5/31 Barnett's WWE Smackdown on SyFy Live Coverage Review: Team Hell No, The Shield, Ryback, Randy Orton, Chris Jericho and more in action

By Jake Barnett

WWE Smackdown on SyFy Live Coverage Review
Taped Tuesday, May 28th in Edmonton, Alberta

[Q1] The WWE Narrator ran down a laundry list of guys that The Shield has beaten in the last few weeks. He then plugged Kane vs. Rollins, Reigns vs. Bryan, and Ambrose vs. Orton. It was then questioned whether The Shield's reign of dominance could continue.

In the arena, The Shield's music hit and they headed to ringside. Kane then headed down to the ring accompanied by Bryan.

1. Kane vs. Seth Rollins: Rollins grabbed a head lock early, but Kane used his size advantage to get out and then hit a shoulder block. He followed up with a big boot a moment later for a one count. Kane then hit a hanging vertical suplex for a two count. He hit a back body drop for a one count, but Rollins caught him coming off the ropes with a knee and took control. Rollins grounded Kane and dropped elbows on Kane's knees. They traded offense back and forth, but Rollins was able to retain control by going back to the left knee he had been working on.

Kane managed to kick Rollins away from him for a few seconds. Rollins climbed to the top rope, and Kane hit an uppercut. Kane grabbed a choke for a chokeslam, but Rollins fought out and hit a tornado DDT for a near fall. Rollins looked at Reigns at the outside in frustration...[c]

Rollins continued to work on the leg of Kane with a single leg crab. Kane hit a tilt a whirl slam to break up his offense and followed up with some clotheslines. Kane then hit a sidewalk slam for a two count. Kane climbed to the top, but was interrupted by Rollins. Kane shoved him off and hit a flying clothesline. Reigns jumped up on the apron, and Kane choked him. Rollins took advantage and hit a kick. He set up for his top rope flying knee, but Bryan shoved him off the ropes while the ref was dealing with Reigns. Kane hit a chokeslam for the pinfall victory.

Kane defeated Seth Rollins at 9:46

Post match, Rollins and Reigns argued with the referee. Bryan entered the ring and his match with Reigns will begin now.

[Q2] 2. Daniel Bryan vs. Roman Reigns: Reigns got in some early shots, but Bryan hit some kicks to counter. He then positioned Reigns in position for an Indian Death Lock, but instead of falling backwards, he fell forwards and dropped forearms to Reigns face. He then went to work with elbows and kicks to Reigns shoulders and back. Reigns countered with a clothesline and dropped Bryan for a two count...[c]

Barnett's Brief: A good match from Kane and Rollins to open the show. WWE is doing the fans a solid here by opening the show with two matches from the hottest angle in the company. Their feud is now past the point where they have a whole bunch to talk about, so I like the decision to get right into the action.

Bryan fired back with punches, but Reigns hit another big clothesline for a near fall. Reigns hit a nasty shoulder tackle for another near fall a moment later. Bryan recovered and hit a corner drop kick and repeated kicks to the chest, followed by a second drop kick to a seated Reigns. More kicks to Bryan, bur Reigns avoided the last kick to the head and hit a head butt to the chest of Bryan. Bryan went for a crucifix pin a moment later, but Reigns reversed. Bryan reversed again, and this time into the No Lock. Rollins assisted Reigns in getting his hand on the bottom rope, and Kane blasted him for hit. Reigns took a cheap shot at Kane, and Kane responded with a punch, which the ref saw and DQ'ed Bryan.

Roman Reigns defeated Daniel Bryan via DQ at 9:14.

Post match, Bryan and Kane argued their way to the back, with Bryan insisting he could have done it on his own, and Kane saying he has an obsession...[c]

Barnett's Brief: Another solid match from Bryan and Reigns. I wish Reigns had a wider range of offense, but he's still got time to develop that. Bryan continues to look fantastic in the ring, and I hope this is leading to a singles push for him eventually.

Q3] A highlight was shown from last week's show of Damien Sandow's Gordian Knot riddle with Sheamus. Sandow was then shown in the ring, and he explained that physical strength will never be superior to mental strength. He then ripped Edmonton for giving away Wayne Gretzky 25 years ago for nothing. He said when it comes to intelligence, he is The Great One, and then yelled at the crowd for silence. He said to further illustrate his point, he has devised a challenge. He then showed 3 cups on the table (shell game) and had a red ball in his hand. He was explaining it to the “simpletons” in the audience when Sheamus interrupted.

