I’m covering SmackDown. Weird, right? The show kicks off with an opening hype up promo by Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan.
The announce team consists of Mauro Ranallo, JBL, and David Otunga.
The show begins with the announcement of a six-pack challenge for tonight’s SmackDown main event, where John Cena, Bacon Rorbin, Dolph Ziggler, Bray Wyatt, and AJ Styles will face off, and the sixth spots goes to the winner of the night’s opening match, a Battle Royal. Winner of the main event will face Dean Ambrose for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam. Some fun spots, and a scary one when Zack Ryder fell off the top turnbuckle. Coming down to Ryder, Kalisto, Kane, and Crews, it came down to Kane and Crews, with Crews eliminating Kane for the win.
SHELTON BENJAMIN IS BACK ON SMACKDOWN… Next week.
Following this match, we get a classic between Becky Lynch and Natalya, and this time, the Irish Lass Kicker gets the win. More interesting though, post-match Alexa Bliss, Naomi, Carmella, and tragically, Eva Marie, getting some long-winded drawn-out introduction, then revealing a bikini-style ring outfit. Are we regressing to Divas status? The one entertaining part, the live crowd booing her louder than Roman Reigns on Monday Night RAW.
On Miz TV, Miz and Maryse talk to themselves until Randy Orton interrupts, challenging Miz to a match. Came off awkward, but Maryse falls for Orton’s badgering and winds up pushing Miz into accepting the challenge. Orton drops Miz with not one, but two RKOs to pick up the win.
Our next video package features American Alpha who will be on SmackDown, next week.
I’m feeling like 1992 right about now.
Our next segment features Heath Slater beating up a jobber, trying to get a job on SmackDown. Shane McMahon interrupts, telling Slater to send in a resume. Slater says Shane is looking at the hottest free agent around, to which Shane agrees, as RHYNO CHARGES WITH THE GORE and flattens Slater. Yep. Rhyno is back on the main roster.
I should mention between segments, we hear some pre-taped words from each of the challengers in tonight’s six-pack main event.
In the main event, yet another unpredictable moment takes place when Dolph Ziggler superkicks AJ Styles for the surprise victory. Great match, I give some credit to Apollo Crews for some good offense, and his reaction to Bray’s spider-walk was funny, but the guy is still missing some personality. Bacon Boy needs to get more heat. He has the natural look of a heel, but needs something more.
I have to say, Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler at SummerSlam for the WWE Championship is looking pretty good.
WWE is certainly changing things up.
