This week's episode of SmackDown follows a momentous episode of Raw that saw Daniel Bryan finally get the match he wanted at WrestleMania along with an added stipulation that could earn him a title shot in the main event. On both last week's SmackDown and this week's Raw, Daniel Bryan teamed up with Big Show to take on and defeat Randy Orton and Batista. This week, Kane takes on Big Show in singles competition as "The Big Red Machine" tries to exact revenge on behalf of The Authority.
Tonight's show starts out with a recap of this past Monday's events on Raw in which Daniel Bryan "Occupied Raw" and gained his match against HHH at WrestleMania with the added stipulation that if he wins, he gets to compete in a triple threat match for the title in the main event.
The action starts with HHH coming to the ring and gets on the mic. He starts by mocking the "Yes" chants from the audience and the events on Monday night. He announces that Daniel Bryan is not in the building tonight. He says that he is "happy" for the audience that they had their 15 minutes of happiness, because he is about to end the "Yes Movement". He says that the "Yes Movement" could have continued to grow. He goes on to say that he has been protecting Daniel Bryan since SummerSlam so that the audience had something to believe in and hope for in their "pathetic lives". He continues saying that Daniel Bryan is just like the audience because he is just not good enough to succeed and that he is going to crush Daniel Bryan along with all the audience's dreams at WrestleMania. He then welcomes Damien Sandow to the ring.
Sandow comes to the ring and HHH lambasts him for not following his orders on Monday night by refusing to get in the ring for a match during the Occupy Raw event. HHH then makes him apologize and announces that he has a match tonight but doesn't say who it is. The Shield's music hits.
*Commercial Break*
MATCH: Damien Sandow vs. Seth Rollins
The action returns with Seth Rollins beatting on Sandow in the ring. Sandow fights back and sends Rollins to the outside. He tries to go after him but is blocked by the other members of the Shield. When Rollins gets back in , Sandow continues the aggressive offense in the corner. Rollins quickly gains back the momentum and delivers a big kick to the back of Sandows head. Sandow rolls outside and is distracted by Ambrose. Rollins hits the suicide dive. When Sandow gets back in the ring Rollins hits his finisher for the 3 count.
WINNER: Seth Rollins via Pinfall
After the match Dean Ambrose goes after Sandow and drags him back in the ring. The Shield delivers the triple power bomb to Sandow.
A graphic plays for Big Show followed by a video of Big E approaching gorilla position for his upcoming match.
*Commercial Break*
The show returns with a recap of Hulk Hogan announcing the Over-the-Top Andre The Giant Memorial 30 Man Battle Royal at WrestleMania. Big E is announced as a contestant in the Battle Royal.
A video plays of Fandango also announcing his entry in the Battle Royal.
MATCH: Big E. vs. Fandango
The two go to lock up but Fandango elivers a put to Big E's midsection. He follows with several blows followed by a knee to the matted Big E. Big E fights back with several clothelines followed by a belly to belly suplex. He follows this with his signature splash. Fandango tries to fight back but is hit with a big forearm. Big E removes his singlet straps and hits his finsisher, The Big Ending, for the 3 count.
WINNER: Big E via Pinfall
A video plays recapping the Undertaker's encounter with Paul Heyman. The Undertaker says that if Lesnar shows up in New Orleans, he will Rest in Peace.
Bad News Barret assumes his position atop the raised podium. He says that the Undertaker is 21-0 at WrestleMania. Unfortunately, he has some bad news for the audience. He says the Undertaker will lose at WrestleMania. He also says that there are adults in the audience who will stay up too late watching and lamenting WrestleMania and get fired at work for falling asleep during a big meeting.
A match is announced for later in which Bray Wyatt will wrestle Kofi Kingston.
A graphic plays for the Rhodes Brother's upcoming match against the Real Americans.
*Commercial Break*
MATCH: The Real Americans vs. Cody Rhodes and Goldust
The match starts out with Goldudt and Jack Swagger squaring off. Swagger has the early momentum but Goldust reverses with a hiptoss. He tags in Cody Rhodes. Swagger regains momentum, driving Rhodes into the corner. Cesaro is tagged in. Cesaro delivers several blows but Rhodes quickly reverses and sends Cesaro to the outside. He delivers a kick from the top rope to Swagger who is standing on the apron. Rhodes then tries to launch over the top rope onto Cesaro but is caught mid-air. Cesaro slams him on the apron then slingshots over the top rope and delivers a big double boot stomp to Rodes midsection.
