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WWE SmackDown comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (April 28, 2016) from Manchester, New Hampshire with a taped show on the USA Network featuring all the latest build to the upcoming Payback pay-per-view (PPV) scheduled for early next month in Rosemont, Illinois.
Because SmackDown is a taped show, you can simply go read the spoilers to know everything that happens (find them by clicking here). We will provide results below.
You can use this space to discuss all the events as they occur, however, and it's probably going to enhance your viewing experience. In fact, I know it is because we're a lot of fun around here.
Enjoy the show!
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SMACKDOWN RESULTS
They play a Reigns/Bullet Club/AJ video package recapping those parts of Raw.
Roman Reigns/the Miz segment
Roman Reigns comes out to some boos from this crowd. Roman says he doesn't buy it when AJ says he's not in cahoots with Anderson and Gallows. He calls out AJ to tell the truth but he gets the Miz & Maryse instead.
Miz agrees that Anderson and Gallows are working with AJ. He compares Roman's situation to the Shawshank Redemption and then gets a kiss from Maryse. Roman then clotheslines Miz out of the ring (which feels rather unprovoked), but is nice enough to hand the IC title to Maryse outside of the ring and say "Very nice to meet you."
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Renee Young interviews the League of Nations. Sheamus's beard is getting wild. They are talking up how strong they prior to their upcoming open challenge.
League of Nations vs. Sami Zayn, Kalisto, and Cesaro
I'm guessing the fact that Sin Cara isn't out here means that the Lucha Dragons are officially done?
There's a bit arguing between the League on who starts first. It ends up being Sheamus against Kalisto. The League tag in and out working him over. Kalisto is eventually able to tag in Zayn who faces off against Rusev. He has the advantage at first but as SmackDown goes to commercial, Rusev gets the upper hand.
Sami is still on the defensive when the show returns. Rusev blind tags himself in and Alberto Del Rio is not happy about it and the men have a little shoving match. While this is happening, Sheamus makes sure to pull Zayn into their corner first but then joins in the shoving match.
Alberto Del Rio says screw it and leaves.
Rusev and Sheamus still try to work on Sami, but Sheamus ends up accidentally hitting Sheamus and then they start shoving each other! And Rusev says screw it and leaves himself!
Sami tags in Kalisto who hits some fast offense on the irishman. Then Cesaro gets the tag and hits a nasty barricade uppercut on Sheamus outside... and then a crap load of uppercuts in the ring! Sheamus avoids a Cesaro swing, slides out, and decides to leave himself. This leads to a count out.
Cesaro, Kalisto, and Sami defeat the League of Nations via count out
Sami's music is the music they decide to play at the end because his is clearly the best of all three.
The League of Nations could probably have really good one on one matches against each other.
Backstage, the League are arguing. Rusev shoves ADR into a door and then Sheamus clubs Rusev from behind. Sheamus shouts "The League is finished!" and storms off.
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They replay the great Sami Zayn/Kevin Owens package from Monday.
Baron Corbin vs. Damien Sandow
Damien got literally two punches of offense in the entire match. End of Days for the win.
Baron Corbin defeats Damien Sandow
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Renee Young interviews AJ Styles asking him about Roman Reign's accusation. AJ says he doesn't care what Roman thinks. He also says he'll be out there watching Roman tonight for his match.
Ambrose Asylum with Charlotte & Ric Flair and Natalya
Dean Ambrose comes out and he is fired up as he talks about his Walls of Jericho on the announce table. He says Jericho shouldn't have left go because he holds a grudge. He says that this Sunday, Jericho will be standing across the ring looking at the guy who's going to turn Bon Jovi into Meatloaf.
Then he switches in to Ambrose Asylum mode. He's calmer when he introduces Natalya. (Ambrose's personality switch here was quite impressive.) Nattie compliments Dean on his set, which reminds her of a dentist's office. They replay the Nattie/Charlotte title match form weeks back and Dean asks Nattie why it's going to be different this Sunday with Ric Flair. She says it's because she has Bret Hart in her corner.
