** SPOILERS ** More WWE SmackDown Taping Notes: Heel Turn Teased?, More Steel Cage Match Details
Thanks to Wrestling Inc. reader AustinRules316 for sending in the photo above and these additional details for last night's SmackDown taping in Laredo (spoilers are here).
- During the Miz TV segment, R-Truth came out mistakenly accepting the U.S. title open challenge.
- Dolph Ziggler appeared to turn heel or tease a heel turn during his eight man tag team match where he teamed with Goldust, R-Truth and Neville to defeat The New Day and The Miz. After Ziggler got the pin for his team, the faces celebrated (Neville was out on the ramp near the ring) and R-Truth raised Ziggler's hand. Ziggler superkicked R-Truth and eyed Neville down on the ramp as he made his way to the back.
- As noted, they had a steel cage set up above the ring, which was not used during the show and only for the dark match. The steel cage was covered during the show and the tarps were only removed after it was positioned on the ring during the dark match, apparently so the people watching at home wouldn't be asking if there was going to be a cage match.
- The advertised dark match was John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio, which didn't happen. Instead, the Wyatts faced Dean Ambrose, Ryback, Dolph Ziggler and The Big Show, which was odd since Ziggler appeared to turn heel earlier in the show. It began with the Wyatts heading to the ring and taking Ambrose along with the show ending brawl with Kevin Owens. Bray asked for the cage to be lowered. The Wyatts attacked Ambrose and Ziggler came out to help, followed by Ryback and then the Big Show. They all cleared the ring of the Wyatts with Ambrose getting the pinfall.
I posted more details of the steel cage match with photos last night, which you can check out at this link.
- Overall the show was a minor step above what the show has been lately, with Cena basically taking Reigns' place on Smackdown. With this being the big move show to the USA Network, they could have done with a couple of more matches and much less repeated Raw recaps and "Brock Lesnar on Raw" promos that slowed greatly the flow of the show.
Biggest pops: 1. John Cena, 2. Dean Ambrose 3. Ryback
Most heat: 1. New Day, 2. Social Outcasts (from Main Event) 3. Miz