Smackdown Live Review 03/14/2017

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Last week after Smackdown went off the air there was a controversial confrontation between AJ Styles and Shane McMahon. I strongly believed that with only two weeks left until Wrestlemania this show would be built around booking the match between these two. I wasn’t sure what else to expect from this weeks episode of Smackdown Live. What was next for the women’s division? Will Ambrose seek revenge after being crushed under a forklift last week by Corbin? Will Uso’s and American Alpha make it on TV this week? What juicy drama will we get from the Miz/Maryse and Cena/Nikki rivalry? Lets find out.

Smackdown comes to us live from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA

The show kicks off with a video package showcasing the controversy that took place last week after Smackdown went off the air with AJ Styles and Shane McMahon.

Daniel Bryan Backstage Show Introduction
Daniel Bryan announces that tonight there will be a special edition of Miz TV, We’ll hear comments from Randy Orton and Mickie James will take on Alexa Bliss. AJ Styles enters Daniel Bryan’s office and he’s looking for Shane McMahon. Bryan tells Styles to calm down. Styles says that he’ll slap the next person to tell him to calm down. Styles tease a beatdown of Daniel Bryan. Styles continues to talk smack. Bryan says that Shane is not here and he wants to work their situation out. Styles tells Bryan that he’s going to the ring to express his frustration.

AJ Styles Promo
AJ Styles comes out to the ring sharing that he is sick and tired of Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon screwing with him. He goes on about how he’s the greatest superstar of all time in the WWE and how he’s the biggest draw for the Smackdown Live, WWE Network and the WWE. He thought the red carpet would be rolled out for him at Wrestlemania and said instead he had to go through hoops like a circus monkey. Styles compares himself to Cena saying Cena would never have to do that. Styles goes over everything he went through the past few weeks and is pissed that instead of Orton getting put in jail or fired for burning Wyatt’s house down he’s going to the main event of Wrestlemania. How does the greatest superstar in WWE not have a match at WrestleMania? Styles could’ve slapped the kale chips out of Daniel Bryan’s mouth, but we know that Bryan is just a puppet. Styles will have a conversation with Shane McMahon about his career, that’s if he even has one.
Opinion
This was great way to open up Smackdown and make sure to keep viewers tuned into the show to see what was going to happen when Shane eventually did arrive to the arena. Although, we all already expect the two to wrestle each other this also had us looking for a possible swerve. AJ Styles is supposed to be the heel but at this point everything he is saying is stuff the hardcore wrestling fans would agree with so it creates an interesting dynamic. Overall it was a good promo for Styles and great way to hook the fans for the rest of the show. Very similar to Attitude Era booking here.

Becky Lynch def. Natalya
In a back and fourth technical battle, Becky Lynch made Natalya tap out to the disarmher.
– After the match Carmella comes out and attacks both women.
Opinion
This was a solid match between two very talented workers. They work well with each other and both are your technical female wrestlers. I love watching them wrestle each other and this isn’t very different then you’d expect from a TV match. Carmella coming out after the match and attacking both women was a great way to confirm Carmella’s involvement in the Wrestlemania match, It gave Carmella a chance to look dominant. This also made me notice that I think Becky Lynch is the only real babyface a part of the Smackdown women’s division since Naomi got injured.

– Recap of John Cena hosting the Kids Choice Awards with Nikki Bella there

– Carmella along with James Ellsworth was interviewed backstage. Carmella announces she’s going to be in the match for the Smackdown Women’s Championship match at Wrestlemania.

