This week’s Smackdown kicks off with a slew of fireworks and a loud reception from the WWE Universe. The lunatic fringe Dean Ambrose starts things off for the night with a match against Sheamus. It’s always refreshing when WWE starts their shows off with a match instead of a long winded promo. It’s good to engage the audience by hooking them with a promo, but it’s refreshing when this doesn’t happen on every one of their shows.

Dean Ambrose vs. Mr. Money in the Bank Sheamus

Sheamus has a mic as he walks toward the ring. He sounded great during his promo. He didn’t trip up in anyway and sounded confident in his abilities. He basically reminded Dean there is no escape and he’s in store for a “good ole fashioned arse whoppin’ from the next WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Ambrose then grabs the mic and says “It is true what they say. You do look stupid.”  The two men lock horns as the match begins.

The both roll around a little bit on the ground, until Sheamus escapes to the outside to regain his focus. Upon Sheamus returning to the ring he gains the upperhand. Every counter by Ambrose is met by another from Sheamus. As the two battle on the outside, Ambrose delivers a big swinging ddt from the ring apron. After re-entering the ring the two make their way to the top turnbuckle. Sheamus attempted a super-plex, only to be countered by Ambrose, but Sheamus is able to counter his counter by targeting Ambrose’s left knee. He continues the assault with a muffler submission and by body slamming Ambrose’s leg into the ropes.

These two were like two big Triceratops locking horns and exchanging blows. They were hard hitting and everything was sold really well.  Near the end of the match Bray Wyatt chose to make an appearance and make his way to the ring in an ever-earie way. While Luke Harper appeared standing tall on top of the announcer’s table. Ambrose went for Harper first, only to be met with a big brogue kick from Sheamus. Sheamus then rolled Ambrose in the middle of the ring and signaled for another Brogue kick with the Batista thumbs down taunt. This fued between former Shield members and Wyatt members is really heating up and could be one of the best of the year, if done properly.

Winner by pinfall:

Mr. Money in the Bank Sheamus

There is a recap of the Stardust return and his match against Neville. Awesome recap, as it’s done with a comic book twist and done to perfection. This kind of publicity really embellishes the Stardust character. Stardust becomes more and more similar to villains the likes of the Joker and the Riddler from the critically acclaimed Batman series.

Neville is then interviewed in the back by JoJo. Neville goes onto explain he isn’t done with Stardust. The tv in the backround then appears to be hacked into and Stardust suddenly appears to close his hand with the star in the middle of his palms ending the segment. This feud is really heating up between these two. Great way to re-introduce the Stardust character and re-invigorate the WWE Universe.

Adam Rose vs. Neville

Adam Rose was in the ring prior to Neville’s entrance. Nevill’es entrance is one of the best in the business today. Everything about it fits his gimmick. Rose was the definite bad guy during this match. He took it to Neville for the first half of the match and had control for a good little bit. He even taunted the crowd and gained more heat by not abiding by what the referee said. There was a big headscissors by Rose at one point, but the tables turned when a suicide dive went south. Neville’s speed got the better of Rose.

He delivered several kicks and displayed his agility by out maneuvering his opponent. Rose then rolled to the outside only to be met with a huge asai moonsault, followed by a red arrow for the victory. Rose definitely got some shine in this match and showed some shades of Leo Kruger. However, Neville was able to gain the upper hand, which will help to give credibility to his feud with Stardust. After the match Stardust was shown on the Titantron making a riddle with an overly embellished laugh, further portraying a character similar to the Riddler or the Joker. The direction Stardust is headed could be the best of his career. Only time will tell, but he’s definitely bringing it and putting all of himself in this character.

Winner by pinfall:

Neville

King Barrett makes his way to the entrance stage to give a promo. His promo sounded a little too scripted. Barrett can talk if given the freedom to speak, but unfortunately he hasn’t gained the brass’s trust enough to truly shine. Scripting promos doesn’t always work for everyone. Barrett sounded a little too rehearsed. It was nice for him to get the tv time for the promo.

