Last week was the 1000th episode of Smackdown and it saw lots of returning superstars from the past, with the big takeaways of Rey Mysterio qualifying for the WWE World Cup, Edge getting bitched out by Becky Lynch and Batista and HHH teasing a future match. Let's see what this week has in store as we head to WWE Evolution on Sunday!
NEW DAY PROMO
Corey Graves says that The New Day are the human equivalent of drinking orange juice after cleaning your teeth - there's nothing pleasant about that. We then get a recap of how the Big Show turned heel for the 800th time to gift The Bar the opportunity to win the Smackdown Tag Team Championship titles, which they did with aplomb.
Once The New Day finish gyrating and throwing food around they speak out about it. Last week they were cheated out of their titles. Sheamus and Cesaro didn't just set the bar... they lowered the bar. They expected it from The Bar, but not The Big Show. Erm... don't these guys watch the network?!
Xavier Woods jokes that Big Show is now a bar-tender. Big E thought Show was cool but the seven foot tall goof flips more times than a flapjack. Kofi then says he wants the smoke and will take any of the new trio in singles action.
- I completely understand why some people dislike The New Day and this promo exemplified it. They were joking about like it was their big day out instead of being serious and enraged after what happened last week. However, they are who they are as characters and to make them super serious at any point is a bit of a stretch, so I am OK with the goofiness - this is a wrestling should be fun blog after all!
KOFI KINGSTON v BIG SHOW
Commentary point out that it is actually a disadvantage for Kofi here because he doesn't know which one of Show, Cesaro or Sheamus he will be facing tonight. They all feign to start the match before eventually Kofi finds out he is facing the veteran Big Show! This makes sense as it was Kingston that he chokeslammed through the commentary table last week.
- Kofi charges immediately with a dropkick that forces Show into the turnbuckle.
- Show blocks a strike however and hits a slap to the chest that looked and sounded 1000x lighter than one from WALTER. Probably a good thing.
- Show hurls Kofi from one side of the ring to the other.
- CHOKESLAM!
- ANOTHER CHOKESLAM!
- A THIRD CHOKESLAM!
- The ref calls for the bell as the other tag members enter the ring and brawl.
- The heels take control and Big E takes a chokeslam!
- Cesaro and Sheamus hold Woods as Big Show lands a KO punch!
- The heels pose as their opposition lie destroyed around them.
- Big Show chokeslams Woods for extra effect.
- Well they are certainly making Big Show look strong! He absolutely destroyed The New Day here as The Bar looked on with joy ahead of their title match at Crown Jewel. The faces did a great job of putting over The Bludgeon Brothers via their selling earlier this year and this was no different. They made this beating look legit. It's fair to say that the serious hats may well need to go on next week for The New Day!
THE USOS v DANIEL BRYAN & AJ STYLES
The Usos get the jobber entrance of being in the ring as we return from a recap of the terrible news about Roman Reigns' diagnosis. It is mentioned that of course Jimmy and Jey are family of the former Universal Champion.
In contrast, AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan get separate entrances as we see how this team lost to The Usos last week after a miscommunication between the two - who will meet for the WWE Title at Crown Jewel.
- Bryan and AJ clear the ring with dropkicks on The Usos.
- Stereo planchas over the top! They appear on the same wavelength... for now.
- Double crossbodys from Jey Uso and Daniel Bryan.. who can make the tag?
- Both Jimmy and Styles get the tag and AJ takes control with strikes and a lariat.
- AJ is flying with a rushing knee on the apron and an AA onto the knee!
- CALF CRUSHER!
- Jimmy Uso makes the save.
- AJ attempts a phenomenal forearm but puts the brakes on as he is about to it Bryan.
- However, his Pele kick misses Jey and hits Daniel Bryan! Another miscommunication!
- Superkick and a superman splash on Styles (with an added ode to Reigns in mid-flight)!
- USOS WIN!
- Well, well, well. Jimmy Uso just pinned the WWE champ! That's the first pinfall loss since May on TV for AJ Styles. Get that man a title shot! Loved the superman splash tribute to their cousin here, nice touch. This was far too short to be anything but a tool to move the story along, but it achieved what it needed to. It's brave booking to have both men lose back-to-back but let's see what the end goal is here.
