On August 4, 2015, in Sacramento, California, WWE Smackdown delivered a series of intense matches, including a notable bout where Cody Rhodes, performing as Stardust, secured an important victory over Zack Ryder. This event, taped for broadcast on SyFy on August 6, 2015, showcased evolving storylines and fierce competition, with the Cody Rhodes Stardust <a href="https://cynicaltimes.org/category/wrestling-news/wwe/”>WWE match drawing significant attention amid a night packed with striking confrontations.
The evening opened with a somber tribute to wrestling legend Rowdy Roddy Piper, whose memory was honored with a video package and enthusiastic crowd reactions. Following this moment, Roman Reigns entered the ring and ignited the night’s energy by revisiting his ongoing feud that would culminate in a Summerslam tag team match against Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, and his ally Dean Ambrose. The tension escalated as Rusev interrupted Reigns, leading to a heated exchange setting the tone for their forthcoming main event clash.
Early Tag Team and Divas Matches Set Competitive Tone
The night’s first match featured The New Day against The Prime Time Players alongside Mark Henry. Although the crowd initially voiced disdain for The New Day, the match developed into a display of power and teamwork, climaxing with Mark Henry delivering his signature World‘s Strongest Slam to win for his team after more than 11 minutes of action.
Following this, a women’s singles match marked Charlotte’s Smackdown debut against Naomi. The contest was brief but intense, ending in disqualification due to Sasha Banks‘ interference. The action continued immediately after with a tag team match pitting Charlotte and Becky Lynch against Naomi and Sasha Banks. This extended contest highlighted the rising skill level among the women’s division and concluded with Naomi and Banks picking up the victory, signaling the growing strength of the so-called “Divas Revolution.”
Stardust Versus Zack Ryder: A Match Highlighting Cody Rhodes’ Character Depth
The atmosphere intensified as Zack Ryder faced Stardust in a relatively short but pivotal match. Stardust entered the ring without a traditional entrance, immediately striking with aggression that set the momentum. Ryder surged with early offense, driving Stardust face-first into the mat and maintaining pressure in the corner. However, Stardust’s handspring kick shifted the momentum before he locked in the surfboard submission hold.
The announcers underscored Cody Rhodes’ deep immersion into his Stardust persona, noting his conviction in the character’s reality even as he dismissed the existence of Stephen Amell, who had publicly engaged with Stardust on social media. Following a back-and-forth sequence involving a missile dropkick and Ryder’s Broski Boot, Stardust delivered his finishing move, the Queen’s Crossbow, to secure a clean victory at 3:55. Though not a lengthy contest, this win elevated Stardust’s standing and set the stage for his upcoming confrontation on RAW.
Post-match, Stardust grabbed the microphone to hype his impending face-off with Arrow star Stephen Amell, projecting an intriguing crossover storyline between scripted wrestling and television fame.
Main Event Showdown: Roman Reigns Battles Rusev in a High-Stakes Encounter
The final match of the evening saw Roman Reigns face off against Rusev in a contest loaded with physicality and drama. Early exchanges featured a tense stare-down and lock-ups, with neither wrestler gaining clear dominance. Rusev demonstrated power and aggression, taking control with a suplex and aggressive stomping on Reigns, even injuring him outside the ring by slamming him into the steel post before the first commercial break.
After returning from the break, Rusev continued to press his advantage, executing a missed middle-rope headbutt and trading punches with Reigns. The intensity escalated with a sit-out powerbomb and attempts at high-impact moves such as the Superman punch, which Rusev countered with a superkick. The match’s drama heightened further when Summer Rae attempted interference but was stopped by Lana, leading to a physical altercation at ringside.
With both competitors exhausted and battered, Roman Reigns successfully landed a spear, ending the match at just under 15 minutes. As Reigns celebrated, Bray Wyatt appeared on the Titantron invoking a family feud narrative and accepting Reigns’ prior challenge for Summerslam, promising that this war would shake the Reigns empire.
Significance of the Event and Implications for WWE Storylines
This episode of WWE Smackdown served as a pivotal chapter leading to Summerslam, showcasing the continuing evolution of Cody Rhodes’ Stardust character and advancing key matches and rivalries that would influence future WWE programming. Stardust’s win over Zack Ryder reinforced his unique persona and added momentum ahead of his forthcoming appearances, highlighting WWE’s investment in character-driven storytelling.
The intense main event between Roman Reigns and Rusev reaffirmed Reigns’ position as a top contender while setting up the Summerslam family rivalry against Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper. Meanwhile, the women’s division displayed growing competitiveness and narrative intrigue with featured performers like Charlotte, Naomi, Becky Lynch, and Sasha Banks, signaling a shift toward more prominent female wrestling storylines.
Fans watching this episode were treated to a blend of respect for WWE history, as seen with the Roddy Piper tribute, and anticipation for continuing battles that test loyalty, strength, and identity within the WWE universe.
Noteworthy Quotes from WWE Smackdown Participants
“You don’t talk about my hot Summer,”
said Rusev during his confrontation with Roman Reigns —Rusev
“Hey, we want some New Day,”
chanted The New Day during a backstage interview —Big E.
