By Mark Rodriguez
The last Smackdown before Evolution. Rusev will finally get his hands on Aiden English, and AJ Styles has to cooperate with his opponent Daniel Bryan as they face the Usos.
First Match- Kofi Kingston (with The New Day) VS The Big Show (with The Bar)
The New Day came out to complain about how The Big Show helped The Bar defeat them and win the Smackdown tag Team Titles. They call out the Bar and say that one of New Day will fight against of them.
The match started and it was Kofi VS The Big Show. Kofi was no match for the big man who would choke slam him repeatedly. Big E and Xavier would run to help their buddy and this made them lose by disqualification. Cesaro and Sheamus came in to take them out. Then they helped prop Kofi up for a choke slam from the Big Show. They'd prop him up again to eat a Knockout Punch. The Bar and Big Show take this one. It's also announced that The New Day will face The Bar and Big Show at Crown Jewel.
Roman Reigns' personal battle
Smackdown replays part of Roman Reigns' emotional farewell speech as he leaves to battle leukemia. He relinquishes the Universal Championship. The Smackdown crowd cheers for Roman and show their support. The Main Event at Crown Jewel will now be one on one between Braun Strauman and Brock Lesnar.
Second Match- The Usos VS AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan
AJ and Daniel start working together a lot better and send the Usos out of the ring. As the commercials for NCIS and The Purge TV series play, the Usos manage to isolate Daniel and double team him. DB and Jimmy knock each other down with a Crossbody clotheslines on each other. AJ Styles is finally tagged in and takes down the Usos. AJ got Jay in the Calf Crusher but Jimmy got him out of it.
AJ Styles leaps off the rope for the Phenomenal Forearm and stops just in time to prevent himself from accidentally hitting DB instead. Both men duck a kick from Jimmy and AJ tries to go for the Pele Kick and hits DB by mistake. Jimmy hits AJ and gets him with a Splash off the ropes and win the match. Daniel Bryan looks angry.
AJ Styles gets asked if he attacked DB on purpose or if it was an accident. AJ says it was just like DB hit him by accident last week. DB jokes and implies he doesn't think AJ hit him by accident.
Becky attacks Charlotte at the Performance Center
Charlotte was at the performance center giving advice to some of the girls in developmental such as Shayna Baszler and Lacey Lane. Becky Lynch arrives and says as the champ they should be asking her for advice instead. She attacks Charlotte until the girls pull them apart.
Third Match- Rusev VS Aiden English
This was a short match as Rusev chased Aiden around the ring. Aiden managed to kick Rusev down and then goes over to Lana and yell that it's all her fault. Lana tosses jewelry at him and Rusev lands a kick on him. Rusev gets Aiden in the Accolade and quickly defeats him.
Mizz TV- Special Guest Rey Mysterio
The Mizz interviews Rey Mysterio and as you'd expect, insult him. Mizz says he will win the World Cup and advance to prove that he is the best in the world. Rey Mysterio says he thought that he was booked to be on Truth TV. Rey says he came to compete, not to be on his talk show and challenges the Mizz. Mizz catches Rey off guard and attacks him. Rey kicks him down on the ropes, but Mizz manages to get away before Rey could hit him with the 619. This has now become an official match.
Fourth Match- The Mizz VS Rey Mysterio
Rey uses his speed and moves to take down the Mizz. He kicks Mizz out of the ring and then slides across the ring to hit him with a Splash. Rey misses an attempt to leap at the Mizz and hits the ring post. Mizz takes this chance to get some offense in. Rey gets The Mizz in a Hurricanrana and he lands on the ropes. Mizz dodges the 619 again and hits him with the Skull Crushing Finalee, but Rey actually kicked out of the pin.
Commercials for Pop Tarts, Loctite and Priceline would air as the Mizz would continue to attack Rey Mysterio. Rey would kick out of Mizz's pin attempts. Mizz would try for another Skull Crushing Finalee, but Rey would get out of it and send Mizz towards the ropes with the Alabama Slamma. He then hits him with the 619 and a Splash off the ropes. Rey Mysterio gets the win.
Fifth Match- Naomi and Asuka VS Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose
Before the match would start the Iiconics would show up. Lana would then arrive, followed shortly by Carmella. Carmella called for a dance break but suddenly Zelina arrived and attacked Carmella. Everyone would spill into the ring and a brawl would break out. In the end Zelina managed to plant her knees into Lana's face and take her out, but Asuka would kick her down. Asuka was the last woman standing in this tag match that suddenly turned into a mini Battle Royale.
