Smackdown – January 29, 2015: And So It Ends. Please Dear Goodness Let It End.
Smackdown
Date: January 29, 2015
Location: XL Center, Hartford, Connecticut
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole
This is a rare live show due to the massive snow storm in the northeast that wiped out Tuesday’s tapings. That might actually be the best thing they could have had happen to them after the negative reaction to the Royal Rumble. Tonight’s main event is yet another Bryan vs. Kane showdown, this time in a casket match. Let’s get to it.
Here’s HHH to welcome us to Raw before realizing he’s a bit shaken up. The one thing WWE doesn’t like is being told what to do, which is why they did it. Just like they were told they would never have a million Network subscribers, which is exactly what they announced this week. He actually thanks the fans for subscribing in a rare genuine act. Then he was told they couldn’t have a show in Hartford, so here they are for the live show.
WWE isn’t the only one with a controversy right now because the NFL and Roger Goodell have a problem with their balls. Some like them hard and some like them soft, but WWE has never had a problem with balls. However, that’s not something they have an issue with in WWE. HHH is the same way, because he has a problem with the man called Sting, and he’ll be dealing with that face to face at Fast Lane.
That brings him back to the Royal Rumble which had its fair share of controversy. First of all there was an exceptional triple threat where Rollins proved that he is the future, Cena proved that he is the past and Brock Lesnar proved that he is the beast and World Heavyweight Champion.
However, that wasn’t the major controversy. The controversy was due to the Royal Rumble itself, which everyone has been talking about. We see some clips with Cole talking about how the fans are upset that guys like Ziggler, Bryan and Wyatt have been eliminated, leaving Big Show and Kane in the end. Reigns eliminated Rusev to win and cemented his spot at Wrestlemania.
HHH promises to make an announcement on Raw that is going to end the controversy and shake the WWE to its core. That sounds like trying to fix the main event already, which might not be the worst idea in the world. This brings out Reigns, who says there was no controversy because he won the Rumble. HHH agrees that he won the match, so now Reigns can win this one.
Big Show vs. Roman Reigns
Now let this be the FINAL match. They shove each other around to start with Big Show shoving him around to start. This is where Reigns is getting hurt more than anywhere else: he should be DESTROYING Big Show to set up a major showdown with giant killer vs. ultimate giant Lesnar at Wrestlemania. Instead it’s Big Show looking dominant and Reigns probably making a comeback to win in a surprise. Show throws him across the ring as we’re waiting on Reigns’ first offense. He slips out of a slam and sends Big Show into the buckle for a breather, followed by a clothesline out to the floor as we take a break.
Back with Show working on the knee and putting on something like an ankle lock. Reigns climbs up the ropes to escape and counters into an ankle scissors of all things to send Show over the top. There’s the apron kick but of course Show pops back up. Some clotheslines have little effect but a third one finally puts Show down.
A Samoan drop plants Show again but he rolls outside. Another running clothesline off the apron puts Show down but the knee is banged up. Back in and the Superman Punch is countered into the chokeslam for two. Show goes up but gets Superman Punched twice. He still won’t go down so Reigns slams him down, setting up the spear for the pin at 12:21.
Rating: D. AND THEY’RE DONE. Like NEVER AGAIN let these two fight. It’s not even that Reigns is looking bad out there but Big Show just looks like nothing. And what does Reigns get out of this win? Nothing of course, because NO ONE CARES ABOUT BIG SHOW. Dull match here and it’s almost infuriating after all the months of these two fighting.
Vince announces February as a free month for new subscribers on the WWE Network.
Here are Rollins and the Stooges with something to say. Rollins says he told us he would prove himself on Sunday and that’s exactly what he did. He was a single count away from winning the WWE World Heavyweight Title and he stuck a dagger into Lesnar’s heart when he broke his rib. He’s feeling so good that he’s going to issue an open challenge to anyone in this building that wants to face him.
Cue Ryback to go after Rollins but the Stooges get the better of him. This brings out Rowan to help but the Stooges and Rollins take him down as well. Ziggler completes the trio but gets sent into the announcers’ table. Rollins knees Rowan in the back and the Authority bails before anything else happens. I smell a six man.
Kane is caressing a coffin and promises to lock Bryan inside tonight where the only thing he’ll be able to hear is the beating of his heart. It’s ashes to ashes and dust to dust, so may God have mercy on Bryan’s soul tonight, because Kane will have none.