He asked “Dame-o” why he couldn't leave well enough alone. He told him he should have just walked away last week, and now he's out there playing with his cups and “tiny balls”. Sheamus said he was just annoying everyone, and he was willing to put an end to it and beat him at his own game. Sandow then asked Sheamus if he wanted to play the game, and he agreed. Sandow then insulted Sheamus while rearranging the cups, and asked him to choose wisely. Sheamus failed to get it on the first try, and Sandow said his idiot license is good for another year. Sandow gave Sheamus another try, and he guessed wrong again.

Sandow was concluding his speech, when Sheamus demanded to see the red ball under the third cup. Sandow begged off and said he would just further embarrass himself. Sheamus insisted, and Sandow eventually took his hand off the cup. Sheamus revealed that there was no ball and Sandow admitted one his talents is that he's a magician. Sheamus asked him how he was the savior if he got caught cheating, and said a brief poem about him being a good target for a Brogue Kick. He then threw the cups at Sandow and turned the table over to hit a Brogue Kick.

Backstage, Paul Heyman and Curtis Axel was shown heading to the ring...[c]

Barnett's Brief: That was a horribly boring segment. Sandow is wasted in this carney role and Sheamus just comes off as a douchebag.

[Q4] A clip was shown of the conclusion of Raw. Sin Cara's music hit and he headed towards the ring. Curtis Axel then made his ring entrance. Paul Heyman had a microphone and introduced himself to loud boos. He said there are those in WWE to insinuate that you can tell if he's lying if his lips are moving. Heyman then said the fact is when he's speaking about his clients he's always telling the truth. He called what Axel's has accomplished in his first two weeks is unprecedented. Heyman then said since the crowd does not believe in his integrity, he would let Axel speak for himself.

Axel said Triple H and Cena were 0-2 against Curtis Axel, despite having a combined 20 WWE Championships. He said what he had done is unheard of, and he was just getting started. He then said life as a Paul Heyman guy is....wait for it....Perfect.

3. Curtis Axel vs. Paul Heyman: Axel went right to work against Sin Cara with a standing dropkick and chin lock on the ground. Sin Cara got back into it with a head scissors and a top rope arm drag. Axel ran into a big kick, and then Sin Cara hit a nice cross body. Axel caught him bouncing off the ropes for a back elbow with a clothesline to the back of the head. He then hit the perfect plex for the victory.

Curtis Axel defeated Sin Cara at 1:59.

The announce team plugged the main event...[c]

Barnett's Brief: Short and sweet. Heyman talked more than Axel, which is fine, but the match with Sin Cara was not as good or fluid as last week. Not bad, mind you, but not very good either.

[Q5] Lilian introduced Ricardo, who introduced Alberto Del Rio. A clip was shown of Del Rio defeating Big E from Monday. Big E then made his ring entrance with AJ Lee.

4. Alberto Del Rio vs. Big E Langston: Langston unloaded with strikes and shoulders in the corner. Del Rio turned the tables and hit some corner punches and kicks to the chest. Big E hun Del Rio over the top rope on his abdomen, and locked on a grounded bear hug. Langston hit a power slam for a near fall, and pulled down the straps on his singlet. Del Rio reversed out of an attempt at the Big Ending with a backstabber. Del Rio grabbed a waist lock and hit a very good German Suplex, followed by a side kick to the head for a near fall.

Del Rio applied the cross arm breaker when Langston got to his feet. He did power out and hit a huge clothesline. He covered for another near fall at the four minute mark. Del Rio rolled to the apron and Big E met him there. Del Rio applied the arm breaker over the ropes, but Big E escaped. On the outside, Big E shoved Del Rio into the post after an AJ distraction. He then hit the Big Ending in the ring for the pinfall victory.

Big E defeated Alberto Del Rio at 4:50.

The announcers plugged a Ryback and Cena video recap as next...[c]

Barnett's Brief: Basically a reversal of fortunes from Monday, but I hope they aren't getting ready to push Big E into the title picture quite yet. They seem to be indicating that he's getting close to ready, but they've barely even established a character for him.

A video package showed John Cena from Monday demanding the three stages of hell match, along with Ryback's rebuttal and the show concluding brawl.

After a video, an Ambulance pulled up to the stage and made his ring entrance. Ryback looked under the ring to check something, and then entered the ring. Kofi Kingston then made his ring entrance.

[Q6] 5. Ryback vs. Kofi Kingston: Kofi went right after Ryback with kick and mounted punches in the corner. Ryback tried to power out, but Kofi continued to use quick attacks to not give Ryback any breathing room. Kofi hit a boom drop and fired up the crowd. Ryback looked for Trouble in Paradise, but Ryback caught him and picked him up. Kofi reversed out and hit a top rope cross body for two. Ryback caught Kofi again coming in for a kick and reset. He waited for Kofi to get to his feet, and then hit a meat hook clothesline. He followed up with shell shocked for the win.