Miz TV
The Miz and Maryse are in the ring. Miz and Maryse are finally showing the WWE Universe the frauds that John Cena and Nikki Bella really are. Maryse shows off her wedding ring. Miz says that Nikki will never get one of those because Cena is in love with himself. Maryse says that Nikki is ten times worse. Miz wants Maryse to talk about the taboo Total Divas Situation. Maryse used to be best friends with Nikki Bella. She was supposed to be part of the first season of Total Divas with Kelly Kelly and The Bella Twins. Nikki promised Maryse that she would take care of the negotiations because she’s dating John Cena which means, she’s untouchable. Then on a Monday night, Nikki texts Maryse saying that her and Brie are going to make their return. Nikki tooked money, opportunities and three and a half years that she could’ve spent with her husband. Nikki cheated her. Maryse will expose Nikki as a lying, backstabbing bitch. John Cena and Nikki Bella storm the ring, but Miz and Maryse retreats. Nikki tells Cena that she’s going to talk. Nikki asks Maryse if she’s crazy? If Nikki can block someone’s job, why is Maryse here? They were never best friends. Maryse made up a story to try to embarrass her and Brie. Maryse steals everyone’s money because you stand there and hold the arm of someone like a blow up doll. Maryse can prove herself tonight and she can come into the ring, so she can kick her ass. Miz says Nikki can’t make matches, she’s not John Cena. Maryse will not face her tonight. Miz tries to conclude Miz TV, but Daniel Bryan interrupts him.Does Miz think he’s the general manager because his time is not up? Bryan was promised a very special episode of MizTV. All Miz did was run his mouth and then run away. Since Miz didn’t deliver, Bryan wants to punch Miz in the face. Bryan talks about the fact he can’t wrestle anymore, but he wants to punch Miz in the face. Miz poorly copies Bryan moves and it makes him want to punch Miz in the face. Since Bryan knows that Miz exploits the fact that he can’t wrestle anymore, it makes him want to punch Miz in the face. Bryan knows two people who want to punch Miz in the face so at the Ultimate Face Punching Extravaganza in Orlando, Miz and Maryse will face John Cena and Nikki Bella.
Opinion
This segment was great and once again got me very invested into the upcoming match at Wrestlemania between the two couples. The Miz and Maryse once again bring the drama and give you reasons to dislike John Cena and Nikki Bella, and Nikki Bella and Cena come out to make it seem like Miz and Maryse are just jealous. For some reason I still find myself leaning towards Miz and Maryse in this storyline because its just easier to hate Cena and Nikki. The chemistry between Cena and Nikki felt a lot more legit this week. I think it just took some time to get use to and they are more comfortable on screen together now. I still Cena is doing this happily because it makes Nikki happy but it seems like a throw away Cena Wrestlemania match.

Mickie James def. Alexa Bliss
In a first time ever match up and a good one in that Mickie James def. Alexa Bliss after a mick kick.
Opinion
This was another basic TV match but a better one at that. They worked well together and I wouldn’t mind seeing these two against each other again in a match with more fire behind it. They were on the same page until last week so this was like their blow off match as a team but didn’t really have any build up. I wasn’t even expecting it to happen. I’m glad Mickie got the win because it creates this idea that Alexa didn’t want to defend her title against Mickie for this exact reason that she was afraid she could beat her. It also showcases that old saying that Mickie might have taught Alexa everything that she knows but not everything that Mickie knows. Solid match but kind of creating the story behind it in my own head.

Shane McMahon Arrives
AJ Styles is getting interviewed by Renee as Shane McMahon was walking into the building. AJ Styles attacks Shane McMahon and they brawl backstage. Styles ends up throwing Shane-O head first into a car window.
Opinion
This was brutal and violent, I loved it. It was very Attitude Era/Ruthless Aggression like and it really put some emotion into the rivalry. Great segment and brought life to a pretty meh Smackdown episode.

– Shane McMahon is backstage being helped by WWE and medical staff. He’s bleeding from one side of his head.

– AJ Styles is shown grabbing his stuff from the locker room with The Uso’s questioning his actions. He’s met outside the locker room by Daniel Bryan and some cops. AJ Styles asks Bryan

Mojo Rawley def. Dolph Ziggler
In a short back and fourth match, Mojo Rawley picked up the victory by count out when Dolph Ziggler decided not to return to the ring after being thrown out of it.
Opinion
Whatever.