Kevin Owens vs. Rusev w/Summer Rae

Owens gets on the mic prior to the match. He goes onto explain, “Ever since my match with Cena on Sunday I keep hearing the same three words, tap Owens tap.” Owens said “That never happened at Battleground, but what did happen was I gave John Cena the toughest fight of his career. I’m smarter than that. My moto live to fight another day. I have a family and kids to think about, whose future depends on me. I wasn’t going to risk a career threatening injury at the hands of John Cena.” Rusev then storms to the ring to interrupt Owens, after Owens insulted Rusev by saying “Rusev needs to figure out which Lana he wants to get to second base with.” Such an awesome promo by Owens.

It’s just what the WWE Universe needed to hear from him. Explanations about Battleground and Monday Night Raw. These two went at it hard. There was some stiff shots, as well as an extra intensity brought by both wrestlers.  There was a huge Scott Hall-like fallaway slam from Rusev. Owens is a big cat and for him to throw Owens across the ring with ease shows his true strength. A superkick by Owens causes Rusev to fall to the corner. Owens follows up with a cannonball delivered from the adjacent corner. Owens then gives Rusev a codebreaker, followed by a headlock. Owens has no waste in motion. His experience is reflected with every appearance he makes on the card. The crowd then erupts in a loud “Fight Owens Fight” chant. Rusev even gets some of the crowd behind him with a “Let’s go Rusev” chant.

Rusev is able to gain the upperhand with a superkick of his own. He then does a spinning release backdrop. Owens gets up in the corner and misses a clothesline. Only to receive a big spinning heel kick from Rusev. The strength and agility of Rusev is very impressive. This has to be one of the best showings from Rusev. Owens has brought an intensity out of Rusev that little have done. As Rusev is about to lock in the accolade Rusev quickly rolls outside of the ring to get counted out. The commentators remind the WWE Universe of Owens words “Live to fight another day,”  as Owens makes his way up the entrance ramp.

Winner by count out:

Rusev

Cesaro is this shown being interviewed in the backstage area. He is there to discuss his WWE World Heavyweight Championship match for the main event. Cesaro goes through a list of the sacrifices he’s made during his entire career, including “11 years without spending Christmas with his family.” He says “It feels right” to be in the main event for the Championship. He explains how much he “loves this business and how success doesn’t happen overnight.” He wants to “prove hard work pays off and the American dream never dies.”

Kevin Owens then suddenly appears and cuts in to say “BOO HOO! 11 years, NO ONE CARES!” Owens then makes a bold claim, stating “I accomplished more” in his WWE debut than Cesaro “did in his entire WWE career. No one cares about your dreams and how you abandoned your family because that’s what you did, you abandoned them.” Cesaro interrupts Owens mid-sentence, asking “Where did you come from? The arena, abandoning your match, again.” Owens then says he’s going to go to “catering to enjoy” Cesaro “losing to Seth Rollins.”

Cesaro finishes the promo by saying “As long as you don’t choke. Like you did in your match against John Cena. Walk Owens walk.” Wow, wow is the only word to describe the promo these two gave with each other. There were interruptions without one waiting for the other to stop speaking, great facial expressions, great body language, and a range of vocal volumes during their delivery.

Naomi and NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks w/Tamina - the Bella Twins

This gives a glimps of the two top women in the organization. Being the NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks and the Divas Champion Nikki Bella. Hopefully the WWE Divas Championship will be converted into the WWE Women’s Championship if Sasha is able to lay claim to the championship. Naomi and Nikki start this one off. Naomi gave a nice running clothesline to Nikki as Nikki was sitting up on the mat. Brie tags her sister and the two double team Naomi. Naomi is able to knee Brie in the face and takes the Boss Sasha Banks in to the match.

