Csonka’s Smackdown Review 4.18.17

URGENT NOTICE: For the time being, please access the site using 411WRESTLING.COM. Bookmark that URL and only access the site via that address. You’ll notice that all the article links already go to 411wrestling.com URLs. Please only use that domain until further notice. Thanks.

Csonka’s Smackdown Review 4.18.17

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– #1 Contender’s Match: Jinder Mahal defeated Sami Zayn, Luke Harper, Dolph Ziggler, Erick Rowan and Mojo Rawley @ 18:45 via pin [***]
– Non-Title Match: Charlotte defeated Champion Naomi @ 12:55 via pin [**½]
– Primo & Epico defeated American Alpha @ 3:10 via pin [*]
– The Kevin Owens “Face of America” Open Challenge: US Champion Kevin Owens defeated Gary Gandy @ 0:35 via pin [NR]
– AJ Styles defeated Baron Corbin @ 13:15 via countout [**¾]

---

– In memory of Matt ‘Rosey’ Anoa’i…

#RIPRosey pic.twitter.com/8QmGoC5Rch

— WWE (@WWE) April 19, 2017

Charlotte Talks: Charlotte says that the queen is now on Smackdown, she’s only been here for seven days, and has lost her patience. She’s not happy, and wants to know why she hasn’t been granted a title match; she will only ask one more time, what is taking so long? Smackdown women’s champion Naomi makes her way out. Naomi says this is Smackdown and on this show, we don’t have kings or queens. But they do have champions, and she is the champion. She knows what Charlotte wants, and hates to see her begging. Naomi will give her what she wants, right here and right now Naomi attacks and they briefly brawl. Charlotte is pissed and eats a dropkick, sending her to the floor. Shane is here and says they will have a match tonight, but Charlotte has to earn a title shot. If Charlotte can beat Naomi, she will become the #1 contender and earn a title shot next week. Charlotte then attacked Naomi, tossing her to the floor. Naomi fought back and stood tall. Good open to the show, with Charlotte being the entitled brat and Naomi refusing to back down.

– Natalya complains to Shane about Charlotte getting a chance for a title shot. Shane says she failed at Mania, and all she has to do is ask for a shot. Carmella arrives and agrees with Natalya, running down Charlotte. Ellsworth says Carmella deserves to be the face of Smackdown. They all argue and Tamina arrives, and she wants an opportunity. Natalya wants to have some girl talk and settle this.

#1 Contender’s Match: Sami Zayn vs. Luke Harper vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Erick Rowan vs. Jinder Mahal vs. Mojo Rawley: They all brawled to begin, pairing off as Mahal attacks Mojo, looking for revenge. They brawl to the floor as Harper works over Ziggler, scoring an early near fall. Harper and Rowan then battled as Harper hits a slingshot senton, and then hits a Michinoku driver on Sami, we went to a commercial. Post break, and we get superlexes from Mojo and Harper; Sami then hits Mahal with a sunset bomb for 2. Ziggler and Sami battle, superkick by Ziggler and then one from Harper leads to the near fall as Rowan breaks it up and hits a powerbomb. Mojo back in and sends Mahal to the floor, but Sami dumps him and Harper dumps Sami. Suicide dive by Harper and then another! Ziggler takes out Harper, but runs into the big boot by Rowan. Rowan looks for a powerbomb and sends Ziggler to the floor onto the pile! Rowan tosses Sami back in and covers for 2 as we head to another break. Post break, Mojo works over Ziggler with shoulder blocks, catches a high cross and slams Ziggler to the mat. Rowan tries and fails to get involved, Mojo kills Ziggler with the running forearm, Mahal tosses him and gets a near fall as Sami makes the save. Mahal hits the high knee on Sami, but walks in to a Uranage by Rowan. Harper returns, Rowan sets him up top but Ziggler returns, hits the zigzag on Rowan for 2. Harper walks into a Ziggler dropkick, but then fights back with the sitout powerbomb for 2. Harper gets pulled to the floor and into the steps by Mahal, but Mahal then posts himself and Sami hits a big dive onto Harper. Rowan and Mojo brawl on the floor, Sami hits the Arabian press onto Mojo and then hits the XPLODER on Mahal; the helluva is stopped by the Bollywood Boys, allowing Mahal to hit the cobra clutch slam for the win. Jinder Mahal defeated Sami Zayn, Luke Harper, Dolph Ziggler, Erick Rowan and Mojo Rawley @ 18:45 via pin [***] This feels like a throw everyone available out there match; Zayn took the fall last week, Mahal lost to Mojo, while Harper, Ziggler and Rowan have been “just guys.” I am all for taking a chance and doing something new, but this is grabbing randoms from the island of misfit toys. Only Mojo had something resembling momentum out of the six. Booking gripes aside, they worked themselves into a good and entertaining match. The commercials unfortunately hurt the momentum a bit. Giving Mahal some minions is smart, and they now have about four weeks to establish him, give him some real momentum and try to give us a reason to care. I’ll give it to them, it’s a fresh contender, but now they have to make us care.