*Commercial Break*
The action returns with Swagger in control. He tags in Cesaro. They attempt a double team maneuver but Rodes fights back sending Swagger to the outside. Rhodes tries to get the tag but is caught by Cesaro. Cesaro slams Rhodes spine first and delivers the Cesaro Swing. Swagger is tagged in and goes for the Swagger Bomb but misses. He regains momentum and tags in Cesaro. Cesaro delivers several blows to Rhodes and tags in Swagger. Swagger is working the offense when Cesaro makes a blind tag. Cesaro delivers a big vertical suplex to Rhodes. While he does this, Swagger makes his own blind tag. The Real Americans begin to argue. Cody Rhodes tries to capitalize with the tag to Goldust but Swagger knocks Goldust to the outside. While distracted, Rhodes roles up Swagger and gets the 3 count.
WINNERS: Goldust and Cody Rhodes via Pinfall.
After the match The Real Americans deliver the beat down to Cody Rhodes while Goldust is incapacitated. They are saved by the Usos.
A video plays recapping Bray Wyatt and John Cena's encounter on Monday night in which John Cena challenges Wyatt to a match at WrestleMania which Wyatt accepts.
The Wyatt's then make their way to the ring for Bray Wyatt's upcoming match.
*Commercial Break*
MATCH: Kofi Kingston vs. Bray Wyatt
The match begins with Wyatt shoving Kingston into the corner. Kofi reverses and delivers a big right hand to Wyatt. Kingston delivers several kicks to Wyatt. Wyatt catches the leg and sends Kingston to the mat. Kingston fights back with more kicks and sends Wyatt to the outside. Wyatt gets back in the ring and delivers an uppercut. He whips Kingston into the corner but Kingston moves and kicks Wyatt in the head. He follows up with an attack from the top rope. He goes for another attack off the top rope and Wyatt pushes him to the outside. Back in the ring Wyatt delivers a back body splash. He then hooks in a chinlock. Kingston fights out and delivers a dropkick followed by several splashes in the corner. He goes for an axe handle off the second rope but is caught and slammed by Wyatt. Kingston is sent to the corner and splashed by Wyatt. Wyatt does his bending upside down taunt in the corner and then hits the Sister Abigail for the 3 count.
WINNER: Bray Wyatt via Pinfall.
A video plays of Kane talking to the Shield. He congratulates all three members on their recent victories. Ambrose says Kane should just focus on his upcoming match against Big Show. Kane says he is going to put on a clinic in the ring tonight and says he might leave some scraps of the Big Show for the Shield to gather. The Shield gets the hint but say they don't take order from anyone. Rollins says that they will, however, do "what's best for business".
*Commercial Break*
The action returns with The Bellas in the ring for Nikki's upcoming match against Tamina. Tamina comes out with AJ Lee.
MATCH: Tamina vs. Nikki Bella
The match starts out with the momentum is favor of Nikki. Tamina goes for a takedown on Nikki but Nikki moves and hits her neck off the middle rope. Nikki is sent to the outside with a shoulder check from Tamina. Tamina follows outside and whips Nikki with her vest. She gets Nikki back in the ring and delivers a Samoan Drop. She goes for a Superfly Splash off the top rope but Nikki moves. She fights back but is planted by Tamina for a 2 count. Brie attacks AJ on the outside but Tamina makes the save. Tamina gets back in the ring and Nikki hits her finisher for the 3 count.
WINNER: Nikki Bella via Pinfall
The commentators say that Nikki Bella is the number one contender for the Diva's Championship because she pinned AJ Lee in a tag-team match.
A graphic plays for an upcoming match between Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio.
*Commercial Break*
The show returns with Ziggler making his way to the ring. A video plays showing a replay of Del Rio distracting Ziggler for Christian to pick up the win.
MATCH: Dolph Ziggler vs. Alberto Del Rio
The two lock up and Del Rio gets the momentum. He delivers a flury of stomps to Zigglers head. Ziggler fights back by sending Del Rio to the apron and dropkicking him to the outside. Ziggler send Del Rio back in the ring and hits his signature series of ten elbows. He gets a 1 count. Del Rio reverses the whip and sends Ziggler to the corner. Ziggler tries to reverse but Del Rio stomps him into the mat with both boots.
