This week's episode of SmackDown, airing on the SyFy Network on November 12, 2015 , comes from Manchester, England. The WWE is building towards its annual Survivor Series pay-per-view . For full results and the live blog, click here.
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The Wyatt Family started the show. Luke Harper stated that when the Wyatts show up, blood runs cold. He said they will sacrifice the Usos for Bray Wyatt's honor. Erick Rowan promised pain for those who oppose them. Braun Strowman stated that he will destroy anyone in his path and pile the bodies to the sky for the Eater of Worlds. Bray Wyatt then addressed the return of the Brothers of Destruction. He claimed to have taken pieces of Kane and the Undertaker that they will never recover and he lives in the monsters' nightmares. Wyatt issued a challenge to the Brothers of Destruction against any two members of the Wyatt Family at Survivor Series. Bray gets to choose who from his family the Brothers will face. He claimed that 25 years from now everyone will celebrate the day the Wyatts buried the Dead Men forever.
Yeah, cool story, bro. You do realize that all four of you just got dealt with by Kane and the Undertaker on RAW, correct? You must also realize that NO ONE BELIEVES YOU AND YOU NEED MORE PEOPLE!
Anyway, after the commercial break, Fandango was fed to HairyFace McBadPromo, who won with his patented choke sleeper hold. The main event of the evening was already announced as Luke Harper and Erick Rowan versus the Usos. In the main event, the Usos (who will probably challenge for the tag team championship soon) were pretty much fed to the Wyatt Family. I see no need to recap the match as this was the sole purpose, seeing as how Bray and Strowman interfered and left the Usos lying on their back.
The Undertaker's bell gonged and his voice was heard accepting Wyatt's earlier challenge. The Wyatts were left standing in the ring while his music played as the show went off the air.
And here is where I rant . . .
Why should I care about Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, Erick Rowan, and Braun Strowman? They can look dominant against lower tier wrestlers all they want but that will not erase the memory I have in my mind from Monday night. Listen, I am thirty one years old and the whole supernatural gimmick does not move me very much. I was a HUGE, HUGE Undertaker mark when I was a child. Then I turned fourteen and realized how goofy it all was. Yes, I am capable of suspending my belief for some of this, if the story is good and the performers do their part. Bray Wyatt, bless his heart, has done his part. I was willing to go along for the ride of this new side to the Face of Fear, who could devour souls and steal powers. But the moment Undertaker and Kane laid waste to all four members of the Wyatt Family on Monday, I was done. Not only done with this angle but also the entire Wyatt Family. They are all jokes, here for me to laugh at and make fun of but never to take seriously. That was the intention, correct?
Also, Monday night made everyone else who has fought Strowman look like chumps compared to the Brothers of Destruction. Reigns and Ambrose, in the prime of their lives, can barely move Strowman. Old Man Taker and Corporate Kane toss him around like a rag doll. I don't care if you give him a mask and a wig, he's still Corporate "Jobbing and Interfering" Kane to me.
Rant done.
Wow. That feels much better.
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Due to the WWE world heavyweight championship being vacated, the WWE has set up a sixteen man tournament to crown a new champion. The semi-finals and final match will be held at Survivor Series. Roman Reigns, Dolph Ziggler, Kevin Owens, Cesaro, and Dean Ambrose have already qualified for the quarter final round. Tonight, three more matches were booked from the first round of the tournament: Neville versus King Barrett; Kalisto versus Ryback; and Alberto Del Rio versus Stardust.
The first tournament match was Neville versus King Barrett. The match started with some nice mat wrestling but Barrett got nasty with an innovative slam to Neville off the ring ropes, while pulling the hair. Barrett took the fight to the outside of the ring, punishing Neville on the announce table, apron, and barricade. Barrett controlled the pace of the match from there, thwarting a few attempts from Neville to fight back. Barrett was really impressive, fighting like a guy who knows that biggest prize in the WWE is up for grabs.