BRYAN & STYLES BACKSTAGE
They get asked if what happened tonight was an accident as it looked very similar to last week when Bryan struck Styles. Bryan says he has an infinite amount of respect for AJ and HIS was an accident for sure... but it looks like AJ's nose might be growing. He then mocks AJ for his too sweet hand gesture as AJ walks off, incredulous.
- This is interesting as Bryan is the one who comes off as the heel here in this situation... although I appreciate kayfabe that he's married to one!
CHARLOTTE AT THE PERFORMANCE CENTRE
Charlotte is at the WWE Performance Centre giving a talk to the NXT women's division with lots of great face commentary such as don't look down on your peers and this business is built on respect.
WWE Evolution is on Sunday and she believes that the PPV is happening because of what was done in this very place years ago. She gets applauded by the wrestlers and takes questions.
Becky Lynch arrives carrying her title on her shoulder... I have a question. Who invited you? If you want some advice, don't listen to Charlotte, listen to the actual champ! Don't make friends with anybody... they will hold you back and blindside you as soon as they get a chance - harking back to the history between the two.
Becky attacks Charlotte, and throws her into the steps... who are you screams Charlotte? Becky says... I'm the women's champ!
We then get a VT of Charlotte who says that when she is stood over her after winning back her title, she won't be stood over an opponent, but a friend who lost her way.
- This was excellent. They are giving Charlotte the right face attitude and persona, whilst Becky continues her path of Don't Trust Anybody. She brings up truthful statements like Charlotte blindsiding her in the past which is perfect as all heels should have an element of truth to the reasoning behind their actions.
This would be working in the pre Attitude era but Becky is a cool heel now and all this appears to be doing is making her cooler. It was sweet seeing these NXT acts on WWE main roster TV, though. Especially the scowling Rhea Ripley.
RUSEV (W/ LANA) v AIDEN ENGLISH
Aiden English comes out crooning and mocks the home city and finishes with 'Instead of a cold Rusev Day you could have had a long hot Aiden night!'
- English powders immediately.
- Spinning neckbreaker from English once they are back in the ring.
- He then walks towards Lana on the outside, points at her and says this is your fault.
- Lana throws her shoe at him! Who throws a shoe?
- Machka kick!
- THE ACCOLADE!
- English taps!
- RUSEV WINS!
- If this is the end of that feud, that is tough on English. That must have been about a two minute match. Not sure where he goes from here, perhaps he becomes the announcer for another wrestler? Rusev needs to now try and stay over as an act without the fun entrance that English used to provide him. Sink or swim time!
MIZ TV
One week ago the WWE Universe came together to celebrate the 1000th episode and who can forget Becky Lynch cutting down Edge on his own show? Evolution reuniting for the first time on SD Live and my record time win over Rusev to reach the WWE World Cup to determine the best in the world!
He then brings out Rey Mysterio as his guest on the show. He gets a good ovation which is great after that Rumble performance a few years back was met with booooos. Why are you back asks Miz?
He cuts him off before he answers and says I know the answer - you came back as the little engine that could, to prove dreams can come true at Crown Jewel - how very nineties of you.
People aren't interested in plucky underdogs anymore, they are interested in larger than life stars like me. The crowd boo. Whilst Rey has been on hiatus Miz has been the star of everything and he will prove he is the best in the world.
Mysterio says he is disappointed he isn't booked on Truth TV. Miz says that last week's show was an illegal broadcast and he is taking legal action. That's a great line! Rey says he didn't come back to talk, he came back to compete and challenges Miz to throw down.
Miz says no one here wants us to fight. Yes chants! Miz cheap shots Mysterio but gets reversed and has to escape a 619 attempt by hopping out of the ring.
- Man, The Miz has the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand. A true great. Good to hear a positive fan reaction for Mysterio. Putting him against The Miz guarantees it, to be fair.
REY MYSTERIO v THE MIZ
- Head scissors sends Miz packing outside.
- Rey splashes Miz after diving underneath the bottom rope! Cool!
- Springboard splash back in the ring!
- 10 punches in the corner... and another!
- Mysterio misses a splash in the corner.
- Miz takes control with his mix of underhand tactics.