Shane McMahon segment
Shane-o-Mac returns and hypes up Evolution and the World Cup Tournament at Crown Jewel. The crowd chants for CM Punk and Shane says he's not in the tournament. He does hype up the guys from Smackdown hoping that one of them will be the best in the world. He announces the Main Event between Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton.
Main Event- Jeff Hardy VS Randy Orton
Orton would get Jeff out of the ring and slam him against the steel steps several times. He would take control of the start of the match with several kicks and headlocks. Orton would hand Jeff upside down on off the ropes and stomp on his chest. He would yank the hole in Jeff's ears until the ref would stop him. Orton picked up Jeff and slammed him through the announcement table, and rolls him back into the mat. Jeff would still kick out of the pin.
Orton would go for his ear again but Jeff would knock him back. He'd manage to hit him with a sine buster and some low dropkicks. He'd jump off the ropes and hit Orton with Whisper in the Wind, but the Apex predator would still kick out of the pin. Jeff got Orton in the Twist of Fate slam, but he'd roll out of the ring before he could do the Swanton Bomb. Jeff would jump out of the ring anyway but would miss and hit the floor hard. Orton gets him back in the ring and gets ready to end this.
Jeff would dodge the RKO and go for a pin. Randy would kick out and Jeff would try the Twist of Fate. Randy reversed this and did the RKO to score the win.
The Highs of Smackdown Live-
Becky VS Charlotte- I heard about this one and I'm glad Smackdown actually showed how this went down. I know they're trying to push Charlotte as the face and Becky as the heel, but c'mon. The Irish Lass Kicker is right, who is Charlotte to be giving them advice? Why wasn't the champ doing it?
Mizz VS Rey Mysterio- My favorite match of the night. This mostly showed off the skills that Rey still got it, and Mizz was still a worthy opponent that made me think he was going to take him out with the Skull Crushing Finalee. I just wish the commercials wouldn't get in the way.
New Day VS The Bar and Big Show- It was basically a Big Show squash, but once in a while we do have to be reminded that Big Show is a threat. Plus, I agree with the heel announcer, the New Day always have the numbers advantage and the audience somehow always lets them get away with it since they're the good guys. It's about time The Bar evened out the odds.
The Lows of Smackdown Live-
The random mini Battle Royale- C'mon guys. Evolution started due to the lame 2-3 minute matches of the past. Let's not go back to that. I gladly would have missed out the rematch of Styles and Daniel VS the Usos for a long Battle Royale that showed off the skills of the ladies. Especially since we haven't seen Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville in a long time.
Rusev VS Aiden English- While it was good to see Aiden get what he deserves, how about we get a decent match? Since I assume this ends the fued, make them both go all out. Let's stop with these stupid 2-3 minute matches already.
Orton VS Jeff- The pulling on the ear thing has gotten a bit old, and I'm really sick of how the RKO is so protected while other Finishers are kicked out again and again. I know there are very few finishers left that are protected, well maybe have Randy start a feud with someone else that also has a protected finisher cause I'm starting to get sick of him kicking out of finishers and then just flat out ENDING IT with the RKO. It makes so the only way Randy can lose a match is if shenanigans are involved, so it makes it kinda boring cause you're already assuming he's going to win every match he's in. I mean his old feud with heel Rollins back in the day was more exciting because his Curb Stomp was also something no one would kick out of.
Overall Opinions of Smackdown Live-
It was kind of a so-so episode, but I do understand where they're coming from a bit due to what happened to Reigns. The matches are getting to be ridiculously short, and I really see no reason to randomly team up AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan more than once. It's just a paper thin excuse to make both of these faces get on each others' nerves before their fight at Crown Jewel. How bout you try something different and actually make them fight out of respect of each other and not throw poor excuses to spark hatred between them?
I guess the only thing I liked was seeing Rey back in action and actually seeing the scuffle that happened between Becky and Charlotte unfold instead of just reading about it. It was cool recognizing some of the girls from the Mae Young Classic like Lacey Lane and MJ Jenkins. Overall an average episode. It would have been better if some of the matches were longer and of better quality.
I do have to say there are behind the scenes real world politics reasons that WWE stopped mentioning that Crown Jewel would be taking place at Saudi Arabia. It's currently been reported that John Cena and Daniel Bryan will refuse to participate unless the event is held somewhere else, and WWE is scrambling to find a new location. Naturally WWE is currently acting as if everything will go as planned (minus what happened to Roman of course, and to a minor extent Alexa Bliss), so they will continue to say Cena and Bryan are in it until it's completely confirmed that they will definitely not be in it. There's still a week or so left, let's see what Vince will come up with.
