January 3, 2014
Washington, D.C.
Video
The Wyatt’s interrupt the feed and we see a quick video recap of Daniel Bryan joining the Family.
Ring
Cole welcomes us to Smackdown and talks about the big tag title match tonight. The Shield makes their way over the barricade and they have something to say.
Amrose has heard rumblings that The Shield is not on the same page. But The Shield isn’t crumbling. They are dead wrong. Reigns agrees. You have to attack the weak leak to divide a team, but there is no weak link in The Shield. Rollins chimes in and says any setbacks are temporary. The Shield will continue to dominate. I believe it, but their days do seem numbered with Reigns’ popularity. The Usos take to the stage and the Siva Tau is performed leading to the first match.
Match 1
Tag Team Match (Deam Ambrose on commentary)
The Shield (Rollins & Reigns) vs. The Usos
Reigns and Jimmy start off. Reigns overpowers Jimmy and tosses him into the corner. Rollins is tagged in but Jimmy lands a few clotheslines and tags in Jey. After a few fast paced moves he gets a 2 count on Rollins before tagging Jimmy back in. Double team elbows and a 2 count on Rollins.
The Usos keep control over Rollins until he lands a chin breaker on Jey. He starts his comeback but Jimmy makes a blind tag and clotheslines Rollins out to the floor. Reigns gets in but a double kick to the gut and double clothesline that sends him out to the floor as well. Rollins is back in but quickly out again with a double backdrop onto Reigns! The Usos are in complete control as we head to a…
-Comercial-
The Usos still have control after the break but Reigns makes a blind tag and floors Jey with a back elbow. After a 2 count on Jey Reigns continues his punishment. Ambrose is saying there is no dissension in The Shield. He also has an ego the size of a watermelon. Big vertical suplex from Reigns leads to another 2 count. Rollins is tagged in and tosses Jey into the corner while hammer locking the arm. Dean is talking about how he doesn’t like carrying a lot of stuff so he’s not interested in the IC Title. Makes sense. Then Cole bullies him about it. Jerk.
Meanwhile, Rollins is still in control of Jey. Jey almost gets a tag but Rollins dumps him onto the top rope and tags in Reigns. Reigns goes after Jey’s left arm, continuing the damage started by Rollins. Reigns falls out of the ring after Jey pulls down the top rope and crawls for a cover. Reigns tags in Rollins who tries to stop Jey, but he makes it Jimmy for the hot tag! Jimmy hits a flurry that culminates with a samoan drop. Both members of The Shield are outside and The Usos are looking to fly when Ambrose interferes, pulling Jey to the floor and flattening him.
Result
The Usos win via DQ after Ambrose attacks Jey
Match Thoughts
Nice opening match. All of these guys are great. Ambrose’s commentary was entertaining and didn’t distract from the match at hand. No big surprises in the match, just solid work all around. Both teams worked well as a tag team as you would expect.
Ring
The Shield continue to attack The Usos after the bell. before they can do too much damage CM Punk hits the ring and helps The Usos to clear the ring. The Shieldbacks away. Reigns wants more but his teammates hold him back. Just then, Vickie Guerrero walks onto the stage as we head to a…
-Commercial-
Ring
During the break Vickie has a solution. Can you guess? Yep, a six man tag match main event. This, even though there is a tag team title match scheduled. But why should that be the main event, right? Anyway
Back in the ring Fandango and Summer Rae are posing. Apparently he’s upset over not winning the IC Title recently. Understandable. R-Truth raps his way to the ring accompanied by Xavier Woods leading to the next match.
Match 2
Singles Match (Xavier Woods on commentary)
Fandango vs. R-Truth
Fandango takes the early advantage but R-Truth flips out of the corner and hits a big hip toss. Fandango ends up on the apron and drops Truth’s neck across the top rope. In the ring Fandango hits a leg lariat and gets a 2 count. Fandango slows the pace with a rear chin lock. R-Truth hits a few moves to mount a comeback but Fandango gets a boot to the face of R-Truth. With both men catching their breath, Woods calls for the Funkadactyls who hit the stage and start dancing. Off the distraction R-Truth hits the What’s Up reverse STO for the 3 count.
