Unstoppable Wyatts?
Five nights after Extreme Rules, the 768th edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown came to you from the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY. At Extreme Rules, The Shield pulled off a huge victory over the veteran group Evolution, but Triple H, Batista, & Randy Orton would make life a living hell for The Shield on RAW as WWE COO Triple H forced The Shield’s Dean Ambrose to defend the United States Title in a 20-Man Battle Royal. While Ambrose would survive until the very end of the match, a Brogue Kick from Sheamus would spell the end of Ambrose’s 351-day reign as United States Champion and, later that same night, The Shield squared off with The Wyatt Family in a 6-Man Tag Match, but the match would prove to be little more than an opportunity for a beatdown from Evolution. The three former World Champions left The Shield in a heap in the middle of the ring on RAW and, on SmackDown, the COO has put all three members of The Shield in action as Dean Ambrose will get his shot to regain the United States Title when he challenges new champion Sheamus for the gold. Plus, Seth Rollins would face Evolution’s Batista and Roman Reigns would collide with “The World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry.
For the first time since the demonic singing of a small child cost him a Steel Cage Match against Bray Wyatt at Extreme Rules, John Cena was in action on SmackDown as Cena would team with WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos to face The Wyatt Family in a 6-Man Tag match.
Two guys who had a rough week this week was Big E and Rob Van Dam as Big E lost the Intercontinental Title and subsequent rematch to Bad News Barrett while Rob Van Dam lost to Cesaro in a Triple Threat Elimination Match at Extreme Rules and was assaulted by Cesaro the following night on RAW. Now, on SmackDown, Big E and RVD would try to get back on track as the two former Intercontinental Champions join forces to face the new Intercontinental Champion, Bad News Barrett, and “The King of Extreme” Cesaro.
Match Results
- United States Championship: Sheamus (c) def. Dean Ambrose by pin following the Brogue Kick to retain.
- Bad News Barrett & Cesaro (with Paul Heyman) def. Big E & Rob Van Dam by Cesaro pinning Big E following the Neutralizer.
- Rusev (with Lana) def. Kofi Kingston by submission to the Accolade.
- Mixed Tag Match: Fandango & Layla def. Santino Marella & Emma by Layla rolling up Emma.
- Roman Reigns def. Mark Henry by pin following the Spear.
- 6-Man Tag: Los Matadores & El Torito def. 3MB & Hornswoggle by El Torito pinning Heath Slater following a springboard moonsault.
- Batista def. Seth Rollins by count-out.
- 6-Man Tag: The Wyatt Family def. John Cena & The Usos by Luke Harper pinning Uso following the Discus Clothesline.
Detailed Results
SmackDown kicks off with gold on the line as, four nights after losing the United States Title in a 20-Man Battle Royal that was ordered by WWE COO Triple H on RAW, The Shield’s Dean Ambrose would challenge new champion Sheamus for the United States Championship. During the match, it became apparent that Dean Ambrose was still feeling the effects of the beatdown by Evolution on RAW, but Ambrose would refuse to give up, even beating the ten-count back into the ring after being knocked out of the ring by the Brogue Kick. However, when Ambrose came back into the ring, he would get caught with a second Brogue Kick as Sheamus pins Ambrose to successfully retain the United States Title.
With Paul Heyman a guest on commentary, his client, Cesaro, would team with new Intercontinental Champion Bad News Barrett to face former Intercontinental Champion Big E and “Mr. Friday Night” Rob Van Dam. In the end, it was Rob Van Dam inadvertently hitting Big E with a heel kick and Bad News Barrett taking RVD out on the outside, allowing Cesaro to hit the Neutralizer on Big E, pinning Big E for the win.
In a rematch from RAW, “The Bulgarian Brute” Rusev, with Lana in his corner, would go one-on-one with Kofi Kingston. In the end, it was Rusev locking in the Accolade on Kofi Kingston, forcing Kofi to tap out to pick up the win.
In a Mixed Tag Match, Santino Marella & Emma would face Fandango & Layla. In the end, it was Layla catching Emma with a roll-up to pick up the win for herself and Fandango.
The powerhouse of The Shield was in action on SmackDown as Roman Reigns would go one-on-one with “The World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry. Despite still feeling the effects of the beatdown from RAW, Roman Reigns would manage to deliver a huge Spear to Mark Henry, pinning Henry for the win.
In 6-Man Tag action, 3MB & Hornswoggle would face Los Matadores & El Torito. In the end, it was an embarrassing night for Heath Slater as El Torito hits a springboard moonsault on Slater, pinning Heath for the win.
After The Shield got beat down by Evolution on RAW, The Shield’s Seth Rollins would have his shot at payback as Seth Rollins would go one-on-one with Evolution’s Batista on SmackDown. During the match, a kick to the head from Seth Rollins would knock Batista to the outside and Rollins would look to capitalize with a dive off of the top rope, but Batista would side-step the soaring Rollins, who collides face-first with the announce table, leaving Rollins motionless and allowing Batista to pick up the win via count-out. After the match, Batista would look to destroy Seth Rollins as “The Animal” brings Rollins back into the ring, hitting Rollins with the Batista Bomb in the center of the ring.
Then it was time for the main event as John Cena would join forces with WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos to combat all three members of The Wyatt Family, Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, & Erick Rowan, in a 6-Man Tag match. In the end, it was Luke Harper blasting one of The Usos with the Discus Clothesline, pinning Uso to pick up the win for The Wyatt Family.
What did you think of this week’s SmackDown? Post your comments in the box below.