Randy Orton addresses Bray Wyatt
Randy Orton comes out and shares his reasoning for his decisions for the past 6-7 months. Randy says can learn a lot from a viper as they are cunning, fearless and ruthless. They attack when the timing is perfect. Orton has been waiting in the grass for months. He could have attacked Bray whenever he wanted, but an RKO wouldn’t be enough. It would be too easy. Orton decided to join the family. He earned Bray’s trust, but the venom in his veins got deeper and deeper. If you can’t beat them, join them. When the timing is right, screw them. Orton needed to be more sadistic than ever. He had to destroy the one thing that Bray loved. Which was Sister Abigail. As that fired burned and he heard her screams, Orton could feel Bray’s power being stripped away. The new face of fear had fear written across his face. The one thing that Bray Wyatt is scared of is being alone and now he’s alone. Orton has one more step to climb and he needs to finish what he started. Orton will take everything from Bray Wyatt. Bray appears on the TitanTron. Wyatt says that Orton was absolutely right about him. Bray was naked and stripped of his powers until he found his way home, or what’s left of it. Orton thought he burned the soul of Sister Abigail and so did he. Sister Abigail is the spawn of Satan and was forged in hell. She still beats in the black hearts of all of her apostles and she has provided him with her power. It’s Bray duty to purge all of the infidels in this life and he’ll start with Randy Orton. She lives through him now. Bray is born again. Bray rubs the essence of Sister Abigail on his body. Follow the Buzzards.
Opinion
This was just a segment to progress their rivalry and nothing more. It was good and I had to listen to Wyatt’s promo twice to really understand what he was saying. This shit has gotten deep and very personal. I’m expecting to see some a lot of fucking creepy voodoo shit the next two weeks. Nothing to special happened here but I expect it to pick up again in the upcoming weeks. This was a good way to put the fire back in Wyatt as he looked crush when Orton burned down the compound a couple of weeks ago.

The Usos def. American Alpha
In a back and fourth, very entertaining tag team match The Usos def. American Alpha when Jey pinned Jason Jordan after some chaos and a super kick.
Opinion
This was a very entertaining tag match which needed to happen since the beef between the two teams the last few weeks but it kept getting interrupted with backstage footage of Shane on the split screen. I like that the Uso’s went over because it gives Alpha a reason to want to face them again so they can prove that they can beat them.

– Shane McMahon comes out before the show goes off the end against agents and medical staff’s advice to let the fans know that if Styles didn’t have a Wrestlemania opponent before, he definitely had one now. Presumably himself.

Final Thoughts
This show was exactly what I expected it to be, and that was to build to the AJ Styles and Shane-O match. The entire show revolved around that and nothing else too significant happened. Yes, Carmella confirmed her spot in the Women’s title match and yes we got some progress in the Orton/Wyatt rivalry but nothing that you had to see live and couldn’t just read about later. Of course, the Miz TV segment was great but similar to what we got the last couple of weeks, The Styles/Shane stuff was great and reminded me of the writing of eras before WWE went super PG. I won’t argue against those of you who say Styles deserves a better match and opponent than Shane McMahon. I agree but I also think these two have the potential to give us one of the matches we’ll talk about following Wrestlemania. AJ Styles can have a good match with anyone and can make anyone look good. Shane McMahon bumps like a mother fucker and will always do whatever it takes to send the fans home happy. I honestly think in a street fight or No DQ match these two have the potential of having the most memorable match on the card. Thats just me though because I’m a fan of both guys. Would I rather see Styles vs. Nakamura or Styles vs. Angle instead? From a wrestling standpoint, fuck yeah. However, I think from an entertainment stand point these two will entertain the fuck out of us. This episode of Smackdown was a quality show but besides the Styles/McMahon brawl is something you should check out if you missed it.
Rating – 6/10

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