*Commercial Break*
The action returns with Ziggler going for a splash in the corner. Del Rio moves and gets a 2 count. He follows up with a dropkick to Ziggler's face. He pins Ziggler and gets a 1 count. Del Rio goes to the top rope but is countered by a dropkick from Ziggler. Del Rio goes for a clothesline but Ziggler ducks and sends Del Rio to the corner. He follows up with a flurry of blows to Del Rio's head and a slam. He covers Del Rio for a 2 count. Ziggler charges Del Rio but is caught with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Del Rio gets a 2 count. Dolph Ziggler fights back with a DDT and gets a 2 count. Del Rio fights back and hits his signature side kick to Ziggler's head. He covers Zigglr for the 2 count. Del Rio goes for an enziguri in the corner but Ziggler ducks and hits the Famouser. Ziggler goes to the top rope but is knocked off by a right hand from Del Rio. Del Rio slams Ziggler face first from the top rope. He gets another 2 count on Ziggler. Del Rio goes for the cross-armbreaker but Ziggler reverses and hits the Zig-Zag for the 3 count.
WINNER: Dolph Ziggler via Pinfall
Ziggler is interviewed in the ring and asked if he finally "hit his stride" with 2 wins over Del Rio. He says he is well on his way to WrestleMania and announces his entrance in the Over-the-Top Andre The Giant Memorial 30 Man Battle Royal at WrestleMania. He says that he makes his own destiny and that when he wins the battle royal, he will finally have his WrestleMania Moment.
*Commercial Break*
The show returns with a video announcing Carlos Colon's induction in the WWE Hall Of Fame.
JBL and Michael Cole explain how to sign up for the WWE Network.
The lights go out and the Wyatt's cut a promo, interrupting the commentators. Wyatt says he never sleeps but is always dreaming and that he is dreaming of his war with John Cena at WrestleMania. He describes hearing a woman's voice coming closer and closer, urging him on. He calls John Cena a withered old man filled with regret. He says they have entered the bowels of Carcosa and he promises to make Cena's demise quick.
A video plays of Kane backstage mustering the Shield to watch his back.
*Commercial Break*
The show returns with Kane making his way to the ring. The Shield is not behind him. The Big Show comes to the ring. A video plays showing Big Show knocking out Kane on Monday night.
MATCH: Big Show vs. Kane
The match starts out with Kane getting Show in a headlock. Show delivers a shoulder and sends Kane to the mat. The Shield approaches the ring and Big Show is distracted. Kane takes advantage and gains the momentum. Big Show fights back and delivers a big chop to Kane's chest. Kane goes to the outside and slams Big Shows neck on the top rope. He takes out Big Shows knee and sends him to the mat. He hit a dropkick and gets a 2 count. Kane continues to work on Big Shows kne with a submission hold. Big Show fights out and goes for a back body drop but Kane counters with a DDT. Kane sets up for the chokeslam but Big show grabs him by the neck. Kane delivers a boot to the midsection but Show fights back with a series of clotheslines. Big SHow goes to the top rope but is chokeslammed from the top by Kane.
Kane gets the Shield to come on the apron but they refuse to interfere. Kane is distracted by yelling at the Shield and Big Show takes advantage. He hit the chokeslam and gets the 3 count.
WINNER: Big Show via Pinfall
Kane grabs Rollins and goes for the chokeslam but is speared by Roman Reigns. The Shield do their fist bump in the middle of the ring as the show closes out.
REVIEW
Tonight was a decent episode of SmackDown. There were perhaps one too many squash matches but overall there were some real gems mixed in. While Bray Wyatt vs. Kofi Kingston was a short match, it was a highly intense brawl that saw Kofi Kingston put in a good effort. He was simply overpowered by Bray Wyatt which was a great way for the match to end and it made both wrestlers look good. Ziggler and Del Rio put on a fantastic show. Although we have seen them fight many times in the past, renewing their rivalry is turning out to be rather entertaining.
The Diva's match was nothing special. I would like to see Tamina start picking up some victories as she could easily be pushed, based on her size alone, as the most dominant woman in the division. If the title goes to Nikki Bella I will be very disappointed. People say that her in ring ability is improving but I'm still trying to figure out how.
The main event was interesting simply because of the Shield's actions. This match solidified their position as "tweeners" and I like how they are developing as a team. The discord seems to be over for now but I'm sure it will eventually pop up again when they are ready to break the team up, but for now, they are as strong and dangerous as ever.
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