Smackdown
Date: August 5, 2015
Location: Sleep Train Arena, Sacramento, California
Commentators: Jimmy Uso, Tom Phillips, Jerry Lawler
Summerslam is mostly set at this point so it’s time for another supplemental show that can help firm up the midcard a little bit. We aren’t likely to see much in the main event scene tonight after everything we saw on Monday, but that’s what Smackdown does these days. The show has been finding a rhythm again lately and hopefully that keeps going. Let’s get to it
We get the Piper tribute video and a nice chant from the crowd.
Opening sequence.
Here’s Roman Reigns to get things going. After a few cheap pops, Reigns wants to talk about Bray Wyatt. He thought Battleground was going to be a one on one match but that wasn’t quite what happened. Instead it was a family reunion with Luke Harper, and Reigns only has one family member. Reigns asks if the fans want to see a family war, and shockingly enough, they’re more than up for it. That’s a challenge for Summerslam and you can believe…..fans: “THAT!”
Cue Rusev and Summer Rae, as Rusev has Reigns later tonight. Rusev tells Reigns to get out of the ring right now because he has more interesting things to talk about. Reigns thinks this sounds important but Rusev tells him to be worried about their match later tonight.
Roman wants to know what Rusev has to talk about and wonders if it’s about turning Summer into a Lana clone. “She’s not a Barbie.” Rusev rants in Russian but Reigns is one step ahead of him again. “This is America baby. We have NO idea what you just said.” Rusev is welcome to come down here and have a chat with Reigns in a language that everyone understands but Rusev just walks away.
New Day vs. Mark Henry/Prime Time Players
Big E. to Henry: “RETIRE ALREADY!” Woods hides from Darren in the corner to start before going right after Young with right hands and headbutts. We get a back and forth wrestling sequence with Darren getting two off an atomic drop and boot to the head.
It’s off to Kofi but he’s quickly taken to the apron for a belly to back suplex. A big staredown takes us to a break. Back with Titus chopping the skin off Kofi’s chest (Jimmy: “THERE GO THE NIPPLE!”) before it’s off to Henry for a right hand to the ribs. Kofi makes a blind tag to Big E. as Jimmy says he thinks the Lucha Dragons should be #1 contenders.
Big E. sneaks in and takes Darren down as the New Day takes over. Woods whips Darren into a kick from Kofi, followed by a superkick. Big E. adds a Warrior splash for two but Young drops him with an enziguri, allowing for the hot tag to Titus. A powerslam plants Kofi but everything breaks down, allowing Henry to tag himself in. Titus catches Woods diving at him and fall away slams him into the World’s Strongest Slam for the pin at 10:56.
Result: Mark Henry/Prime Time Players b. New Day – World’s Strongest Slam to Woods (10:56)
Clip of Swerved.
Post break New Day says Mark Henry just beat them, not the Prime Time Players. Henry should have retired a long time ago and they will NOT stand for this negativity. They are clean and pristine and the next Tag Team Champions. There’s a new chant: “HEY! WE WANT SOME NEW DAY!”
Video on Charlotte.
Charlotte vs. Naomi
Feeling out process to start until Charlotte is taken into the corner for Naomi’s headscissors shake. Charlotte doesn’t take kindly to it either and slaps Naomi in the face, setting up an early Figure Eight but also drawing in Sasha Banks for the DQ at 1:56.
Result: Charlotte b. Naomi via DQ when Sasha Banks interfered (1:56)
A quick decision from the Authority makes this a tag match.
Charlotte/Becky Lynch vs. Naomi/Sasha Banks
Charlotte takes Sasha down to start before it’s off to Becky for a double elbow. Naomi comes in and elbows Becky in the head to take over but Lynch grabs some rollups for two each. Some snap legdrops from Becky set up a kneedrop from Charlotte for another two, followed by the rolling headscissors. Tamina offers a distraction and a superkick to knock Charlotte out to the floor as B.A.D. takes over.
Naomi scores with a basement clothesline for two of her own and it’s chinlock time. Jimmy brings up Nikki being the Divas Champion and says until then, Team Bella is the winning team. Sasha’s Backstabber sets up a double arm choke with her knees in the back instead of the Bank Statement, allowing Charlotte to roll free and flip Sasha backwards.
The tag brings in Becky for a bouncing kick to Naomi’s face, followed by a t-bone suplex for a near fall. That earns her a superkick and legdrop from Naomi and it’s time for another chinlock. We take a break and come back with Sasha kneeing Becky in the back and Naomi taunting Becky by making her look at Charlotte.
Back to Sasha for a double arm choke until Becky is able to dive over for the tag off to Charlotte. A quick spear gets two on Sasha but Naomi comes in without a tag and takes Sasha’s place. They fight over a small package and Naomi gets the clean pin at 14:58.
Result: Sasha Banks/Naomi b. Becky Lynch/Charlotte – Small package to Charlotte (14:58)
Clips of Neville vs. Rollins on Raw.
Stardust vs. Zack Ryder
Before the match we get clips of Stardust calling out Stephen Amell on Raw, setting up a showdown on next week’s show. Ryder works on the arm to start but Stardust does a kind of handstand to kick Zack in the head. Off to a bow and arrow hold on Ryder but Zack flips out and scores with a flapjack. A middle rope missile dropkick sets up the Broski Boot but the Rough Ryder is countered, setting up the Queen’s Crossbow for the pin on Zack at 3:55.
Result: Stardust b. Zack Ryder – Queen’s Crossbow (3:55)
Stardust is thrilled that Amell is coming to Raw on Monday.
We see Heyman’s last rites promo from Raw.
Big Show is throwing punches in the back and says Ryback is like Rocky. As for Miz, he’s trying to turn this part time role into a full time role, and if he doesn’t drop it, Big Show is going to turn his face into a Halloween mask.
Roman Reigns vs. Rusev
We get a big staredown to start before they shove each other around to start with Rusev running Roman over, only to have Reigns do the same, followed by a headlock. Back up and Reigns is flipped over to the apron, where he punches and kicks Rusev in the face. Rusev is able to post him though and it’s off to a commercial.
We come back with Rusev holding a nerve hold. A spinning belly to back suplex gets two on Reigns but he avoids a middle rope headbutt. Reigns finally scores with a clothesline, followed by another clothesline and then a series of clotheslines in the corner. After hitting the apron boot and spitting a bit, Reigns charges into a spinning heel kick to the face.
Rusev hammers away in the corner until Reigns powerbombs him down for two more. The Superman Punch connects but Summer starts lurking. Cue Lana for a catfight but Rusev nails Reigns with the superkick for two. Rusev freaks out over Reigns getting up at two and walks around long enough for Reigns to spear him down for the pin at 15:30.
Result: Roman Reigns b. Rusev – Spear (15:30)
The show looks to be over but Bray Wyatt’s clapping hands appear on screen. He tried to warn Roman that Bray’s hands would be the ones that would tear down the Roman Empire. The challenge for Summerslam is accepted. Roman can bring his lunatic because Bray will bring his brother, because Bray welcomes this war.
Quick Results
Prime Time Players/Mark Henry b. New Day – World’s Strongest Slam to Woods
Charlotte b. Naomi via DQ when Sasha Banks interfered
Naomi/Sasha Banks b. Charlotte/Becky Lynch – Small package to Charlotte
Stardust b. Zack Ryder – Queen’s Crossbow
Roman Reigns b. Rusev – Spear
