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WWE SmackDown returns to SyFy this coming Friday night (April 11, 2014) from Lafayette, Louisiana, 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:
- John Cena opened the show with a promo. He's still using the talking points that he's the biggest dog in the yard and anyone who wants to assume that role has to chase him off. Bray Wyatt showed up on the titantron to say he's going to go to new "extremes" to get the monster out of Cena. So this is continuing.
- Cesaro def. Big Show via disqualification thanks to a run-in from Jack Swagger. Of note, he didn't have music, so the Patriot theme might be sticking with Swagger. Paul Heyman introduced Cesaro as the "King of Swing" so that's his new nickname for certain and they're pushing it hard. Mixed reaction from the fans, who still aren't sure how to feel about him, though Cesaro worked heel. Show actually went after Swagger for the run-in and Cesaro gave him a Neutralizer anyway.
- Rybaxel def. Los Matadores in a nothing match. Blame Carlito.
- Rob Van Dam def. Damien Sandow after a brief pre-match promo. Essentially the same thing you saw on Raw.
- Hulk Hogan came and said that he was the host of WrestleMania that became Yes-tleMania. He called out Daniel Bryan and they did a bit where Bryan admitted to idolizing "The Hulkster" and they both did his signature poses before Hogan started a YES chant using Bryan's gimmick. Feel how you will about all this.
- Bad News Barrett def. Kofi Kingston, who is apparently just fine despite injury concerns. After the reaction Barrett got on Raw, you might think he was over here but that wasn't really the case. Back to being a hated heel.
- Fandango def. Santino in a nothing match. Of note, Emma is still with Santino and Fandango's new lady is .... LAYLA!
- The Usos & Daniel Bryan vs. Batista, Randy Orton, & Kane went to a double count out. Pretty much the match you would expect. They got the heat on one of the Usos before a hot tag to Bryan so he could come in all house of fire and clean up. The action led to a count out and a post-match angle with the heels about to gain an edge on the babyfaces but The Shield showed up to make the save, celebrating with Bryan to end the show, just like on Raw.
That's the show, Cagesiders. Your thoughts?