Jey Uso vs. Tyson Kidd
They start fast with Jey going to the corner but getting kicked in the knee. Tyson immediately goes after the bad wheel and slaps on a leg lock like a smart heel (or wrestler in general) should. Jey kicks Kidd out to the floor and nails him in the head, setting up a charge (so much for selling the leg). Kidd kicks him in the head though and springboards back in, only to get caught in a Samoan drop. Jimmy and Cesaro go at it on the floor, allowing Kidd to hit the fisherman’s neckbreaker for the pin at 2:30.
Here are Rusev and Lana to talk about this past Sunday. Rusev says he should have been the winner and Lana is so upset that she can’t speak English. He’s the US Champion and wants to challenge a man from the past: John Cena. Cena has no hunger or desire and he isn’t a superstar anymore. This brings out Cena who looks shocked at what Rusev just said. Cena threatens to shut Rusev’s mouth for him.
It sounds like Rusev has bought into his own hype because he thinks Cena is no challenge for him. He’s John Cena, a fifteen time World Champion, a two time Royal Rumble winner and the face who runs this place. He had that US Title years ago and challenges Rusev to do the Hartford Hoedown. Rusev is ready to go but Lana calls him off. The Russians leave but Cena isn’t done. He’s fighting Rusev at Fast Lane and ending the undefeated streak because the champ is here. This really didn’t accomplish much but Cena sounded good.
Paige vs. Nikki Bella for the Divas Title is official for Fast Lane. Paige is in the back when the Bellas come up to make fun of her for being pale. She elbows Brie in the face but takes a big forearm from Nikki.
Goldust/Stardust vs. Ascension
The brothers aren’t sure who is going to start until it’s Stardust vs. Viktor. A hiptoss puts Viktor down and Stardust WOOs. Stardust is shoved into a forearm to Konnor but Viktor nails him in the back to take over. Konnor comes in an\d stomps away and hammers away before it’s quickly back to Viktor for a chinlock.
Ascension keeps hammering on Stardust in the corner as the Dusts are suddenly the faces in this match. Stardust finally gets over for a hot tag and Goldust comes in with a knee to Viktor’s head as everything breaks down. Stardust tags himself back in and Goldust isn’t pleased. Konnor shoves Stardust off the top and a quick Fall of Man is good for the pin at 4:33.
Rating: D+. This was more angle advancement than anything else but it also gave Ascension another win. It looks like they’re splitting up the Dust Brothers and I can’t say I blame them at this point. There’s nothing left for them to do and they’re starting to get stale as a team, so give the fans a feud that they’ve been wanting for a good while.
Kane is STILL looking at the casket and slams it shut.
A magician is entertaining some wrestlers in the back when Miz and Mizdow come up to shake his hand. Miz gets annoyed at Mizdow shaking his hand but the magician demonstrates a magic trick with a fake egg, only to mystify Miz by turning it into a reel egg. Miz doesn’t believe it’s real and gets it cracked on his head. R-Truth: The yoke’s on you. Mizdow makes sure he isn’t caught laughing. I’m a big fan of magic so this was more entertaining than it should have been.
Bray Wyatt asks us what makes us happy. Maybe it’s money or a fond memory. He finds enjoyment in things that mommy and daddy hid from us as children. Bray is legion among men so he asks what makes us smile. When he’s done, it will be hard for us to ever smile again. Run.
Kane vs. Daniel Bryan
Casket match and they have a lot of time for this one. Cole talks about Bryan looking at the casket because he’s never been in a casket match before. I’m sure this has nothing to do with the potential of being locked inside a casket. Kane quickly goes for the casket but Bryan comes back with kicks to the leg while wearing what appear to be furry boots. Kane can’t gorilla press him into the casket and runs away from an attempted baseball slide as we take a break.
Back with Kane putting Bryan’s face in the ring skirt and hammering away at the covered head. A big boot almost knocks Bryan into the casket but he kicks Kane away for the save. Kane plants him with another side slam but has to fight out of a headscissors to put him into the casket. Bryan nails a high cross body on the floor but gets kicked into the casket, only to crawl out the other side. Kane still can’t get him into the casket and we take another break.
We come back with Bryan holding Kane in a chinlock (you don’t see that everyday) and hitting his running clothesline to put the giant down. Here come the YES kicks to send Kane outside, setting up the FLYING GOAT and more right hands from Daniel. Kane backdrops him over the barricade as the casket has been forgotten for the moment. They head over to the announcers’ table with Bryan getting sent into the chairs, followed by a bunch of chair shots to the back.
