Jonathan Dehn
WWE Smackdown
04/04/2014
Washington, D.C.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Titus O’Neil
I’m getting used to an opening show promo here, so this feels somewhat strange. We begin with Titus shrugging Dolph away from a rear waistlock. Dolph moves to some strikes, but gets catapulted into the air by Titus. O’Neil throws some rights and follows with a scoop slam. Titus skies and drops a leg for two. Dolph gets out of a headlock, but is brought down with a stomachbuster and stumbles into the corner. Ziggler gets the boots up to halt Titus. Ziggler follows with a crossbody and some right hands, following in the corner with punches and a neckbreaker on the way out. Titus dodges the Fameasser, but Dolph ducks a big boot. Some type of botch happens where the Fameasser doesn’t connect entirely. They reset and Titus hits a big boot for two. Titus gets in some trash talk and hits a couple of backbreakers, but is too arrogant, letting Dolph slip out and hit a Zig Zag for the win.
Final Thoughts: *. This was fine, but really had that awkward moment towards the finish. Cole and JBL keep on talking about how Dolph has never been hotter. I don’t know, though; I’d say that the time when he won the WHC would be a better place to say this.
-We return with Renee and Jerry Lawler sitting at a desk at WrestleMania Axxess, where they hype up WrestleMania and show off some of the different things that fans can do. I’m not sure how long this is going to go…
This video package for Undertaker/Lesnar is good and all, but no one is buying it.
With the festivities behind them while they talk, Axxess sure looks like fun.
Hey, a Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley video package and interview with Michael Cole. She’s filling in for HHH here on the weekly interview. She does just fine, saying the things that you would imagine.
Yeah, I’ve just been alerted that this show has two matches and a Hulk Hogan promo. I should have known better. But hey, at Axxess, children are doing swan dive headbutts into a foam pad filled ring.
Sometimes, I feel that the Cena/Wyatt feud was built up around “Legacy”. That being said, they’ve done a damned good job with it the last couple of weeks, and that match is a dark horse to steal the show.
Randy Orton has a nice sit down interview with Booker T, highlighted by putting down Big Dave and his skinny jeans.
Oh shit, a match!
The Real Americans vs. Los Matadores
Jack begins and hits some knees in the corner. Swagger goes down to a head scissors, but in comes Cesaro. He counters the roll up but eats a dropkick and then takes an arm drag. Cesaro hits a slam, but is caught mid-taunt with another headscissors. He takes another, afterwards. Zeb slaps some aggression into Cesaro. Swagger separates them. Antonio charges back into the middle with a dropkick and goes to work with uppercuts in the corner, piling it on. Cesaro hits a gut wrench, as well. We go to the break.
We return with Cesaro still in control. Swagger returns and the two take a double DDT. Swagger cuts it off and drags the action back into his corner. Cesaro returns and they hit a double suplex. Cesaro drops a big elbow to follow. Cesaro gets throws into a corner splash by Swagger, who gets two shortly thereafter. Los Matadores almost get the hot tag, but Cesaro splits up the team with a move from the outside. Jack hits a belly-to-belly suplex for two. Jack hits the Swaggerbomb, and Cesaro follows up with the double stomp for two. The Real Americans both get dumped and Los Matadores get the hot tag.
Cesaro takes some punishment, including a ‘rana and a spring back elbow for two. Cesaro takes a stungun into the corner, but takes a senton from the top. Swagger gets dumped, but Cesaro gets revenge with a big boot. Cesaro catches a matador and gets THE GIANT SWING. Neutralizer finishes it up for the win.
Final Thoughts: **1/4. This was a decent match, and would be just fine as the main event of…WWE Main Event. It’s interesting that the commentary still has The Real Americans hyped for their match at WrestleMania, but it’s actually on the pre-show.
-The Shield sits down and is ready for their match against the old guys. I notice a bit of dissention from Dean’s facial expressions at the very end.
-Batista sits down with Booker. Batista presents himself and comes off like a snarky son of a bitch. He takes a poke at his debut happening in Dayton. Booker does a great job with the interview, presenting the questions nicely. Booker, the ultimate Daniel Bryan mark, acts well in biting his tongue as Batista takes his turn in running Bryan down a bit.
-Man, HHH sure was selling like HHH was in 2000.
-Hulk Hogan is out to finish this pep rally for WrestleMania. I’m not sure about Hogan starting with his catchphrase. But, he’s happy to be in the nation’s capsule of Washington D.C. Anyhow, Hulk is pumped up and everyone else should be, too.
–I probably should have skipped covering this thing. I’m looking forward to Sunday like everyone else, but we can’t forget about the Hall of Fame ceremony shown in its entirety tomorrow. I hope Warrior holds up Vince for a couple of bucks.
