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Barnett's 1/17 WWE Smackdown on SyFy Live Coverage: The New Age Outlaws, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes and Goldust, The Shield, Rey Mysterio, Alberto Del Rio, and more!

Posted in: WWE TV Reports, MUST-READ LISTING
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Jan 17, 2014 - 07:00 PM

By Jake Barnett

WWE Smackdown on SyFy Live Coverage
Taped Tuesday January 14th in Worcester, Massachusetts


[Q1] Smackdown opened right to the arena, and the New Age Outlaws made their ring entrance immediately. The Miz joined on commentary, presumably because he has nothing better to do. Video aired of CM Punk getting decimated on Monday's Raw after the Outlaws betrayal. Road Dogg grabbed a microphone and did his shtick. Billy Gunn did the same. Cody Rhodes and Goldust then made their ring entrance.

1. Goldust and Cody Rhodes vs. The New Age Outlaws: Goldust and Road Dogg started, and traded some punches and kicks. Goldust hit a back elbow coming out of the corner, but Road Dogg tagged out to Billy Gunn before Goldust could tag in Cody. He dumped Billy Gunn to the outside, who made a tag as soon as he re-entered the ring. Road Dogg ate a powerslam from Goldust, who finally made a tag. Cody entered and so did Billy Gunn. Cody caught Billy with a knee lift and hit both Outlaws with a double single leg drop kick.

He covered Billy Gunn, but got a two count. Goldust cleared Road Dogg from the ring, and Billy missed a Fameasser. Cody then tried for Crossrhodes, but Billy blocked it and hit a tilt a whirl slam. Billy went for the Fameasser again, but Cody avoided it. Cody hit a disaster kick, and then Vickie interrupted the match. She said she was there to remind everyone that the Royal Rumble match was in nine days, and every man was for himself. She mentioned that it would be brother vs. brother, and as Cody was distracted Billy rolled him up for the win.

The New Age Outlaws defeated The Brotherhood at 4:50.

Backstage, Renee Young interviewed CM Punk. She said there was a rumor that Punk was going to call out all three members of The Shield. He said yeah, it was confirmed, and then walked away. Paul Heyman was shown backstage...[c]

Barnett's Brief: If you were wondering whether The Miz made commentary more interesting, he did not. He's awful. The match itself wasn't all that much to write home about. Vickie's interference ruined the flow and then it was over. Despite being pretty sharp in recent appearances, the Outlaws looked their age here.

[Q2] Paul Heyman entered without music. He grabbed a microphone and introduced himself to the live crowd. He said he stands before the crowd, as he always does, as the advocate for the number one contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship Brock Lesnar. Heyman said he was there to address the rumor about Big Show tossing Brock Lesnar clear across the ring. He said it was a conspiracy, and that his client got into a fight with an Olympian Mark Henry, and afterwards he was attacked by Big Show.

Big Show gave the misleading impression that he could be physically dominant over Brock Lesnar. Admittedly, the Big Show is seven feet tall and 430 lbs, but at the Royal Rumble PPV Brock Lesnar would conquer Big Show. Heyman said he and Lesnar have been through man wars, and even though they walk through the Valley of Giants, he does not fear evil. Even though Show can intimidate guys like Zeb Colter, he would not try that with him, because of who walks with him. Heyman said Lesnar would be at Raw on Monday, but Big Show's music interrupted him.

Heyman told Show to stop, and that he doesn't try that with him. Heyman fled through the crowd. Show said he knows Heyman and Lesnar are intimidated, because of what happened a few weeks ago. He then aired a clip of Lesnar launching himself across the ring, and Show being in the near vicinity. Show said he knows Heyman, and he was a Heyman guy before it was cool. He said he's got a message for Heyman's client, and told Heyman that he would KO Lesnar at the Royal Rumble.

Eva Marie was shown in an interlude, and said that Alberto Del Rio and Rey Mysterio are next...[c]

My Take: They are beating that hip toss to death, but it was a cool visual, so I guess I can't blame them. It's the only interesting thing about this feud.

Alberto Del Rio made his ring entrance. A clip was shown of Del Rio from Monday as he called out Batista. Rey Mysterio then made his ring entrance.