They suddenly remember this is a casket match with Kane loading up Bryan for a tombstone off the apron, only to have Daniel slip out and dropkick him a few times. He tries a third dropkick but charges into a chokeslam. Kane loads him into the casket but eats a kick to the face followed by the YES Lock with Kane partially in the casket. Even though it looks terrible, it puts Kane into the casket but Bryan still can’t close it. Kane gets out again and almost turns Bryan inside out with a clothesline. Bryan escapes another chokeslam and the running knee to the side of the head puts him in the casket for the win at 22:10.
Rating: D. WAY too long here with a boring match as they had another Bryan vs. Kane showdown that no one wanted to see. Much like earlier, I really hope this is going to be the end of the feud because there’s no reason for these guys to fight ever again. It took too long for Kane to put put away here, but at least Bryan won. I’m not a fan of these matches though and it really gets annoying watching them having a dull match until they remember it’s a casket match.
We see HHH teasing the announcement for Raw again to close the show.
Overall Rating: D+. The promos carried this show and the show flew by but it really wasn’t all that great. The casket match felt like it went on forever, much like the entire Bryan vs. Kane feud. Thankfully Big Show vs. Reigns should be done, which is why you can already see the gimmick rematch coming at Fast Lane. This was a passable show and felt like Raw cut down to two hours.
If they did this style show every Monday, I can’t imagine how much more the fans would calm down. They didn’t pack this show full of nonsense and there wasn’t as much time being wasted. Keep the show moving and don’t let it get repetitive and the show becomes much easier to sit through. That third hour really does cripple Raw and this show is proof. It wasn’t good, but it was a lot easier to sit through.
Results
Roman Reigns b. Big Show – Spear
Tyson Kidd b. Jey Uso – Fisherman’s neckbreaker
Ascension b. Goldust/Stardust – Fall of Man to Stardust
Daniel Bryan b. Kane – Bryan closed Kane in the casket
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Yeah Seth Rollins’ open challenge was TOTALLY not a good time for Orton return. Nope let’s just save him for Kane and have him completely forget Rollins like everyone else who Rollins has attacked has.
I did not read the review the first couple o times i came to the page since it said 2014. I the realized in the content it said 2015
I could be, and have been, wrong, but I don’t think they’re gonna allow Bryan in the main event at Mania again. This has the feeling of a big F U from Vince to the fans, and I think he’s gonna stick to his guns.
I’d just like to heartily agree with the comments regarding Naomi’s ass. She’s spectacular. The rest of her is pretty great as well. Besides her physical attributes, she’s obviously worked hard to improve in the ring, and she has major charisma. It’s a shame she hasn’t gotten a title run. But I know how much management is infatuated with the Bellas.
Watch Kane be back on raw like nothing happened lol
So they’re going to have to change the wrestlemania main event again? You would think they would have learned from last year
Are we supposed to forget that Lesnar absolutely annihilated Show at the Rumble last year? And now Reigns is supposed to be a legit challenger for Lesnar despite struggling throughout the whole Show feud? At least Show and Kane both lost clean, so maybe it’s a step in the right direction.
Yes, we are supposed to forget that.
My girlfriend and I said the same thing. We can’t stand this Reigns/Big Show storyline. It’s a bigger set back than his freakin hernia. Thank god this one ended cleanly I hope it’s the last damn time I had to watch this!
No one cares about Big Show?? How can you not care about the world’s largest athlete, a 7 foot, 4 inch 690 pound behemoth? I didn’t think Roman had a chance but the fact that he actually pinned Show proves he’s the bestest, greatest Superstar in sports entertainment history, ever.
And when you talk about awesome, scary heels, you have to mention Satan’s favorite butler, or is it Lucifer’s greatest cabinet member? Yes, Kane!! When I heard Kane would face Daniel Bryan in my all time favorite gimmick, the casket match, I considered betting my life savings that it would end with Bryan being sent to H-E-Double hockey sticks but somehow Bryan survived.
Now I hear the Hulkster is in training for an actual match at Wrestlemania! Combine that with a potential card of Brock vs Roman, Trips vs Sting, and Miz vs Sandow, and we’re looking at the best Mania ever!
I’ve seen that the Usos are getting a lot of flack from some fans lately, and really, it’s undeserved. They’re actually a very good tag team, and look like an actual tag team. It’s the WWE who is failing them by making them boring and not allowing them to have any actual rivalries in their barely existing division. The Usos would excel during the 80’s and Attitude Era, especially the latter, where WWE actually tried to have a good midcard and place focus on them and feuds that weren’t cringeworthy.
Droves of people back then bought PPVs just to see the Hardys/E&C/Dudleys go at it, or Angle vs Benoit and/or vs Jericho. Now it’s just “we have a main event we recycle constantly, here’s some barely assed midcard matches and feuds where everyone trades wins and nobody rises… because we clearly don’t care and neither should you.”
