WWE SmackDown Recap and Reactions (May 19, 2016): ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE!

This week's episode of Smackdown aired on the USA Network on May 19, 2016, originating from Greenville, South Carolina.  Tonight was the "go-home" show heading into the WWE Extreme Rules pay-per-view (PPV) this Sunday, May 22.  For full results and the live blog, click here.

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Intercontinental Chaos

The show started with Kevin Owens versus Cesaro.  The Miz, along with Maryse, and Sami Zayn.  Miz TV was canceled for this show because the Miz says the three challengers for the Intercontinental Championsip have disrespected him, his wife, and his championship and do not deserve to appear on a commodity like his show.  Zayn argued that it was because Miz continues to end up flat on his back at the end of each show.  KO and Cesaro got into a heated exchange to start the match, which quickly spilled outside of the ring.  Cesaro gained control using his strength and got a two count in the early going of the match.

KO tried out power the Swiss Superman but he could not and Cesaro hit a huge belly to back suplex for another two count.  KO ducked out of the ring after being sent into the ropes but Cesaro charges ahead and hit a running uppercut on the prizefighter.  Maryse distracted Cesaro when he attempted to get back into the ring, which KO took full advantage of, sending Cesaro into the ring steps.  KO began to taunt the Miz while he was in control of the match, which was pretty great.

KO began to work on Cesaro's back, presumably to set up for his finisher.  Cesaro made a comeback, blocking a senton from KO with his knees.  Cesaro attempted a top rope move but KO crotched him and hit a canon ball for a near fall.

AVALANCHE GUTWRENCH SUPLEX ON KO!

Cesaro hits KO with several uppercuts, forcing him into the corner to hit his corner to corner uppercuts.  A crossbody from the top rope gets a near fall.  Cesaro goes for the Neutralizer.  KO blocks it.  Cesaro blocks a superkick and goes for the swing but KO escapes outside of the ring.  KO rests on the announce table in from of Zayn and then smacks him  out of nowhere.  Cesaro takes out KO then throws him into the Miz.  Cesaro takes KO back into the ring and swings KO.  Miz gets on the apron and gets taken out by Cesaro.  KO hits a superkick but only gets a near fall.

Zayn gets into the ring and goes after KO but Cesaro takes him out.  KO gets a roll up on Cesaro, using the tights, and wins the match.  Miz, Zayn, and Cesaro get into a brawl after the match, which Miz get the advantage of.  KO applauds him as he makes his exit.

This was chaotic, in a very good way.  The Fatal Four-Way for the Intercontinental Championship promises to be more of the same from these four.

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Who Booked This Crap?

Chris Jericho came out to the ring with the Asylum hanging over the ring to address his opponent, Dean Ambrose, in the first ever Ambrose Asylum match this Sunday at Extreme Rules.  Jericho said that Ambrose thinks he has got Jericho but he does not.  Jericho has been in every match in the WWE.  Neither have been in an Asylum match and Jericho is smarter and crazier than Ambrose.   Jericho has no remorse or regrets for beating him while he was in a straight jacket and putting him in the hospital for a day.

Jericho asked to lower the cage and begins to count how many days in the hospital each weapon he uses on Ambrose as the cell lowers.  He calculated that he would be in the hospital for 40 days, which will cost more than fifteen thousand dollars.  Jericho is going to give him all sorts of injuries, both mental and physical and he will also drink in the gift of Jericho.

As Y2J was posing, Ambrose revealed that he had been disguised as one of the crewmen that rigged the cage to the ring.  He attacked Jericho from behind and beat him with a kendo stick.  Jericho escaped the Asylum and ran to safety as Dean chuckled in the ring.

You know what?  I'm not even going to be nice about it anymore.  This is just plain stupid and I feel stupid for having watched it.  It is shameful to me that the WWE could not come up with a better story to give Dean freaking Ambrose and Chris Jericho than this crap.  This feels on the same level as the Golden Truth story and there is no way in the World it should.  Dean, to his credit, is pretty much working with the sludge WWE is giving him (as usual) while Jericho phones it in like he's a freaking telemarketer.  Everything about Ambrose versus Jericho has been utterly disappointing since the onset and I, for one, will be glad when this is mercifully over.

I hope the match will at least be entertaining.

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Fight Forever!