Barrett was solidly in control when he stopped to talk trash to the announcers (why?) and Neville took advantage, punishing Barrett on the outside. Neville flipped a switch and came alive with offense . . . before Barrett took him down again with a mule kick to the gut. Despite that, Barrett could not get the pin and his frustration was clear. Neville and Barrett went back and forth before Barrett got a near fall with the Winds of Change. He set up for the Bull Hammer but was countered into a pin. Neville countered another move with a DDT then quickly hit the Red Arrow to advance to the next round in the tournament. Neville will face Kevin Owens on RAW.
The second tournament match was Kalisto versus Ryback. The two competitors looked at the title momentarily before shaking hands to start. Kalisto brought the fight to Ryback, attempting to use his speed to get the advantage, and it worked. He was able to stay out Ryback's grasp and run around long enough to hit his finisher, which Ryback quickly powered out of.
Ryback finally got Kalisto down with a vicious powerbomb and changed the tempo of the match to a slow, methodical pace. He used power moves and a bear hug to wear down the luchador. Kalisto remained resilent, putting up a fight every so often, only to get knocked down again. Kalisto somehow got Ryback on the ropes and dropkicked him to the outside. An attempt at the springboard moonsault went awry but Kalisto was able to get the advantage by working kicks on the Big Guy. Ryback went for Shell Shock but Kalisto countered into a pin attempt. Ryback hit a Meathook clothesline but Kalisto got his foot on the rope.
Ryback, clearly frustrated, set Kalisto up on the top rope but Kalisto was able to hit his finisher and OH, MY GOD, KALISTO DEFEATS RYBACK TO ADVANCE TO THE NEXT ROUND!!! KALISTO BEAT RYBACK!!! LONG LIVE LUCHA!!!
Now that my marking out is done, the final match for the first round in the tournament was Alberto Del Rio versus Stardust. Before the match, Zeb Colter and ADR bored me to death while heeling it up for the crowd. They are not haters and you should not be a hater either. And Zeb promised that we will be hearing MexAmerica a lot from now on. Dear Lord, can John Cena just come back and kill this angle already? Pretty please?
Stardust started the match with the momentum but Del Rio displayed his well documented vicious side early, using the environment out side of the ring to take control. Del Rio worked over Stardust's arm for a while but the Prince of Dark Matter was able to turn the momentum in his favor for a while before Del Rio hit a backstabber to take him down. The story of the match was ADR was vicious but Stardust continued to fight. Seeing Stardust work face made me miss his run with his brother, Goldust, but I digress.
Out of the three tournament matches, this one was the least interesting. It seemed like just a showcase match for Del Rio where the other two seemed like two guys actually battling for the title. Del Rio won with his tree of woe/double stomp thingy. He will face Kalisto in the next round.
The next round match ups are as follows:
Roman Reigns versus Cesaro
Dolph Ziggler versus Dean Ambrose
Kevin Owens versus Neville
Alberto Del Rio versus Kalisto.
The winner of Reigns/Cesaro will face the winner of ADR/Kalisto. The winner of Ziggler/Ambrose will face the winner of KO/Neville.
I, myself, am hoping someone somewhere decides that they would rather see Kalisto face Cesaro or Reigns. As an unabashed Reigns mark, though, we all know whose taking the title home on November 22. Oh, yeah, baby. Nine more days!
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All the rest
- Usos backstage Interview: The former tag team champions talk too fast and act extra goofy. Stop both of those things and we may have something.
- Roman Reigns backstage interview: He does not need to sell out to become WWE WHC. Believe that! WWE, please turn this man heel and stop giving him BS inspirational promos.
Because of the Neville/Barrett and Kalisto/Ryback matches, I really enjoyed the show. Plus, you know, laughing at the Wyatts because they still think they matter is fun. Sooo looking forward to the tournament matches next week.
Rating: B+
That's all for this week, Cagesiders! What are your thoughts on the show? Let me know what you think in the comments.