Result
R-Truth wins via pinfall after the What’s Up
Match Thoughts
Okay match. Pretty short with a silly distraction. Not much to it really.
Ring
R-Truth, Woods, and the Funkadactyls celebrate by dancing to Brodus Clay’s music.
-Commercial-
Video
After the break we are treated to a video recap of RAW from this week focusing on Bryan and the Wyatts.
Ring
Out of the video package the Rhodes brother are on their way to the ring to defend their titles
-Commercial-
Ring
The Rhodes brothers are in the ring and the Wyatt family appears seconds later. Conspicuous by his absence is Bray Wyatt. His chair is there, but the man isn’t.
Match 3
Tag Team Title Match
Goldust & Cody Rhodes (Tag Champs) vs. Luke Harper & Erick Rowan
Harper and Goldust start the match. Harper quickly overpowers Goldust and sends him to the mat with a shoulderr block. Back into the corner, Cody is tagged in and the Rhodes boys hit a double team suplex on Harper. Quick tag to Goldust but Harper manages a tag to Rowan. Rowan powers Goldust into the corner and Harper is back in. Big clotheline from Goldust but a distraction from Rowan leads to an elbow from Harper. Rowan is tagged and drops a knee on a downed Goldust.
Goldust is in trouble and in the wrong part of town. Another tag and Harper is in and punishing Goldust. Goldust is backed into te Wyatt corner again but explodes with a beautiful jumping sunset flip powerbomb on Harper! Cody calls for the tag and gets it, entering with a springboard dropkick to Harper! A knee to Harper’s back sends him out of the ring and Cody follows up with a Beautiful Disaster on Rowan who drops to the floor! Cody continues with a double jump plancha from the ring to the floor on Harper! He tries to throw Harper back into the ring but he ends up getting tossed into the barricade and then the steps instead.
Harper tags in Rowan who drives Cody’s back into the post. back into the ring Rowan only gets a 1 count. Rowan puts a fist vice on Cody’s head. Cody won’t give up so Rowan slams him to the mat. He then wrenches Cody’s head and neck as Goldust shouts encouragement for his brother. Cody is up, but a little to far as Rowan pushes him into the air and slams him face down to the mat! 2 count! Cody tries to fight but Rowan continues to manhandle him. Harper is back in and continues to dominate. He performs a gator roll into a side headlock. With Cody down Harper elbows Goldust off of the apron.
Cody creates some space but can’t get the tag as Rowan is tagged back in. Rowan runs toward Cody but the low bridge sends him to the floor! Harper tosses Rowan back in, tags himself in and sends Goldust off the apron again. He then hits an enormous sit out powerbomb on Cody! He goes for the pin but Goldust slides in and breaks it up at 2! The match is breaking down as Goldust sends Rowan to the floor and then gets dumped out himself by Harper! Cody gets a 2 count from a sunset flip pin attempt but takes a big boot from Harper when he stands up! Harper slows the match back down and looks for a second rope belly to back suplex. Cody fights him off and hits a moonsault onto a standing Harper!
Both men are down and the crowd is firmly behind Cody! He is inches away but Rowan is tagged in and whips Cody into the ropes. It wise not a smart move though because Cody rebounds and ducks under Rowan’s clothesline leading to Goldust getting the blind tag as Cody bounces off the other side of the ring! Rowan is still focused on Cody as Goldust rushes in and puts a school boy roll up on Rowan for the 3 count!
Result
Goldust and Cody Rhodes win via pinfall (Goldust with a school boy on Rowan) to retain the Tag Team Titles
Match Thoughts
Great match! The Rhodes brothers are the most exciting team in the WWE right now. The psychology, move set, pacing… everything they do is great! They steal the show every time they compete and this was no exception. The main event will have to be pretty spectacular to top this one.
