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WWE Smackdown Reaction (8/2)

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Written by

Robert Lentini

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This week’s episode started off with Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon talking to The Miz backstage. Daniel Bryan makes a triple threat match for later on tonight with the winner going on to face The Miz at Summerslam for the Intercontinental Championship. The match will be Baron Corbin vs Kalisto vs Apollo Crews. Daniel Bryan accidentally referred to Apollo Crews as “Apollo Creed”, the fictional character from the Rocky films.

https://twitter.com/johncenaAm/status/760632411164147712

Dean Ambrose then comes down to the ring and asked Dolph Ziggler to join him. Ambrose and Ziggler went on to have a terrific promo in the ring. Ambrose stated that he had been through way more than Ziggler in order to make it to the top. Ziggler then mentioned that that is not true because Ambrose started off with the Shield and Ziggler started off as a male cheerleader in the Spirit Squad. Ambrose accused Ziggler of being too concerned with his looks and what fans on the internet say. Ambrose went on to say that he didn’t care what anybody thought of them and he always proves his doubters wrong. At this point, Ziggler became heated and got right up in Ambrose’s face. He shouted that he will defeat Ambrose at Summerslam and take his title because he is that damn good. Ambrose then told Zigger that he is not as good as he thinks he is. As Ambrose was exiting the ring, the lights went out. When they came back on, Bray Wyatt was in the ring with Ziggler and he hit him with the Sister Abigail. Bray Wyatt then challenged Zigger to a match. If Ziggler wins he will finally have proven himself worthy of being a contender for the WWE Championship. If Ziggler loses, Bray Wyatt will take Ziggler’s spot in his title match against Dean Ambrose at Summerslam.

Ziggler confronted Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon backstage and demanded that they make the match against Bray Wyatt. Daniel Bryan tried to talk Ziggler out of it because Ziggler didn’t have anything to gain. Ziggler ignored Bryan and still demanded the match.

Reaction: I thought this was a solid way to kick off the show. The Ambrose/Ziggler promo felt like two people actually arguing rather than regurgitating lines they memorized before the show. However, if Bray Wyatt defeats Ziggler later in the show, this promo was pretty much useless.

Kalisto vs Baron Corbin vs Apollo Crews

This was a relatively quick match that ended with Baron Corbin catching Kalisto in mid-air but Apollo Crews dropkicked them both out of the ring. When Kalisto got back into the ring, Apollo Crews rolled him up for the victory. After the match, The Miz hit the Skull Crushing Finale on Crews. As The Miz was celebrating, Baron Corbin rolled back into the ring and hit The Miz with the End of Days.

Winner and #1 Contender to the Intercontinental Championship: Apollo Crews

Reaction: Apollo Crews winning this match makes sense. Corbin standing tall at the end leads me to believe that he will be in the Intercontinental Championship picture for awhile.

Eva Marie vs Becky Lynch

Eva Marie’s entrance is completely ridiculous and took several minutes for her to finally reach the ring. When she finally got there, she posed on top the turnbuckle and appeared to injure herself. The referee then stated the match wouldn’t happen due to Eva Marie being injured.

Reaction: It seemed like Eva Marie was faking the injury to annoy the crowd. If she is actually injured then that is unfortunate, if it is was part of the show it actually was effective way to get people to hate her even more.

American Alphas vs The Vaudevillians

Gable pretty much dominated Simon Gotch this entire match. The Vaudevillians barely got in any offense, which makes sense because it was the debut of the American Alphas. The Vaudevillians didn’t stand a chance the American Alphas connected with the Grand Amplitude for the victory.

Winners: American Alpha

Reaction: The American Alphas looked dominant in their debut while the Vaudevillians looked like they didn’t belong in the same ring with them. I’m guessing the American Alphas will enter the Tag Team Championship picture once the New Day and the Club’s feud comes to an end.

