Tuesday Night Smackdown Live! TV Report for August 2nd, 2016 – “Proof and Love”

Introduction Segment: Backstage Promo

Commissioner Shane McMahon and General Manager Daniel Bryan are reviewing Randy Orton’s attack on Brock Lesnar from last night’s Raw. Orton is there too, and Shane is not pleased with his actions. Security is standing there, but Randy says they need not to, as he already showed that an R.K.O. will take down Lesnar. Shane does give props to “The Viper,” though.

Intercontinental Champion The Miz and Maryse walk up, displeased with their position on Smackdown! Live. Bryan says that it wasn’t really him he drafted, but the Intercontinental Championship itself. Daniel books a Triple-Threat between Apollo Crews, Baron Corbin, and Kalisto to determine who will face The Miz for the I.C. Title.

WWE Champion Dean Ambrose tells McMahon and Bryan that he is going to go out and have a talk with his challenger at SummerSlam, Dolph Ziggler!

The new/regular Smackdown! Live video plays, and Mauro Ranallo greets us from Nashville.

Segment #2: Arena Promo

WWE Champion Dean Ambrose walks out and promises to start his legacy with the WWE Championship, and remind everyone how prestigious it is. He calls out Dolph Ziggler, and “The Show-Off” responds. He says they are alike, but Dean disagrees. “No, no we’re not. We’re nothing alike Dolph. ‘Cus you’re all show, and I’m all go, brother. I scratched and clawed my entire life to get this, and rest-assured, ain’t nobody every taking it away from me. Not at SummerSlam; not ever; and especially not you.”

Ziggler debates, as Dean debuted on the roster in the main event while Dolph was stuck in the lame Spirit Squad. Ambrose also disagrees, saying that Ziggler thinks more about his appearances instead of his spot. “You’re going to steal the show, and you’re going to lose.”

“Ambrose, you want to know who I am? A kid from Cleveland who went to his first WWE Live Event when he was five-years-old and said ‘one day, one day that’s going to be me.’ I’m the guy who walked on at Kenn State University, broke records in wrestling, hoping that one day, one day I might get my foot in the door and get a shot at being a superstar. You want to know who I am? I’m the guy for the last seven years has been disrespected, under-valued, over-looked, told one day that I’m not good enough, and told the next day that I’m too good. You want to KNOW WHO I AM? YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO THE HELL I AM? I’m the man that’s going to walk into SummerSlam, burn Brooklyn to the ground, BEAT YOUR ASS AND BECOME CHAMPION BECAUSE I AM THAT DAMN GOOD!”

They glare intensely at each other, and Dean curtly says “no you’re not. You’re not going to do any of that. And it’s not going to be because of any conspiracy theory, it’s not going to be because someone’s holding you back. You’re going to find out what your real problem is – your real problem is you’re not as good as you think you are.” He drops the mike and walks away.

Bray Wyatt’s video plays, the lights go out, and he plants Ziggler with Sister Abigail when the lights return. He does not believe Dolph should be and is a champion, so he proposes that Ziggler put his title shot on the line tonight.

Up next, a #1 Contender’s Bout to the Intercontinental Championship!

Commercials.

Segment #3: Backstage Promo

Dolph talks with Shane and Daniel, and wants to wrestle Bray, putting his title shot on the line, because the fans, Ambrose, and even McMahon and Bryan don’t believe in him. He orders them to book it, and Shane does so.

Match #1: Triple-Threat – Kalisto VS. Baron Corbin VS. Apollo Crews

All three measure each other up first, and then Baron is dumped to the outside shortly. He pulls down the ropes as Apollo runs, sending him tumbling to the floor. Kalisto follows with a dive-to-the-floor on both!

Ads.

Corbin is in control now, with both Crews and Kalisto in corners. He runs at both with clotheslines, and boots Apollo. Kalisto catches him with a hurricanrana that flies Baron to the floor! Apollo slams Kalisto for a near-fall, and Baron spin-backdrops Crews for another close-one! Kalisto leaps off the top turnbuckle, but Corbin catches him in a powerbomb position, but Apollo dropkicks him to the outside. Crews rolls up Kalisto for the sudden victory!

Winner and #1 Contender for the Intercontinental Championship: Apollo Crews

Post-match, Corbin attacks Kalisto but Apollo runs back in and makes the save. Miz slides in and drives Crews down with his Skull-Krushing Finale, but Baron is back up and plants the I.C. Champion with his End of Days finisher!

Later tonight, A.J. Styles will address John Cena, and up next, Becky Lynch wrestles Eva Marie

Commercials.

Match #2: Single – Becky Lynch VS. Eva Marie

Before this starts, Eva signals that her left leg is injured. The referee calls for a trainer and the bout.

