SmackDown Review: Intercontinental Championship Contenders Gauntlet Match

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Stardust pre-taped promo

Stardust said that, while some people call it the “Intercontinental Championship,”he calls it, “mine.”

Luke Harper pre-taped promo

Harper said you don’t know freedom until you’ve lost everything. He was standing with a ladder and said that he’d use the ladder to “set them all free.”

Harper said he’s going to piece himself back together at WrestleMania.

J & J Security backstage

J & J were with another security team, setup just inside the building. Once again, they were instructing the team to be on the lookout for Randy Orton. This time they stressed that Orton could try anything to gain access, so make sure everybody has credentials.

A person then walked in, and all four men attempted to pat him down, until he displayed his credentials.

Again, J & J established their authority over the guards, of course, in the most obnoxious way possible.

Dolph Ziggler pre-taped promo

Ziggler said that the Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match at WrestleMania has all kinds, as he mocked each of the other six men in the match. He said that none of them can compete with him.

“It’s too bad, I’m too good.”

Gauntlet Match featuring Dean Ambrose, Stardust, R-Truth, Luke Harper, Daniel Bryan and Dolph Ziggler

Ambrose came out strong, until he chased after Stardust around the ring, and they returned to the ring, only for Stardust to catch Ambrose with a Disaster Kick.

Stardust went for a sunset flip pin on Ambrose, but Ambrose kept his feet, then dropped down on Stardust for a three-count.

Ambrose eliminates Stardust via pinfall.

Truth was up next, but Stardust continued the attack on Ambrose. Truth came running down to the ring, and he saved Ambrose by taking out Stardust, but then looked to take advantage of Ambrose. Stardust climbed back up on the apron, and Truth took him out again, but he turned around right into Dirty Deeds.

Ambrose eliminates Truth via pinfall.

Ambrose looked to try and keep fighting against Harper, but the beating he had already taken caught up to him, and Harper started to work Ambrose over.

Harper locked Ambrose in a crossface submission, but Ambrose got to the ropes and used them to help gain some space. Harper went to the outside, and Ambrose got the advantage by hitting an elbow from the apron onto the standing Harper.

Ambrose tried to keep up the comeback, as he went to the top, and jumped over a charging Harper. Harper hit a superkick, and Ambrose bounced off the ropes for a rebound lariat.

When both men rose to their feet, Ambrose looked for Dirty Deeds, but Harper countered with a big discus clothesline, followed by a powerbomb to eliminate Ambrose.

Harper eliminates Ambrose via pinfall.

Up next was Bryan.

When SmackDown returned from commercial, Bryan was completely picking Bryan apart, until Harper caught a Yes Kick, picked Bryan up, and dumped him over the top rope.

Harper sold a leg injury as he went to work on Bryan, and the injury really slowed him down.

Bryan kept trying to get back into it by attacking the injured leg, but Harper was able to fight him off, as he attacked Bryan’s infamously injured neck.

Bryan eventually got to Harper’s leg, and locked him in a knee lock to make him tap.

Bryan eliminates Harper via submission.

Ziggler made his entrance, as SmackDown went to commercial.

When SmackDown returned from commercial, Bryan and Ziggler were doing some good, old fashion mat wrestling, and were carefully feeling each other out.

There was a lot of back-and-forth as things went on, with neither guy allowing the other to truly take over, and things really were able to reset when they both went down after a double-crossbody.

Nothing either guy could do would gain them the upper-hand, as they each tried to hit multiple home runs, but nothing truly connected.

Bryan had Ziggler down, and he went to the corner to line up for a running knee, but Ziggler countered with a superkick. Bryan kicked out of that, and went for the Yes Lock, but couldn’t lock it in and Ziggler escaped. Bryan went for a backslide, but Ziggler kicked out and hit a desperation Zig Zag for the win.

Ziggler eliminates Bryan and wins the match via pinfall.

4 out of 5 stars – There’s no doubt that these six men, plus Bad News Barrett, will steal the show at WrestleMania, I’m just curious to see if it’s even close.

Bad News Barrett promo

Barrett came out and talked down to Bryan and Ziggler, saying that they can steal the show if they want, but they won’t steal his title.

He cut himself off mid-sentence to lay Ziggler out. Bryan tried to fight Barrett off, but Barrett was able to take advantage of the beaten Bryan.

Barrett left after hitting both men with a Bullhammer.

After the six challengers put on an epic performance, Barrett still found a way to stand tall. Very well executed.