Smackdown Sweep Up 1: August 29, 2014

While everything that matters happens on RAW, there is a show called SMACKDOWN, which does have its moments. With RAW demanding a solid 3 hours of your time plus the numerous WWE Network distractions and goings ons in other wrestling companies, here's an effort to keep you in the know about what was interesting...or not...and what is worth tracking down and checking out in case you missed the number 2 show.

This SMACKDOWN kicked off with Bray Wyatt facing Roman Reigns. Immediate thoughts going off in the brain: whoah, this is way too big for SMACKDOWN. This is the stuff of potential main event angles. You could sense this was not going to culminate in any actual win or loss situation, but even teasing at it seemed a bit too much like giving away something of premium value. A win over Bray would surely help Reigns solidify his stature as legit championship contender down the line. And Bray doing even just ok in a feud between them would solidify him as a major player. This should've been advertised. Perhaps it was and I missed it. In any case, unsurprising run-in by other Wyatts to give the DQ finish. Big Show and Henry come to the rescue, leading to classic SMACKDOWN main event booking: throw 'em all in a six-man tag match.

Seth Rollins vs Rob Van Dam. I wanted to see this when I learned this would be RVD's last match in the WWE...at least under this current contract. He won in a count out finish against Rollins on Main Event making the finish of this even  ore obvious. A good match. Nothing special, but seemed as though RVD worked ever so slightly more to get some interesting maneuvers in. I really feel RVD could've been booked much stronger, even if he wasn't going to do anything substantial, he could've been promoted as someone difficult to beat, making up and coming heels' victories over him more meaningful. The way things have been, you could smell 'nothing of any importance is going on here' from miles away. I had even been thinking, considering RVD's past dealings with Heyman, he could've been someone to put against Brock a few times on TV. Even if the outcome would be predictable, they could've done some entertaining hardcore stuff with Brock still dominating even if RVD got in a spot or two. Oh well.

Jack Swagger vs Rusev. At this point one must note that this is solid booking with an emphasis on wrestling, a nice reprieve from RAW and all its filler. This would be a submission match. Victor must win by making opponent give up. Cole or maybe it was JBL declare this to be the most important match between the two. Perhaps he forgot it was a SMACKDOWN taping? In fact, from the stipulation down to the quality of the match, it was what one might say is too good for SMACKDOWN, more suited for RAW. (But hey, for those of us who want to keep enjoying a little extra wrestling on throughout the week, keep it coming!) They did some good back and forth, and the submissions really brought out a heightened sense of suspense, despite the predictable outcome. You could hear fans really popping for Swagger narrowly escaping the Accolade.

Fantastic heel booking of Bo Dallas found him throwing in a towel, thus confusing the referee, and tripping up Swagger for Rusev's ultimate victory. Bo was an effective antagonistic jerk. Rusev was victorious. Swagger lost due to interference. All 3 players came out looking strong. Bo furthered his psychological bullying of Swagger with his injury making him unable to respond to the taunts, making an eventual match between the two something I will look forward to. This is a match to seek out and watch.

Something else that strikes me about the way they are presenting Swagger and his injury is that this is EXACTLY how post-SUMMERSLAM Cena SHOULD be booked!! After the unprecedented one sided beatdown by Lesnar, Cena should've been...still should be...showing signs of trauma, be them mental or physical, and losing matches or at least just squeaking by; then getting stronger little by little to try for a sympathetic comeback against Lesnar. It's been documented that the decision to do 'Super Cena' on last week's RAW was a decision made by Vince. Perhaps they'll course correct in the weeks to come.

Paige vs Emma. I blinked and this was over. But considering how little we've seen of Emma lately, it makes sense. Paige should be shown as a strong champ. I have more to say about the followup: the new direction of her feud with AJ Lee, which has me...confused. AJ switching things up and playing the role of the fake friend...or real friend...giving Paige chocolates and professing her love, i mean 'like.'

This might make sense except Paige isn't even playing along -- she spit the chocolate in AJ's face. AJ acted upset, which makes her look like an idiot. If this is "mind games" it doesn't make sense because Paige has the title and no reason to care if AJ is her friend or not. She called her own bluff already and took the title. This is very frustrating bad booking because AJ and Paige are clearly extremely talented PRO WRESTLERS, head and shoulders above most of their peers. They stand a chance to make an impact. Is this going to make for the next Lita and Trish?? No. But could it? Yes Yes Yes. When you have two very strong wrestlers and a faltering story, ditch the story and make it about their competition with one another, plain and simple. Have them cut old school tried and true biting, pissed off promos on one another and give us a wrestling match to look forward to.

AJ left and came back to CM Punk chants and neither the writers nor her has given reasons to cease them. The confusing psycho or not psycho character is not moving forward and not befitting a face. Ditch it and bring something new, without delay.

Sheamus vs Damien Mizdow. Yeah, this has lasted more than one day. After a bit of time the gimmick actually grows on you a bit. It helps Miz to be a somewhat more over even more repugnant heel. After the match, Sheamus won (as if you needed me to tell you that), Miz even got to run in to get a petty cheap shot in. Fun stuff. I just don't see what poor once a very credible heel himself Damien Sandow gets out of it in the slightest. Perhaps if the gimmick continues, they could find some way to have Sandow interact with Miz in a way that gets Sandow over as a heel a bit too? Perhaps even explain WHY Sandow would be doing this in the first place??

Ziggler caught Miz and gave him some grief on the ramp, so expect a tag match with these four on the next RAW.

Jimmy Uso vs Stardust. First off, I really like the heel turn of the 'Dust Brothers.' Since Cody turned into Stardust, I've always felt the two took on a resemblance to corny classic Batman villains from the BAM! ZIFF! POW! show back in the day. And now that I think about it, the Conquistadors. So the heel role makes sense and feels right. The match ended in a hot minute with Jimmy getting a roll up for the win. The match is worth watching for the classic heel antics: Golddust apologized before the match for the attack on RAW, said they lost it in the moment. Then after this match, another attack from out of nowhere. This should lead to a very fun match at Night of Champions.

Reigns, Big Show, and Mark Henry vs The Wyatts. I can't remember too much about this match but it was good. It was good in that way that all those matches with the Shield were. A lot of moving around. High impact moves. It reminds me why Reigns was so impressive to me as a team player: he would come in and break up the action with some very fast high impact moves...but as a singles competitor, I'm feeling a bit lethargic. Reigns and company won. This could continue in a number of ways. I'd like to see Bray in a program with Big Show. Keep Bray strong and give him a devious way to bring a giant sized Show down, who really hasn't been up to much of anything lately. And the thing with Jericho seems pretty cold. That or get the other Wyatts back into winning mode and show them as a force to be reckoned with in matches against Show and Henry.

Overall this was an entertaining SMACKDOWN. No earth shattering events, but storylines were supported, wrestlers were made to be strong, and there was little filler between people with nothing going on.

Feel free to hit me on twitter with suggestions, criticisms, trash talk, and the like at @mondocurrymark.