The last Smackdown before Evolution. Rusev will finally get his hands on Aiden English, and AJ Styles has to cooperate with his opponent Daniel Bryan as they face the Usos.
The New Day came out to complain about how The Big Show helped The Bar defeat them and win the Smackdown tag Team Titles. They call out the Bar and say that one of New Day will fight against of them.
The match started and it was Kofi VS The Big Show. Kofi was no match for the big man who would choke slam him repeatedly. Big E and Xavier would run to help their buddy and this made them lose by disqualification. Cesaro and Sheamus came in to take them out. Then they helped prop Kofi up for a choke slam from the Big Show. They'd prop him up again to eat a Knockout Punch. The Bar and Big Show take this one. It's also announced that The New Day will face The Bar and Big Show at Crown Jewel.
Roman Reigns' personal battle
Smackdown replays part of Roman Reigns' emotional farewell speech as he leaves to battle leukemia. He relinquishes the Universal Championship. The Smackdown crowd cheers for Roman and show their support. The Main Event at Crown Jewel will now be one on one between Braun Strauman and Brock Lesnar.
Second Match- The Usos VS AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan
AJ and Daniel start working together a lot better and send the Usos out of the ring. As the commercials for NCIS and The Purge TV series play, the Usos manage to isolate Daniel and double team him. DB and Jimmy knock each other down with a Crossbody clotheslines on each other. AJ Styles is finally tagged in and takes down the Usos. AJ got Jay in the Calf Crusher but Jimmy got him out of it.
AJ Styles leaps off the rope for the Phenomenal Forearm and stops just in time to prevent himself from accidentally hitting DB instead. Both men duck a kick from Jimmy and AJ tries to go for the Pele Kick and hits DB by mistake. Jimmy hits AJ and gets him with a Splash off the ropes and win the match. Daniel Bryan looks angry.
Becky attacks Charlotte at the Performance Center
Charlotte was at the performance center giving advice to some of the girls in developmental such as Shayna Baszler and Lacey Lane. Becky Lynch arrives and says as the champ they should be asking her for advice instead. She attacks Charlotte until the girls pull them apart.
Third Match- Rusev VS Aiden English
This was a short match as Rusev chased Aiden around the ring. Aiden managed to kick Rusev down and then goes over to Lana and yell that it's all her fault. Lana tosses jewelry at him and Rusev lands a kick on him. Rusev gets Aiden in the Accolade and quickly defeats him.
Mizz TV- Special Guest Rey Mysterio
The Mizz interviews Rey Mysterio and as you'd expect, insult him. Mizz says he will win the World Cup and advance to prove that he is the best in the world. Rey Mysterio says he thought that he was booked to be on Truth TV. Rey says he came to compete, not to be on his talk show and challenges the Mizz. Mizz catches Rey off guard and attacks him. Rey kicks him down on the ropes, but Mizz manages to get away before Rey could hit him with the 619. This has now become an official match.
Fourth Match- The Mizz VS Rey Mysterio
Rey uses his speed and moves to take down the Mizz. He kicks Mizz out of the ring and then slides across the ring to hit him with a Splash. Rey misses an attempt to leap at the Mizz and hits the ring post. Mizz takes this chance to get some offense in. Rey gets The Mizz in a Hurricanrana and he lands on the ropes. Mizz dodges the 619 again and hits him with the Skull Crushing Finalee, but Rey actually kicked out of the pin.
Commercials for Pop Tarts, Loctite and Priceline would air as the Mizz would continue to attack Rey Mysterio. Rey would kick out of Mizz's pin attempts. Mizz would try for another Skull Crushing Finalee, but Rey would get out of it and send Mizz towards the ropes with the Alabama Slamma. He then hits him with the 619 and a Splash off the ropes. Rey Mysterio gets the win.
Fifth Match- Naomi and Asuka VS Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose
Before the match would start the Iiconics would show up. Lana would then arrive, followed shortly by Carmella. Carmella called for a dance break but suddenly Zelina arrived and attacked Carmella. Everyone would spill into the ring and a brawl would break out. In the end Zelina managed to plant her knees into Lana's face and take her out, but Asuka would kick her down. Asuka was the last woman standing in this tag match that suddenly turned into a mini Battle Royale.
Shane-o-Mac returns and hypes up Evolution and the World Cup Tournament at Crown Jewel. The crowd chants for CM Punk and Shane says he's not in the tournament. He does hype up the guys from Smackdown hoping that one of them will be the best in the world. He announces the Main Event between Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton.
