Grand Rapids, Michigan
Welcome to all wrestling fans. We are just two days away from the first PPV of the year, the Royal Rumble. The time for talking is over and one way or another we will know one of the competitors that will be in the main event at WrestleMania. This has been the first year in a while when I genuinely don’t have a clue which way the Rumble is going to end. There are multiple entrants that could potentially win the rumble. The whole year I have assumed it would be Daniel Bryan but after the announcement of Bryan vs. Bray Wyatt at the Rumble, now I am not so sure. Either way it has helped build the excitement up for this Sunday.
The Real American start this week’s show off with an in ring promo. Zeb Colter addresses the fact that Big Show attacked him last week. He also suggests that all of the wrestlers from South of the border should be labelled with derogatory names such as Border Hopping Bullies. This was a good heel promo. I still wish the crowd would react in the right way towards the gimmick, Zeb should be struggling to talk over a sea of boos from the crowd but instead the crowd’s reaction is somewhat subdued.
The Real Americans vs. Rey Mysterio and Big Show.
The match starts off with Big Show dominating against Cesaro. The fight spills to the outside and Mysterio capitalises with a couple of highflying moves to the outside. The real Americans take a few second to compose themselves and eventually re-enter the ring and take control of Mysterio. Cesaro delivers the Big Swing to Mysterio and then tags in Swagger to continue the assault. Big Show finally gets the tag and destroys the Real Americans. He lands the WMD on the chin of Cesaro and Mysterio Drops the Dime by jumping off the top of his shoulders. Mysterio pins Cesaro for the win.
After the match Paul Heyman walks out to the top of the ramp and tells The Big Show that after Brock Lesnar beats him this Sunday at the Royal Rumble, he will then go on to conquer the rest of the WWE Universe.
Brodus Clay vs. The Miz
Before the match begins, Bad News Barrett (speaking from his tall podium) tells the WWE Universe that tonight we will see a great ten-man tag main event but before we can see that match we need to see one of the worst matches in history. He then tries to get the crowd to chant Miz is awful. The crowd comply at first but then quickly give up on it. The match begins and Barrett continues to insult the talent in the ring. Brodus is eventually distracted by Barrett and allows The Miz to take advantage with a DDT. The Miz rolls up Brodus for the win. After the match The Miz tries to get Barrett to come down from his high podium but Barrett tells him he is staying up there and The Miz is staying down there.
This whole match and segment felt like a little wink and a nod to the Internet fans that complain every week with their hatred for The Miz. I’m not sure this did anything to help either of the two wrestlers in the ring, but did seem to suggest a continued push for Wade Barrett.
Cameron w/ Naomi vs. AJ Lee
Cameron puts up some decent offence but gets distracted and tries to take out Tamina on the outside. AJ capitalises and hits Cameron with a Running Knee for the win. After the match Tamina gets revenge on Cameron for the earlier attack. Naomi comes in and defends her partner, I sense a tag match on the horizon.
The shield cut a backstage promo to tell the WWE Universe that they are going to dominate the Royal Rumble. Roman Reigns says that he is going to go on to win the Royal Rumble and he will headline the main event at WrestleMania. I like the fact they ate keeping the dissention within The Shield just bubbling on the surface. It will be a surprise if they come out of the Royal Rumble still united. I hope they do because I still think it is a little too early to break them up I think they could save that for WrestleMania or possibly the Raw the night after WrestleMania
Los Matadores vs. Rybaxel
I really was not interested in this match and I was hoping it would be over quickly. I didn’t note the actual length of the match but whatever it was, it was two minutes longer than I could tolerate. The match ended with Curtis Axel rolling up one of the Matadores after a distraction for Ryback.
CM Punk makes his way down to the ring and tells the WWE Universe that he will do whatever he takes to win the Royal Rumble he said he would do whatever it takes to be the last man standing. He will defeat twenty-nine other men because he is the best in the world. Kane makes his way to the top of the ramp and tells Punk that The Authority wish him the best of luck but his odds of winning are not good. Punk tells Kane that he does not care about the odds because he is the best in the world.
Prime Time Players vs. Luke Harper and Erick Rowan
This is a very quick squash match that made the Prime Time Players look like total garbage. Harper picks up the win after delivering his crushing clothesline to Darren Young. After the match Bray grabs the microphone and taunts Daniel Bryan. Daniel Bryan makes his way to the top of the ramp and tells Bray that him and the WWE Universe do not fear Bray Wyatt. He tells Bray Wyatt that this Sunday he will find out who the real monster. The crowd goes wild with Yes chants.
It’s a little disappointing that it looks like Bryan will not be in the Rumble match this Sunday, but you never know, he could still be a surprise entrant. Either way I do think that Bray and Bryan will be able to put on a great match at Rumble so I am still looking forward to it.
Kofi Kingston vs. Fandango
Kofi continues his new streak by picking up another win against Fandango after a few minutes. No real big spots to talk of just an average match.
The Uso’s, The Rhodes and Big E Langston vs. The Shield and The New Age Outlaws
This was a decent match the crowd were a little dead at times, which didn’t help. The match was similar to what we have seen in the past with The Shield vs. The Rhodes. Cody takes the majority of the punishment as he seeks the hot tag from one of his partners. The Shield and the Outlaws do a good job of keeping Cody isolated and away from his corner. Cody eventually tags in his brother and Goldust goes to work. After a flurry of finishers from everybody the referee loses all order and calls for the bell. After the match numerous stars including CM Punk make their way to the ring and brawl to give us a taste of what it is going to be like on Sunday.
None of the matches tonight were particularly long or had any big spots but that’s to be expected with the Royal Rumble just two days away, it wouldn’t be smart to risk injuring anybody this close to the PPV. Despite the quick finishes and squashes I didn’t mind tonight’s episode of SmackDown. Admittedly nothing really major happened but I thought it was still an entertaining show. A few people disagreed with my last review and have told me that last week’s episode was awesome but I have since re-watched it and I still do not agree. Everybody is entitled to their opinion and that’s what makes what we do every week fun, the never ending banter. I would put this week’s episode on par with last weeks. It wasn’t great but I didn’t hate it.
– By Sebastian BowenÂ