Credit: Zack Zimmerman & Prowrestling.net
Dark Match:
Alexander Rusev beat Tyson Kidd with the Accolade (Camel Clutch). Before the match, Rusev cut a promo in Bulgarian to loud “What?” chants, but that ended up translating into heel heat throughout the match. Good, basic opener; Rusev is pretty impressive and Kidd had some time to shine but made Rusev look like a beast.
WWE SmackDown (Airing Friday):
The DCU center holds almost 15,000, and aside from the upper-most tarped-off areas, the place is virtually sold out.
Three-man commentary team with Michael Cole, JBL, and The Miz.
The show opened with The New Age Outlaws doing their full babyface entrance. After showing the crowd two replays of their turn from Monday, they still cheered.
The New Age Outlaws beat Cody Rhodes and Goldust in a non-title match. The finish came when Vickie Guerrero came out and said that in the Royal Rumble, it would be every man for himself including brother vs. brother. Billy Gunn then rolled up Cody with a handful of tights for the win…
Paul Heyman came out and said he was the advocate for the Beast Incarnate and obvious No.1 contender to the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Brock Lesnar. He said he’s here to address what happened between Brock and Big Show. He said his client was attacked by Big Show. He admitted that the Big Show is big, but said that at the Royal Rumble, Brock Lesnar will conquer the Big Show. He said knocking out an elderly war veteran was no way to send a message. He said he fears no evil because he walks alongside Brock Lesnar.
Big Show’s music hit and he came to the ring. Heyman ordered Show to stop shy of the ring and threatened him, but slid out of the ring and ran to the back through the crowd when Show ran into the ring. Big Show threw to a replay of him tossing Lesnar across the ring at Old School Raw, and said that he knows Heyman. He said he was a Heyman Guy before it was cool to be a Heyman Guy, and assured that at the Royal Rumble, he’ll knock Lesnar out…
Naomi (w/Cameron) pinned Tamina Snuka (w/AJ Lee) with a split-legged moonsault. There was a scary botched back-body drop attempt, but Naomi looked like she was able to protect herself on the landing and worked the rest of the match with no problem. Naomi is getting very good…
A graphic showing the Wyatt Family, labeled “Betrayal” is advertised next, resulting in the first loud “Yes!” chant of the night…
A video package of Daniel Bryan breaking free from The Wyatt Family was shown…
The Wyatt Family came to the ring. Bray said he wanted nothing more than to be powerful like his father (IRS?). He said his father was never there for him. He said instead of entrusting him with his kingdom, his father betrayed him; cast him out as a sheep; as one of us. He said he sought greater things, and so She saved him.
He said Abigail gave him hope and sang him the sweetest songs he’s ever heard. He said he saw her beauty and desired her power. He said that Bryan left him a battered mess, but said that was the moment She had told him about. He said it was his rebirth into the monster that he’s meant to be. He said he’s already dead. He said Bryan was given every chance to walk with the reapers, but instead he’ll burn with the saints…
Backstage, C.M. Punk cut a short promo on The Shield…
Big E Langston pinned Fandango (w/Summer Rae) after the Big Ending. Not a long match, but good showing from Langston…
The Ultimate Warrior’s Hall of Fame video package aired… Another Batista return vignette aired (the first one aired before the Del Rio-Mysterio match)…
Backstage, Renee Young welcomed The Shield. She mentioned that the Royal Rumble was every man for himself and asked if the Shield would remain a cohesive unit. Dean Ambrose said that no superstar can withstand them when they’re on the same page. Renee asked if they were on the same page.
Ambrose said Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns are his best friends and he’s trustworthy. Rollins said that’s nice, but he’d eliminate Ambrose in a heartbeat for a title match. Ambrose said he was lying, of course, he would too. Reigns said he’d eliminate them both for a shot at the title, but regardless of what happens they’ll remain a unit and they’ll remain the Shield…
A WWE Network video package aired…
The Usos beat The Real Americans (w/Zeb Colter). Zeb is in a wheelchair and a neck brace after taking the KO Punch on Raw. The Real Americans almost let him go rolling down the ramp when they did the “we the people” line at the top of the ramp. Funny. One Uso had his shoulder taped and the other had his ribs taped. The finish came when an Uso ran Colter into Cesaro at ringside while the other hit an electric chair drop on Swagger in the ring, and then the other hit an Uso Splash for the win…
A video package recapped Ric Flair’s 49ers pep talk and all of the attention it received from the media…
C.M. Punk came out to a big pop. He said he was about to call out five tough S.O.B’s and he knows he’s probably going to het slaughtered. He said he’d rather not wait around and wanted to handle business now. He addressed Triple H and ran him down. Punk said Hunter hides behind his wife, and just then The Shield’s music hit and they surrounded the ring. The Outlaws were out next and all five heels surrounded Punk on the apron.
Kane’s pyro hit and he ran out, ordering everyone to stand down. Kane entered the ring and said The Authority doesn’t want it this way. He said there’s clearly been a misunderstanding and Punk’s paranoia is getting the better of him. Kane said The Authority actually wants Punk to win the Royal Rumble match and headline WrestleMania 30. Kane said he had been given the main objective as DOO to see to it that Punk is treated fairly.
Punk said Kane’s word means nothing. Kane ordered “get him, boys,” but as Punk turned to defend himself from the Shield, Kane slid back inside the ring and chokeslammed Punk. His music hit and he stood over Punk to close the Smackdown taping…
Dark Main Event
C.M. Punk beat The Shield in a handicap match. Good match. Punk was dominated throughout most of it but had some good moments of hope, before clearing house and hitting the GTS on Ambrose for the win to close out the night.
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