LWOS brings to you its Wild, Wild, Wrestling Recap, examining the good, the bad, and the ugly of professional wrestling.

Wild, Wild, Wrestling Recap: Friday Night Smackdown (Feb. 7, 2014)

The Good

Roman Reigns and The Shield, but mainly Roman Reigns

Just like on this past Monday’s episode of Monday Night Raw, the highlight of Smackdown was easily the feud between The Shield and The Wyatts. We were treated to a tag team match between the underutilized tandem of Reigns and Dean Ambrose and the directionless duo of Dolph Ziggler and Kofi Kingston.

Reigns might have the best moveset in the company as far as having signature spots that get the crowd going.  His dropkick from the outside is a welcome, relatively recent addition, and the superman punch (preceding taunt included) and spear are perhaps the best protected one-two punch in WWE right now. It also doesn’t hurt to have the best salesman in the company in Ziggler on the receiving end of those moves.

I enjoyed the callback to past Monday’s finish, with Reigns making sure to finish the job before forcing Ambrose to end the match. It should be noted that Seth Rollins did a commendable job on commentary throughout the match; he’s been playing the arbitrator very well recently.

“Best, Big Guy, In the World”

Ryback has the best Twitter account in WWE, and his “Big Guy” gimmick is absolutely hilarious. It’s nice to see him slowly integrate it into his on-screen character. His shouting from the top rope was great and missing the subsequent splash only made it better. Sheamus might have some serious (on-screen) character issues, but boy can he go in the ring. I’m excited for the hoss fights we’re in store for, especially if they include more spots like Ryback’s reversal of a Brogue Kick into a powerbomb. Continuously watching Curtis Axel get Brogue Kicked doesn’t hurt, either.

 Daniel Bryan versus Antonio Cesaro

Not much to say here, as these two delivered a typically exciting match. This should be a pairing we see main eventing several pay-per-views down the road. Daniel Bryan should be there now, and Cesaro certainly isn’t too far behind.

AJ Lee versus Nikki Bella

AJ and one-half of the ever improving Bella twins delivered a solid if not spectacular Divas match. It ended with the standard Tamina/Bella distraction finish, but it’s always good to be reminded the quality of the Divas division is constantly improving.

The Bad

Dolph Ziggler, Salesman to the Stars

How the almost, but not really, mighty have fallen. Ziggler’s impassioned promo doesn’t seem to have made much difference to the powers that be, as he spent this week getting beat up by both sides of the aforementioned Shield/Wyatt feud. He’s capable of making almost anyone look formidable, but it’d be nice to see him be the one to come out of a match looking good for once. Also, I’d like to see one match where he actually hits the sleeper instead of his opponent holding onto the ropes and sending him flying. Also also, I still hate you Jack Swagger.

One. More. Match. Ugh.

I’m writing this as Christian makes his entrance. I try to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed something Christian did. I said on Monday how I was excited for some of Orton’s upcoming matches, this definitely wasn’t one of them. I simply couldn’t care less.

The Ugly

Team Hell No More

As cool as Kane looked in dress pants at the Royal Rumble, and as refreshing as joining The Authority has been for his gimmick, it’s disheartening to see Bryan and Kane feuding like this. I’m one of those conspiracy theorists who likes to pretend that Kane and Bryan were in cahoots when Bryan got revenge on Bray Wyatt in their cage match on Raw a few weeks ago,  but this puts the Katie Vick nail in that coffin.

No, I’m Weirder

Don’t get me wrong, Bray Wyatt and Goldust delivered a fun match, but I felt “ugly” was a much more apropos descriptor than “good.” Watching these two integrate those little character moments, like Goldust’s breathe and bite taunt or Bray staring at Goldie while hanging upside down in the corner, is pro wrestling absurdity at its finest. The ending visual, with Bray staring down Cody Rhodes as he covered his incapacitated brother, was suitably disturbing as well.

 

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Photo courtesy WWE.com