April 30, 2015
The road to Payback continues after two huge matches were made this past week for the upcoming pay-per-view on May 17th. We have a Triple Threat Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, pitting the champion, Seth Rollins, against both Randy Orton and Roman Reigns, where the winner doesn’t even have to pin the champion to become champion. Rules! We’ll also have one final match between United States Champion, John Cena, and Rusev, in an “I Quit” Match. If Cena loses, he’ll never challenge Rusev again. If Rusev wins, we all win. Pretty simple. And we have a new King of the Ring. But who? Stay tuned.
Here are the main stories coming out of SmackDown:
#SMACKDOWN is on #SyFy now!! Don't miss it. @WWE pic.twitter.com/9k5BKym7EP
— Brooklyn Brawler (@brawlerreal) May 1, 2015
SmackDown from the iWireless Center in Moline, Illinois began with a backstage segment involving The Authority with Seth Rollins, the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, confronting Kane and blaming him for having to face two superstars in a Triple Threat Match for his title in the main event of Payback.
So, more dissension in The Authority, and no Triple H or Stephanie McMahon sightings on television to “keep the peace.” One would think that the two people running the company, for all intents and purposes, would show up eventually after this tension’s been going on for weeks between Rollins and Kane, but, no.
Rollins approached Ambrose in the locker room and asked him to back out of their match Thursday night because he’s such a fighting champion. Ambrose said no. Game on.
Rollins would wind up pinning Dean Ambrose in the show’s main event -- clean -- before Reigns showed up to save his former partner. And yes, there was even more dissension between Rollins and Kane if you can even believe it since the same exact thing has happened on almost every show since January it seems.
There’s something to be said for Ambrose piling up the losses lately, and it has to do with WWE not really viewing him as a commodity at the moment. He was on fire at the end of last year. This year he’s been mired in stagnation and really hasn’t been involved in any important storylines save for the Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match angle heading into WrestleMania. So seeing these two guys main event a Thursday night show wasn’t the best thing since either one of them would lose or a disqualification would take place. Let’s hope the WWE creative team picks up the creativity because there’s certainly none right now as it plays on TV.
Reigns headed to the ring for a promo of his own in the beginning of the show before being interrupted by the Director of Operations and the two had a little impromptu match, which Reigns won after Kane left the ring and headed to the back. Real brave, Kane. Renee Young approached Rollins in the backstage area after the match and he pretty much made fun of Kane for leaving and backing away from a fight – something he would never do. Ah, to be a heel. I love me some heelish tactics.
Renee Young interviewed Ryback backstage about his issue with Bray Wyatt, and Ryback didn’t have any answers. Good choice for storytelling purposes. Ryback basically said he would dismantle Luke Harper, Wyatt’s old family member, to send Wyatt a message. He did just that, except Wyatt had an answer rather quickly.
The New Day most likely aren’t through with Tyson Kidd and Cesaro, but the Prime Time Players were back at it again Thursday night, calling out the new tag team champions. I could get behind having three, or even four, teams vying for the tag titles right now. Make them more important. Tag Team wrestling is still dead, so this could be a good way to bring it back.
Bad News Barrett won the two-day King of the Ring tournament live on the WWE Network Tuesday night and had almost nothing to say afterwards. He wound up avenging his defeat on the Extreme Rules Kickoff Show by defeating Neville with the Bull Hammer elbow in an excellent match. Here’s hoping they’ll use the gimmick to not only Barrett’s advantage, but to WWE’s as well. Building up this tournament every year – or even bi-annually – would be an excellent way to push a new star or give a heel some heat.
Mayweather or Pacquiao? WWE superstars tell you who they think will win Saturday night’s theatrical boxing bout – one we’ve been waiting for for a long, long time.
Roman Reigns d. Kane by count out after Kane left the ring and headed backstage as Reigns went for the spear.
Damien Sandow d. Curtis Axel by pinfall via his You’re Welcome finisher.
Ryback d. Luke Harper by pinfall via the Shell Shock. Wyatt appeared after the match and delivered a Sister Abigail to Ryback.
WWE Tag Team Championship: Tyson Kidd and Cesaro d. The New Day (c) [Kofi and Big E]via disqualification after Xavier Woods interfered.
Non-Title: Nikki Bella (c-Divas) d. Cameron by pinfall via the Rack Attack.
Non-Title: Seth Rollins (c) d. Dean Ambrose by pinfall via a front-face DDT. The Authority attacked Ambrose after the match before Reigns made the save.