Ric and Charlotte come out. Charlotte is disgusted about how Nattie is parading her uncle out after all he's been through. Natalya calls the champ out on her hypocrisy. Charlotte says it's different because her father is "legendary." Nattie calls Ric a "Lying, creepy old man" who will cheat to make sure his daughter remains champion. You go Nattie! She says Bret will make sure Ric is taken care of.
Ric gets the mic and says he's beaten Bret Hart all over. Nattie says that this Sunday, there's going be a new champ of a new era... a champion that the people deserve.
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The New Day come and completely take over commentary! I mean they completely kicked Mauro, Byron, and King off, sat down, and are going to call the next match.
Enzo and Big Cass vs. the Social Outcasts (Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel)
The crowd is hot for the Realest Guys.
Enzo comes out hot but Curtis Axel eventually takes control. While he's being worked over, the Vaudevillains come out to watch at the entryway.
Enzo isn't in trouble for long and tags in Big Cass, who comes out a power house. He tags in Enzo and they win with Air Enzo.
Enzo and Cass defat the Social Outcasts via pinfall
The VVs give them a golf clap on the entryway. Cass grabs a mic because there's only one word to describe the Villains and he sells it out for them. They then turn around to stare at the New Day on commentary.
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Goldust finds R-Truth backstage. Goldie said their dancing felt so right last week, but before he can go on, he's interrupted by a selfie stick gently to the face. R-Truth introduces his new tag team partner Tyler Breeze as part of the Gorgeous Truth. Truth has an actual stick with his phone tape on it. They leave and Fandango rolls in. The two briefly dance but then Goldust stops because he isn't feeling it.
It's possible I'm going to like all the teams they create to put off Golden Truth more than Golden Truth.
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Apollo Crews vs. Stardust
This is a longer match than Monday and Stardust actually spends a lot of time working the leg of Apollo trying to ground him. The end is the same though as Crews is able to beat Cody with his powerbomb pretty soon after he goes back on the offensive.
Apollo Crews defeats Stardust via pinfall.
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Replay of the Shane/Stephanie McMahon stuff from Raw.
Roman Reigns vs. the Miz (w/Maryse)
AJ Styles is sitting at ringside.
Despite Miz scoring a couple cheap moves, Roman is in clear control early on, even hitting a Drive By Dropkick on the ring apron. Afterwards, there's a stare down between AJ and Reigns. This allows Miz to knock Roman's head against the announce table and then into the corner ring post. He is in control as SmackDown goes to commercial.
Miz is still in control when we return. Despite Roman getting some punches in, Miz maintains control as the match continues.
There's "Let's go Roman" "Roman sucks" chant very briefly.
Roman is finally able to push off an attempted neck breaker and hit a Samoan Drop, leaving both men down in the ring. Miz tries some punches when both men are up but Roman blocks them all and responses with punches of his own. Roman hits a couple clotheslines and he is fired up.
Roman sets up for the Superman punch but Maryse pulls Miz out of the ring to save him from it. Roman follows him out and the Miz drop kicks the ring steps into the knee of Roman to stagger Roman. Back in the ring, the IC champ is in control, getting a near fall after his kneeling DDT.
Miz sets up for the Skull Crushing Finale but Roman fights off and hits a spear for the 1-2-3.
Roman Reigns defeats Miz via pinfall
This is another match where the Miz looked stronger than usual, which is to be expect since he's in the IC picture.
After the match, AJ gets in the ring and the men stare each other down. Then Gallows and Anderson come down and Roman rolls out to meet them on the ramp. Both men beat down the champ as AJ watches in the ring. He is unhappy but he doesn't seem eager to go help Roman.
The Usos run down to help Roman and they go at Gallows and Anderson. AJ continues to just stand there in the ring until Jimmy Uso hits Styles. During the fray, Roman tries for a spear on AJ but Gallows takes the bullet for him. AJ then sets up for a Styles Clash but Roman stands up and drops him off over the ropes. However, this puts AJ in position for the Forearm but before he can hit it, Roman goes for a Superman punch, which AJ jumps off the apron to avoid.
Both men jaw at each other as SmackDown goes off the air. Good segment to build intrigue for Sunday.
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Thanks for watching SmackDown with us, everyone!