AJ Styles came down to the ring to deliver a message to John Cena. Before Styles could even start talking, John Cena’s music hit. Styles took exception to Cena rudely interrupting him and was trying to let Cena know about it but the crowd interrupted him with a “soccer mom” chant. Styles tried to continue speaking but the crowd started chanting “what?!” after every thing he said. AJ claimed that the people in Nashville are weak-minded and stated that he of all people would know. That could easily be construed as a shot at Dixie Carter and TNA wrestling. Styles started pointed to children and parents in the crowd and started calling them delusional. Styles stated that the parents of Cena fans are the types of people that believe every child should get a trophy just for participating. Cena finally interrupted Styles and claimed that the reason he was in the WWE is because of love. Cena then goes on to say that the only reason Styles is in the WWE is because he is a great wrestler. Cena stated that if things don’t work out for Styles in the WWE he will just go to some other company. Cena claimed that the WWE is the only place for him. Styles then challenged Cena to a match at Summerslam and Cena accepted. Styles then said that if he beats Cena at Summerslam and Cena doesn’t admit that Styles is better than him then he is a liar. However, if Cena admits Styles is better, then Cena is nothing but a loser. Styles claimed that either way, he wins.

Reaction: This was a very solid promo and finally the crowd actually made some noise this episode. The crowd was dead for the American Alphas debut and pretty much every thing that happened on this episode. Styles and Cena will no doubt put on a great match at Summerslam.

Randy Orton vs Fandango

This match was way more back and forth than I thought it would be. Fandango got in some offense but eventually Orton regained control. Brock Lesnar is shown approaching the ring through the crowd. Lesnar gets in the ring and hits an F5 on Orton. After the match, Lesnar is shown peacefully walking out of the arena with Paul Heyman. Lesnar claimed he was simply returning the favor and drove out of the arena with Heyman.

Heath Slater once again shows up on Smackdown but this time he was in Daniel Bryan’s office. Daniel Bryan finally throws Heath Slater a bone and stated that if Heath Slater wins a match next week on Smackdown, he will earn a spot on the Smackdown roster. Slater asked who his opponent was and then was immediately Gored by Rhyno. Slater will face off against Rhyno next week for a chance to join the Smackdown roster.

Carmella vs Natalya

Carmella was walking down to the ring and cutting a promo when she was attacked from behind by Natala. Carmella was whipped into the barricade by Natalya then had the Sharpshooter applied to her. Eventually, referees came down to the ring and broke up the Sharpshooter. Natalya then walked backstage with a gigantic smile on her face.

#1 Contender for the WWE Championship Match: Dolph Ziggler vs Bray Wyatt

Dean Ambrose joined commentary for this match. Ziggler started out hot and hit a dropkick and a Fameasser right of the gate. Ziggler went for the pinfall but Wyatt kicked out at two. Ambrose was praising Ziggler on commentary, stating that Dolph Ziggler has a lot of heart. Bray Wyatt was trying to expose the steel under the turnbuckle but Dolph Ziggler hit Wyatt with a Zig Zag. Wyatt was able to kick out at two. Dolph Zigger then took off the padding and exposed the steel under the turnbuckle. Ziggler then smashed Wyatt’s head into the exposed turnbuckle and followed it up with a Superkick. Ziggler then pinned Wyatt for the victory. After the match, Erick Rowan attacked Dolph Ziggler from behind. Dean Ambrose came to Ziggler’s aide but was laid out by Wyatt and Rowan. Bray Wyatt then the Sister Abigail on Wyatt to end the show.

Winner and Still #1 Contender for the WWE Championship: Dolph Ziggler

Reaction: It would have been silly for Wyatt to take Ziggler’s place at Summerslam just one week after he earned that opportunity. This match was good, but ended with neither Ambrose or Ziggler standing tall. Even though Bray Wyatt lost the match, it appears that he will be in the hunt for the WWE Championship for awhile. Ziggler also showed a new attitude in this episode and hopefully that continues.

Monday Night Raw may have won the first week after the draft, but I think Smackdown put on the better show this week. What did you think of this week’s Smackdown? Let us know in the comments below.

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