WWE SmackDown Results: Hulk Hogan In Charge, US Title Match, Big Main Event
Welcome to WrestlingINC.com's live coverage and results for SmackDown. Tonight's show was taped on Tuesday in Sioux City, Iowa.
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The velvet tones of Rick Derringer fire up the crowd to get this one started. Out comes Hulk Hogan to a big "live-on-tape" pop! Hulk says that not only is Hulkamania running wild but the Hulkster is running SmackDown tonight! Hulkster saunters down memory lane for a bit and also mentions that Christian and Edge are hosting Raw next week. Seth Rollins' music interrupts the nostalgia and Mr. Money in the Bank walks down the ramp, flanked by J & J Security. Seth jokes that Hulk is "The Seth Rollins of the '80s," which is kind of a funny joke. Unfortunately for Seth, he's the only one laughing. Seth says that Hulk is the reason he got into the biz and then follows up by stating that Hulk doesn't belong in the ring any more.
Hulk tells Seth he's in charge tonight but Rollins mounts another tirade and warns Hogan to stay out of his business. The Hulkster says Hogan may not make it out of the ring at the end of the segment and Seth laughs it off until Hulk books him in a match with the man who he regards as the future of WWE, Dolph Ziggler. The live crowd agrees as Dolph hits the ramp. Ziggler cuts a promo on Rollins, inviting him to take a hike. Verbal fisticuffs ensue and all of that comes to a halt when Big Show comes out for a talk.
Show says he's going to knock out Hogan and then he'll follow up with Ziggler for good measure. Cue Roman Reigns who enters from the crowd and heads him off at the pass. Reigns tells Show not to step through the ropes unless he wants to get hit in the mouth. Hogan's epiphany is to book Ziggler and Reigns in a big tag contest with Big Show and Seth Rollins. Believe that, brothers.
Ryback vs. Kane
Ryback has the crowd on his side from the moment he comes out. Kane leads with a big boot and Ryback fires back, hard and fast. Kane still manages to get the upper hand and works Ryback over in the corner. Ryback ends up on the mat but mounts a comeback when he returns to a vertical base. Kind of. Kane drops him again and manages to keep up with The Big Guy. Rusev hits the ramp and heads right for the ring but Ryback blasts him off the apron. He finishes Kane with the Shellshock and covers for the win.
Result: Ryback defeats Kane via pinfall.
Post-match, Cole jokes that Rusev looks like the Russian economy now because he's laid out flat. Save the politics for the dinner table, Cole. Rusev makes it into the ring and squares off with The Big Guy until Kane gets involved, chokeslamming Ryback. Rusev slaps the Accolade on Ryback as the refs plead for him to stop the madness.
After a commercial, Hogan confronts Rusev backstage and says he's going to defend the US Title later tonight. It's actually a pretty entertaining yet brief segment. Let's go back to the ring for some Divas action.
Naomi vs. Alicia Fox
The ladies lock up quickly and Naomi lands a quick takedown but Fox comes back strong for the moment. Naomi roars back and we get a glimpse of The Miz watching from backstage. Naomi and Alicia grapple in the middle of the ring and Alicia gets a near-fall. She works Naomi over on the mat and looks for the win with a suplex but Naomi kicks out again. Things turn for Naomi when she hits Fox with a big kick to the head off the apron. There's a little back-and-forth but Naomi finishes Fox with a split-leg moonsault followed by a cover and three-count.
Result: Naomi defeats Alicia Fox via pinfall.
Commercials roll and then we get a look at the "Raw Rebound" featuring "Ho-Ho Hogan." Hey, isn't Hogan on this show right now? Then why do we need the recap? Call it effective cross-marketing and such, I suppose. Back to tonight's episode?
Naomi is walking back stage and she's applauded by her hubby who has a match with Miz later tonight. He even says "Uso crazy," which is a little weird.
Out in the venue, R-Truth is rocking the mic. He's in action after these important messages.
R-Truth vs. Adam Rose
We get a look at Rose's loss to Truth on Monday Night Raw and the beatdown that Rose gave to the Bunny after the bell. Turns out that Rose is getting a little sour when it comes to the Rosebuds these days. R-Truth gets in a few blows early on but Rose pounds him into a pile and covers him for a near-fall. After a snap suplex, Rose covers again but can't get a win. Truth has some gas left in the tank and peppers Rose with shots but Rose doles out some punishment, delivering a finisher and garnering a win.
