June 2, 2016
Episode 876
(taped May 31, 2016)
#SmackDown
City: Rockford, IL
Venue: BMO Harris Bank Center
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo, Jerry Lawler, Byron Saxton
Ring Announcer: Jojo
Video
Recap of Cena returning to RAW and being attacked by the reformed Club.
Intro Video
“Black and Blue” by CFO$
Ring Area
New Day heads to the ring. They are a little upset about a couple of things. First, that they didn’t get to see Stephanie dance on RAW, and second, that The Club attacked them. Anderson and Gallows then come out to the stage. They say that the tag titles will soon join The Club.
New Day wonders what the rules of their club are. Are there dues? Gallows and Anderson say there are, and they’re taking them out on New Day. New Day points out it’s currently three on two. AJ Styles then joins his fellow club members. He calls Kofi a joke. Kofi responds by listing his titles and telling AJ it took him ten years to even get to the WWE. AJ issues a challenge for tonight and New Day accepts.
** I really enjoyed the tension between these groups. It feels like they could really drive a wedge between Kofi and the younger members of New Day if they want. Also, New Day is still joking, but The Club feels like the most dangerous challenge they’ve had yet. I’d like to see this develop to where we see a little bit of a change in New Day, where they can get serious at times when they’re faced with a real threat. If they don’t, they’re going to lose in the end. **
Match 1
Becky Lynch vs Charlotte (Women’s Champ) w/ Dana Brooke
(referee: Dan Engler)
#CharlottevsBecky
Result: Becky Lynch wins via DQ when Dana Brooke tries to pull Charlotte to the ropes for a submission break
Time: 4:55 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. There was a nice segment where Becky was going for an armbar and Charlotte powered her up and dropped her with a sitout powerbomb. The finish was so-so, a silly call by the ref that usually isn’t made, but it was okay for a TV match I guess.
Ring Area
After the match, Natalya meets Charlotte and Dana on the ramp and herds them back towards the ring. After a minor scuffle Charlotte and Dana make their exit.
Backstage
Renee Young welcomes Dean Ambrose and Sami Zayn. She wonders how they’ll work as a team tonight. Sami says they have a pretty good record together, regardless of Dean’s comments about Canadians. Owens comes up and says he dislikes how Sami is trying to manipulate Ambrose. Sami calls Alberto Del Rio a snake. Also, Kevin Owens doesn’t like Renee’s necklace.
** I like the interactions between all of these guys. The Money in the Bank match is shaping up to be highly entertaining. **
Match 2
Dudley Boyz vs Golden Truth
(referee: Darrick Moore; at ringside: Breezango)
Result: D-Von Dudley pins Goldust with a schoolboy
Time: 4:08
Match Thoughts
Good match. You could kind of see the end coming once the sequence started, but this match did show a good amount of progress in the team of Goldust and R-Truth without taking too much away from the Dudley Boyz.
Ring Area
After the match, Breezango make fun of Golden Truth from ringside.
Video
A recap of the Corbin/Ziggler feud so far.
Outside the Arena
Baron Corbin asked for an interview outside the arena with Renee Young. He says the crowd doesn’t deserve him. The next time he’ll enter an arena is to destroy Dolph Ziggler. He then walks out into the street.
Match 3
Dean Ambrose & Sami Zayn vs Alberto Del Rio & Kevin Owens
(referee: Jason Ayers)
#MITB
Result: Sami Zayn pins Alberto Del Rio after a Helluva Kick
Time: 8:20 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Really good match! Everything worked really well in this match. Big personalities, big shifts in momentum, big moves, good stuff. Owens versus Zayn is the front-runner for feud of the year so far, but their interactions didn’t overshadow the rest of the match. All around great match with an exciting finish.
Ring Area
Kevin Owens is irate after the match and pulls out a ladder. Cesaro decides to join the party and comes out to uppercut Owens. Cesaro grabs the briefcase that was hanging above the ring. Owens is pissed.
Match 4
Rusev (US Champ) w/ Lana vs Jack Swagger
(referee: Charles Robinson)
Result: Rusev wins via submission with the Accolade
Time: 4:37
Match Thoughts
Good match. Rusev attacked Swagger before the match, so Swagger never really had a chance, but he put up a good fight and still made it interesting.
Ring Area
After the match, Rusev won’t release the Accolade, so Titus O’Neil runs out to chase Rusev away.
Life Lessons with Coach Backlund
Bob Backlund wants a training update and doesn’t want Darren Young to ever run. He also has Young’s car keys and expects him to walk to the next show.
Video
From RAW, Rollins teases an attack on Reigns.
Match 5
AJ Styles w/ Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson vs Kofi Kingston (Tag Champ) w/ Xavier Woods, Big E
(referee: John Cone)
#AJvsKofi
Result: AJ Styles wins via pinfall after a Styles Clash
Time: 10:33 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Very good match, as expected. Styles and Kingston match very well together. It started fast-paced and didn’t really let up throughout. The end started to break down as the guys around the ring started going after each other, and that led to the finish. I think this is a good start to something even greater.
Show Impressions
There were lots of good matches and some nice segments on this show. One of the better Smackdowns in recent memory.
Match of the Night
Dean Ambrose & Sami Zayn vs Alberto Del Rio & Kevin Owens
The main event was good too, but this tag match had a more exciting finish.