Winner: None due to No Official Start

Segment #4: Backstage Promo

Rene Young asks new Smackdown! Live women’s wrestler Carmella about Eva’s injury. Carmella doesn’t believe it is real, and Natalya walks up, angry that she is not being interviewed.

Up next, American Alpha make their Smackdown Live! Debut!

Ads.

Match #3: Tag-Team – The Vaudevillians (Simon Gotch and Aiden English) VS. American Alpha (Jason Jordan and Chad Gable)

Gable trips up Simon by his legs and waistlocks him on the canvas. Gotch traps Chad in a wristlock, but Gable quickly wrestles back! He tags in Jason, who hits a big dropkick. Jordan and Gotch switch, and Chad soars off the top turnbuckle onto both Simon and Aiden with a double-clothesline, and both Alphas hit dropkicks on the Vaudes.

Aiden ducks a run from Chad, and Simon grabs Chad’s ankle form the outside. English takes advantage, and both Villains double-team him, and control for a bit. Gable ducks a whip, and tosses Gotch to the floor. He makes the hot-tag to Jordan, who cleans house with suplexes on Aiden! He spears in the corner, tags in Gable, and both complete this with their tossing-backdrop finisher!

Winners via Pinfall: American Alpha

Up next, A.J. Styles will talk about John Cena!

Commercials.

Segment #5: Arena Promo

A.J. Styles starts his speech, but doesn’t get far. John Cena interrupts and joins him in the ring. Cena tells him to “talk,” and A.J. does so. After “soccer mom hair” chants, Styles says he doesn’t’ want you here, John.” A.J. insinuates that Cena doesn’t measure up to his in-ring ability, and rips on the fans for liking him so much, equating him to a “hero.” He also takes a subtle cheap-shot at TNA, saying “Nashville is the weakest of minds; believe me, I know!”

They both argue about John’s position in the company, and Cena bolts into one of his passionate promos. “You got every right to say anything you want, but there comes a point that you need to be responsible for what you say. And what you just said was you called out every person in here, from kids to adults, why, because you think they’re delusional, you think they’re stupid because they believe in something. And then, and then you ask me a question that you don’t want to know the answer to son. I’m about to make you look ridiculous.

You just asked me ‘why am I still here?’ With all this stuff going on outside of WWE and the fact that I’ve been here for fifteen years, ‘why am I still here?’ Oh, that’s an easy answer because ain’t changed over a decade-and-a-half. I’m here out of love. And no, no, no, no, don’t get me wrong. I see you, because we don’t say ‘love’ a lot here in the WWE because when you say that, you don’t ‘look tough.’ I don’t give a damn, I’m a grown-ass man. I’m here out of love. You see, you see, you see that kid right there? I love the look on that kid’s face when he’s jumping up-and-down and excited when he’s cheering on his favorite superstar. And I ain’t ashamed; I love when parents pull me aside and say ‘thank you for all that you do.’ I should be thanking them because I can’t do it without you.

And I love, oh man do I love to get a chance to do The ESPYS, Teen Choice, The Today Show, not only ‘cus it’s fun, because there’s always somebody there that’s willing to ask ‘hey John, now that you’ve made it main-stream, when are you going to leave the WWE?’ And oh man, do I love to look ‘em dead-in-the-eye and say ‘NEVER’ because the WWE was, is, and always will MY HOME! Now tomorrow, when you’re just kicking it on your day off, I don’t know what that is. I’m in New York on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert wearing a Smackdown! Live blue suit, looking ridiculous, because I love this brand, I love this company, and I love these people that allow me each-and-every-day to live my dream. You, you, the only reason you’re here is to be a really good wrestler. And you’ve already proven that if it doesn’t work out for you, you’ll pick up shop and move some place else. There is no-place-else for me. The reason I’m here is because the words ‘honor, loyalty, and respect’ are my heartbeat! I’m here out of LOVE, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?”

“The Phenomenal One” mockingly claps, but gives John accolades for his heartfelt retort. He wants to wrestle Cena again at SummerSlam, strictly one-on-one, and if John loses, he has to say that Styles is better. “I need to teach your ass a lesson,” Cena responds. “You’re on!”

Ads.

Match #4: Single – Fandango (with Breezango partner Tyler Breeze) VS. Randy Orton

Randy totally dominates this, even powerslamming Tyler as he ran in! Orton warms up the fans for an R.K.O., but eyes the corner of the barricade. Brock Lesnar has appeared and hops the barricade. Randy R.K.O.’s Fandango, but Lesnar gives Orton an F-5; the referee calls for the bell and Shane and more security run out to escort Brock away.

