Smackdown spoilers 2|4|16

[Savio]

- Thanks to Frederick Neal, Christopher Cropf (@ccropf1 (https://twitter.com/ccropf1/with_replies))and Ryne Lynch (@jordan_ryne) (https://twitter.com/jordan_ryne/with_replies) for the following WWE SmackDown (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/shows/3/wwe-smackdown/) spoilers from tonight's tapings in Memphis, Tennessee:


* Roman Reigns (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/270/roman-reigns/) vs. Rusev (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/437/rusev/) with Lana (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/448/lana/) kicks off SmackDown. The match ends in a disqualification when Alberto Del Rio (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/221/alberto-del-rio/) interferes. Dean Ambrose (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/272/dean-ambrose/) makes the save. The League of Nations gets the upperhand but Reigns brings a steel chair in the ring and they retreat. King Barrett was out


* Kevin Owens (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/446/kevin-owens/) vs. WWE (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/wwe-news/) United States Champion Kalisto (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/521/kalisto/) in a non-title match is next, with Dolph Ziggler (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/231/dolph-ziggler/) on commentary. Kalisto gets the win with an assist from Ziggler. After the match, Owens lays Ziggler and Kalisto out


* The Miz (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/182/the-miz/) cuts a promo on AJ Styles (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/183/aj-styles/)


* Ryback (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/219/ryback/) defeated Erick Rowan. Braun Strowman (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/530/braun-strowman/) attacked Ryback after the match but he escaped


* Renee Young (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/445/renee-young/) interviews Becky Lynch (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/482/becky-lynch/) backstage but Sasha Banks (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/455/sasha-banks/) interrupts


* AJ Styles vs. The Miz with Chris Jericho (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/46/chris-jericho/) watching from ringside is next. Styles wins a great match with the Calf Killer. Jericho cuts a promo after the match and asks for a rematch. Styles agrees and it will take place next week


* Brock Lesnar (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/218/brock-lesnar/) was also announced for next week


* JoJo interviews Roman Reigns about tonight's main event.


* WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day come to the ring for a promo. They're interrupted by Heath Slater, Curtis Axel (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/286/curtis-axel/) and Adam Rose (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/434/adam-rose/) for what was said to be a funny segment. This leads to a match


* The New Day defeated The Social Outcasts with feet on the ropes and a roll-up


*An Owen White vignette is shown, he is being repackaged as a tough underground brawler.


* WWE Divas Champion Charlotte (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/444/charlotte/) defeated Alicia Fox (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/473/alicia-fox/) with Brie Bella (http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/profiles/386/brie-bella/) in a non-title match, using the Figure Eight

* WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns vs. Alberto Del Rio and Rusev is the main event. Ambrose and Reigns get the win after a spear

[Emperor Smeat]

:eek: the main event didn't end in a DQ or no contest for once.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Ryback debuted a black trunk look, and he looks like a star.

[owenbrown]

No Owen White no watch :n:


I don't watch Smackdown anyway :shifty:

[DAMN iNATOR]

:eek: the main event didn't end in a DQ or no contest for once.

Nope, just the curtain jerking match.

[Droford]

Brock Lesnar on Smackdown?

Must be getting desperate

[drave]

They have stated many times that since Smackdown! has moved to USA they want it to be more of a "big deal" show, not desperation.

[Simple Fan]

I think they should at least do 1 live Smackdown a month. Maybe the week of a PPV or something.

[Heisenberg]

It's too late now, but whatever caused them to go PG probably doesn't watch Smackdown! and could have made it into a show geared towards the 18-34 demo that ran the Attitude Era. It would be seen as brilliant and would create controversy and confusion everywhere.

[XL]

When they say "next week" do they mean next week on Raw or next week on SmackDown? Jericho vs. AJ, plus a Lesnar appearance might make me watch SmackDown for the first time in months.

[Savio]

Id watch smackdown if lesnar wrestled anyone on smackdown (except big show)

[ClockShot]

Oooh. Styles breaks out the Calf Killer. Should be fun to watch.

[Shisen Kopf]

A very important question needs to be answered very soon.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

AJ has a certain je ne sais quoi about him. The jumping forearm makes him look like a comic book hero when they freeze frame it.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Vince McMahon's reaction to Ryback's new attire:</font>

http://i.imgur.com/rsGoi1P.gif

[Mr. Nerfect]

AJ has always had that quality. He's been able to generate buzz about his in-ring presentation. And he's only gotten better in the ring.

[Simple Fan]

Oooh. Styles breaks out the Calf Killer. Should be fun to watch.

Its now the Calf Crusher

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

<font color=goldenrod>Vince McMahon's reaction to Ryback's new attire:</font>

http://i.imgur.com/rsGoi1P.gif

To be fair, u think if you've grown up a wwe fan there's that little bit of appreciation you have for a look, and my reaction was maybe not on par with Vince, but I had a half chub. Made him look more serious

[Vastardikai]

It's a timeless thing: black trunks.

The Big Guy looks like he belongs in the Main Event, now.

[#1-norm-fan]

It is a proven look.

But Jesus. The guy was mad over with the singlet. How did we even get to this point!?

Seriously, if you had what you had a couple years ago and decided "Nah, I'm good. Let's just throw that away and make him a jobber", why even keep him on the roster? Doesn't make any sense.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

It's a timeless thing: black trunks.

The Big Guy looks like he belongs in the Main Event, now.

Or at least on Main Event.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The only thing I can think of with Ryback is "Bobby Lashley syndrome." Vince hasn't wanted to really trust anyone without "breaking them in" for about a decade now. He took some chances with Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley, and they both eventually walked out on him. I can imagine giving Ryback a MEGA push would have made him feel like he was putting his heart on the line again.

That being said, I'll re-iterate what I've said about Ryback all along -- I don't think he's anything too special. He got over because of a tried and true formula -- not because he's some sort of magical professional wrestler. He wasn't THAT over. He got an initial pop because he was someone different. Crowds would have soured on him super-fast. That doesn't mean you have to book him into oblivion either.

The change is needed. Back to square one with this guy. The Social Outcasts are basically lined up for this guy to tear through.

[Theo Dious]

Its now the Calf Crusher

The poor baby cows!

[Clerk]

Sliks job

[Maluco]

There was always the concern about Ryback injuring top guys, so maybe they were waiting for a period where he could prove he could be relied upon in that respect.

His attire started off OK, but had gotten absolutely ridiculous with chains, armbands, weight belt. He was basically a walking merch table and looked ridiculous.

A serious heel Ryback could be just what is called for to build him back up. He looks like a beast in the new attire, so why not book him like one and see if he catches on?

Have him make a statement with a win at Mania beating Strowman and just go for it