It’s a shame, because there have been SO MANY great wrestlers and memorable moments from the Tag Team divisions and Mid Card slots over the decades, and WWE just doesn’t give a shit anymore, because, despite their political answers and bs, they’re the only show in town and have no true competition, so they don’t have to.
Otherwise, the Usos would be asking “would you like fries with that, sir?”
Agreed. I don’t mind the Usos but their booking is annoying. Not to mention their feud with Miz & Mizdow dragging and the crowd’s love for Mizdow really hurt them. I also find it hard to care about them when their shtick consists of them doing the same thing every week and it just isn’t interesting.
They are like the Dudley Boyz circa 2003 in the sense that no matter what team you book them against, the fans aren’t going to care because their shtick just isn’t interesting and it’s the same thing every week. Adding a dynamic to their characters and actually giving them something interesting to work with wouldn’t hurt. I can already picture them feuding with the Ascension and losing the belts to them on a PPV, then coming out the next night happy and smiley with little to no reason in rooting for them to win the title back.
That’s a Vince face for you. They both actually have mic talent too, and if they were allowed to develop a character other than “Jimmy has a wife with a fat ass” then maybe fans would care. Sure, her ass is nice, but that’s a feature, not a personality.
They’re basically Rocky Miavia 2.0 right now.
On the other hand the Ascension seems all entrance. They aren’t very good in the ring and their look without their LOD stuff is pretty poor. They either need to start juicing and hitting the gym full time or wearing some tops, because they still look pretty bland and unintimidating, which LOD and Demolition definitely had going for them.
Oh man how bad was that? Looks like we’re gonna have to endure WWE talking about their million subscribers until that number inevitably goes back down to about 600,000. Of course most people signed up for the Rumble and then will just cancel. Not to mention all the dumbass UK fans that just subscribed. Man UK wrestling fans are the biggest WWE sheep/fanboys.
Kayfabe wise, what was so controversial about the ending to The Royal Rumble? Reigns won fair and square. Are they admitting that they booked a terrible rumble? Can’t wait for the epic announcement that Reigns’ title shot is up for grabs in a fatal four way at Fast LAME. Which of course Reigns will win anyways since he is the chosen one and WE ARE GONNA LIKE IT!
Enjoy the midcard Seth Rollins and Rusev get ready to join him. Feud with Cena = midcarder for life.
Awful show tonight despite the best efforts of Daniel Bryan. Too bad he’s gonna get wasted in a match with Ziggler at mania for the title of Most Over Midcarder. Any chance there’s another blizzard coming to the city that RAW is being held at this Monday? #VinceIsSoft #FireStephanie #WhenWillYouSaveUsDanielBryan?
They should just do a Fatal Four Way Elimination Match at Wrestlemania. Have Lesnar vs Reigns vs Rollins vs Bryan. That way Reigns can look great and strong but inevitably lose out due to the numbers game, Rollins has something to do with that Briefcase at Mania which doesn’t involve pissing the fans off by cashing it in after the Main Event, and Bryan can beat Lesnar and make everyone happy that he’s the champ. Lesnar could either be weakened enough to lose or, better yet, pin Rollins and Reigns, looking monstrous, and Bryan can slay him, making his star even bigger. Then they can do a one on one before Lesnar leaves.
Though with the booking tonight I wouldn’t be shocked to see Lesnar retain at Mania. Reigns struggled with Show and Bryan with Kane, both of whom Lesnar destroyed at the same time. So I could very well see Lesnar beating Reigns one on one if they fight at Mania, then Rollins cashing in and Lesnar beating him too, and then having Lesnar go on for perhaps even another year as the champ, maybe as a face(though he should be a face like Austin who kicks everyone’s ass regardless).
Anyone but Lesnar or Bryan leaving Mania with the belt would be a mistake, however, since those are the only 2 good options.
Bryan can beat Lesnar?
LOLOLOLOL.
Brace yourself as this might come as a shock to you. Pro wrestling is scripted. They determine who wins beforehand, so they can book anyone to go over anyone.
James I ask the question again didn’t you say that you would not be watching WWE after January 5th? Yet you continue to shit on everything and make yourself out to be a hypocrite.
I am interested to see what HHH’s announcement is on Monday. It does seem like they change the WM Main Event again for the 2nd year in a row. Which wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. I do like Roman Reigns and I am optimistic he will be fine but put Daniel Bryan in there again this year. It’s what most of us want so let’s just do it again.