Smackdown
Date: February 13, 2018
Location: Rabobank Arena, Bakersfield, California
Commentators: Corey Graves, Byron Saxton, Tom Phillips
It’s another big match tonight, even if the match doesn’t make a ton of sense. Tonight’s main event is Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin with the winner being added to the Fastlane triple threat, making it a four way. Now why this makes sense when Ziggler vacated the US title and walked off isn’t clear, and I’d be surprised if we get an explanation. Let’s get to it.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin
Charlotte vs. Sarah Logan
Non-title and Charlotte brings Becky Lynch and Naomi with her as backup. Charlotte can’t power Sarah around to start and actually gets wrestled to the ground in rather short order. That’s enough being in trouble for Charlotte as she kicks Sarah in the face and we take a break. Back with Logan trying some chops, only to be chopped back herself. Corey: “You never headbutt a Samoan and you never chop a Flair.”
Logan shoulders her in the back to take over again though and Charlotte is still in trouble. We hit the quickly broken chinlock until Charlotte comes back with a jumping knee. Logan is right back with a dropkick for two more as Charlotte is actually in some trouble here. Back up and Charlotte misses a big boot, allowing Logan to score with a belly to back suplex for another two. Charlotte manages to score with a backbreaker though and Natural Selection (with Logan nearly doing a headstand on the impact) gives her the pin at 10:23.
Result: Charlotte b. Sarah Logan – Natural Selection (10:23)
Post match Charlotte says one to go.
Shane McMahon isn’t happy with Daniel Bryan and makes a pair of matches tonight: Owens vs. Ziggler and Sami vs. Corbin. If Corbin or Ziggler win, the match could become a fatal four way or a fatal five way.
Video on Seth Rollins at a museum looking at the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Kevin Owens vs. Baron Corbin
The brawl is on to start with Corbin sending Kevin outside and sending him into the barricade, despite holding onto his banged up ribs. Back in and Owens scores with a shot to the ribs, only to get POPPED in the face for his efforts. They’re right back on the floor in short order with Corbin sending him into the barricade again. They head inside for the second time where Corbin’s slide underneath the ropes is cut off with a superkick to the ribs. The backsplash gets two and we take a break.
Back with Owens still on the ribs before grabbing a chinlock. Corbin fights up (perhaps pushed on by the RUSEV DAY chants) and hits a chokebreaker, followed by the slide under the ropes clothesline for two. Owens gets in another shot to the ribs but charges into Deep Six for two more. End of Days is enough to send Corbin to the pay per view at 10:42.
Result: Baron Corbin b. Kevin Owens – End of Days (10:42)
Quick look at last week’s Top Ten.
Here’s US Champion Bobby Roode for an Open Challenge, though he’d like for the champion to come through the entrance rather than sneaking up on him for an RKO out of nowhere.
US Title: Bobby Roode vs. Randy Orton
Roode is defending….but hang on because here’s Jinder Mahal. Jinder brings up Orton being #9 on the Top Ten, which is quite underwhelming. Why isn’t Jinder higher up when he defeated Orton for the title? Mahal stays on the theme by talking about Orton being behind Roode, who has been here six months. Roode wants some respect, which he has for Orton. The RKO takes out the remaining Singh Brother but Mahal hits the Khallas on both of them. No match.
Here’s New Day with a table covered in pancakes. Today happens to be Fat Tuesday, aka Pancake Tuesday. In a special moment, Big E. is going to break the world record for most pancakes eaten in eight minutes. This involves shoving pancakes into his face but not actually eating any of them. Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable interrupt, mocking New Day for how stupid this whole thing is.
They aren’t cool with New Day doing something so stupid, but Woods reminds them of New Day’s record breaking reign. No one wants to see Benjamin and Gable as champions, but Chad shushes them. Pancakes are thrown on the ground so Big E. demands that NOBODY TOUCH THEIR CAKES!!! Benjamin: “From now on, we’re eating WAFFLES!” Big E. has to be held back and a match is made.
New Day vs. Shelton Benjamin/Chad Gable
Joined in progress with Chad working on Kofi’s arm before the rolling Liger Kick is good for two. Kofi sends Gable to the floor and dives for the hot tag, only to have Chad pull Big E. from the apron in a great piece of timing. The tag connects a few seconds later though and it’s Big E. cleaning house with the suplexes. The Warrior Splash connects but it’s Gable coming back with Rolling Chaos Theory. Woods offers a distraction though and the referee misses Benjamin getting tagged in. The distraction sets up the Midnight Hour to give New Day the pin at 4:27.
Result: New Day b. Shelton Benjamin/Chad Gable – Midnight Hour to Gable (4:27)
Ziggler is back to earn his spot in the main event at Wrestlemania.
The Usos are in what looks like a dark basement but it’s not far enough in the bowels of the building to hide from the words appearing on screen. Speaking of the screen, it suddenly breaks as the Bludgeon Brothers hit a TV with their hammers. I’m really not sure what to make of that but the match should be good.
Sami Zayn vs. Dolph Ziggler
Sami hides in the corner to start with Ziggler not being able to take him down. Instead he hits Sami in the head and nails the Stinger Splash in the corner. Zayn is right back up with forearms in the corner and a kick to the face. Sami’s top rope dive is dropkicked out of the air and we take a break.
Back with Sami in control until Ziggler’s DDT gets him out of trouble. The Fameasser gets two but Sami crotches him on top for a breather. Sami is right back up with a super exploder suplex for two and the shock is apparently. Back up and Sami misses the Helluva Kick, allowing Ziggler to grab the Zig Zag for two of his own. Sami sends him shoulder first into the post and does it again for good measure. Back up and the Helluva Kick is countered with a superkick to send Ziggler to the pay per view at 16:10.
Result: Dolph Ziggler b. Sami Zayn – Superkick (16:10)
Results
Charlotte b. Sarah Logan – Natural Selection
Baron Corbin b. Kevin Owens – End of Days
New Day b. Shelton Benjamin/Chad Gable – Midnight Hour to Gable
Dolph Ziggler b. Sami Zayn – Superkick
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