SmackDown Review: Dissension Between Kane And The Shield Leading To Something Bigger?

By Chris Featherstone

This episode of SmackDown was hosted from Little Rock, AR, and is one of the finals SmackDown shows before WrestleMania 30. The main event pitted Big Show against Kane, with the Shield in his corner. However, Kane's plans of the Shield attacking Big Show backfired, leading many to suspect a further development of this leading into WrestleMania.

Seth Rollins vs. Damien Sandow
Good way to showcase Rollins as a singles competitor, and WWE should put him in more positions like this. It made sense that Sandow was going to get some kind of punishment for not competing on Raw, and this was sufficient. The triple powerbomb was also a good way to show the unity of the Shield, but it appears as if Roman Reigns will not have his WrestleMania moment in winning the US title. Shield is looking more and more like a babyface group, but Reigns should breakout as the face while Rollins and Ambrose remain heel (at least for now).

Big E vs. Fandango
I am always for the showcase of midcard talent. This is as close as we will get in highlighting the Intercontinental Championship, which is a shame. Big E in the Andre the Giant Memorial battle royal makes very little sense. Defending the IC title would be much more beneficial. Big E showed on SmackDown that he is still over, and should be one of the names that are on the list as the future of WWE.

Cody Rhodes/Goldust vs. Real Americans
At this point, we should accept a win from the Rhodes brothers however we get it. This is quite unfortunate, because six months ago they were involved in one of the hottest angles in WWE, and could have built into a very poignant match at WrestleMania. The Usos coming to make the save may lead to a match at WrestleMania involving the Brotherhood, Real Americans, or both, which would suffice as a WM spot for Cody Rhodes and Goldust.

Bray Wyatt vs. Kofi Kingston
Another Kofi Kingston loss. Kingston has had so many championships in the WWE, but still has not found his niche. Sadly, the best thing for his career would be to reunite Air Boom when Evan Bourne returns. Otherwise, he will lose more and more. And more. And more. Then beat Randy Orton. And lose again more and more. Then get a midcard title for a short period of time. Then drop the title and lose again more and more.

Nikki Bella vs. Tamina Snuka
It looks like AJ lee is losing a whole lot lately, so Tamina would only follow. Coincidence? I think not. It is time for AJ to drop the title. To Nikki Bella? No. However, a multi-Diva title match a WrestleMania would be a good way to end the dismal reign of AJ as champion.


Dolph Ziggler vs. Alberto Del Rio
This match seemed very promising for Dolph Ziggler. He is clawing and scratching in trying to get some kind of decent spot again, and being a frontrunner to win the ATGM battle royal is good momentum. Unfortunately, it does not seem like Ziggler will be a main event star anytime soon, so having emotional interviews like he did on SmackDown may have more meaning than we think.

Big Show vs. Kane
Has Kane won even one match as Corporate Kane? I understand that throughout his career he constantly put people over, but winning against the Big Show wouldn't have hurt anything. Yes, it built up to the Shield rebelling against him, but he could have pinned Big Show with that top rope chokeslam after the Shield refusing to help him, and still could have done the spot with Seth Rollins. I sure hope this does not lead to some last-minute six-man tag match with the Shield going against Kane and a team from NXT (most likely the Ascension). I am not sold on the Shield as a group being babyfaces, unless the Kane team wins at WrestleMania 30 due to the Shield breaking up, leading to a triple threat match at Extreme Rules.


Notables:
- Congrats to Carlos Colon as the newest WWE HOF inductee.
- The Triple H promo was a good way to create more anticipation for their match at WM 30.

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