This week’s SmackDown came to us from the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, PA, and we saw the WWE World Heavyweight Champion and Intercontinental Champion in another Champion vs. Champion match – this time with Lumberjacks. Cesaro and Miz got to finish their match from Raw, Jimmy Uso was back in action while he waits for his brother to recover from shoulder surgery earlier this year, and The New Day was again amazing as usual.
The closer we get to Night of Champions, the more I believe WWE is setting up Seth Rollins for a face turn soon. They’re booking him somewhat as a face, showcasing the perils he’s going through just to become one of the greatest legends in WWE history. He might not be far off, but that’ll be up to the booking team [and creative] to decide.
Here are the main stories coming out of SmackDown:
The Wyatt Family continued playing mind games with Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose on Thursday night. The trio interrupted the match between Reigns, Ambrose, and their partner, Jimmy Uso and The New Day. As Uso went to the top rope for the big splash, the lights went out and the Wyatts kidnapped him; when the lights came on, Bray along with Luke Harper and Braun Strowman were holding Uso in a bearhug and left him lying on the ramp.
I’m looking forward to seeing who Reigns and Ambrose will have in their corner at Night of Champions next Sunday. The Wyatts attacked Randy Orton this past Monday on Raw, so I’m not sure he’ll be the mystery partner, because that would be too easy and obvious and annoying. There was a leak earlier this week as to who their partner might be, but I’m not sure I like that idea, either. Let’s hope it’s a pleasant surprise come next Sunday.
The WWE World Heavyweight and United States Champion defeated the Intercontinental Champion, Ryback, in a Lumberjack Match after the Lumberjacks pretty much just got out of control. Big Show interfered with Ryback, causing Mark Henry to attack Big Show and the rest of the face lumberjacks to send him backstage, and then all hell broke loose. The Lucha Dragons and Neville hit their high spots, but Rollins was able to nail Ryback with the pedigree for the win after Kevin Owens tripped up Ryback. Let’s hope Owens is soon our new Intercontinental Champion.
Rollins will face John Cena for the United States Championship and also face Sting for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Night of Champions. I have a feeling this may be the true beginning of his coming out party. I think he’ll retain both titles.
The Divas didn’t really have much going on in this edition of SmackDown. Paige and Sasha Banks were having a fine match, with or without their respective teams at ringside. Then, instead of having a clear winner, the fine match evolved into a brawl between the two, then included Team PCB and Team BAD. I like the idea, but it really didn’t accomplish anything.
Charlotte faces Nikki Bella for the Divas Championship Monday on Raw, so hopefully we’ll be seeing a new champion of the division and finally actually be seeing the Divas revolution before our eyes.
Glad to see the WWE creative team remembered that last Thursday on SmackDown, they had Stardust align himself with The Ascension – something they didn’t touch on Raw on Monday night. The trio was back together on Thursday night, and put the boots to the Lucha Dragons after Konnor and Viktor defeated the tag team. Neville made the save, so the bad blood between him and Stardust still exists. Lucky us.
I have to admit, I love how the Money in the Bank winner always makes whoever the champion is feel stupid during promos. Literally, the title is not safe unless the MITB holder already cashed in his title shot and lost. Damien Sandow says hello.
Match rundown
• Cesaro d. The Miz by submission via the Sharpshooter.
• Paige vs. Sasha Banks ended in a No Contest after Team PCB and Team BAD all brawled in the ring.
• Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose and Jimmy Uso d. The New Day by disqualification after the Wyatt Family interfered and kidnapped Uso. There was no official decision in the match, but
• The Ascension d. Lucha Dragons by pinfall via the Fall of Man to Kalisto.
• Non-Title Lumberjack Match: Seth Rollins (c-WWE, c-US) d. Ryback (c-IC) by pinfall after the lumberjacks get involved, with Rollins eventually pinning Ryback after a pedigree.
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