WWE SmackDown Recap (1/7): First Episode On USA, John Cena, New Announcer, Title Matches, Big Upset
Welcome to Wrestling Inc's live coverage of WWE Smackdown! This episode features John Cena, the debut of new play-by-play announcer Mauro Ranallo, and is the first episode since switching to the USA Network! Also, following Smackdown, we'll be doing a special Live Wrestling Inc Podcast talking about the show, the NJPW – WWE signing rumors, Impact on Pop and John Cena's injury!
John Cena comes out to kick off the Smackdown on USA era, and says there should be a US Title match. Unfortunately, Alberto Del Rio is the champion. Del Rio comes out, and Cena tries to goad ADR into a match. Del Rio says he'll have a match, but not against Cena, and not for the title. Cena says he has someone who will shock Del Rio, and it's Kalisto. ADR laughs it off and tries to punk Kalisto.
Alberto Del Rio vs. Kalisto (w/ John Cena)
Kalisto starts things out on fire with a running headscissors and a spiked rana. We come back from a commercial with Del Rio in control, hanging Kalisto in the tree of woe, which Mauro Ranallo actually calls. Kalisto ends up getting a seated senton, but ends up having his huracanrana countered into a sit-down powerbomb for two. Del Rio calls for the armbar, but Kalisto pins Del Rio with a Frankensteiner!
Winner: Kalisto via pinfall (Frankensteiner)
Cena celebrates with Kalisto after the match. Mauro Ranallo is already the best play-by-play announcer in the WWE. Let's hope for a Corey Graves team.
- Becky Lynch is backstage and says she doesn't need reasons or explanations for Charlotte's actions. She says that when she beat Charlotte Monday, she was being friendly, but she won't be tonight when she wins the title.
- Miz TV kicks off with a Royal Rumble edition. He's interrupted by New Day, then Dolph Ziggler, then Goldust, who says he'll give everyone a set of Golden Globes. Woah. Neville makes his way out and says Miz can have his accent if he promises to cancel his show. R-Truth comes out and says he's answering Alberto Del Rio's open challenge. Miz poops on his party. Xavier Woods sits down and eats popcorn. Truth hits Miz with the mic and a brawl breaks out. They catch Xavier in Miz's chair eating popcorn and knock him out.
New Day & Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler, Goldust, Neville & R-Truth
Mauro Ranallo puts this over as a first time match, which it is. It's the little things. The babyfaces put a beating on Kofi Kingston to start things out, with Ziggler hitting a big dropkick. R-Truth gets his turn and tags out to Neville, who gets pulled off the top rope and sent into the ringside barricade.
New Day Stomp is successful, and Miz dances with New Day outside the ring. Ziggler gets the hot tag and gets a two count on a FameAsser on Miz. Truth sends Big E outside and Neville dives on New Day. Miz is left in the ring and tries to run, but is thrown into a superkick by Ziggler for the pinfall.
Winners: Dolph Ziggler, R-Truth, Goldust & Neville via pinfall (Superkick)
After the match, Ziggler superkicks Truth and tossed Goldust over the top. Ziggler says no offense, but it's every man for themselves at the Royal Rumble.
WWE Divas Championship
Charlotte (c) (w/ Ric Flair) vs. Becky Lynch
Becky lands some arm drags and kicks Charlotte off of the ring apron. Lynch gets in Flair's face, and Charlotte keeps sliding out of the ring. Flair gets in Becky's way and allows Charlotte to boot her in the face. Charlotte lands Becky's own suplex for a two count, then mounts Becky and rains down strikes.
We come back from a commercial to see the Charlotte headscissor stomp and a Figure 4 chokehold. Becky counters and sends Charlotte into the top turnbuckle from an electric chair position. Lynch hits a leg lariat and an Exploder suplex for two. She ducks a Charlotte boot, locks on the wrist clutch and suplex for another two count.
Becky Lynch goes for Disarmor, but Charlotte counters and hits a spear. Becky pulls a small package out of a Figure 8 attempt, then rolls through to an armbar. Charlotte lifts Becky but gets rolled up for two. Disarmor is applied and Charotte is tapping, but Flair put Charlotte's foot on the ropes. Charlotte pins Becky with her feet on the ropes for the win.
Winner: Charlotte via pinfall to retain the WWE Divas Championship
One of the better Divas matches on the main roster in recent memory. Went about 16 minutes.
- Kevin Owens is backstage with Renee Young, and he only gives her a minute to talk to him, and he keeps looking at her watch. He says he's fine after going through a table on Raw. He says he's met a lot of cockroaches, and they can't survive him. Neither will Dean Ambrose.
- We see a Quinton Tarantino clip. Gotta appeal to those sponsors, you know.
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Kevin Owens
Ambrose allows Owens to hit him, then turns the tides and beats the hell out of Owens. Ambrose straitjackets Owens and kicks him, then the two tie up and throw punches, which Ambrose gets the better of. A sliding lariat barely gets a two count for Ambrose, but Owens tosses Ambrose out when he goes for the rebound lariat.
Owens works over Ambrose throughout the break, but misses a senton. Ambrose mounts his comeback with a clothesline and a bulldog, but only gets two. Owens fights back, but Ambrose stops the Cannonball and gets another two count from a tornado DDT. Ambrose is pulled off of the top rope and Owens scores the Cannonball on his second attempt.
Owens goes for a Pop-Up Powerbomb that Ambrose turns into a huracanrana. Owens superkicks Ambrose, but eats a big rebound clothesline for two. Owens is sent outside and Ambrose follows with a suicide dive. Owens is sent into the steel stairs, then Ambrose tosses Owens over the barricade. They keep brawling and get counted out.
Official Result: Double Count Out, Dean Ambrose retains the WWE Intercontinental Title
A good 13 minute match. It looks like this will continue to the Royal Rumble. These two brawl through the crowd and ramp area. Ambrose back body drops Owens and they both end up going through a bunch of tables. Great end to Smackdown.