WWE Smackdown Spoilers & analysis - Nov. 5, 2015
Alberto Del Rio and Zeb Colter open the show with a promo. This union didn't get less awkward with Monday’s introduction of Jack Swagger to the mix, and in fact, feuding with Swagger would be a step back for Del Rio and the U.S. title at this point.
Alberto Del Rio def. Neville (non-title match)
Poor Neville gets the task of jobbing for the U.S. champ here and even gets the beat down afterward. Swagger comes to the rescue, further solidifying the feud between he and Del Rio.
This is the same Swagger who got crushed by Rusev, who lost a feud to John Cena, who got destroyed by Del Rio. Because of that, he only makes sense for a Del Rio feud due to the Colter angle.
Usos def. The Ascension
The Ascension serve as a reminder that not all NXT call-ups experience immediate success. In this match, they get dropped by the recently returned Usos in a very quick match.
The Usos should provide a new, entertaining challenge for the New Day and would make total sense as the team to win the tag titles off the champs.
Wyatt Family def. Prime Time Players and Lucha Dragons (Survivor Series match)
Yet another squash match in a show seemingly full of them. This time, the Wyatts toss a shutout against their overmatched opponents, with Young losing by count out and each of the other three faces falling to a different Wyatt.
This is another obvious sign we’re headed for a Wyatt Family vs. Unknown match at Survivor Series, likely involving Kane, the Undertaker and two mystery partners. With only two Raws left before the pay-per-view, very little time remains to develop that story, which could be a big one if done well.
The Wyatts need to win that match, but they also need opponents that would make such a victory impressive. The Brothers of Destruction are obviously a good start, but the rest of the team needs to be of similar caliber to give Bray and friends the intended rub.
Ryback def. King Barrett
Surprisingly, this was also a short match. Ryback counters a sleeper hold into a Shellshock to get the win over Barrett, who has mostly been working tag matches of late.
It’s hard to say what either of these men will be doing at Survivor Series. Ryback is always an option for the elimination match against the Wyatts, but after last week’s carry-out sequence didn't air on television, that seems unlikely.
Barrett, meanwhile, has been in an odd state of limbo since winning the King of the Ring earlier this year. He has been entertaining as a member of the Euros with Sheamus and a now-injured Rusev, but who knows how long of a run that team will be given.
Natalya def. Tamina Snuka
This was another matchup that didn't take long to decide. Natalya is being established as a threat in the Divas division, while Tamina is more of a manager or bodyguard figure.
Going forward, we’ll hopefully see more meaningful work for Nattie. She's easily talented enough to contend for the Divas championship, with a style that meshes well with the recent NXT infusion.
That would be a much more fitting role for a performer with her pedigree than her status as a manager for her husband’s tag team.
Kevin Owens def. Dean Ambrose by Disqualification
Owens quickly established himself as one of the best heel workers in the company, and this match was no exception to that. KO works the DQ victory by selling a low blow that never actually happened.
He then escapes the wrath of Ambrose by bailing through the crowd, which is becoming as much of a signature move as his Pop-up Powerbomb finisher.
After the required rematch with Ryback, KO is now working the more logical circuit of contenders for his Intercontinental title. Both of his opponents this week – Ambrose and Dolph Ziggler – were in the jumbled IC title picture surrounding Wrestlemania 31, and both men get great crowd response.
Next week, we should learn who Owens will be defending against at Survivor Series, unless he is to skip the event.
Recent trends would suggest that won't be the case, though. He'd likely face one of those two men or Cesaro – who looks to be headed for some sort of program with Stardust – with the remaining men as candidates to help face the Wyatts.