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WWE Smackdown Recap & Reaction (4/4)

SmackDown Live

Written by

Robert Lentini

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JBL opened up Smackdown by once again saying that these are non-traditional fans in the audience and that they may cheer people they normally boo. Cole, Saxton and Graves gave the same statement last night on Raw.

Randy Orton came down to the ring and said that at Wrestlemania 33 he proved that he was Bray Wyatt’s master. Bray Wyatt appeared on the titantron and claimed that the era of Wyatt has only just begun. Wyatt stated that he had his rematch coming and he wants to fight in a different kind of match. Wyatt challenged Orton to a House of Horrors match. Orton said that he has no idea what a Horse of Horrors match is but he accepted Wyatt’s challenge.

The lights then went out in the arena and Bray appeared behind Orton. Randy got the upper hand but Erick Rowan showed up to help Bray Wyatt. Luke Harper then got involved and took out Rowan outside the ring. Harper then hit Bray Wyatt with a boot to the face. Wyatt and Rowan then retreated backstage as Harper and Orton stood tall in the ring.

Reaction: It is good to see Rowan return but I don’t understand why Bray constantly has to have a sidekick. It is hard to get excited about a “House of Horrors” match after the terrible WWE Championship match at Wrestlemania 33.

The Miz and Maryse were interviewed backstage. They took credit for Cena proposing to Nikki at Wrestlemania 33. Maryse claimed that he only proposed because they made fun of him so much. The Miz then called out Cena and Bella and claimed that tonight will be the last time they are seen on Smackdown for a very long time.

Smackdown Women’s Championship Match: Naomi (c) vs Alexa Bliss

Naomi controlled the beginning of the match and connected with a Dropkick outside the ring as Smackdown went to a commercial break. When Smackdown returned, Bliss was in control of the match and had a submission hold applied in the middle of the ring. Alexa was targeting Naomi’s injured knee with her attack. Naomi fought back and connected with a kick for a two count. Alexa hit a DDT for a two count. Naomi hit the Rear View but her injured knee prevented her from pinning Alexa right away. Alexa kicked out at two but Naomi then locked in a submission hold for the victory.

Winner & Still Smackdown Women’s Champion: Naomi

Reaction: That makes two matches in a row that Naomi has tapped out Alexa Bliss. I’m glad they didn’t have Naomi immediately drop the title after winning it at Wrestlemania 33. I’m tired of tired of titles changing hands all the time. Give Naomi a title reign and see how it goes. If people aren’t feeling the glow in a month or so, then take the title off of her.

Curt Hawkins was in the ring and issued an open challenge. Tye Dillinger answered the call and made his way to the ring.

Curt Hawkins vs Tye Dillinger

Dillinger beat the hell out of Hawkins and the crowd was chanting “10!” the entire time. Dillinger hit Tye Breaker for the victory.

Winner: Tye Dillinger

Reaction: It was awesome to see Dillinger make the main roster. He has deserved it for a long time. The NXT crowd loved Dillinger but the WWE Universe is completely different. If WWE is not careful, Dillinger will have the same fate as Apollo Crews. He has all the talent in the world but time will tell if he connects with the WWE Universe. The crowd was behind him tonight but that is because it is right after Wrestlemania. The crowd is full of die-hard fans that have watched every episode of NXT. That won’t be the case going forward.

Mojo Rawley was interviewed backstage and said that he partied with Gronk after Wrestlemania 33. Mojo also claimed that winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle royal was just the beginning for him.

The Miz and Maryse came out dressed up as Cena and Nikki Bella. Miz enticed the crowd to start chanting “Cena sucks!” and they obliged. Miz announced that Cena and Nikki were leaving WWE and going to Hollywood. Miz then started a “no more Cena!” chant and exited the ring. Shinsuke Nakamura debuted to a standing ovation from the crowd. Nakamura posed in the ring for a couple of minutes and Smackdown went for a commercial break.

Reaction: This was both amazing and underwhelming at the same time. Shinsuke Nakamura is awesome and it is great that he is now on Smackdown. Having said that, I was expecting him to actually do something and not just stand in the ring. It was a bit odd but everyone should be excited to see Nakamura on the main roster going forward. The Miz would actually be a perfect debut opponent for Nakamura. The Miz could sell the hell out of the match with the microphone and then promptly get his ass kicked by Nakamura when the bell rings.

Baron Corbin vs Dean Ambrose

Corbin controlled the first few minutes of the match. Corbin grabbed a chair from under the ring but Ambrose hit him with a Dropkick. Ambrose then hit a Suicide Dive and knocked Corbin over the announce table. Ambrose then knocked Corbin over the barricade and into the crowd as Smackdown went to a commercial break.

