- WWE Smackdown: January 3rd, 2014
- Our show opens with Joey Styles and Paul Heyman at ringside as they welcome us to a ‘New Era’ of Smackdown. They promise a big night and what better way to start the night off than with the boss, Shane McMahon!
The boy wonder is out to a big pop in his first WWE appearance since 2009! Shane says he is back and he wants Smackdown to be different. He’s not here to rule with an iron fist, he’s here to showcase the best wrestlers in the world.
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- On cue the music of CM Punk hits and out he comes. He tells Shane that he doesn’t trust any McMahon, and he knows better than to expect Shane to be any different. He tells McMahon it’s simple. Stay out of his way and they’ll get along just fine. The world champ comes out now, as John Cena has his own mic. He says Punk is paranoid, he’s ready to give Shane a chance. Punk asks if he’s ready to give HIM a chance… tonight! Cena asks the crowd who are very on board and agrees. Tonight, on the very first show of 2014 it'll be CM Punk vs. John Cena… for the World Heavyweight Championship! Shane says he agrees fully and makes the match official as the fans cheer in approval.
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- World Tag Team Championship Quarter-Finals
The Real Americans (Jack Swagger & Antonio Cesaro) w/ Zeb Colter vs. Tons Of Funk (Brodus Clay & Tensai) w/ Cameron
We get a solid bout from 4 big bodies. Heyman lets us know he’s taking a ‘break’ from managing to help give his analysis of the stars of Smackdown, but he’s always looking to potentially add more clients. This one is pretty even until late when Zeb Colter trips up Tensai as he lines up a bicycle kick. The distraction leaves him open to a big corner uppercut before he gets dumped with the Neutralizer for the 3.
78/76/80
- We are backstage where Josh Matthews is with the Prime Time Players. Titus O’Neil says tonight he’s hyped. The PTP are in the tag title tournament and they promise to get the belt to make millions of dollars, millions of dollars. Onto the scene on a chrome bike is Hunico and Camacho. Hunico says these two ‘perros’ have no shot against them and he and his boy are going to take them out! Camacho nods in agreement as they ride off, Darren Young asking if they really think they can win while riding a tricycle?
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- We go to the office of Shane McMahon as he lets us know that while we have CM Punk and John Cena tonight, next week we decide who's challenging for that title at Royal Rumble! It’ll be a special 10 man Royal Rumble itself, with 9 superstars joining the loser of tonight's main event!
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- Prime Time Players (Titus O’Neil & Darren Young) vs. Hunico & Camacho
Joey Styles notes the experience edge for the PTP and it shows early as they isolate Hunico. Eventually Camacho turns momentum with a big kick but in reality this isn’t a particularly strong match. In the end Darren Young goes over clean when he drops Hunico with the Gut Check as the PTP celebrate with fans at ringside.
69/69/70
- After the break we see Miz in the ring, which is set up for Miz TV. The obnoxious Miz says he has a very special guest tonight. Not only is he the reigning Intercontinental champion… he’s his opponent tonight! He asks us all to welcome Big E Langston! The champ steps out as Miz asks him if he feels confident tonight against a legendary, former world champion like the Miz! Big E chuckles and says it’s been a long time since the Miz has mattered so while he won’t overlook him, he certainly doesn’t respect him! Miz smirks and runs down Big E saying he’s beaten nobody, his reign will be forgotten and he’ll just be a footnote in the Hall of Fame career of the Miz! Big E says the fans don’t want to hear Miz talk anymore, they want a fight. He starts knocking over the set as Miz backs out of the ring as we go to a commercial.
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- Intercontinental Championship
Big E Langston © vs. The Miz
This is one way traffic early, as Big E uses his power to toss the challenger around the ring and hit some slick power moves. Eventually Miz manages to lure Big E outside, sending him into the steel steps and working his leg as Styles notes the experience edge showing a bit here. Miz keeps control for a while but eventually gets his momentum stalled when he tries to come off the top rope but is caught then crushed with a big belly to back suplex. He starts clapping as the straps come down for the Big Ending, but someone jumps up at ringside, pulling Miz down from the apron! Big E is furious, grabbing the hooded man and flipping him into the ring before we see them… it’s Alex Riley? The fans boo as Big E crushes A-Ry with a big splash. As the official checks on him however Miz has the IC title and nails Big E with it! He slides it out and then lifts the champion up before hitting the Skull Crushing Finale and covers to win the title! The fans boo as Miz grabs the title and Alex Riley, the two hugging and raising each other's arms to booing.
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- We are backstage now with William Regal. He tells us that he’s been tasked by Shane McMahon to help add to the Smackdown women’s division. He says he’s gone around the globe but he won't be bringing any ‘Divas’ to this show. He has found 3 grizzled, dangerous and hungry women who will bring another level of intensity. He introduces them one at a time as Mercedes Martinez, Mellisa Flash and Sara Del Ray. These women are here to set the standard in the WWE for womens wrestling, so the women working here better be ready to step up their game.
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- We go to the ring and out steps Big Show to a nice pop. Show says next week he plans to win the 10 man Rumble, as there’s nobody strong enough to throw him out. On cue out steps Ryback. The Big Guy notes his own strength and that he almost won last year's Royal Rumble itself. He promises nobody is stronger than him, but now he’s interrupted by Mark Henry. Henry tells the big guy to remember just who the hell he is. He’s the world strongest man, and he’ll lift the whole damn ring up to toss people out. Just as all 3 men look ready to fight Christian’s music hits, and out he steps to a pop as commentary say they haven’t seen him in months. Christian says he might not have the size, but he just needs one more match to get back to the top of this business so why not him and why not next week? In fact, why not a little preview now! We get a 4 way brawl until officials break it up, as commentary says this isn’t even half of the field!
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- World Heavyweight Championship
John Cena © vs. CM Punk
The crowd is red hot as commentary notes these two are arguably the biggest names in wrestling today. They do an excellent job working the crowd here going hold for hold and move for move. Punk controls the pace with some technique and using his speed, but Cena shows he’s no slouch and hits a nasty suplex on the floor. After about 15 minutes both men get to ringside, where Punk starts clearing off the announce desk. He lifts Cena up and seems to be setting up for a piledriver, but Cena slips free and seems poised to deliver the Attitude Adjustment. Punk slides off and goes for a reverse suplex, but that’s left both men down as the table crashes under them! The fans boo as the official reaches his ten count, both men barely moving after that vicious moment. They do eventually get up, and start brawling more as our show goes off the air.
87/94/72
- Final Thoughts: Not a bad show, although it did lack airtime for a lot of the bigger names. I’m glad Big E & Miz did so well in the ring and everything with Punk & Cena, unsurprisingly, went over great. Hopefully people are interested in seeing what comes next week.
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