Ryback defeated Kofi Kingston at 2:31.

Post match, Ryback grabbed a table from under the ring. Ryback grabbed Kofi off the mat and powerbombed him through the table. He then grabbed another table, and repeated the same thing, followed by a third...[c]

Barnett's Brief: Very safe table spots, for those who were wondering. Ryback looked dangerous and aggressive there, but I still can't get into him for some reason. That's not to say the match was bad, it wasn't, but I'm just not really feeling the Ryback character.

Chris Jericho was backstage with Renee Young. She asked him about his match with Punk at Payback. Jericho referred to the idiom about sleeping with dogs and getting fleas. He said Punk is getting all manner of diseases by associating himself with Paul Heyman. He then reiterated the claim that he was the best in the world at what he did and that Punk would never be the same again after Payback. He then barked at Renee Young, who smirked at him incredulously. Chris Jericho then made his ring entrance in the arena...[c]

Barnett's Brief: So, I guess we're having another best in the world feud, this time with Punk as the heel. Something tells me the results will probably end up being pretty similar to last time.

[Q7] Cody Rhodes was shown in the ring.

6. Chris Jericho vs. Cody Rhodes: Jericho grabbed a waist lock, but Cody elbowed him to the chops. Cody rolled to the outside, and Jericho followed to throw him into the barricade. Back in the ring, Cody dropped Jericho gut first onto the top rope and covered for two. Rhodes stomped on Jericho and hit knees to the abdomen. Jericho fired back with chops, but Cody quickly to control with a kick to the gut. Rhodes applied a chin lock, which Jericho broke out of and hit a couple of shoulder blocks. He then hit a double axe handle from the top rope to fire up the crowd.

Jericho hit a bulldog, and attempted to apply the Walls. Rhodes quickly escaped and hit Jericho with an Alabama Slam for a near fall. Rhodes climbed to the top rope, Jericho caught him with a punch to the abdomen. Jericho went for a lionsault attempt, but Rhodes got the knees up. Cody set up for Crossrhodes, but Jericho reversed into a failed Walls of Jericho attempt. Cody when for a disaster kick, which Jericho reversed into a successful Walls of Jericho attempt for the submission victory.

Chris Jericho defeated Cody Rhodes at 4:47.

The Wyatt family vignette from Monday aired again here. Randy Orton made his ring entrance...[c]

Barnett's Brief: The Wyatt vignette is very good and probably a little too out there for some, but I think it will work. The Jericho vs. Rhodes match was okay but nothing really unexpected or compelling.

[Q8] Dean Ambrose was already in the ring.

7. Dean Ambrose vs. Randy Orton: Ambrose and Orton circled to start, and Ambrose hit some punches in the corner. Randy got a few shots in, but Ambrose kept up the pressure and stomped on Orton. He then ran Orton's face along the rope and hit a forearm to the face. Orton fought back in it with a clothesline and kick to the gut. He then hit mounted punches on the turnbuckle.

They traded offense and Ambrose rolled to the outside. Orton followed and hit a clothesline, and then dropped Ambrose on the barricade. Ambrose recovered and sent Orton shoulder first into the ring steps, followed by a clothesline on the outside...[c]

Ambrose controlled Orton with a head lock, and when he broke free he hit a running knee to his gut for a near fall. He continued to kick and stomp Orton while he was down, stepping on his hand and ankle. Orton fired back and hit an uppercut, but Ambrose quickly applied a sleeper hold. Orton eventually escaped by rotating into a back suplex. Both men slowly got to their feet to trade punches, and Orton hit a clothesline and a power slam. He then went for a hanging DDT, but Ambrose fought out of it. Ambrose climbed to the top for a double axe handle, but Orton drop kicked him in mid air.

Orton then hit a handing DDT and fired up the crowd for an RKO. Ambrose rolled to the outside to avoid it, and the rest of the shield pounced on Orton for the DQ. Team Hell No ran down for the save and Daniel Bryan literally did all the work by himself, hitting all of his spots and firing up the crowd in a major way. He was a one man buzz saw and Kane and Orton stood there dumbfounded that he took down The Shield by himself. He led the crowd in Yes Chants, and they erupted for him. Great babyface fire at the end there by Bryan.

Randy Orton defeated Dean Ambrose via DQ at 12:45.

Barnett's Brief: A very good match that was predictably spoiled by an interference finish. The post match stuff with Bryan was off the charts, and you should go out of your way to watch it if you get the chance. The segments that Team Hell No and The Shield were a part of stole the show tonight, as they have been doing on every show for weeks. Bryan is ready for a babyface singles run, and the crowd is responding to him in a big way.

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