Main Event- Jeff Hardy VS Randy Orton
Orton would get Jeff out of the ring and slam him against the steel steps several times. He would take control of the start of the match with several kicks and headlocks. Orton would hand Jeff upside down on off the ropes and stomp on his chest. He would yank the hole in Jeff's ears until the ref would stop him. Orton picked up Jeff and slammed him through the announcement table, and rolls him back into the mat. Jeff would still kick out of the pin.
Orton would go for his ear again but Jeff would knock him back. He'd manage to hit him with a sine buster and some low dropkicks. He'd jump off the ropes and hit Orton with Whisper in the Wind, but the Apex predator would still kick out of the pin. Jeff got Orton in the Twist of Fate slam, but he'd roll out of the ring before he could do the Swanton Bomb. Jeff would jump out of the ring anyway but would miss and hit the floor hard. Orton gets him back in the ring and gets ready to end this.
Jeff would dodge the RKO and go for a pin. Randy would kick out and Jeff would try the Twist of Fate. Randy reversed this and did the RKO to score the win.
The Highs of Smackdown Live-
Becky VS Charlotte- I heard about this one and I'm glad Smackdown actually showed how this went down. I know they're trying to push Charlotte as the face and Becky as the heel, but c'mon. The Irish Lass Kicker is right, who is Charlotte to be giving them advice? Why wasn't the champ doing it?
Mizz VS Rey Mysterio- My favorite match of the night. This mostly showed off the skills that Rey still got it, and Mizz was still a worthy opponent that made me think he was going to take him out with the Skull Crushing Finalee. I just wish the commercials wouldn't get in the way.
New Day VS The Bar and Big Show- It was basically a Big Show squash, but once in a while we do have to be reminded that Big Show is a threat. Plus, I agree with the heel announcer, the New Day always have the numbers advantage and the audience somehow always lets them get away with it since they're the good guys. It's about time The Bar evened out the odds.
The Lows of Smackdown Live-
The random mini Battle Royale- C'mon guys. Evolution started due to the lame 2-3 minute matches of the past. Let's not go back to that. I gladly would have missed out the rematch of Styles and Daniel VS the Usos for a long Battle Royale that showed off the skills of the ladies. Especially since we haven't seen Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville in a long time.
Rusev VS Aiden English- While it was good to see Aiden get what he deserves, how about we get a decent match? Since I assume this ends the fued, make them both go all out. Let's stop with these stupid 2-3 minute matches already.
Orton VS Jeff- The pulling on the ear thing has gotten a bit old, and I'm really sick of how the RKO is so protected while other Finishers are kicked out again and again. I know there are very few finishers left that are protected, well maybe have Randy start a feud with someone else that also has a protected finisher cause I'm starting to get sick of him kicking out of finishers and then just flat out ENDING IT with the RKO. It makes so the only way Randy can lose a match is if shenanigans are involved, so it makes it kinda boring cause you're already assuming he's going to win every match he's in. I mean his old feud with heel Rollins back in the day was more exciting because his Curb Stomp was also something no one would kick out of.
Overall Opinions of Smackdown Live-
It was kind of a so-so episode, but I do understand where they're coming from a bit due to what happened to Reigns. The matches are getting to be ridiculously short, and I really see no reason to randomly team up AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan more than once. It's just a paper thin excuse to make both of these faces get on each others' nerves before their fight at Crown Jewel. How bout you try something different and actually make them fight out of respect of each other and not throw poor excuses to spark hatred between them?
I guess the only thing I liked was seeing Rey back in action and actually seeing the scuffle that happened between Becky and Charlotte unfold instead of just reading about it. It was cool recognizing some of the girls from the Mae Young Classic like Lacey Lane and MJ Jenkins. Overall an average episode. It would have been better if some of the matches were longer and of better quality.
I do have to say there are behind the scenes real world politics reasons that WWE stopped mentioning that Crown Jewel would be taking place at Saudi Arabia. It's currently been reported that John Cena and Daniel Bryan will refuse to participate unless the event is held somewhere else, and WWE is scrambling to find a new location. Naturally WWE is currently acting as if everything will go as planned (minus what happened to Roman of course, and to a minor extent Alexa Bliss), so they will continue to say Cena and Bryan are in it until it's completely confirmed that they will definitely not be in it. There's still a week or so left, let's see what Vince will come up with.
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| Who will win? My bet is on either Asuka or Ember Moon |
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