Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 10.09.18

Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 10.09.18

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Smackdown Women’s Championship Match, Title Changes Hands on DQ: Champion Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte went to a double countout @ 23:00 [***½]
– WWE World Cup Qualifying Match: Jeff Hardy defeated Samoa Joe @ 7:55 via referee stoppage [**½]
– Non-Title Match: Champion AJ Styles defeated Shelton Benjamin @ 8:20 via pin [**¾]
– WWE World Cup Qualifying Match: Randy Orton defeated Big Show @ 9:20 via pin [**]

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– Follow all of my reviews at this link.

– I did a column, “Where Are They Now, The Cruiserweight Classic Finals Performers” which you can check out at this link.

– You can check out my top 36 matches of SEPTEMBER list at this link.

– My WWE Super Show-Down review is at this link.

– My WWE Super Show-Down takeaways column is at this link.

– Tonight continues the build to WWE Sweet Saudi Money II: Still No Chicks Allowed AND WWE Evolution: We Owe The Chicks for The Saudi Bullshit.

Smackdown Women’s Championship Match, Title Changes Hands on DQ: Champion Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte: They get the bullshit already in the ring entrance. They lock up, working into some back and forth as Becky looks to work the arm. Charlotte powers out, and almost gets a figure four. Charlotte hits a slam, but Becky fires back and rakes Charlotte’s face off the ropes, covering for 2.The leg drop then misses and Charlotte cradles her for 2. They work into a double down, Becky hits a knee strike and corner kick. Charlotte counters the arm bar, takes Becky down, but Becky grounds the action. Becky now applies a bridging hammerlock, Charlotte escapes, looks for a crab, but then sloppily catapults Becky to the buckles. Bad timing there by both. The plancha follows. Post break, and they are back the ring. Charlotte hits a boot, heads up top and Becky follows and slams her off, Charlotte learned nothing from her father as Becky covers for 2. Becky lays in uppercuts, pulls the hair and the XPLODER follows for 2. Charlotte cuts off Becky with an STO variation, lays in chops and a belly to back suplex and both are down. Charlotte kips up and then falls to a knee. She climbs up top now, but Becky slams her to the mat and misses a high cross, roll up by Charlotte gets 2. Becky hits an enziguri and heads back up top. Charlotte cuts that off, but Becky rolls into an arm bar. Charlotte powers up and Becky transitions into a triangle but Charlotte hits the sitout powerbomb for 2. We go screen in screen, as both ladies are down. Becky fights off the figure four, and hits a flying forearm and covers for 2. They trade strikes and chops center ring, Becky follows with a head butt but Charlotte hits a big boot for 2. Back to full screen, and both are down and fighting to their feet. Becky fights off the figure four, sending Charlotte to the buckles. She grabs her title and looks to walk off. Charlotte stops her, back in and we get a ref bump. Becky teases using the title, and the ref stops her. Charlotte gets a rollup for 2, and Becky counters it for 2. Spear by Charlotte, and Becky rolls to the floor. Charlotte now moonsaults to the floor and misses. Becky suplexes her to the barricade. The ref counts, Becky follows and Charlotte hits a suplex. Back in and Charlotte hits natural section but Becky powders to the floor. Charlotte follows and Becky posts her by the bad arm. They brawl and we get a double count out. Champion Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte went to a double countout @ 23:00 [***½] This was an overall very good and heated match, playing off of their previous meetings well, and while the finish was a bit flat, the post match was really good and likely sets up a big stipulation match for Evolution.

– Post match, Charlotte spears Becky through the LED board on the stage. Charlotte right arm is bloodied up.

– They hype Smackdown 1000.

NEXT WEEK, The #Undertaker returns HOME for #SD1000! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/AyQLSaANCY

— WWE (@WWE) October 10, 2018

WWE World Cup Qualifying Match: Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Hardy: Joe’s left knee is heavily taped following Super Show-Down. Jo attacks right away with strikes and chokes out Jeff. Jeff then attacks the knee and Joe powders. Post break, and Joe fires back with strikes and head butts. He then runs over Jeff with a running back elbow. Joe then grounds the action with a neck crank. The big boy senton then connect and Joe covers for 2. Joe follows with jabs, and again grounds things. Jeff fights to his feet, hits an atomic drop, and attacks the leg. They work to the floor and Joe misses a kick with the bad leg and kicks the steps. Back in and Jeff again attacks the knee. Jeff repeatedly stomps on the knee, but Joe cuts him off with strikes but can’t stand and the ref waves it off. Jeff Hardy defeated Samoa Joe @ 7:55 via referee stoppage [**½] This was a solid match, and I loved the finish. It came off flat as WWE rarely uses ref stoppages, but this one played off of the established injury well and made it mean something. It also made Jeff look smart, while protecting Joe from a pin or submission loss.

– They hype Evolution appearing at Smackdown 1000.

No mystery here. #Evolution REUNITES next week on #SD1000! #SDLive @TripleH @DaveBautista @RandyOrton @RicFlairNatrBoy pic.twitter.com/dpqr1EUUd2

— WWE (@WWE) October 10, 2018

– Paige announces that Becky & Charlotte will rematch at Evolution in a last woman standing match.