Backstage
Renee Young asks Big E about what happened to Mark Henry. Big E is upset but says he wouldn’t want to be Lesnar. Curtis Axel thinks it’s funny. Big E doesn’t.
-Commercial-
Ring
Back in the ring Aksana is getting ready for a fight. Cole commentates over a replay from RAW where Aksana performs a “neat move” to beat Nicki Bella. Nicki gyrates on the stage and makes her way to the ring.
Match 4
Singles Match
Aksana vs. Nicki Bella
Nicki with a forearm to Aksana after a tie up followed by a hip toss and a body slam. She drives Aksana into the corner with a few shoulders to the gut then gets a 2 count after a vertical suplex. Aksana rolls out of the ring and takes advantage by slamming Nicki’s arm into the post twice. She continues to work over the arm back in the ring. Side slam from Aksana and she crawls around the ring. 1 count. The crowd starts a short lived Nicki chant as Aksana slows down the match with a top wrist lock. Nicki fights out and hits a monkey flip. Nicki takes control with a leaping clothesline, dropkick, and a bulldog. 2 count. Aksana reverses Nicki into the corner but Nicki hits a nice backbreaker rack for the 3 count.
Result
Nicki Bella wins via pinfall after hitting a backbreaker rack
Match Thoughts
Fine match. It was kind of short but I liked Nicki’s finish.
Video
Cole introduces a video package all about the history of Randy Orton leading up to his reign as WWE World Heavyweight Champ.
Backstage
Big E looks serious as he walks through the backstage area.
-Commercial-
Match 5
Non-Title Singles Match
Big E Langston (IC Champ) vs. Curtis Axel
Big E hits some big punches to the gut of Axel/ Axel fight back but is flattened with a clothesline. A series of shoulders to the gut from Langston lead to a big boot from Axel. Axel jumps from the ropes but is downed with a huge shoulder block! Axel grabs onto the apron and kicks the knee of E. A clothesline to the back downs the big man. After an elbow, Axel gets a 2 count then tries to keep Langston down by controlling the left arm. Big E powers to his feet and drops Axel with a back body drop. A series of clotheslines and a belly to belly suplex downs Curtis Axel. Big E then lands a running big splash to Axel’s back. Bif E sets up the Big Ending but Axel grabs the top rope with his feet and slides onto the apron. He gets a hangman on Langston but upon entering the ring he meets a clothesline and a Big Ending. 3 count.
Result
Big E Langston wins via pinfall after hitting the Big Ending
Match Thoughts
A fine match. Big E showed his power and explosive speed. I expect great things from him in the future. Right now he just seems to be idling. His matches are still entertaining though.
-Commercial-
Video
We see a WWE.com exclusive of Heyman explaining why Brock is back.
Ring
Lilian Garcia introduces Bad News Barrett. With a smug look on his face and about a thousand gavel slams, Barrett gives us some bad news. He says that no one in attendance will stick to their New Year’s resolutions and will be as fat and ugly next year as they are this year. I like Barrett. I’d like him better in the ring.
“Cult of Personality” hits and Punk is on his way to the ring for the main event.
-Commercial-
Match 6
Six Man Tag Team Match
CM Punk & The Usos vs. The Shield
Punk and Ambrose start with a tie up. Ambrose gets an advantage in the corner but Punk reverses and drops him with a back elbow. He tosses Ambrose in The Shield’s corner as if taunting him to tag out. Rollins tags in and gets a hammer lock which Punk reverses into a side headlock. They have a little back and forth before Punk hits a neck breaker and tags in Jey Uso. After a quick headbutt he tags in his brother Jimmy and they perform a double team leg drop for a 1 count.
