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This week's episode of SmackDown, airing on the USA Network on March 31, 2016, comes from Brooklyn, New York ... mostly. WWE is three days away from the biggest show of the year, the Showcase of the Immortals, WrestleMania 32. The pay-per-view airs live this Sunday from Arlington, Texas. For full results and the live blog, click here.
WrestleMania Week is here, Cagesiders. SmackDown is the WWE's final push to draw in eyes to the Show of Shows and is generally a clip show with a few taped segments and matches sprinkled in. Let's see what went down!
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Next Stop: WrestleMania!
The first match of the show was AJ Styles versus Heath Slater with the Social Outcasts ringside. Before the match, the Outcasts did their usual thing about the Andre the Giant BattleRoyale with Cheese. Slater was able to get some offense in, thanks in part to interference from the three best friends anyone could have, but Styles soon took Slater down and stood tall heading into the show this Sunday.
The next match of the show involved Jey Uso taking on D-Von Dudley. D-Von was victorious in a pretty alright match. The Usos match against the Dudleys might be a fun bout.
The main event of the evening saw Dean Ambrose take on Erick Rowan of the Wyatt Family. The Wyatt Family have no official match scheduled for Sunday yet have kept their noses in the business of Brock Lesnar's interactions since before the Royal Rumble. Ambrose finds himself in a No Holds Barred Street Fight against the Beast this Sunday. He finds himself in the crosshairs of the Wyatts yet again because of this.
Erick Rowan actually took it to Dean Ambrose in this match. Ambrose went on a flurry of his chaotic offense and Rowan was able to counter with several devastating, impactful moves. The Wyatt Family member actually got a really close near fall on Ambrose at one point. All of Rowan's effort was denied, however, as the Lunatic Fringe hit Dirty Deeds in the middle of the ring to defeat Rowan and stand tall to end the show. Will he do the same this Sunday night? Or will the Beast maul Ambrose and remain the Conqueror?
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Other Stuff:
Renee Young and Bryon Saxton were on site of WrestleMania, covering all the major match ups for the event among other things. Since I didn't sign up to review two non-wrestlers talk about wrestling at length, this is where all the clips will go. Enjoy!
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Final Thoughts/Opinions:
Although some may complain that SD went this route for their "go-home" show, I remember the days of being a casual/WrestleMania only viewer in years past and the format of this particular show always helped me enjoy the show on Sunday. The SmackDown before WrestleMania was the one show I felt I had to see because all the big matches would be explained and I would get filled in on what I missed.
Having said that, this year is the least excited I have been for a WrestleMania event since returning as a full time viewer in 2013. Let's hope the show delivers some excitement for the WWE brand moving forward.
Rating: N/A
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That's all for this week, Cagesiders? Are you excited about WrestleMania 32? Sound off in the best comment section there is, the best comment section there was, and the best comment section there ever will be!