WWE Smackdown
February 12th, 2015
Dayton, Ohio

Introduction: Corporate Kane is in the back, with Big Show by his side, he is addressing the entire tag team division about a concept pioneered by Pat Patterson. Kane pitches this concept as a good thing even though there is seemingly nothing on the line. Kane addresses each team individually mentioning how this could help their careers. In the midst of this conference we have The Ascension, The Mizzes, Los Matadores, The Uso’s, and Slater Gator (who are reuniting with a fresh haircut on Heath Slater). Kane announces that the order each team will enter the match will be random except for the team of Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns, who will be starting the match.

Bray Wyatt vs. R-Truth: As Bray makes his entrance to the ring Cole declares “Bray is making his way to the ring through a field of fire flies!” WWE continues to put over Bray as a babyface despite his character intending to be a heel. Why are they encouraging this “fire fly” nonsense? Why does Bray have all of this merchandise?

Bray spends the majority of the match beating down R-Truth. Bray using some heel tactics such as choking R-Truth with the ring rope, smashing Truth’s shoulder into the ring post on the outside, etc., but the problem is the commentators don’t point out that he is cheating or doing anything that is dastardly. Again, why would anyone boo this guy?

Bray eventually hits Truth with a lariat and then proceeds to go to the corner of the ring and do his upside down spider walk. In a very anti-climactic spot, Bray rolls out of the spider walk and hit Truth with the Sister Abigail for the win. ½*

Paige vs. Summer Rae: The Bella Twins are on guest commentary for this match and we start with a recap of the Paige feud with the Bellas, but before that during the commercial break that preceded this match we saw a commercial for the upcoming episode of Total Divas with clips of Paige and Brie going into Brie Mode while partying it up in London. Was this really an appropriate time to show this commercial?

Paige looked absolutely awesome in this match. In the finish Paige hits Summer with three successive short-armed clotheslines that just looked vicious. Paige followed it up with the PTO to force Summer to submit. Paige then taunted Nikki Bella by screaming her signature “This is my house now!” This is the Paige we watched in NXT and need to see more of in WWE. **1/4

Adam Rose vs. Fandango: Rose has been showing an endearing mean streak lately after the Exotic Express has dropped him twice when he attempted the Trust Fall/Crowd Surfing gimmick during his entrance. Rose bypassed it this time by telling the Exotic Express to go away.

Rose was distracted during the match with his angst towards the Exotic Express as they turn from Rosebuds to lemons. Fandango controls the match with some quick jabs and then the Last Dance Guillotine Leg Drop for the win. Rose rolled out of the ring after the match as the Exotic Express approaches him to console him. Rose delivers a vicious forearm to one of the Express members and shoves the rest out-of-the-way as he stormed up the ramp. *3/4

Recap of Triple H calling out Sting for a response to his challenge: On Raw Sting played mind games with Triple H as he told Triple H that he accepted his “face to face challenge” at Fast Lane by displaying a graphic on the Titan Tron. This was kind of neat in a nostalgic sort of way, but are we going to have two feuds going into WrestleMania with hocus pocus/mumbo jumbo? Are we going to see Wyatt and Undertaker trading witch doctored barbs and later in the same show see Sting do a similar thing to Triple H?

Tag Team Turmoil- Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns vs. The Miz and Damien Mizdow: Before we get into the match, why does anyone care if Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns get along? Why is that the focus point of their upcoming match at Fast Lane? Shouldn’t we WANT them to be at odds? I mean they ARE going to be opponents. This is just more silly WWE booking.

Bryan and Reigns start off by taking turns beating Miz down in their corner while forcing tags on each other as they talk trash. The Miz missed his signature clothesline in the corner to Bryan. Bryan then sets up for the Busaiku Knee as Reigns forcefully tags himself in. Reigns hits The Miz with the Superman punch and sets up for the Spear until Bryan forcefully tags himself in. Bryan hits the Busaiku Knee and puts Miz away.

Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns vs. The Uso’s (Jimmy and Jey Uso): Daniel Bryan started off with some chain wrestling on Jey Uso. They both tag out and we get Roman Reigns in the ring with Jimmy Uso and for the first time on WWE TV in the ring they acknowledge that Reigns and the Uso’s are a part of the same family. They never once mentioned this anytime the Shield took on the Uso’s.

This match is worked at a snail’s pace until going into the finishing sequence. Reigns is torn in the end of the match by how vicious Daniel Bryan is acting towards his cousins. This is the fiery bad ass Daniel Bryan we have been begging for over the last two years, but it appears like they’re booking him to be a heel as well. Daniel Bryan eventually counters a Big Splash from Jimmy Uso into the Yes! Lock for the win.

Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns vs. Los Matadores (Fernando and Diego): This match was short and sweet with Bryan winning with the Yes! Lock again.

Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns vs. Slate Gator (Heath Slater and Titus O’Neil): By this time Reigns is sick of seeing Bryan win and tags himself in and wins quickly with the Superman Punch.

Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns vs. The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor): The Ascension takes turns beating Reigns and Bryan down on the outside of the ring. This is the strongest the Ascension has looked since getting called up to the main roster. The Ascension hits Daniel Bryan with the Fall of Man and the referees disqualify the Ascension.

Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns vs. The Big Show and Kane: Michael Cole sells this as the master plan of the Authority. The Authority knew that Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns weren’t getting along, but they would get along enough to win 5 matches over the top WWE Tag teams so they would be worn out before they wrestled Big Show and Kane for the THIRD time this week! Ugggggghhh….

This match is worked at the slow and plodding pace you can expect from a match with Big Show and Kane in it. Big Show and Kane take turns working Bryan over while Bryan is fighting to get to Reigns corner for the tag. Big Show and Kane start arguing over Big Show wanting to have fun while Kane wants him to finish the match. Kane tags himself in and yells at Big Show.

We have gone through what should be 6-12 months of booking in the midst of 45 minutes. Bryan and Reigns argue back and forth. They can’t get along. Then by the end of the match Bryan and Reigns find a way to reconcile while Show and Kane are arguing and can’t get along.

Big Show eventually KO Punches Kane, Reigns Spears Show, and then Bryan hits Big Show with the Busaiku Knee for the win.

Final Thoughts:

Over half the show was taken up by the Tag Team Turmoil match and normally I wouldn’t complain about watching Daniel Bryan wrestle for 45 minutes, but the whole match was silly and contrived. Again, I must ask, why do we care if Bryan and Reigns get along? This show overall was “meh”. If you want more of my thoughts on WWE then read my Weekly WWE Soapbox on Monday and follow me on Twitter @MrTCMitchell.