Big dropkick from Jimmy, tag to Jey, and another double team on Rollins. A shoulder block from Jey gets a 2 count before Rollins is sent to the floor. Hey teases a dive but Reigns blocks him. Rollins drives Jey back first into the ring apron on the outside. Rollins goes up top but takes an uppercut when he lands. Jey drags Rollins and tags in Punk. Punk kicks Rollins’ back and gets a 2 count. Snap suplex and another 2 count. Rollins creates some space and tags in Ambrose. They go for a double team but Punk lands a drop kick to both of them.
Jimmy is tagged back in. Ambrose goes up top but is slammed to the mat. 2 count. Ambrose lands a knee to Jimmy’s gut and tags in Reigns. A leaping clothesline gets Reigns a 2 count. Rollins is tagged and stomps Jimmy. He gets a senton and a 2 count. Jimmy sends Rollins into the corner where he flips upside down. Rollins tags in Ambrose who manages to stop Jimmy from a much needed tag.
A stomp and an elbow get a 2 count for Ambrose. Jimmy reverses a chinlock into a chin breaker but a clothesline from Ambrose cuts his momentum short. Ambrose sets Jimmy onto the top rope looking for a belly to back superplex. Jimmy fights him off and Ambrose tags in Reigns. Jimmy fights Reigns off as well and hits a spectacular corkscrew senton! He has created the space he needs and desperately needs the tag!
Reigns tags in Rollins who rushes in and knocks Jey off of the apron. He turns around and attempts a senton on Jimmy but Jimmy rolls out of the way! Rollins tries to grab Jimmy’s ankle but he jumps away and tags in Punk! Punk springboards into a clothesline on Rollins and sends Ambrose to the floor with a running boot! Leg lariat and neck breaker on Rollins! Running knee and a clothesline and Punk climbs to the top. Ambrose distracts Punk and Rollins sends him to the mat. Rollins is up top and hits a diving cross body but Punk rolls through and transitions into an Anaconda Vice! Ambrose breaks it up!
The match breaks down a bit as Jey attacks Ambrose and gets hit with a Superman Punch from Reigns! Rollins tags Ambrose but Punk has nowhere to go. Ambrose drives Punk into the corner and lands a nice butterfly suplex from the second rope! 2 count! Reigns wants the tag but Ambrose has tunnel vision. he goes for Punk but is met with a kick to the head and is set up for GTS. Reigns is in to break it up but gets a head kick himself after stumbling around Ambrose. The Usos are in and both kick Reigns in the head, sending him to the floor. Rollins is back in the ring but Punk back drops him to the floor as well. Both Usos rev it up and hit tandem dives onto Reigns and Rollins!
Ambrose runs right into a GTS and Punk takes the match with a 3 count!
Result
CM Punk & The Usos win via pinfall (CM Punk on Deam Ambrose after a GTS)
Match Thoughts
Really good match. Everyone looked good in this match. It was exciting and well done. The miscommunication and watermelon sized ego of Dean Ambrose came into play and helped to bookend the show. I can see why this was the main event, even though the tag match had just as much right to be.
Video
The Wyatt’s interrupt the transmission with a creepy video package focused on Daniel Bryan’s defection to the Wyatt family. And thus, the show ends.
Impressions
A good Smackdown and a good way to start the new year. There wasn’t much in the way of storyline advancement, but it seems that only RAW is allowed to advance storyline these days. A couple of really good matches makes this show a good one and hopefully sets the tone for the year to come.
Match of the Night
Goldust & Cody Rhodes (Tag Champs) vs. Luke Harper & Erick Rowan (Tag Team Title Match)
This was kind of a close call, but the tag title match wins out tonight over the main event. Both were good matches, but the fact that the titles were on the line is a contributing factor to putting this one over the top. It just felt like the match meant a lot more. I also think that it had more ups and downs than the main event. The six man had a great final act, but the tag title match had exciting moments throughout the entire thing. I jump out of my seat every time either one of the Rhodes boys flies or pulls of a great move. Goldust is amazing in this run of his and Cody is on his way to finally being a huge star. The Wyatt Family is great too. I see them dominating this year much like The Shield did last year. They are so good!