(4) SAMI ZAYN (w/Shinsuke Nakamura, Cesaro) vs. DANIEL BYRAN (w/Drew Gulak)
Bryan came out first and was cheered by Mojo and Gronk from the platform. Then Sami made his entrance. Cole said Sami might be the most annoying man in the history of WWE. Chaos early with Cesaro, Nakamura, and Sami all playing mind games early and creating distractions. Cole said you have to wonder when frustration is going to set in for Bryan. Lots of noise early from those at ringside. Cole said he had to expect this was going to happen, though. Sami bailed out of the ring and crawled away. Bryan chased after him, but Nakamura and Cesaro blocked him. Drew leaped off the ring apron and knocked Cesaro and Nakamura over. He backdropped a charging Cesaro over the barricade. He knocked Nakamura over the barricade, too. Sami and Gulak faced off at ringside. When Sami tried to retreat and get counted out, Bryan chased him down and tackled him, then dragged him by his hair back into the ring. Sami made a pitch to Bryan that this wasn’t supposed to happen and he should just join them. Bryan mounted Sami and punched away at him. Bryan seemed amused. Sami caught Bryan with an elbow and took over. He punched away at Bryan’shead and then landed a hard leaping clothesline. He recovered a bit and yelled in pain and also excitement over finally taking over. JBL said he’s never heard anyone talk as much as Sami during a match. Bryan came back with his own clothesline and then a series of Yes kicks a minute later. JBL called it “a full on assault.” As Drew chanted “Yes!” Nakamura and Cesaro attacked him and threw him into the steps. Bryan dove through the ropes and tackled them. He then climbed to the top rope and leaped, but Sami caught caught him out of mid-air with a Helluva Kick for a three count. Cole credited Cesaro and Nakamura for giving Sami the edge. JBL said Sami is the ultimate survivalist.
WINNER: Sami in 10:00 to retain the IC Title. (**1/4)
Solid match, but it wasn’t aiming to be a classic or anything. Lots of energy generated by the wrestlers at ringside and a lot of yelling by Sami. Bryan seemed genuinely amused by Sami’s antics at times. I’m glad to see Sami keep the IC Title as he needed a big win to gain some credibility, although it might also be a sign WWE sees Bryan looking at exiting by the end of the year when his contract expires.
(5) JOHN MORRISON vs. KOFI KINGSTON vs. JIMMY USO – Ladder Match for the Raw Tag Team Titles
They each set up ladders mid-ring early. Uso took an early spill and sold a leg injury. Morrison beat him down as soon as he stood, then turned back to Kofi. A few minutes in, Uso went for a suplex on Morrison while the ladder was bridged in the corner, but Morrison blocked it and landed Starship Pain on Uso on the ladder. A few minutes later Morrison landed a Spanish Fly on Kofi. Kofi and Uso climbed a ladder mid-range minute later. Kofi knocked Uso to the mat and then climbed the ladder higher. He got his hand on the belts, but Morrison met him up there. The knocked each other over. Kofi kicked Morrison out of the ring to the floor, then blocked Uso jabbing him with the ladder. The ladder was bridged from the middle rope to the other ladder mid-ring. Uso threw Kofi face-first into the ladder. Kofi took a hell of a bump. Morrison leaped off the ladder at Uso, but Uso kicked him out of mid-air. Uso then set up a ladder in the corner and looked at Morrison who was lying on a bridged ladder. Morrison popped up and tipped Uso off the ladder to ringside. All three ended up climbing ladders mid-ring and all three pulled the title belts down. JBL said he’s never seen that. Uso headbutted Morrison off the ladder and he bumped onto the bridged ladder, then rolled to the mat with the belts in his arms, so Morrison technically won. Cole called it an incredible ladder match that stole the show. JBL touted how amazing it was, too.
WINNER: Morrison in 19:00 to retain the Smackdown Tag Team Titles for him and Miz. (***1/4)
Nicely done, all in all. Three good athletes kept the pace up and took some big bumps without go overboard with diminishing returns. The highlight of the night so far, but I’d rather come to that conclusion myself as a viewer rather than have Cole and JBL be quite so heavy-handed with their immediate declaration of how great it was.
