Prelude to Rumble.
Two nights before the Royal Rumble, the 753rd edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown came to you from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI. Before he collides with “The Beast” Brock Lesnar in a gargantuan showdown this Sunday, “The World’s Largest Athlete” Big Show would team with Rey Mysterio to face The Real Americans in tag team action.
Match Results
- Big Show & Rey Mysterio def. The Real Americans by Rey Mysterio pinning Antonio Cesaro following a Big Show-aided splash.
- The Miz (with Bad News Barrett) def. Brodus Clay by pin following a DDT.
- Non-Title: AJ Lee (with Tamina Snuka) def. Cameron (with Naomi) by pin following the Shining Wizard.
- Ryback & Curtis Axel def. Los Matadores by Curtis Axel rolling up Diego.
- Luke Harper & Erick Rowan def. The Prime Time Players by Luke Harper pinning Darren Young following the Discus Clothesline.
- Kofi Kingston def. Fandango by pin following Trouble in Paradise.
- 10-Man Tag: Big E. Langston, The Usos, Goldust, & Cody Rhodes and The Shield & The New Age Outlaws fight to a No Contest after the referee loses control of the match.
Detailed Results
The show kicks off with the opening match of the night as, two nights before he collides with Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble, “The World’s Largest Athlete” Big Show would team with Rey Mysterio to face The Real Americans, Jack Swagger & Antonio Cesaro, with Zeb Colter in their corner. In the end, it was Rey Mysterio hitting a big splash off of the shoulders of Big Show onto Antonio Cesaro, pinning Cesaro for the win. After the match, Paul Heyman comes out, saying that, this Sunday, there will be nothing for Big Show to “celebrate”. Heyman continues, saying that beating Big Show at the Royal Rumble will not be enough for Brock Lesnar, vowing that Lesnar will beat Big Show and then go on to “conquer” the rest of the WWE.
The Miz and Brodus Clay were set to go one-on-one on SmackDown, but before the match can begin, Bad News Barrett appears at his podium. Barrett says that he’s got some “bad news” because they are about to witness the worst match in history. Bad News then leads a “this is awful” chant and Barrett continues to talk throughout the match! Barrett’s berating would get the attention of Brodus Clay when Bad News tells Brodus to do some dancing. The distraction would allow The Miz to hit Brodus with a DDT, pinning Brodus for the win. After the match, The Miz would go out to Barrett’s raised podium and try to shake the entire thing down, but to no avail.
The Divas Champion was in action on SmackDown as AJ Lee, with Tamina Snuka in her corner, would go one-on-one with Cameron, with Naomi in her corner, in a non-title match. In the end, it was AJ Lee hitting the Shining Wizard on Cameron, pinning Cameron for the win. After the match, AJ Lee would send Tamina Snuka after Cameron, but that would leave Naomi to attack the Divas Champion, sending AJ packing.
In tag team action, Los Matadores, with El Torito in their corner, would face Ryback & Curtis Axel on SmackDown. In the end, it was Curtis Axel catching Diego with a roll-up, picking up the win for himself and Ryback. After the match, El Torito would take out both Ryback & Curtis Axel, humiliating the team and leaving Ryback seething.
For the first time since being informed by Director of Operations Kane that he will be forced to enter the 30-Man Royal Rumble Match in the very unlucky #1 spot this Sunday, “The Best in the World” CM Punk would address the situation on SmackDown. Punk says that The Authority is trying to stack the deck against him with their “hidden agenda”, calling Triple H a “doofus” and Stephanie McMahon “spoiled”. Punk says that he is “focused” on his goal of becoming the WWE World Heavyweight Champion and headlining WrestleMania, saying that one of the major blemishes on his list of accomplishments is that he has never won the Royal Rumble Match. Punk continues, saying that he is going to do everything in his power to ensure that he is the “last man standing” as the winner of the Royal Rumble. Director of Operations Kane then comes out, wishing Punk the “best of luck” for the Royal Rumble. Kane continues, saying that Punk has about a one in 500 million chance of winning the Rumble, but he is sure that being “The Best in the World” will “tip the scales” in Punk’s favor. Punk says that he is a “little sad” to see what has become of Kane, saying that, when Kane handed in his mask, he also handed in his “manhood”. Punk then says that the #1 entrant has won the Royal Rumble Match before and he will be the first man in ten years to do it this Sunday because he’s been the best since day one!
Before they join 28 other Superstars in the 30-Man Royal Rumble Match, The Wyatt Family’s Luke Harper & Erick Rowan, with Bray Wyatt in their corner, would face The Prime Time Players on SmackDown. It was a quick and decisive victory for Luke Harper & Erick Rowan as Harper blasts Darren Young with the Discus Clothesline, pinning Young for the win. After the match, Bray Wyatt would enter the ring, hitting Darren Young with the Sister Abigail. Bray then says that, this Sunday, he is going to “hurt” Daniel Bryan and, after the Royal Rumble, they will not be able to deny him any longer. Daniel Bryan then comes out, saying that he will no longer be trapped in the “prison” of Bray Wyatt’s madness, Bray will be trapped in his! Bryan then says that Bray will find out who the “true monster” is at the Royal Rumble, leading the crowd in a “yes” chant.
In one-on-one action, Fandango, with Summer Rae in his corner, would face Kofi Kingston on SmackDown. In the end, it was Kofi Kingston striking with Trouble in Paradise, pinning Fandango for the win.
Then it was time for the huge main event as eight of the thirty participants in the 30-Man Royal Rumble Match would square off as Intercontinental Champion Big E. Langston would join forces with The Usos and WWE Tag Team Champions Goldust & Cody Rhodes to face The Shield & The New Age Outlaws in a 10-Man Tag Match! The intensity of the wild match would get way too uncontrollable as the referee would be forced to throw the match out as all 10 men engage in a Royal Rumble-like brawl. The ten men were shortly joined by Ryback, Curtis Axel, The Miz, R-Truth, Xavier Woods, Alberto Del Rio, and CM Punk as a massive brawl breaks out among the Royal Rumble Match participants!
What did you think of this week’s SmackDown? Post your comments in the box below.
