Jonathan Dehn
What You Missed…
United States Title – Sheamus © vs. Alberto Del Rio – This is, of course, a solid match. Del Rio hits a backstabber on the apron to give us a cliffhanger before the break. It’s a lousy spot as he obviously takes the brunt of the punishment. Later on in the match, Sheamus actually performs his clubbing blows while both are on the top turnbuckle. It’s great that they’re trying new things, but the spot just doesn’t look practical from up there. Sheamus retains with a somewhat sloppy Brogue at the end of interesting finisher sequence. ***.
Bo Dallas vs. Diego – Bo Dallas is now dedicating his matches and IC Title shot at Battleground to “Little Daniel”. Sometimes I feel that these little inclusions of Daniel Bryan is WWE being in some sad denial about his health. So, Bo squashes Diego and gives words of encouragement to the BO-vine El Torito, telling him that if he BOlieves he can grow up to be a fully grown bull. Torito gores him in the buttock, so Bo, the powerhouse, press slams the little guy. Bo is my muse.
Big E vs. Cesaro – Big E is in this match to avenge his friend, Kofi Kingston. Maybe these shows are really running together, but I don’t recall Big E and Kofi having skits backstage that illustrate their friendship. This match doesn’t happen, as Big E and Cesaro brawl around the ringside area to a stalemate.
Eva Marie vs. AJ Lee – Paige is seated at the table, but is without headset. This would have been a nice spot for fans to get to know her, finally. Also, that Diva’s Title change was something out of the Hogan playbook. AJ takes a page out of the Paige playbook, bumping around for Eva’s shitty offense for two minutes before getting The Black Widow in an easily predictable spot. Paige leaves the ringside area after congratulating AJ with a firm handshake. With how terrible the Women’s and Tag Team Division both are, let’s just be happy WWE doesn’t have a Diva’s Tag Team Title. We’d be treated to Sasha Banks and Charlotte playing faces in peril to a God awful Eva/Cameron combination before Naomi’s music causes the distraction rollup victory for Ric Flair’s supremely gifted daughter.
Randy Orton vs. Dean Ambrose – This was a solid match that I give **1/2. One issue with these two guys not having the best of matches while it looks good on paper is that Dean Ambrose certainly seems to wrestle every match like it could be his last. Randy Orton, of course, does not share this mentality. Orton does extensive shoulder work on Dean’s bandage, before Dean slides across the table and gets Seth Rollins into the fight. Dean wins by DQ, and Reigns runs down afterwards to send the heels scurrying. I’d like it if WWE took the wrap from Dean’s arm. Guys like him are bad at working an injury as they make damned sure to sell it and could take some unnecessary bumps.
1.The Reason For Factions
The opening segment of the show featured the ongoing and building blood feud between Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins continue, and Roman Reign’s test of The Authority’s grasp. If these former Shield members can continue to impress and garner great reactions while living in the upper card of the promotion, it would put The Shield in rarified air in wrestling history.
The goal of any wrestling faction is to create stars that can spin off of that group and strike out on their own. Evolution was a success in this regard, despite them only being good, at the time, for holding people up for HHH to punch and to walk away from helicopters while dressed for a night out. Of course, Batista surely benefited the most from the exposure, as it’s been proven time and time again that WWE is just going to give Orton every chance to succeed.
By contrast, The Shield burst onto the scene without a senior figurehead to gain legitimacy from, and in less than two years have broken up and have three members flourishing when given their chances. While the dissolving of The Shield was certainly unplanned and left WWE scrambling, Rollins’ ring work, Reigns’ fonz factor, and Ambrose’s rising anti-hero status have me thinking that The Shield will be considered by most to be the most successful group in WWE history.
2. Saturday Night, what took you so long?
Smackdown made sure to plug the fact that Saturday Night’s Main Event is coming to WWE Network on Monday. It only took north of four months for WWE to get up one of its most beloved series. Good for you…now where in the hell is my Saturday evening of WCW Saturday Night? I’d certainly consider spending an evening watching WCW Saturday Night at 6:05 Eastern Time, and then followed up with SNME.
3. Apron Backstabber Of Eternal Suffering
Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio have faced each other too much over the last couple of years. What happens when the two of them have an important match is the relative quiet of the crowd, and the use of new spots to liven things up. Unfortunately, some of these spots don’t work and just point to the obvious solution in turning Sheamus heel.
4. Dust To Dust
While Cody’s hope for being a main eventer in WWE decreases by the day with his Stardust character, he’s performing well and selling out for this gimmick, which will make it a success unless someone in the office decides to screw him over again. Maybe, WWE won’t waste a hot Rhodes tag team act this time.
5. Cool Dad was having a good time, until along came a spider.
Chris Jericho made an appearance on Smackdown where he laid it out there that he’s more than willing to get a little bit crazy in order to battle them. The Miz, whose delusion that he is a giant star, is quite entertaining in his new role. He did, however, eat a Codebreaker. Jericho then stole and wore Miz’s sunglasses that he came out to the ring with. It’s certainly great to have Jericho back, and his mission looks to be to solidify Bray Wyatt and keep him from becoming just another guy on the card.
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