* Graphics reveal tonight's main event will be
CM Punk and
Daniel Bryan vs.
Curtis Axel and Ryback.
Punk and Bryan in yet another main event? Whew, glad to know these guys don't have heat or anything Think they're good enough to draw despite that heel team.
* SmackDown kicks off with The Usos vs. Erick Rowan and Luke Harper with
Bray Wyatt at ringside. The Wyatt Family gets the win. After the match, Bray comes in and delivers Sister Abigail. One of the Usos took a bad bump on his head towards the end of the match.
So, the Uso's are good enough to take out the Shield but not the Wyatts? Confusing. Reading this feels like an Uso burial, but it's probably not. Hopefully not.
* Backstage segment with
R-Truth and The Prime Time Players rapping.
This could be enterta...it won't be entertaining.
*
Ryback and Curtis Axel are backstage. Ryback doesn't want to team with Axel tonight if he's still a
Paul Heyman Guy. Axel says he isn't anymore and says they should take out their related frustrations on Punk and Bryan later tonight.
woo
*
Natalya vs. Tamina Snuka is up next. Natalya gets the win by submission after Tamina and
AJ Lee accidentally collided on the apron.
2 Divas Matches on the same show? :robbie: Amazing. But hey, what's the point of putting Tamina with AJ if you won't make her feel like a legit badass? Guess you can say pinning the champion's friend builds heat, but they were never really established as friends unless I missed that. This is like Big E and Dolph, but is this leading to Nattie and AJ at the PPV? That... may be okay?
* R-Truth,
Darren Young and
Titus O'Neil got their win back from Main Event and defeated 3MB.
Oh, the wheel in the sky keeps on turning... WWE, what are you doing. PTP deserve so much better than this, they got a nice reception during their little mini-push. Why are they jobbing to 3MB in any shape or form? Why are they trading wins with the biggest losers on your roster? All that does is bury the Prime Time Players, and that's stupid. The crowd loves these guys. Who did they piss off backstage?
*
John Cena and
Alberto Del Rio come out for their arm wrestling contest. There's a table set up in the middle of the ring. Both Superstars talk about their match at Survivor Series. Cena points out the fan dressed as Superman in the crowd and lets him show his costume after it was covered up earlier. Huge heat for Cena like at RAW on Monday. Cena ended up winning two falls in the arm wrestling contest. Del Rio attacked Cena after the contest and slammed him through the table.
So Cena's gimmick is basically IWC trolling? Haha, hope the kid was told he would be part of the show, but can totally see Vince fucking with the guy. Why are they bothering giving this match build? There's nothing they can do to make this worth the $50. Just set up ADR's next opponent as he finally... hopefully... goes down to the midcard. Makes you wonder who Cena will feud with next, hopefully Sandow but there's really nobody credible enough to face Cena right now.
* Backstage segment with Punk and Bryan talking about The Wyatt Family and their match at Survivor Series.
Punk and Bryan talking. Thumbs up segment.
*
Cameron and
Naomi beat The Bella Twins when Cameron pinned Brie Bella.
They're just drawing names out of a hat for who wins Divas' matches, this confirms it.
* The
Great Khali beat Hunico and Camacho in a quick handicap match.
Stupid, really stupid. Just burying people for no reason. This does nothing for Khali and re-ruined a returning tag team. WWE, why do you do this?
* CM Punk and Daniel Bryan vs. Ryback and Curtis Axel is next. Punk and Bryan come out to a big pop. The match ends in a no contest when The Wyatt Family interferes as Bryan has the Yes Lock on Ryback. The lights come back on but Punk and Bryan are gone. Ryback has words with Axel and pushes him into the Wyatt Family. They beat Ryback and Axel down and throw them over the top rope. Punk and Bryan sneak out from under the ring and lay Rowan and Harper out. SmackDown ends with Punk and Bryan staring at Bray Wyatt from the top of the ramp.
...ignore that above statement, if you're dead set on making Ryback look like a jobber for no reason keep doing it! Great! Was this a Axel and Ryback face turn by WWE Logic? Haha, cool ending with the Wyatts, they're doing creative (by their standards) stuff with them now. And don't worry, Punk and Bryan aren't buried at all.