SMACKDOWN Lowdown 9/26/2014

Smackdown was a more action orientated broadcast then Raw was this week, even if Smackdown did pick up where Raw left off.

The Rollin storyline was furthered and Rusev was front and center in the main event.

THE HIGH POINTS:

BATTLE ROYAL
Easily the match of the night! The battle royal was held to crown the #1 contender to Ziggler’s IC Title, the winner to face Ziggler later in the broadcast.

Cesaro rocked the battle royal again, dominated and showcased his strength. There were some nice spots and everyone in the match delivered. The right person won.

IC TITLE MATCH
Ziggler defended the IC Title in a Classic match against Cesaro that was great moment for both guys. Ziggler gained the pin fall win, but not without controversy. Cesaro had his hand on the ropes before the three count. The ref screwed up.

I hope this is the beginning of a feud between these two, and finally a good push for Cesaro.

Rusev versus The Big Show
We all knew this was coming, considering The Big Show and Mark Henry’s onscreen relationship lately. I don’t think anyone expected Big Show to keep his promise to knock out Rusev. I didn’t. I thought this would lead to another Rusev win.

The match itself wasn’t much. Big Show dominated, and won by DQ when Rusev hit him with the Flag Pole. Bad move, seconds later Big Show knocked Rusev the Hell Out!

Finally, someone takes it to Rusev. Nice way to end the show.

THE LOW POINTS

Rosa and Nattie versus Summer Rae and Layla
Do I really need to explain why? Ok. This was nothing more than an extension of the Nattie/Summer match on RAW and was more of a Total Divas promo tie-in.

Summer Rae and Layla won when Layla pins Rosa.

OTHER MATCHES:

Dean Ambrose versus Miz.
What a good match these two put on to open the show. The chemistry and physical they displayed was really good. Ambrose won the match by pin.

After the match was the real story, Rollins and Kane went after Ambrose, and were made to look like fools again as Ambrose made off with Rollins’ Money in the Bank briefcase.

Gold & Stardust defend the Tag Titles against the Usos
This isn’t over yet. The Usos cash in their rematch to go for the Title. They would fall short though when the Dusts would be DQ because Goldust broke up a pin fall by hitting Jay with a Title Belt.

Usos win, but Dusts’ retain. The feud continues. This is good.

THE PROMOS

Seth Rollins and Kane
In the Authority’s backstage office, Rollins bitched and moaned about Ambrose and threatened to destroy him.

Big Show
Big Show did an interview with Rene, speaking highly of Mark Henry and promising to knock our Rusev.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

This might be the best show WWE has produced on TV in a while. It was the most in-ring focused show they have done in weeks.

Seven matches, one of them a battle royal and two of them title matches. Only the Divas match failed. This was a good foot forward for the WWE, if they put out more like this broadcast, maybe they’ll get on track.

We can hope.

RATING: 6.5

MATCH OF THE NIGHT: BATTLE ROYAL
WRESTLER OF THE NIGHT: CESARO
IMPACT OF THE NIGHT: Big Show knocking out Rusev.