– Mahal says he is booed because he doesn’t fit stereotypes, is rich and speaks more than one language; you will have no choice but to accept him as the next WWE Champion. Randy Orton arrives, and stares down Mahal. Orton congratulates Mahal, but says that his prize will not be the title, but an RKO. Orton says before he deals with Mahal, he will have to deal with Bray Wyatt, and promises to burn down the house of horrors. Wyatt appears and wants Orton to feel his pain. He says Orton will not be the same after their match, and that Orton will never walk out. Thankfully Orton didn’t lay out Mahal as I feared he would.

– We get a New Day “Coming Soon” commercial.

– We get a Shinsuke Nakamura video package.

– Renee interviews AJ Styles, he doesn’t care who he faces for the US Title because he has the home field advantage. Baron Corbin arrives, and he’s not impressed. Corbin says Styles didn’t beat him last week, and says Styles got into his business last week. Styles is more than happy to kick his ass tonight.

– Natalya, Tamina & Carmella meet with Charlotte and try to intimidate her; they failed.

Non-Title Match: Champion Naomi vs. Charlotte: They lock up and Charlotte uses the ref as a distraction so that she can lay in strikes on Naomi. Charlotte takes control, grounding Naomi as Carmella, Tamina & Natalya watch on from backstage. Naomi escapes, works the arm and they break. Naomi fights for pin attempts; Charlotte keeps kicking out and then hits the skull fucker. The rolling head scissors follow, and she then lays the boots into Naomi in the corner; Naomi gets a roll up for 2, but is quickly cut off. Naomi uses her speed to fight back, hits a leg drop and then leg kicks. The speedball kicks follow, Charlotte is down and Naomi covers for 2. Naomi hits a leg scissors, but it was rough as Charlotte had to mostly send herself to the floor. Post break, Charlotte took the heat, working the dragon sleeper. Charlotte then follows with the belly to back suplex for 2; knee drops follow as Charlotte maintains control. Naomi finally counters out of a suplex, but Charlotte cuts off the sunset flip, hitting a knee drop for the near fall. Charlotte would miss a knee drop, allowing Naomi to hit a disaster kick and roll up Charlotte for 2. Naomi back to the kicks and then hits a RANA and clotheslines. A stunner follows, and then the head kick and high cross for 2. Charlotte counters the rear view, hits natural selection and wins. Charlotte defeated Champion Naomi @ 12:55 via pin [**½] This was a perfectly average match, they worked hard but it was just missing something to make me care and lacked a real sense of urgency. Charlotte was going to be a contender sooner than later, but I could see a clusterfuck next week involving Carmella, Tamina & Natalya, leading to a non-finish.

– Charlotte gets a title shot next week.

Holding onto that #SDLive #WomensTitle TIGHT is @NaomiWWE as another meeting with @MsCharlotteWWE is only seven days away… pic.twitter.com/3V2xoer3SE

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 19, 2017

NEXT WEEK: @MsCharlotteWWE gets her shot at the #SDLive #WomensChampionship against @NaomiWWE! pic.twitter.com/KQyG6mWGP2

— WWE (@WWE) April 19, 2017

– Charlotte walks and gives a woooooo to Carmella, Tamina & Natalya, who look on disapprovingly.

