August 30, 2016
Episode 889
(aired live)
#SDLive
City: Dallas, TX
Venue: American Airlines Center
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo, JBL, David Otunga
Ring Announcer: Greg Hamilton
Video
Last week on Talking Smack, Daniel Bryan insulted The Miz, and The Miz freaked out in the best way.
Backstage
Shane McMahon tells Daniel Bryan that he owes The Miz an apology (even though Shane agrees with Miz). Bryan finds Shane’s advice ironic considering his troubles with Brock Lesnar.
** Daniel has a little bit of a point, but it really is a different situation with Shane and Brock. Shane was trying to look after his employee when he was attacked. Lesnar was in the wrong. Daniel insulted Miz for no reason. Daniel was in the wrong. **
Intro Video
“Take a Chance” by CFO$
Ring Area
The Miz heads to the ring with Maryse, and he looks pissed. Miz says that he should not be booed. He’s elevating the IC title to a relevance that it hasn’t had in a long time. ** Debatable. ** As he starts going into why the WWE Universe is full of cowards, Dolph Ziggler interrupts.
Ziggler heads to the ring and says that the fans can see through Miz. He accuses Miz of just wanting to be famous while other superstars are working to be the best in the ring. Ziggler dares Miz to prove that he’s not a coward by having a match right now. Miz teases it a bit, but ends up walking away.
** I like it. I think this feud makes sense, and the topics they’re touching on are pretty relevant: injuries and opportunities. **
Match 1
SmackDown Tag Title Tournament Round 1
Hype Bros vs The Vaudevillains
(referee: Jason Ayers)
#TagTeamTitles
Result: Zack Ryder pins Aiden English after a Hype Ryder, the Hype Bros advance to the semi-finals of the tournament
Time: 2:50
Match Thoughts
An okay match. It was too short to develop into much though. I liked the showboating by the Vaudevillains, but their time on the offensive was too brief.
Ring Area
Charly Caruso asks the Hype Bros about their win. Zack Ryder says the hype train has left the station, and Mojo Rawley says they’re hyped. And they stay that way.
Backstage
AJ Styles (wearing a Cena headband) can’t remember Apollo Crews’ name. Crews spells it out for him, but Styles reminds him that this isn’t a spelling bee.
Ring Area
AJ Styles is “the face that runs the place,” and he’ll beat Dean Ambrose at Backlash. Ambrose will see his face in his nightmares. He doesn’t get very far in his speech before Apollo Crews interrupts. Crews tells Styles that he asked for a match with him and got it. A match that happens right now.
Match 2
AJ Styles vs Apollo Crews
(referee: Mike Chioda)
Result: AJ Styles wins via pinfall after a Phenomenal Forearm
Time: 4:35 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Crews sometimes tries moves that are a little too ambitious, but he hit some slightly ambitious moves in this match. He looked good (which I’m sure is partially attributable to being in the ring with Styles). Really, both guys came out of this looking good.
Taped Interview
Renee Young visits Heath Slater’s home. Before the interview, Slater introduces Renee to his wife Beulah (no, not that Beulah). Then, while Rhyno eats crackers and Easy Cheese, Renee asks Slater about his struggles trying to get a contract. Slater says that he’s doing what he can to support his family.
** This was okay, but the jokes were a little easy (thinly-veiled fat jokes, burping, Slater’s poor). Also, I very much disliked the way it was shot. This was another one of those segments where they had cutaways and reverse angle shots that could not have happened if this was being shot like a real interview. It was staged, shot, and cut like a scripted show, not a real interview. I mean, at least try to make be believe it. **
Ring Area
In a “Sermon for the Serpent,” Bray Wyatt says he fears no snake. Bray Wyatt IS fear. He also says that Randy Orton was “damaged” in his match with Lesnar. He’s sick, and the voices in his head should tell him to run.
Randy Orton heads towards the ring. He tells Bray that he’s been damaged for a long time and that’s what gives him his “charm.” Bray likes that, and he admires Orton’s courage. But he’s not the predator in this situation. Orton isn’t afraid of Bray, so he enters the ring for a fight… and the show cuts away.
Match 3
Natalya & Alexa Bliss vs Naomi & Becky Lynch
(referee: Dan Engler; guest commentary: Nikki Bella)
Result: Alexa Bliss pins Becky Lynch with a schoolboy (while holding her tights)
Time: 4:21 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. The end got a little chaotic due to Carmella attacking Nikki at ringside (which distracted from the match a bit). But it was fine.
Video
Clips of The Headbangers.
Curt Hawkins Facts
The Marines are looking for a few good men… or one Curt Hawkins.
There used to be a street named after Curt Hawkins, but it was changed because no one crosses Curt Hawkins and lives.
Curt Hawkins can wins a game of Connect Four in only three moves.
Match 4
SmackDown Tag Title Tournament Round 1
The Headbangers vs Heath Slater & Rhyno
(referee: Jason Ayers)
#TagTeamTitles
Result: Rhyno pins Thrasher after a Gore, Slater and Rhyno advance to the semi-finals of the tournament
Time: 2:54
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. Slater got completely dominated and Rhyno only did one move, but it was fun to see The Headbangers. I think they might have been a little slower than the last time they were in WWE, but they looked good.
Ring Area
Gary “The Milkman” Millman has been granted a license to compete tonight, but no one wants to face him. He won’t leave the ring until someone fights him. He strips down to his underwear… then Kane heads to the ring. The Milkman tries to put his pants back on, but he takes a chokeslam instead. Kane then walks away, crossing paths with Baron Corbin.
Match 5
Baron Corbin vs Dean Ambrose (WWE Champ)
(referee: Charles Robinson; guest commentary: AJ Styles)
Result: Baron Corbin wins via DQ when AJ Styles kicks him in the head
Time: 9:09 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. This was better than I thought it might be. The ending detracts from it a bit, but whatever. The match itself wasn’t bad.
Ring Area
After the match, Ambrose and Styles brawl. Corbin joins in but ends up taking Dirty Deeds. Styles goes for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Ambrose crotches him on the top rope. Styles remains crotched for a very long time as Ambrose shakes his hand, takes his title belt, and leaves.
Show Impressions
This was a fine show. Not great, but fine.
Match of the Night
AJ Styles vs Apollo Crews
The main event was longer and was good, but this match was more exciting in my opinion.