Winner via Disqualification: Fandango (with Breezango partner Tyler Breeze)

Commercials.

Segment #6: Video and Office Promos

Clips of Lesnar leaving the arena are shown; Paul Heyman meets him and they ride off in an SUV. GM Bryan is talking on his phone when he sees Heath Slater has snuck in. Heath pleads his case to be on the SummerSlam poster, and Daniel answers him with a contract opportunity – if he defeats his opponent next week on Smackdown Live! Slater thinks it is the same made-up man that Chris Jericho thought of on Raw, but he is quickly Gored, and Rhyno pops up. Bryan says that “The Man-Beast” is Heath’s opponent, and then asks for a medic in his office!

Segment #7: Backstage Promo

Rene Young is with WWE Champion Dean Ambrose. He is not enamored with the ‘SportsCenter’-style set, and instead wants to go have a closer look at the #1 Contender’s Match for his championship.

Ads.

Match #5: Single – Carmella VS. Natalya

As Carmella was making her entrance, Natalya attacks her and locks her in the Sharpshooter. Referee Charles Robinson and another referee order her to break it.

Winner: None due to No Official Start

Segment #8: Backstage Promo

Daniel and Shane are with Dolph, and are trying to convince him not to wager his title shot, but Ziggler accuses them of not backing him. He tells them “screw you” and walks away.

Commercials.

Match #6: Single – Bray Wyatt VS. Dolph Ziggler

(Stipulation: #1 Contendership for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam)

(Note: WWE Champion Dean Ambrose is on commentary.)

“The Show-Off” immediately dropkicks Bray and plants him with the Fameasser! He is hit hard with a clothesline on the outside, but comes back again.

Commercials.

Both are on the top turnbuckle back-and-forth, and Wyatt superplexes Dolph to the mat! Bray “spider-walks” and then clamps on a grounding rear-chinlock. Ziggler fights back with punches and a jawbreaker. He elbows out of the corner, and the runs at him with a couple of clotheslines, and then a splash-in-the-corner; he drops an elbow for a near-fall!

Dolph goes for the superkick, but Bray spins him around and slaps back. Bray eyes for Sister Abigail, but instead unties the turnbuckle pad; Ziggler capitalizes with a Zig-Zag! 1 – 2 – Wyatt gets his shoulder up! Dolph now fully removes the pad, and reverses Sister Abigail into a roll-up for two!

Wyatt one-arm slams Dolph down, but also only gets two! He is elbowed out of the corner and superkicked! Dolph falls on him for the cover and the victory!

Winner and #1 Contender for the WWE Championship: Dolph Ziggler

Post-match, Dolph celebrates and screams at Ambrose, “you wanted the real me? I’m right here!” suddenly, Erik Rowan assaults both Ziggler and Ambrose – who came to help – and one-half of The Wyatt Family are back together! Bray polishes Dolph with Sister Abigail and poses with Rowan to close the show.

End of Smackdown! Live

Reporter’s Rumblings

This was a really-good edition, especially promo and storyline-wise. Wrestling/match-wise was okay, but the build to SummerSlam and feel of Smackdown! was well-done.

Excellence: promos by Ziggler, Dean, Cena, Bray, Styles, Slater, and Bryan; matches from Kalisto/Corbin/Crews, Alpha/Vaudevillians, and Bray/Dolph.

At first, I was not sold on Dolph being the main-event again, but after tonight, I totally am. I also would’ve totally bought Bray getting the championship shot too. Both delivered enthusiastic and heartfelt talks, absolutely defining why they deserve their spot. I also liked how Dean called Dolph out on the true aspects as well, and he’s just playing the “couldn’t-care-less, I’m still going to defeat you” character.

The same as above also goes for Styles/Cena; wasn’t excited for the continuation of the feud, until Cena launched into his promo, which was epic!

Loving how Smackdown also has its own feel to it, and also much like another sports show with the interview desk, graphics on background during introductions, and now after-show with wrestlers and the GM. This is really improving the quality of the product, making it feel like more of a sport with drama than a television drama with sports. This is what they need for even more credibility in the sports world!

Bogus: matches between Eva/Becky (didn’t like that they didn’t have her wrestle), and Carmela/Natalya (would’ve like to see a bit of a bout), and Orton/Fandango (boring, and predictable on who would win!). I also thought that the Triple-Threat could’ve gone a bit longer, so would’ve like to see that. On that note, since Smackdown! is now live, it would be nice for them to go over by 10 – 15 minutes, adding unpredictability or longer matches.

All-in-all, a great show, and again, let’s hope they keep the momentum up! Until next week’s Raw, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Fans!