[Q3] 2. Rey Mysterio vs. Alberto Del Rio: Mysterio avoided a hangman and Del Rio flew to the outside. Mysterio then dove under the bottom rope and splashed him on the floor. Rey threw him back in and climbed to the top, but Del Rio recovered and hung Mysterio in a Tree of Woe. Del Rio then kicked Mysterio and sent him back to the outside...[c]

Del Rio was getting worked over by Mysterio, but got back in the match with a tilt a whirl backbreaker. Rey rolled through a sunset flip attempt and kicked Del Rio in the face for a near fall. He went back up top, but got hit by an Enziguri. Del Rio recovered and covered for a near fall. Del Rio went for his cross arm breaker, but Rey avoided it. Rey hit a tornado DDT a moment later for another good near fall. Del Rio went for another arm breaker, but Mysterio rolled through. He hit 619 a moment later, but Del Rio got his knees up for the follow up splash.

Del Rio went for a kick to the head of a kneeling Mysterio, but Rey rolled him up from behind for the three count.

Rey Mysterio defeated Alberto Del Rio at 8:24.

After the bell, Del Rio kicked Mysterio in the back, and applied a cross arm breaker that the ref had to pull off. The Funkadactyls were shown walking towards the ring...[c]

My Take: If you saw the Mysterio and Del Rio match from Monday, you saw this one. Monday's had a different finish, but everything else felt pretty tired.

The Funkadactyls made their entrance. Clips were shown of Naomi clearing AJ and Tamina from the ring on Monday. Emma from NXT was shown in the crowd adjacent to the announce crew, dancing with a couple of fans. Tamina made her ring entrance, with AJ.

[Q4] 3. Tamina vs. Naomi: Tamina dumped Naomi to the outside to start the match. She followed to the outside to toss her back in. There was badly botched back body drop, where Naomi failed to flip over and landed right on her chest. They did a few spots while Naomi recovered, and then she got back into the match with a heel kick. Naomi hit a Bubba Bomb, and then hit a split legged Moonsault after a distraction from AJ and Cameron for the victory.

Naomi defeated Tamina at 2:31.

A video package aired the covered the illustrious career of Mae Young. It was a very heart felt tribute, and I'm sure it will be shown on Monday as well.

My Take: RIP Mae. You will be missed. That was a nasty spill for Naomi. I hope she's ok. She is a great athlete, and I hope they continue to give her opportunities as she grows as a performer.

Cole and JBL mentioned Daniel Bryan getting his revenge on the Wyatt Family on Monday. Clips were shown that recapped the angles with the Wyatt Family on Monday's Raw.

[Q5] The Wyatt Family made their ring entrance. Bray grabbed a mic and said that as a child he wanted nothing more than to be powerful like his father. He did his best to appease him, and tried to be just like him, but it was never good enough. He was never there for him, and instead of trusting him with his Kingdom, he cast him out to walk among the sheep. Bray then said that he always knew he was destined for greater things. As he sat in a black hole, she saved him. Abigail sang him a righteous songs and told him on his path to greatness, he would be deceived.

As he said there on Monday a beaten man, he knew that was what she was talking about. He must sacrifice himself to be reborn as the monster he was born to be. Did you think you could hurt me? I do not bleed like the rest of you. Daniel Bryan was given every chance to walk with the reapers, but now he must die with the saints...

Backstage, Renee Young asked CM Punk whether or not he was calling out The New Age Outlaws or The Shield? He said both, and he would call out all five superstars. He said he was giving the Authority what they want, an opportunity to shut him up, so that one day he can get what he wants...[c]

My Take: Nice segment from Bray Wyatt. We still haven't seen enough of his character explained for most of this promo to make sense, but hopefully we will sooner than later. I still can't think of anyone but IRS when he mentions his Dad, so I just laughed for most of the first minute or two.

[Q6] Another Total Divas interlude was shown with the Bellas Twins being rather irritating while trying to pronounce Fandango. Big E Langston made his ring entrance, followed by Fandango.

4. Fandango (w/Summer Rae) vs. Big E Langston: Langston hit a back breaker early that sent Fandango out to the floor. Langston hit a shoulder tackle and both men ended up on the outside. Fandango sent Langston into the post, and then tossed him back into the ring. I apologize, as I lost track of the match for a moment because my Daughter decided to drop a glass of Orange Juice in my lap. Big E Langston hit a Belly to Belly Suplex and a Warrior Splash.

Big E attempted the Big Ending, but Fandango slipped away. Big E recovered with a clothesline and hit the Big Ending half a minute later for the win.

Big E Langston defeated Fandango at 4:19.

Ultimate Warrior's Hall of Fame announcement was shown. Cole plugged the WWE Network announcement as next.

My Take: Meh, I couldn't have cared less about that match. It was just flat the whole way through. I don't mind Big E as IC Champ, but he really needs some credible challengers and right now they just don't exist.

