WWE SmackDown returns to SyFy this coming Friday night (April 25, 2014) from Hershey, Pennsylvania, but the show was taped, as usual, on Tuesday night. That means full spoilers are readily available if you're the impatient type who doesn't want to wait a couple days for the payoff.
Unwrap that present early:
- We'll note right away that Bo Dallas and Sami Zayn worked dark matches.
- Vickie Guerrero opened the show -- she's sticking around, for now, after all -- alerting us to The Authority taking the night off. She's got plans for The Shield, though, and it's to book the same 11-on-3 handicap match we got on Raw, with all the same players, when Evolution reformed. She also scheduled a debate between Paul Heyman and Zeb Colter.
- Guess what Heyman spent all his time talking about? Not sure if you were aware, but his client Brock Lesnar conquered the Undertaker's undefeated streak at WrestleMania. It turned into a dumb argument and no one cared. This was the lead-in to the Cesaro vs. Jack Swagger match. Cesaro went over with the Neutralizer and The Shield showed up to destroy Swagger right after. Superman punch, Triple Powerbomb, and the promise they weren't done for the night.
- Tamina def. Natalya in a squash.
- The Shield beat down 3MB backstage. They were dismantling their opponents for the evening before getting to the ring. Vickie Guerrero received a call from Triple H and she was given the night off, replaced by Brad Maddox.
- Curtis Axel def. Jey Uso with the neckbreaker finish. It didn't get over.
- They lowered a steel cage that was set up and Bray Wyatt cut a promo repeating the same points he was making on Raw, that John Cena is losing the support of his fans and they're all converting to being Wyatt supports. Again, he was cheered for this. They sang. Wyatt also said it's Cena's fault what was going to happen next.
- Erick Rowan & Luke Harper def. Rhodes Brothers. The finish saw Goldust pushed into Cody while he was on the top rope. So they're going ahead with the break up it seems.
- The Shield took out Brad Maddox in his office backstage. Count 'em one by one.
- Santino Marella and Emma came out for a match. Fandango and Layla were out next but before Fandango could get off the ramp, The Shield showed up and Triple Powerbombed him off the stage. Notches in the handles of the outlaw's guns.
- By now it was time for the actual match, and it ended up being The Shield vs. Bad News Barrett, Alberto Del Rio, Damien Sandow, Titus O'Neil, and Ryback. Barrett bailed to escape a beating, which makes one wonder if he's booked to go over Rob Van Dam on Raw next week, but the rest were taken out.
That's the show, folks. Your thoughts?