Brie then tags Nikki into the match and both champions are squaring off against each other for the first time. Nikki locks in a tightly grounded head scissors. Nikki then tags Brie and she gives a giant dropkick from the top turnbuckle. Tamina is able to pull Banks out of the ring before Brie can capitalize. There was a good tag match with a lot of ring psychology used. There was one point where the ref was trying to gain control of Nikki and Tamina attacks Brie on the outside. B.A.D. gained control thereafter. Nikki tries to get the crowd to chant for her sister and the crowd responds. This felt a little awkward as the Bellas are a heel stable. Either way, in this match the two were the crowd favorites.

Sasha played the heel to perfection. With chokes and a stiff knee to Brie’s gut in the middle turnbuckle. She then attacks Nikki in the corner and tags her partner. Sasha bring a fire to the division that has appeared to reinvigorate the other WWE “Divas.”  Brie is able to tag the Divas Champion after a repeated double team. Nikki then runs right through both women, as Tamina is taken out by Brie. The crowd is popping loud for Nikki as she hits the rack attack for the victory. For the crowd to pop like that for a heel faction proves how good B.A.D. are as a heel faction in comparison. Great chemistry between all four women. Each of the competitors have truly stepped up their game. The match even was given a significant amount of time on the card. This is how the women’s division should be portrayed in the WWE.

Winner by pinfall:

The Bella Twins

Cesaro - WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins

There were a loud amount of boos for Seth Rollins and loud amount of cheers for Cesaro. Cesaro is all over and ready to go. Cesaro side steps Rollins in a lock up. The two then begin an exchange of arm wrenches. Cesaro hits the corner hard after Rollins moves out of the way. He then rolls to the outside, to be met with a suicide dive. Cesaro was able to get out of a headlock with pure strength. He tossed Rollins over his head with a release backdrop. Then he was able to connect with a huge over the head release suplex. Cesaro continues his assault on the champion with repeated corner European uppercuts.

Each one given harder than the other. Cesaro then transitioned a fallaway slam into a vertical suplex. The commentators referred to Cesaro as “WWE’s Chuck Norris, there’s nothing he can’t do.” Cesaro is on his way up to the top of the mountain and may even be a viable contender for a 2016 Royal Rumble win, if he continues to shine in 2015.  Rollins is able to get out of Cesaro’s clutches with repeated knees, but receives a huge standing dropkick. There was a big knee from Rollins during his counter of Cesaro’s standing super-plex. Rollins then flips over the top turnbuckle to stick a big powerbomb. Cesaro is able to gain control yet again with a tight sharpshooter and a Cesaro crossface.

After Rollins is able to break free he receives a hard-hitting European uppercut. Cesaro threw Rollins straight into the air before this land this thunderous uppercut. Rollins doesn’t want any part of Cesaro, as he grabs his championship and tries to escape. Only to be met with another big running uppercut. Rollins slides into the ring and as Cesaro is coming in Rollins distracts him with the championship and is able to connect with a pedigree for the victory. This match was absolutely fantastic and the best Smackdown main event of the past few months.

Winner by pinfall:

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins

Kevin Owens walks down the ramp, as Rollins heads to the back after his big win over Cesaro. Once Owens hits the ring he delivers punches to the back of Cesaro’s head. He then picks Cesaro up and gives him a pop-up powerbomb to the end the show.

The WWE platform has truly implemented a style similar to Ring of Honor. With former Ring of Honor wrestlers, how can you not? This episode of Smackdown was one of the best of the year and outshined this week's Monday Night Raw in terms of the quality of matches. A stellar showing from this week’s Smackdown. There wasn’t one segment that was wasted to fill time. Hopefully WWE can continue this trend with a big upswing going into this year’s Summerslam.

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About the author
Ryan Steinberg
I was born in Las Vegas, but grew up in Montana. I lived there for 17 years, before moving to New York. I have lived in New York for the past ten years. I have a wife and two children, which mean the world to me. I have been a pro wrestling fan my entire life. I even trained for it at one point early on in life. I study the craft and have a great deal of respect for those who have sacrificed themselves for this business. I am very passionate when it comes to pro wrestling. I am here to contribute my insight, opinions, and critique about the professional wrestling landscape.