Result: Adam Rose defeats R-Truth via pinfall.
After the break, Rusev comes out for his title match. His opponent hasn't been named yet, so Lana takes to the mic and says Rusev will crush whoever he faces. Then Dean Ambrose's them kicks in. Let's get it on?
United States Championship Match: Dean Ambrose vs. Rusev
The crowd is all about Ambrose in this one. They lock up and Rusev appears to tip the scales quickly. Ambrose gets all over him in the corner and then they move to another corner where Dean keeps it up. Rusev moves into control in a quick change up and beats on Ambrose on the ropes. Dean gets another spark of life and delivers shot after shot to Rusev. A flurry of chops follows and Ambrose hits him with a dropkick, putting the Bulgarian out on to the floor. Dean flows him out with a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Ambrose gets a near-fall. Rusev gathers momentum after that but Ambrose stays in the hunt and the guys battle back and forth. Rusev bumps Ambrose outside and we go to break.
After the commercials, Ambrose stages a comeback but Rusev wears him down with heavy offense. The big Bulgarian moves in for the kill but Ambrose struggles out of the Accolade. Ambrose manages to stay a step ahead of his opponent, keeping things going with big batch of fists and kicks. Dean hits a DDT and goes up top but Rusev blocks the move. Ambrose gets a near-fall a few moments later, hits an elbow drop off the top and gets another near-fall. Rusev rolls out before Ambrose can land the death-blow but they end up brawling outside. Bray Wyatt interferes, prompting the DQ. Rusev keeps the title.
Result: Dean Ambrose wins via DQ due to interference by Bray Wyatt.
Post-match, Wyatt tries for Sister Abigail but doesn't deliver. They brawl into the timekeeper's area and Bray cleans off the announce table. Ambrose stops him cold with a chair shot to the head. Dean starts tossing chairs into the ring to set up something big and Wyatt wisely retreats. Good match and no-finish segment to keep the feud running.
Commercials happen and then we're back in the ring.
Jimmy Uso (w/Jey Uso) vs. The Miz (w/Damien Midzdow)
Uso and Miz slug it out briefly and the action falls outside for a second or two. Miz tries to get out again and Jimmy blocks him but Miz gets in a couple of chops. Uso comes at him again and Miz tries to give up and leave the ring area, so Jimmy chases him on the ramp and gets him back into the squared circle. Miz pleads for mercy and Jimmy is skeptical, giving Miz a superkick for his trouble. Jimmy goes to the top rope and comes down with a splash, followed by a three-count.
Result: Jimmy Uso defeats The Miz via pinfall.
And now, the main event is within sight...
Dolph Ziggler and Roman Reigns vs. Big Show and Seth Rollins
Ziggler and Rollins start off, locking up, backing off and then coming together again. After some back and forth, Ziggler pulls Rollins over to his corner and tags in Reigns. Rollins escapes and brings in Show. Reigns puts Show into the corner and delivers a series of shots to the midsection but Big Show cracks Rollins with a well-timed blow and brings in Rollins to capitalize. Seth can't stay on top for long and Roman starts a slow grind on Rollins. Ziggler tags himself in and delivers a neckbreaker followed by additional offense. Noble distracts the ref from outside and Show reaches in and grabs Ziggler by the hair, putting Dolph on the mat so Seth can regain control. Commercial sign.
When the show resumes, Rollins is wearing down Dolph on the mat. Show tags in and the crowd chant's "BIG SLOW! BIG SLOW!" Show dominates Ziggler for a lengthy spell. Ziggler eventually puts some distance between himself and show. Rollins tags in and the Ziggler gets a tag shortly thereafter. Reigns takes Rollins apart and cocks up his fist. J & J try to interfere again and Reigns gets rocked with a superkick from Rollins but he manages to kick out. Seth tries for a power bomb and Roman counters. Show tries to get involved and is laid out with a spear. Reigns ends up outside where he gets worked over by J & J. Ziggler takes out both security guys and Reigns spears Rollins inside, covering his former teammate for the win.
Result: Roman Reigns and Dolph Ziggler defeat Seth Rollins and Big Show via pinfall.
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