Miz TV: Miz promised Paige that he’d stay professional tonight, and brings out AJ Styles. Miz asks how Styles’ family is after the trauma Joe put him through. Styles gets angry but Miz talks him down and says he has a new and different opponent in Daniel Bryan. Bryan arrives and shakes hands with Styles; this disgusts Miz. Bryan asks if Miz wants to talk about their match and says it won’t take long, and Styles finds this amusing. Miz asks Styles about his long title reign and asks how Bryan ranks against them. Styles outs over Joe as a tough opponent who made it personal, but his match with Bryan will stay in the ring, in the house he built. Bryan says that he’s glad that Styles thinks he’s so good, because he wants to beat a worthy opponent, and no one in WWE is more worthy than Styles thanks to his long title reign. Styles has earned the right to think he’s better than everyone else, and Bryan even feels he has something to prove. But deep down, Bryan knows he can beat Styles. Styles says since Bryan has been back, he hasn’t faced anyone phenomenal. Bryan says they are having fun making fun of the 2-minute man, but the truth is, this match is why Bryan fought so hard to come back. He fought back to live his dream, and that dream was to once again become WWE champion. The only thing in his way is Styles. They go face to face, and Styles says he’s not moving for Bryan or anyone. Miz tries to stir the pot as Styles asks Bryan how good it feels to punch Miz. Bryan says it feels great and Styles says he remembers knocking out Miz’s tooth. Miz rants that Brian stole his win and his shoulder was up, He demanded a rematch but Paige won’t give it to him. Miz says when he beat Bryan he didn’t do it with a fluke, he knocked him out. Miz then claims Styles has devalued the title, and claims he gets the winner. Miz then says Styles is facing Shelton Benjamin tonight. This was really good stuff, a mix of playfulness and seriousness from Bryan and Styles, with Miz stirring the pot and bringing the fire at the end big time.

Non-Title Match: Champion AJ Styles vs. Shelton Benjamin: JIP as Shelton cuts off Styles with a Russian leg sweep. Miz & Bryan are on commentary. Shelton hits the corner splash and covers for 2. Shelton grounds the action, and then hits a big backdrop. Shelton follows with shoulder tackles in the corner, lays in clubbing strikes, and then misses the corner splash and Styles hits the PELE. Shelton fights off the clash and knee strikes Styles to the floor. Shelton follows and slams Styles to he apron and barricade. We go screen in screen and Shelton maintains control on the floor. Back in and he covers for 2. Shelton grounds things, but Styles fights to his feet but Shelton cuts him off. Back to full screen, as they work up top, Styles slips out and hits an electric chair drop. Styles now rolls for the calf crusher, but Shelton makes the ropes. Shelton fires back with strikes and head butts, but Styles cuts him off and hits the springboard forearm to finish it. Champion AJ Styles defeated Shelton Benjamin @ 8:20 via pin [**¾] This was a pretty good match, with Styles winning clean, but Shelton getting some TV time to remind people that he’s a damn fine wrestler when given a chance.

Tales From Milwaukee: Aiden English is in the ring and has more “One Night in Milwaukee,” the director’s cut to show us. It starts off with what we saw last week, and where Lana says that “I want you…” to know how much you mean to Rusev and how much you’ve helped him. They love and appreciate him. English tells her that they mean the world to them, leans in, and it cuts off. He calls out Rusev and offers to destroy the video if he kicks Lana to the curb and reunites Rusev Day. Lana arrives and talks with Rusev. Rusev says that this is serious and tells him to play the full tape, calling his bluff. Lana then has them play the tape, because she Russian hacked him. Lana says English’s password was “I Heart Rusev.” They roll it and we see English try and make his move, but Lana says he misunderstood and leaves. Yup, that’s it, he’s busted. English says the offer still stands when she gets bored with Rusev day, come enjoy some English nights. Rusev attacks and runs him off. Well, that was certainly an angle. The faces outsmarted the heel already and we move on; it was an angle.

– Rey Mysterio returns next week, facing Shinsuke Nakamura in a WWE World Cup Qualifying match.

WWE World Cup Qualifying Match: Big Show vs. Randy Orton: Add Big Show to the list of talent that can appear on any show he wants without explanation, and really, who is going to stop him? Show looks to attack right away and Orton powders for a commercial 30-seconds in. Post break, and Orton hits a DDT back in the ring and covers for 2. Orton now lays the stomps to Show, and grounds the action. Show fights to his feet and hits a side suplex. He follows with clotheslines, a corner splash and shoulder tackle. Orton powders and Show follows, rolling him back in. Orton cuts him off with a dropkick and hits a draping DDT for 2. Orton backs off and charges, but Show spears him and covers for 2. My god he’s getting you still got it chants. Orton powders, Show grabs him and drags him back in and the chokeslam gets 2. He teases the KO shot, but Orton bails again. Show grabs him, but Orton eye pokes him and hits an RKO for the win. Randy Orton defeated Big Show @ 9:20 via pin [**] This was an ok match, but really flat way to close the show. Orton winning made sense considering his recent push.

– John Cena, Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy, & Randy Orton have all qualified for the WWE World Cup at Sweet Saudi Money II.

– End Scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

6.8

The final score: review Average

The 411

This week’s episode of WWE Smackdown was started off hot and I thought we were in for a really great show. The opener was very good and set the rematch for Evolution, Jeff vs. Joe was enjoyable with a smart and underutilized finish, Miz TV was another really good piece of business, while AJ & Shelton was pretty good and played off of that, foiling Miz’s plans of revenge for Styles being a dick to him on Miz TV. It then faded from there with the lackluster “Milwaukee” reveal and an ok, but really flat main event. Overall this was a pretty good show, that had potential to be more.