WWE taped this week’s episode of WWE Smackdown from Fresno, CA. The show will air this Thursday on SyFy.
-Seth Rollins is out to kick off Smackdown for the first time as WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Big Show, Kane and J&J Security following him down to the ring. Rollins talks about escaping Lesnar on RAW and being champion, but Randy Orton cuts him off. Orton reiterates that he never got his rematch for the world title and talks trash about The Authority. Kane books him in a match.
(1) Randy Orton def. Kane (via DQ). The match ends with the inevitable 4-on-1 beatdown. Kane drops Orton with a chokeslam. Ryback runs down and Rollins bails from the ring, leaving J&J as food for the Big Guy.
(2) Naomi def. Natalya.
-Backstage: Kane is not super happy about getting attacked by Orton and wants to book Rollins in a title match at Extreme Rules. Out of nowhere comes Dean Ambrose, who I guess was using their personal bathroom. Kane books Ambrose vs. Harper for tonight.
(3) The Miz def. R-Truth. Damien Sandow comes down and hits the Skull Crushing Finale on Miz, then takes his sunglasses.
-John Cena makes a rare Smackdowe appearance. He says he’s proud to be the US Champion and wants to hold an open challenge for the title ever week, like he did on RAW against Dean Ambrose. Out comes Rusev who wants his rematch at Extreme Rues, but Cena says “why not tonight?” Rusev trash talks him and then tries to do his Russian flag drop spot, but nothing happens. Cena does the spot and the American flag drops down to a big pop.
(4) Luke Harper vs. Dean Ambrose. Not exactly sure what the end result of this one was. Harper beat down Dean then tossed him through the announce table. He also got into it was some of the EMT’s trying to help him. Rough week for Ambrose.
(5) Sheamus def. Intercontinental Champion Daniel Bryan (via count-out). Bad News Barrett was on commentary again like on RAW. Sheamus controlled most of the match until knocking Bryan to the floor. Barrett nailed him with the Bull Hammer and the referee counted out Bryan.
Barrett left. Eventually Bryan got up and led the crowd in a “YES” chant, but it’s unclear where they cut the Smackdown taping off.