When Smackdown returned, Corbin slammed Ambrose through a table in the corner of the ring. Corbin whipped Ambrose with a strap a couple of times and then placed a chair in between the turnbuckles. Ambrose countered and sent Corbin flying into the chair. Ambrose and Corbin then traded punches. Dean got the upper hand and leveled Corbin with a Clothesline.

Ambrose then grabbed the strap and beat the hell out of Corbin with it. Ambrose Clotheslined Corbin out of the ring and climbed to the top turnbuckle and leaped onto him. Ambrose then placed Corbin on a table outside the ring and climbed back up to the top turnbuckle. Ambrose connected with an Elbow Drop through the table.

Back in the ring, Corbin threw a chair at Ambrose’s face while he was on the top turnbuckle. Ambrose then fell crotch-first onto the top rope and bounced to the mat. Corbin then planted Ambrose with the End of Days for the victory.

Winner: Baron Corbin

Reaction: This match was much better that their match at Wrestlemania 33. At Wrestlemania, it looked they had absolutely no chemistry in the ring. Tonight they put on a solid match. I feel like this was a way to extend the feud as well. This was a non-title match. I’m sure Corbin will demand another shot at the Intercontinental Championship because he defeated Ambrose tonight. I can deal with one more match between these two and then I want the feud to be over. Corbin should capture the IC title and Ambrose needs to hit the reset button. When I think about Smackdown, Ambrose’s name never pops into my head. Ambrose has too much talent to be this stale and boring every Tuesday night.

Shane McMahon came down to the ring to address the Superstar shakeup that will be taking place on Monday Night Raw next week. Shane stated that any Superstar on Raw should be praying that they land on Smackdown because he and Daniel Bryan have created a land of opportunity.

AJ Styles came down to the ring and was sporting a black eye from his match with Shane at Wrestlemania 33. AJ said that he doesn’t want leave Smackdown and Smackdown is the house that AJ Styles built. AJ said that after Wrestlemania, he felt like he owed Shane McMahon something. Styles then shook Shane McMahon’s hand. Styles then pretended that he was going to attack Shane and the two shared a laugh.

Reaction: Now that Nakamura is on the Smackdown roster, I hope Styles stays on the show. After this promo, I’m now convinced that Styles is going to Raw.

Randy Orton & Luke Harper vs Bray Wyatt & Erick Rowan

Harper and Wyatt started out the match. Harper threw Wyatt out of the ring and knocked Rowan off the ring apron. Harper hit Rowan with a Suicide dive but Wyatt knocked Harper down with a Clothesline. Back in the ring, Wyatt hit a Senton on Harper. Rowan followed it up by hitting Harper with a Splash.

Wyatt and Rowan spent the next few minutes taking turns beating the hell out of Harper. Wyatt leveled Harper with a Clothesline for a two count. Rowan got back in the match and continued the beatdown of Harper. Orton finally got in the match and planted Wyatt with a DDT while he was hung up between the ropes. Orton was setting up for the RKO but the lights went out int he arena. When the lights came back on Bray Wyatt was on the entrance ramp and Rowan was in the ring. Harper hit Rowan with a Superkick and then Orton hit an RKO for the victory.

Winners: Randy Orton & Luke Harper

Reaction: I don’t care about this feud anymore. The match between Orton and Wyatt at Wrestlemania 33 was terrible. The tag match tonight was boring. At Wrestlemania 33, there were bugs projected on the ring and Bray lost. Tonight, he goes from inside the ring to the outside when the lights are turned off. He then laughs after his team loses the match.

What exactly are people supposed to derive from this? Bray Wyatt has the power to project maggots onto the ring during matches and teleport in the darkness? WWE either has zero clue what to do with Bray Wyatt or have this grand plan and will blow our minds with this House of Horrors match. All I know is that right now I am not entertained by this feud at all. I think it is making Bray Wyatt look like a joke.

I’m expecting the House of Horrors match to be full of gimmicky garbage and at this point I really do not care who wins. If Bray Wyatt wins the title back, I have no confidence that WWE will come up with an entertaining title reign. If Randy Orton wins, it is nothing new.  We’ve seen Randy Orton as a champion 13 times now. I’ve honestly grown to dislike this feud more than anything in WWE right now. I simply do not care about it and lost interest in it weeks ago. Having said that, the rest of Smackdown was quite entertaining.

What did you think of this week’s episode of Smackdown? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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