By Steve Khan, WrestlingObserver.com
– Air Date: March 26, 2015
– Taped From Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA
News:
Smackdown aired from WrestleMania Axxess along with three segments from the Raw/Smackdown tapings on Monday.
Show Details:
Jimmy Uso w/Jey & Naomi vs. Big E w/Xavier Woods vs. Fernando w/Diego & Torito vs. Cesaro w/Kidd & Natalya (Fatal 4 Way)
This match was just a series of spots. Big E shined early hitting everyone with suplexes. Fernando hit Cesaro and E with a suicide dive and Uso followed by taking them all out with a dive. Cesaro and Uso set up Fernando for a double vertical suplex off the middle rope, but Big E came in and “suplexed” everyone at once. Finish came when Jimmy Uso pinned Cesaro after a diving splash.
Renee Young and Byron Saxton live from Axxess said it was big news week for them and their World Champion. They showed Brock Lesnar’s announcement from ESPN with Michelle Beadle. A Reigns-Lesnar video package followed. Renee and Saxton then talked about how stupid it would be to buy WrestleMania on PPV instead of the Network.
They aired a video package trying to put over the IC Title. The first 5-10 seconds was missing audio, so you could hear a bit of the Axxess crowd and Renee chuckling. The video was about how important the IC Title was in the early 90’s and how crazy ladder matches have been since 2000. Next was a video package for Cena vs. Rusev.
Next was more technical difficulties. They were going to cut to a Orton-Rollins video, but it didn’t play. Renee then announced Aloe Blacc for Mania… then she cut to the Orton-Rollins video again like nothing happened.
Back at Staples Center, AJ Lee came out for a promo. She said the fans have known her a long time — as a diva, as a GM and as everyone’s girlfriend. She loves the Divas Title, but so does Paige. She plans on beating the Bellas, but wanted to know if she has to do it on her own. Paige came out. She’s not about to forget what AJ did to her on Raw. AJ said they need to be on the same page at Mania but Paige wanted to know if this was another trick. AJ said they both hate losing and they can’t let the Kardashians win. Paige offered to be tag team partners instead of “frenemies.”
The Bellas interrupted. Brie acknowledged her feud with Nikki but she forgives her. Nikki said Brock Lesnar worked more dates than AJ last year and Nikki has been running the division while she was gone. Paige didn’t like that line. Nikki said Paige and AJ were like every other diva in the locker room and Brie said they all want to be Bellas. Paige said they preferred to continue being the freaks and geeks and weirdos and misfits. AJ said they would kick the Bellas asses at Mania.
Nikki challenged to them to a fight right now, but Brie held her back and Nikki added, “See you bitches at WrestleMania.” “Bitches” was censored. Paige said they’re ready to fight but the Bellas posed and the segment ended with AJ and Paige shaking hands.
Renee announced that the Tag Team 4 Way and the Andre Battle Royal will both be on the Mania pre-show, and a video package aired for Triple H vs. Sting. When they came back to Saxton and Renee, they had more technical difficulties. The colour bar test pattern came up and they cut to commercial.
Renee and Saxton reminded us how dumb we are if we order WrestleMania on PPV instead of the Network, followed by a video for Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt. This really should’ve aired on Raw.
John Cena, Mark Henry, Daniel Bryan & Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins, Big Show, Kane & Bray Wyatt w/J&J Security
I know we’re supposed to pretend this show is “live,” but it’s still absurd that Cena ran out to the ring not selling a thing from Monday’s beat down by Rusev. (This was also Cena’s first appearance on Smackdown since the show moved back to Thursday.)
Reigns had control of the match on his own against Rollins, Bray and Kane. Show tagged in, so Reigns tagged out to Mark Henry. It makes sense that Reigns would tag in a fresh partner, but the optics were pretty bad, especially considering Show beat Reigns a few weeks ago.
The heels worked over Henry forever. After a break, Cena was making his comeback on Bray. Cena was distracted by Kane and Bray cut off Cena with a body block. The heels worked over Cena. Seth almost killed him with a mis-timed neckbreaker from the ropes. Cena finally made the hot tag to Bryan who used a dropkick to clear the apron of heels and hit a running clothesline, running dropkick and hurricanrana on Rollins. Noble and Mercury distracted Bryan allowing Seth to knock Bryan down with a heel kick.
Show knocked Reigns off the apron but he came back and hit Show with a superman punch. Reigns then took out Wyatt and Kane. Cena hit Show with an FU and Bryan finished him off with a running knee for the win. The crowd chanted Yes and the faces shook hands. Fun match.
Quick Match Results:
Jimmy Uso beat Cesaro, Big E and Fernando via pinfall (Fatal 4 Way)
Daniel Bryan, John Cena, Mark Henry & Roman Reigns beat Big Show, Seth Rollins, Kane & Bray Wyatt via pinfall (8-man tag match)