SmackDown 6/27/14

1. After a video, SmackDown opens with Hunter, Randy Orton, and Seth Rollins. Hunter talks about the "Authority Era" and how he and his cohorts are making history. (Historical drowsiness, maybe.) he also says an Orton championship and a Rollins contract win is "what's best for business." Orton and Rollins reiterate that point. There's a little dissension when Rollins points out that Randy might not get the job done again. Hunter tries to keep the peace.
2. Hunter then introduces a match between Bad News Barrett and Dean Ambrose. No chance this match ends cleanly, but it should be a good match until Rollins and Swagger interfere.
3. Did not expect a clean win by Ambrose! Very good match.
4. But Swagger and Colter interrupt the celebration. Swagger attacks Barrett and throws him into the barricade twice. The ref is holding up the X over Barrett. Not a good sign. Swagger trows Ambrose over the top rope, but Ambrose comes back in and does the same to Swagger. And then Rollins attacks Ambrose from behind and hits The Curb Stomp.
5. Paige v. Cameron next. They really need to give Paige top-notch opponents, not Cameron. Naomi is a step up, but she needs Natty or Emma or Charlotte...or a surprise return from Michelle McCool (who has no reason to come back). This will be short and not as good as I'd like to see from Paige.
6. Naomi is on commentary. Not a bright, sparkling light there.
7. Much too short, but Paige gets the win with the Paige Turner. Naomi comes in, but Cameron attacks from behind. Cameron then pushes Naomi into Paige to stir the pot.
8. Luke Harper gives a creepy promo. Great stuff. And then Bray comes in and keeps it going. They've got lightning in a mason jar!
9. Sheamus v. Bray. Again I expect interference from the Jr. Wyatts and the Usos, but I was wrong about the Barrett/Ambrose match. If there's a winner, it will be by DQ. But it will be a solid physical match.
10. Sheamus gets Bray in the Cloverleaf and Harper interferes to give Sheamus the DQ win. The Usos take out the Jr. Wyatts, and then Bray flees before Sheamus can deliver the Brogue. Very good, lengthy brawl of a match before that.
11. Goldust interviewed by Byron Saxton. Goldust puts over Stardust, and they go off on AxelBack. This could be Cody's best gimmick yet. The Dusts accept a match with the meatheads at Money in the Bank.
12. RVD and Ziggler v. Cesaro and AdR. This should show that AdR and Cesaro aren't considered real candidates for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. But Heyman on commentary is always worth the price of admission.
13. AdR blocks the frog splash and gets the submission from RVD with the Cross Armbreaker to give his team the win. Good match, though not great. And then Cesaro hits AdR with the Neutralizer!!! Yes!
14. Rusev comes out for a Lana promo. Then Big E comes out and picks a fight. Rusev tries ti fake out Big E, but Big E catches him and knocks him off the apron.
15. The main event is Kane v. Roman Reigns. One last match without a clean winner, but this should be a physical contest for as long as it lasts, and then the brawl begins.
16. Very good match until Orton attacks Reigns. Orton gets hit with a Superman punch, and then Kane hits Reigns with a Chokeslam. Kane sets up a ladder and holds it for Orton. Orton brings down the belts, and Kane goes to chokeslam Reigns again. Orton stops him and goes to pubt Reigns. Reigns spears both of them and holds up the belts himself.

The attacks were predictable, but a good show nonetheless. Good build-up for Money in the Bank.

Look for a MitB prediction post this evening or tomorrow.