American Alpha vs. Primo & Epico: Primo charges at the bell, running into a slam and some grapple fuck by Gable. Jordan tags in, he and Gable work some double teams and Gable hits a northern lights suplex; Primo distracts the ref, allowing Epico to post Gable. Epico then hits a double under hook gut buster, and takes the heat. Gable manages to fight back, gets the hot tag and Jordan runs wild, suplexing the stars around the ring; it breaks down, primo hits a sloppy kick to Jordan allowing Epico to roll him up for the win. The Shining Stars defeated American Alpha @ 3:10 via pin [*] This was really rough, they were rushed and never got locked into a rhythm. The sloppy finish did them no favors either.

– We get a Lana dancing video.

#SDLive is about to get RAVISHING… @LanaWWE pic.twitter.com/to7GqBkacp

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 19, 2017

– Dasha interviews Tye Dillinger backstage. He loves the WWE Universe, and then has them run a video package, featuring his Rumble debut and NXT run.

The Kevin Owens “Face of America” Open Challenge – US Champion Kevin Owens vs. Gary Gandy: Owens kicks out the announcer and introduces himself. We have a very jobbery jobber awaiting his execution. Owens attacks at the bell, beats him down, and then hits the pop-up powerbomb for the win. US Champion Kevin Owens defeated Gary Gandy @ 0:35 via pin [NR] SQUASH.

– Owens runs down the American fans, and says he will remain the face of America. Jericho will not take that away, Styles won’t take it away and no one can take it away. He joins commentary for the main event.

AJ Styles vs. Baron Corbin: They play the power vs. speed battle early. Styles works leg kick, but Corbin levels him with a forearm smash and talk shit to Styles. Styles then works the sleeper, but Corbin escapes and tosses Styles to the floor. Corbin follows and slams Styles on the apron, and we take a break. Post break, Corbin took the heat and then posted Styles. To the floor as Corbin slams Styles to the apron, and then rolls him back in and lays the boots to him. Styles fires back with chops, but Corbin keeps cutting him off. Styles hits a boot to stop a Corbin attack, sidesteps the charge and Corbin misses a charge and posts himself. Styles fires up with rights, hits the PELE and then the forearm smash in the corner. Corbin tries to fight back, but Styles hits leg kicks and a sliding forearm strike. Styles looks for the clash, but Corbin escapes and hits a chokebreaker for the near fall. Styles locks in the calf crusher, but Corbin makes the ropes. Corbin then hits deep six for the near fall, and yells at the ref. Styles sidesteps Corbin, sending him to the floor. Styles then hits a knee strike, stares down Owens and Corbin then tosses Styles into Owens. Styles escapes end of days, and then hits a forearm, sending Corbin into the crowd, and Styles wins via countout. AJ Styles defeated Baron Corbin @ 13:15 via countout [**¾] This was a pretty good main event, with a flat finish done to protect Corbin. Corbin was also protected in last week’s finish, which shows that they still have plans for him. It’s not my first choice, but a prolonged feud with Styles over the US Title would do Corbin a world of good as far as growing as a performer.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

URGENT NOTICE: For the time being, please access the site using 411WRESTLING.COM. Bookmark that URL and only access the site via that address. You’ll notice that all the article links already go to 411wrestling.com URLs. Please only use that domain until further notice. Thanks.

6.5

The final score: review Average

The 411

Tonight’s episode of Smackdown was a rock solid effort as the brand resets the table, setting new contenders for the WWE & Women’s title. I have no problem with the company experimenting with Mahal (we’re always asking for fresh faces in the title mix), other than the fact bring that he had absolutely no momentum and it was obviously done to shock people. Let them try, if he thrives it’s a huge win for them. But I do feel that Corbin was more ready for the role, he wasn’t pinned last week and had the win over Ambrose to play off of; giving him a shot at a B PPV in a title match would have been my first call, and if you want to give Mahal a chance, build the guy up so that it feels as if it means something. As I said above, “Giving Mahal some minions is smart, and they now have about four weeks to establish him, give him some real momentum and try to give us a reason to care. I’ll give it to them, it’s a fresh contender, but now they have to make us care.”