of doing more than big spots, though I’m not sure why they couldn’t
have Kane take a pin here. I don’t know why they keep letting him
lose by DQ but it’s not going to kill him to lose to a fairly big
name.
Ryback
shrugs off the chair shots and nails Kane with the chair. He stares
HHH down to end the show.
shrugs off the chair shots and nails Kane with the chair. He stares
HHH down to end the show.
Overall
Rating: B-. Smackdown and WWE
continue to pick up steam as they let the wrestlers do their thing
tonight. It’s almost like interesting stuff happens here, including
Ambrose vs. Wyatt which has mainly been built up on Fridays. This
wasn’t a must see show or anything but it had a great TV match that
got a lot of time. What more can you ask for from Smackdown anymore?
Rating: B-. Smackdown and WWE
continue to pick up steam as they let the wrestlers do their thing
tonight. It’s almost like interesting stuff happens here, including
Ambrose vs. Wyatt which has mainly been built up on Fridays. This
wasn’t a must see show or anything but it had a great TV match that
got a lot of time. What more can you ask for from Smackdown anymore?
Results
Bray Wyatt b. Sin Cara
– Sister Abigail
– Sister Abigail
Stardust/Goldust b.
Adam Rose/The Bunny – Dark Matter to the Bunny
Adam Rose/The Bunny – Dark Matter to the Bunny
Dolph Ziggler b. Cesaro
and Tyson Kidd – Zig Zag to Kidd
and Tyson Kidd – Zig Zag to Kidd
Natalya b. Layla –
Sharpshooter
Sharpshooter
Ryback b. Kane via DQ
when Kane used a chair
when Kane used a chair
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