Smackdown 18/02/2016 - Spoilers - last stop before Fastlane

DM_7

Here is the taping from 16/02/2016

Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole and Byron Saxton are out for commentary. No Mauro Ranallo

* Sheamus, Rusev and Alberto Del Rio defeated WWE United States Champion Kalisto, Sin Cara and Dolph Ziggler. WWE Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens was on commentary and distracted Ziggler, leading to the pin

* Sasha Banks defeated Tamina Snuka by submission with a Banks Statement. After the match, Tamina and Naomi attacked Sasha but Becky Lynch made the save

* Chris Jericho defeated The Miz by submission with Walls of Jericho. After the match, AJ Styles comes out. Jericho accepts Styles' challenge for a match at WWE Fastlane

* WWE Divas Champion Charlotte defeated Natalya with the Figure Eight in a non-title match. After, Brie Bella comes out and they brawl for a minute or two

* Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose defeated The Dudley Boyz in the main event, by disqualification when Brock Lesnar attacked Ambrose. Paul Heyman also came out. Lesnar hit Ambrose and Reigns with German suplexes. Reigns tried to spear Lesnar but accidentally hit Ambrose. Ambrose then tried to hit Dirty Deeds on Reigns but Reigns countered and hit a Samoan Drop. Lesnar hit a F5 on Reigns. Triple H's music hit and out came the WWE World Heavyweight Champion to the stage. Triple H stares Lesnar down as SmackDown ends

The Fast Lane main event would be a great mania main event

Lord TSC

I am more interested in Ambrose vs Reigns or Ambrose vs Brock for Mania than Hunter vs Reigns.

Would even argue that Ambrose vs Reigns should have been the long term Mania plan for the last few months...

LeeJM

I wonder if through some shenanigans we may get a 3 or 4 way for the title at WM

Lord TSC

Ambrose winning but then Reigns weaselling his way in would be perfect for the current story, and would lend itself well to teases of heel turns.

Sadly, I think they are just building Ambrose now so Reigns can beat him and look strong

JP Liz V1

Ambrose vs Reigns vs HHH vs Lesnar at WM for the title would be good

Loughc

The whole purpose of Fastlane this year is the same as last year's it's to make Reigns look strong and try to get him over.

I remember on the Cena HHH Wrestlemania rewind episode, HHH claimed in it the reason why a lot of the crowd was booing Cena was he hasn't beaten anyone with credibility that's why they thought putting him in an one on one match and put him over against HHH at WM.

It seems they've returned to that unproven formula.

Moneymaker

Only this time it won't work. Reigns will never be over to the level of his push as a babyface. Ever. Ever ever ever ever ever ever. And the harder they try, the worst it will get.

It's so bloody infuriating :mad:

Endaaaagh

Any idea why Mauro wasn't there?

Moneymaker

Endaaaagh wrote: »

Any idea why Mauro wasn't there?

Flu. Sent home. Nothing to worry about.

Endaaaagh

Moneymaker wrote: »

Flu. Sent home. Nothing to worry about.

..was more hoping they decided to switch him with Cole and moved him to Raw

sky88

Endaaaagh wrote: »

..was more hoping they decided to switch him with Cole and moved him to Raw

May not be a popular opinion but cole isnt as bad as people say, i think with cole its that at times you can tell that the lines are coming straight from vince.

If you look at the beast from the east were balor won the nxt title he was really good when hes not overproduced.

I read that vince is not completely controlling smackdown that its more hhh know which i think you can tell if you watch the show.

Bounty Hunter

There has clearly been a change the last few weeks with regards Smackdown. Be it new people in charge, the Wrestlemania season, the new network or a combo of all three they seem to want to make it a bit less missable.

The AJ / Y2J stuff playing out on Smackdwon for example or a Brock Lesnar appearance are not something that you would expect from the show which had been either filled with repeat or prep matches for Raw an no storyline progression (as that would also be saved for Raw).

That said who knows if it will change how many of us actually go out of our way to watch it

Moneymaker

Bounty Hunter wrote: »

There has clearly been a change the last few weeks with regards Smackdown. Be it new people in charge, the Wrestlemania season, the new network or a combo of all three they seem to want to make it a bit less missable.

The AJ / Y2J stuff playing out on Smackdwon for example or a Brock Lesnar appearance are not something that you would expect from the show which had been either filled with repeat or prep matches for Raw an no storyline progression (as that would also be saved for Raw).

That said who knows if it will change how many of us actually go out of our way to watch it

They are doing decent numbers on USAN(around 2.6-2.7m viewers) so that bodes well for them not doing the usual push Smackdown for a few weeks and then forget about it.

As deep as their roster is, there's no reason SD can't be at worst, an A- show. You can even do a soft brand split and have the IC/US titles defended regularly.

Blue_Dabadee

I do agree that they have made a great effort to make Smackdown relevant again since it got moved to USA.

DM_7

After the crap Cole put likes of Tyson Kidd and DH Smith through on commentary it was great to hear Kevin Owens give him **** this week.

beakerjoe

In fairness, what ever Cole says is usually always whats Vince wants him to say

DM_7

True and Vince probably had Owens go at Cole.

beakerjoe

Exactly. When Vince and Kevin Dunn arent backstage, which is rare, the commentary improves vastly. Like at beast from the east for example

johnnyryan89

DM_7 wrote: »

After the crap Cole put likes of Tyson Kidd and DH Smith through on commentary it was great to hear Kevin Owens give him **** this week.

If Kevin Owens ever gets injured (touch wood that he doesn't) then they need to have him do commentary, done a good job on Smackdown.

ERG89

No matter how good Smackdown is or isn't down the years it's calling card is that they will always use fake fan noise.
Remarkable how over the League of Nations are in comparison to Raw :rolleyes: