Jonathan Dehn
What You Missed…
Dean Ambrose vs. Bad News Barrett – This was perfectly acceptable, but terribly short. *1/2. After the match, Jack Swagger runs down to injure Bad News Barrett. In the fight, Seth Rollins ran in to beat down Ambrose, succeeding in doing so.
Cameron vs. Paige – Short, and luckily, painless. After the match, Naomi entered the ring but had to pulled away from Paige after Cameron riled both of them up. I disagree on letting Cameron play a character capable of outsmarting others so easily.
Bray Wyatt vs. Sheamus – **3/4. This was solid, but seemed to drift just a bit towards the end of the match. Sheamus was working hard and took a few big bumps for Bray. This ended with a Harper and Rowan run-in. The Usos fought on Sheamus’ behalf and we have to wait until Sunday to see this resolved.
Alberto Del Rio and Cesaro vs. Dolph Ziggler and Rob Van Dam – **3/4. This was pretty good, and not hard to achieve when you have such talent in the ring. It’s worth note that Rob Van Dam was the man to lose the match, when Del Rio got his knees up on the frog splash and was able to transition into the cross armbreaker for the quick win. After the match, Cesaro gave Del Rio a Neutralizer because no one wants to be friends with Alberto Del Rio.
Rusev vs. Sin Cara – You can guess how this one went. After the match, Big E came out to give a rousing speech about ‘mericuh and then took the ring from Rusev.
Kane vs. Roman Reigns – This wasn’t a very good match. *1/2, I’d guess. Randy Orton runs in to protect Kane from taking a fall. It is then revealed that Kane is only in the championship match to help Orton, as he sets up a ladder for Randy to climb and grabs the belts from. Reigns popped up afterwards to hit some spears and send everyone home.
1. Production Errors
It’s still surprising to notice a few hiccups in the presentation when the show is being pieced together throughout the week. On this week’s edition, both a video insert was misleading and was not the footage that was supposed to be introduced by Michael Cole. We were expecting a clip of Barrett riling up the Pittsburgh crowd, but instead saw him deliver a nondescript move from ten seconds earlier.
Later on in the show, Cole dictated that the next segment of the show would introduce a video package recapping the kiddie pool full of shit. However, we came back from commercial with Rusev in the ring and ready to dispose of Sin Cara.
The thought that such slip-ups don’t have a noticeable consequence on WWE would be the wrong one. It’s much like a botch in a match that takes you out of the moment and leaves you somewhat confused. Small blunders stand out much more in these days of such a sanitized presentation, as well.
2. Cameron is the new intellectual savior of the masses.
Cameron was able to pull off the old “push my friend into another party without their knowledge in order to cause friction” bit. She might have botched it the first three attempts and they finally got it right on the fourth attempt, but I can’t be sure. I just hope that she doesn’t turn entirely heel and pick up some gimmick of being a new cerebral assassin.
3. Bray’s got new pants.
Bray brought out a pair of brown pants for his match with Sheamus. If anything could make you not look like more of a commoner in WWE, it’s trading in your bright white pants for brown pants. While people like to use their cell phones during the entrance, the heat for Wyatt is on a downward slope. I guess that we shouldn’t be shocked at this, since he had to have a main event feud with John Cena. I wouldn’t blame Cena as much as creative running wild with the story line and jumping the shark.
My favorite moment would have to be a segment where Cena was hesitant about simply using a chair during their Last Man Standing match, as if he were Bret Hart in 1996. This would be alright, but then you recall Cena performing such acts like burying Wade Barrett under 134 chairs in 2010.
4. Needs More Kane
On this show, Kane faced off with Roman Reigns. Reigns had the second entrance, and I can’t help but remember them showing Kane looking up into the stands at Roman. The Demon Kane (they’re pushing this name to make us forget about him getting squashed by Reigns and company at WrestleMania XXX) was so apathetic in his stare. He was tired. He seemed to be fixed on Reign’s figure, and was maybe jealous at how he walked down arena steps so effortlessly while he needs a half an hour to warm up before a match, lest he move like a statue.
His admission into the main event at the PPV will work if his only purpose is to stand outside of the ring and try to help Orton win before Reigns spears him through a piece of ringside furniture.
Kane was to retire years ago, but he shouldn’t be judged for accepting all of the money thrown at him to stick. No one should blame him for this, but everyone can blame WWE for having him still in the main event at this point.
5. This is Smackdown
This is Smackdown, and as such, not too many things occur. So, I want to keep the number five for this article. I would greatly appreciate it if Smackdown wasn’t entirely a throwaway show. This conclusion to the article wouldn’t be so entirely phoned in.