- Mysterio hits a cool lucha rope bounce head scissors to setup the 619!
- 619 MISSES!
- Big DDT for 2 by Miz!
- Back from break and Miz tries a skull crushing finale from the second rope!
- Mysterio turns it into a victory roll!!
- Seated senton and a kick to the head by Rey!
- Backbreaker for 2 by Miz!
- 619 chants from what sounds like a very young captive audience. Rey is gonna sell so much merch!
- Big boot for 2 by Miz!
- Miz starts to get frustrated that he can't put Rey away.
- Skull crushing finale reversed!
- 619!!!
- Dropping the dime for 3!
- REY MYSTERIO WINS!
- That was a great outing for Mysterio. A clean win over The Miz with the crowd firmly behind him. He looks in great shape and it is hard to believe he is 43 with multiple knee surgeries behind him.
NAOMI & ASUKA v SONYA DEVILLE & MANDY ROSE
Just as we are about to get underway, The Iiconics interrupt... they run down Newark and hype Evolution. They say they will win the battle royal and it will be iiconic!
Lana's music then hits and starts to talk but gets interrupted by Carmella. Nobody wants to hear people talk... they want to DANCE BREAK. Zelina Vega throws Carmella into the ring as she is flossing.
Things break down! We get a mini battle royal here with Vega and Lana being the last two remaining... but Asuka arrives and stands tall!
- So this wasn't a match at all but another hype train for the battle royal this Sunday. I think that was probably the right call. We got to see the competitors from Smackdown and the right person looked dominant. Moon and Asuka 'won' their respective segments on the two brands - will they be the final two?
SHANE MCMAHON PROMO
There are a lot of firsts happening in the WWE right now, including WWE Evolution. Congratulations to all those involved and I can't wait to watch and enjoy. Another first is the WWE World Cup.
Who will be crowned the best in the world? A smattering of CM Punk chants begin, which Shane lets die down and then quip back - I don't think he is in the tournament. Personally, Shane thinks someone from the blue brand will be the winner.
He runs down the list of the four competitors and then says are you ready for your main event? Then let's do it!
- This hyped the upcoming PPVs they have and got Shane back on screen who is rumoured to be full-time again now. I assume he will be in the Survivor Series again... remember when he was the last remaining member of team blue last year? Lol. For some reason, I am feeling like a Randy Orton v Shane story arc is upon us - possibly starting at Crown Jewel.
JEFF HARDY v RANDY ORTON
I am amazed that they didn't show any of the incredible things Orton put Hardy through at Hell in a Cell. Those guys went to war last month and it would have added to the excitement of this main event.
- Orton on top to start.
- Randy hammers Jeff into the ring steps.
- We are getting slow Orton here with his methodical style.
- Hardy gets spiked on the turnbuckle and placed in the tree of woe.
- Orton rips at Jeff's flesh tunnelled ear again!
- Randy slams Hardy onto the commentary table!
- This has been a mauling so far - Jeff can't get a move in!
- Randy again goes after the ear of Hardy.
- Hardy fights back as Tom Phillips says he is looking to slow down the Viper. Shouldn't be too difficult, eh?
- Twist of fate reversed.
- Whisper in the wind for 2!
- Jeff goes for a swanton bomb off the apron and lands hard on the outside!
- Orton signals for an RKO but Hardy reverses.
- Hardy goes for twist of fate but its reversed into an RKO!
- ORTON WINS!
- Orton does his corner taunt to close the show.
- That was a really solid match, with Orton dictating the play, a strong comeback from Hardy and a cool finish. Orton has now won four in a row on TV and seems to be heading to a top card push. Probably against Shane McMahon ;-). I hope I am wrong though, as the winner of Bryan v Styles needs a viable heel opponent. A win at Crown Jewel would suit here I guess as he can label himself the best in the world which is pretty heelish. Sorry, Bret!
I thought this Smackdown lacked a little something, but following this week's Raw was always going to be hard. We got two decent matches in Rey v Miz and Orton v Hardy, but neither were bangers. I am a little surprised they ended with the Orton match - with Evolution on Sunday I think the Becky v Charlotte feud should have closed the show. On the whole though this was a fun little watch that hyped future big shows.
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