The Shield were interviewed backstage by Renee Young. She asked whether they have a plan for the Royal Rumble. Ambrose said they are a well oiled machine, and are on the same page. She asked him if he would throw Seth Rollins over the top if it was worth a shot at WrestleMania 30. Rollins said that was kind of him, but he couldn't throw him over the top if he wanted. He then said that he would throw him over the top no problem. Ambrose said he was kidding, and that Rollins should work on his landing. Reigns said he would throw them both over the top, and afterwards they would still be The Shield. Cole then introduced a plug for WWE Network.

Aksana was shown in another Divas interlude, and said that we'd see The Usos and The Real Americans next...[c]

My Take: The Shield are going to implode soon. Maybe a triple threat between them at Mania? We shall see.

[Q7] A clip was shown from Monday of Randy Orton taking more potshots at John Cena's Dad. Cole said Triple H is conducting an internal investigation of Randy Orton, which is completely normal when an athlete assaults a fan in attendance at a sporting event. Roll your own eyes at that one. The Real Americans made their ring entrance, with Zeb in a wheel chair. Zeb's chair almost rolled down the ramp while Swagger and Cesaro saluted.

Colter cut a brief promo and called Big Show a big bully. He said he hoped Brock Lesnar treated him the same way. We the people. Damn right Zeb. The Uso's then made their ring entrance.

5. The Usos vs. The Real Americans: Both Uso brothers were taped up from their cage match on Monday. Jimmy Uso started and took a beating from both Cesaro and Swagger. They worked over his ribs, which were taped up. Cesaro used Swagger to vault him into a splash on Jimmy in the corner. He then hit some nice european uppercuts...[c]

Cesaro swung Jimmy Uso around with a giant swing. Swagger than tagged in and hit a belly to belly for a near fall. Jimmy hit a few kicks on both Cesaro and Swagger, and then hit a somersault plancha from the top on Swagger. Jay Uso tagged in and fired up the crowd. He hit a butt splash in the corner for a near fall. He then hit a Samoan drop, but Cesaro broke up the fall.

[Q8] The distraction from Cesaro allowed Swagger to apply the Patriot Lock, but Jimmy Uso broke it up with a superkick. Cesaro used Zeb in the wheelchair to trip up Jimmy Uso. He then ran Zeb into Cesaro with the wheelchair on the outside. Jay hit Swagger with an electric chair from the top in the ring. He tagged out to Jimmy, who hit a top rope splash for the win.

The Usos defeated The Real Americans at 9:23.

My Take: Nice match, but I really don't get why a babyface would assault an already injured old man. It just makes you wonder what WWE thinks a good person is supposed to be. Apparently they don't find it incongruous to both attend make a wish events, and also beat up old people.

CM Punk made his entrance. Punk said he's not out there because he's a masochist, he's out there because he's not a coward. He's doesn't need to hide behind an army, and he doesn't need to have other people do his dirty work. He said he could call out the Outlaws, The Shield, The Inlaws, the Ultimate Warrior, Dingo Warrior, the Road Warriors, and whoever. It doesn't matter what he does, because the Authority will always do what they can to shut him up. He has the power that they desire, because people listen to him when he's talking. When he speaks of the Authority, he speaks of Triple H, a man who lucked into his position, uses his position to further his personal agenda, while hiding behind his wife and The Shield.

The Shield then made their ring entrance, followed by The New Age Outlaws. They all surrounded the ring, and Punk armed himself with his Microphone. Kane then made his ring entrance, and told everyone to stand down and stop it. He said the Authority doesn't want it this way. Kane said there has clearly been a misunderstanding. He said his anger is misplaced, and his paranoia is getting the better of him. They want him to main event WrestleMania, and that's why they entered him into the match. Kane claimed his new directive is to make sure he is treated justly, and give the respect he deserves.

Kane claimed that's exactly what will happen, and he has his word as director of operations. Punk said Kane's word means nothing coming from a seven foot tall sellout suck up. Kane turned back towards the ring as a “you sold out” chant started. Kane yelled “get him boys”, as all the men surrounded the ring. Kane then slid in behind Punk and delivered a choke slam. He stood over Punk to close the show.

My Take: Aside from the last segment, this was another uninspired episode of Smackdown. There was nothing particularly bad about it, but it was the wrong kind of predictable. It seems Punk will have to go through Kane to get to Triple H, and Bray Wyatt is still weird, but we still got a lot of filler and video packages. I hope Monday's Raw is really hot, because this show didn't really make me want to buy the Rumble.

Do you have questions, comments or concerns? Contact me at barnett.jake@gmail.com or on twitter @barnettjake.

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