May 26, 2106
Episode 875
(taped May 24, 2016)
#SmackDown
City: Norfolk, VA
Venue: Norfolk Scope
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo, Jerry Lawler, Byron Saxton
Ring Announcer: Eden Stiles
Video
Clips from the Money in the Bank qualifying matches from RAW this week.
Intro Video
“Black and Blue” by CFO$
Ring Area
#MITB
Michael Cole is in the ring with a Money in the Bank briefcase. He welcomes Dean Ambrose. Cole asks him what he’s willing to do to win the MitB contract. Kevin Owens interrupts before he can answer.
Owens doesn’t want Cole on Smackdown and tells him to leave the ring. He does. He starts talking to Ambrose when Sami Zayn interrupts.
Zayn tells Owens that nobody cares what he has to say. Dean makes a joke. Zayn says this is serious and that no one can stop him from winning the contract. Alberto Del Rio then interrupts.
Del Rio reminds everyone that he’s won the match before. He says he’ll win again this year. Zayn reminds him that he still has to qualify against Zack Ryder. As Zayn is talking, Owens attacks him from behind. Zayn fights him off and Ambrose and Zayn nearly go at it as well. But they don’t.
Match 1
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Alberto Del Rio vs Zack Ryder
(referee: John Cone)
#MITB
Result: Alberto Del Rio wins via submission with a cross arm breaker to qualify for the 2016 Money in the Bank match
Time: 5:58 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. Ryder looked good. He actually got quite a lot on Del Rio and the finish could have gone either way. There was a point late in the match where Ryder hits the Broski Boot and hit Del Rio completely in the side of the head. It looked rough.
Video
Recap of Rollins returning at Extreme Rules and RAW.
Ring Area
Enzo Amore and Big Cass come out and are immediately interrupted by the Dudley Boyz when they get into the ring. The Dudleys stand on the stage as Enzo and Cass talk. When they finish, D-Von says they should have a match. Bubba agrees, but on RAW. Bubba wants to leave Norfolk.
Backstage
Renee Young welcomes Lana and Rusev. Rusev says Kalisto is nothing to him. He’s a baby. Milk is for babies, championships are for men.
Video
Clips of The Miz winning at Extreme Rules but losing on RAW to Cesaro.
Match 2
US Title Match
Rusev (US Champ) w/ Lana vs Kalisto
(referee: Dan Engler)
#USTitle
Result: Rusev wins via submission to retain the title
Time: 5:54 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Another really good match between these two. They have very good chemistry. The Extreme Rules match was probably a little better, but this rematch was pretty close to being as good. High flying versus power in very good way. The only real problem I had was going to a commercial break thirty seconds into the match.
Ring Area
Rusev goes to attack Kalisto after the match, but Titus O’Neil walks out to the ring to make the save. He tries to goad Rusev into putting the US Title on the line right now. Rusev refuses.
Video
Clips of Charlotte turning on Ric Flair.
Match 3
Dana Brooke vs Natalya
(referee: Darrick Moore; guest commentary: Charlotte)
Result: Natalya wins via DQ when Charlotte attacks her in the ring
Time: 0:45
Match Thoughts
This wasn’t really a match. Dana went for a strange handstand elbow or something, then Natalya put her in a sharpshooter. That’s when Charlotte attacked. It felt kind of like pointless filler.
Video
Clips of AJ Styles’ bad week.
Backstage
Renee Young welcomes AJ Styles and asks him about his week and about what’s next. Styles isn’t sure what’s next.
Match 4
Golden Truth vs Breezango
(referee: Mike Chioda)
Result: Fandango pins R-Truth after a Supermodel Kick from Tyler Breeze
Time: 1:36
Match Thoughts
Well, R-Truth reworked the lyrics to “What’s Up” and they were… interesting. As for the match, it was another storyline match, but it was fine. Short, but fine. The whole reason for the match was to continue to put over the fact that Goldust and R-Truth aren’t on the same page yet. Or still.
Backstage
R-Truth is disappointed, but Goldust tries to calm him down. Breezango laughs at them. Goldust perseveres and wins R-Truth over. At least for now.
Ring Area
Seth Rollins heads to the ring (with his hair not nearly as wet as it was on RAW). He asks the crowd if they’re happy to see him. They seem to be, but Rollins doesn’t feel the same way. He drops the mic and leaves. Short and to the point.
Match 5
Intercontinental Title Match
Cesaro vs The Miz (IC Champ) w/ Maryse
(referee: Ryan Tran)
#ICTitle
Result: The Miz wins via pinfall after a Skull Crushing Finale (and using an exposed turnbuckle) to retain the title
Time: 7:31 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Miz kind of hung around and survived, and there were a few near falls that I was pretty close to buying. Miz actually had a good game plan, going after Cesaro’s shoulder, and he followed through on his plan throughout the match. The finish was good and used elements set up earlier which is always a good thing to see. Except for the ridiculous amount of time it took for the ref to tie a turnbuckle pad (and failing anyway) this was a very solid match.
Show Impressions
This was a pretty good show. The matches were good (expect for the woman’s match) and the title matches delivered for being on free TV. Some of the non-wrestling segments didn’t matter very much, but I think the good outweighed the bad.
Match of the Night
Rusev vs Kalisto
The IC title match was good too, but I think this one was a little more entertaining.