The announced main event for the evening was the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Roman Reigns, against Luke Gallows.  The Usos, Karl Anderson, and AJ Styles were all advertised to be ringside for this one-on-one match up.  Whenever these six men are around each other, things get very intense, very fast and this time was no different. Before the match, all six men stood face to face in the middle of the ring.  You could sense that all six were ready to fight.

Gallows knocked Reigns down early in the match after a tie up.  Reigns tried to out power Gallows but he could not.  Gallows sent Reigns out the ring to collect his thoughts for a minute.  The Champion brushed it off and got back into the ring.  He dodged a boot from Gallows and got him in the corner with some strikes.  Reigns hit a Samoan drop for a two count.  Gallows tried to escape outside the ring but Reigns caught him with an apron dropkick.

Gallows took control again, using his size advantage and power to ground Reigns.  Whenever Reigns would fight back, Gallows would overpower him and ground him again.  Reigns was able to take Gallows down with a lariat from the second rope but only got a two count.  He began to gain momentum and took Gallows down again, this time with a big boot.  He called for the Superman Punch and Anderson distracted Reigns.  Gallows went for a roll up but Reigns kicked out and hit a Superman Punch.

Reigns called for a spear and Styles hit Reigns legs to distract him.  The Usos got involved and began to brawl with Styles and Anderson outside.  Gallows gets Reigns down with a Spinebuster.  Styles tells Anderson to "go get him" and Anderson and Gallows take Reigns out with Magic Killer.

All Hell breaks loose between the six men.  THEY BRAWL UNTIL THE CAMERA CUTS THE SHOW OFF!  IT WAS THE BEST THING!  SOMEBODY MIGHT HAVE DIED!  NO ONE KNOWS!

But, seriously, these six could just fight forever, that would just be awesome.  Not literally.  But this is good stuff.

And here's what happened that did not air on the show:

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Other Matches/Segments:

• Paige versus Dana Brooke: Becky Lynch was on commentary for the match.  Dana got the win in a short match.
• Rusev and Lana backstage interview: Rusev really plans on eating Kalisto's heart, doesn't he?
• Dolph Ziggler versus Sheamus: Ziggler won.  After the match, Baron Corbin came out to confront Dolph.  Standing on the ramp, he told Ziggler that he would hurt him and because the match between them this Sunday s no disqualification, it means there is not a damn thing anyone can to do stop it.
• Make Darren Young Great Again: Don't you ever curse in front of Mr. Bob Backlund, Darren YoungiWe don't need that kind of discourse!
• New Day and Big Cass versus The Dudleys and The Vaudevillians: First of all, New Day dancing to Enzo Amore's "SAWFT is a Sin" is the best thing ever.  Seriously.  It is.  Big Cass got the win with an Empire Elbow in a very entertaining match.  New Day and Cass have great energy together.  It just works.
• Natalya versus Charlotte video package: This entire feud is about a Flair versus a Hart.  And each woman will prove their family is the better one, I guess? It is a little hard to care about this because Nattie has not done anything of importance/relevance for such a long time.  She got upset at Charlotte the day after WrestleMania, won one match, and now has been in a two month long feud with the Champion based primarily on who her uncle and Charlotte's father were in their heydays.  I loved Bret Hart growing up but that's not exactly a reason to care about Natalya.  I am not sure anything will at this point.

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Final Opinions:

It seems like this "New Era" in WWE has all the same issues as the last era.  Yet, there are pockets of the program, whether it be the story or performers (usually both), that have been more compelling and entertaining.  The Fatal 4 Way is being carried by KO and the Miz/Maryse to me.  Cesaro has not been given a voice in any of this, really.  He just wrestles, pretty much.  The tag team division is finally getting interesting again.  And the main event program is firing on all cylinders.  Styles and Reigns won't have to steal the show at Extreme Rules but they might tear the house down fighting each other.

So, basically, the good stuff is outweighing the crappy stuff now so I have less reason to care about the crappy stuff.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

That is all for this week, Cagesiders.  Would I like your opinions on the show as well? YES!  YES!  YES!  Can you leave comments in the section below? YES!  YES!  YES!  Is Cageside Seats the best pro wrestling website on the planet?  YES!  YES!  YES!  YES!  YES!  YES!  YES!