Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 4.25.18

Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 4.25.18

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– The IIconics defeated Asuka & Becky Lynch @ 7:20 via pin [**]
– Jimmy Uso defeated Rowan @ 2:53 via pin [NR]
– Shelton Benjamin defeated Randy Orton @ 8:21 via pin [**½]
– Shinsuke Nakamura, Rusev, & Aiden English defeated AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, & Luke Gallows @ 10:10 via pin [**½]

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– Follow all of my reviews at this link.

– In memory of Bruno Sammartino.

– Tonight’s show is the week of first fallout of the Superstar Shakeup. My thoughts on the Raw roster additions are here, and the Smackdown additions here.

MIZ TV: Miz gets good heat even before he talks. He then proclaims that Smackdown is the A Show again since he’s back, and he plans to win back the IC Title on Friday. But that’s then and this is now, a moment everyone has been waiting for. He brings out Daniel Bryan, claiming that Bryan carries a grudge from the Talking Smack days (Miz says it was canceled because he moved to Raw). Miz then babyfaces, using his daughter, and noting that he wants to be a better man and hoped for the same for Bryan when he had Birdie. But maybe they don’t share the same bond, and discusses how much they are alike. If Bryan wants to come out and punch hi in the face, so be it. But instead of Bryan, Big Cass arrives. He’s wearing a spiffy suit; he’s corporate Cass. Miz is puzzled by his appearance and Cass says he has no guest and tells Miz to interview him. Cass says no one cares about Bryan and he also had an injury, but when he got cleared, all anyone could talk about was Bryan, and not him. He calls Bryan an ordinary little man. Cass says this isn’t about Miz. Miz runs down his accomplishments and Cass threatens to shut him up. Cass says Bryan should be working for him, and mocks Bryan’s promos about accomplishing his dreams, which Cass calls unattainable. He was small, pathetic, and weak like Bryan until he was 16. And then he grew to be 7 feet tall. He then beat everyone down who caused him pain. He despises Bryan, he didn’t have to work the indies, in bingo halls, or go to Japan. Why, because he’s tall and good-looking. He is money but lives on Bryan’s shadow. He will send Bryan back to the shelf where he belongs. He leaves. This was a very good opening segment, with Miz delivering as usual, and Cass actually stepping up and also delivering a good promo. Cass has been watching his Edge tapes because his cadence here was very similar to him; his delivery was really good here.

– We now see Bryan laid out backstage.

Asuka & Becky Lynch vs. Billie Kay & Peyton Royce: The IIconics are already in the ring. They talk about how hot they are, and mock Lynch. They remind us that they helped end charlotte’s reign, meaning that they are better than Asuka. We go screen in screen, to start. Asuka and Kay in, and Asuka takes control, laying in kicks. Lynch tags in and maintains control. They work to the floor, as Asuka takes out Royce. Back in and Lynch hits arm drags on Kay, grounding the action. Asuka tags backing, laying in kicks but Royce tags in and slaps Asuka. She knows this was a mistake as Asuka hits an ass attack. Back to full screen, as Royce and Lynch are in, Lynch goes for pins and hits a flying forearm. Lynch follows with kicks and an XPLODER. Kay in and she cuts off Lynch. The Iiconics take control, working quick tags and double teams. Lynch slowly battles back and we get a double down. Asuka gets the hot tag and runs wild. The ankle lock on Royce follows, Lynch takes out Kay and Asuka hits a German and ass attack. Lynch & Asuka work double teams, Lynch gets run into Asuka and Royce cuts her off and posts her. The rollup and the ropes gets the win for the IIconics. The IIconics defeated Asuka & Becky Lynch @ 7:20 via pin [**] This was ok, going about how you’d expect, complete with Becky taking the loss.

– Renee talks with AJ, who reveals that Nakamura & Rusev Day will face AJ, and the Good Brothers.

– We get a video package on Andrade Almas & Zelina Vega.

– The Usos meet about the Rowan vs. Jimmy Uso match for tonight. Naomi won’t promise to stay backstage and isn’t sorry for getting involved last week. She has a bad feeling about tonight’s match. Jimmy says Jey will have his back; they will win the titles on Friday and tonight, will take care of business.

Rowan vs. Jimmy Uso: Jey & Harper are at ringside. Rowan hits a running dropkick right away and he takes control. Harper takes out Jey, and Rowan cuts of a Jimmy dive but gets posted. Back in and Jimmy hits a high cross for 2. Jimmy up top and Rowan tosses him into the barricade. Rowan follows and just runs him over. Back in and Naomi arrives for the distraction (turning the Bludgeons into Karl Anderson in Japan) as she dances.

That allows Jey to take out Harper, Jimmy superkicks Rowan and rolls him up for the win. Jimmy Uso defeated Rowan @ 2:53 via pin [NR] The Usos finally get some revenge, but unfortunately for them, Naomi won’t be in Saudi Arabia on Friday, so they’re fucked.

Charlotte & Carmella Sign Their Backlash Contract: Carmella cuts off Renee, and takes the mic. She’s upset that she had to come out before the challenger. Carmella puts herself over, runs down the crowd, and says she got no appreciation for her Mellabration and highlight reel she shared. She goes to play the highlight reel again, and demands a standing ovation. Carmella is not happy with the reaction and threatens to play the video again. They play it again. Charlotte interrupts, because she’s a disrespectful, and sore loser. Carmella mocks Charlotte as Renee asks her to be professional and take a seat. Charlotte signs and then topples the table over onto Carmella. The Carmella portion actually worked well, and she was completely annoying and condescending, and got some good heat from that.

– Randy Orton arrives and takes Jeff’s match for some payback.

Randy Orton vs. Shelton Benjamin: Shelton got the already in the ring treatment. OVW STARS COLLIDE. Jeff chills at ringside, they work some fun back and forth, with Orton teasing the RKO early on. They trade strikes, and Shelton fights off the draping DDT and follows with knee strikes. Orton drops to he floor. We go screen in screen, as Shelton maintains control on the floor. Back in and Shelton grounds the action. Back to gull screen, and Orton starts to fight to his feet. Shelton cuts him off with a spin kick, and covers for 2. Orton fights back, hitting a backdrop suplex for 2. The snap slam follows, and the draping DDT connects. Shelton bails before the RKO. Orton follows and suplexes Shelton onto the announce table. Back in and a masked man (Sunil Singh) attacks Hardy. Orton RKOs him, and that allows Shelton to hit pay dirt and pick up the win. Shelton Benjamin defeated Randy Orton @ 8:21 via pin [**½] This was a solid match, with a nice attack angle to further set up Hardy vs. Mahal, and allowing Shelton to pick up a much-needed win.

– New Day meets with the Bar. The Bar steals some pancakes after telling them how much better they are than the New Day.

– We get a Sanity video package.

– Daniel Bryan was checked by trainers, but he’s good to go for Friday. At Backlash, he faces Big Cass.

– Joe cuts a promo on his match at the Greatest Royal Rumble. He says he will win the title and watch Roman get decimated by Brock, but if Roman wins, he’ll take the Universal title as well.

– English raps his introduction of Rusev. Nakamura has a new remix of his entrance music.

AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, & Luke Gallows vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Rusev, & Aiden English: Nakamura teases starting with Styles, tags out but Styles attacks and then works over English and tags in Anderson. They work quick tags, and then work over Rusev. Post break, with Styles unloading on Rusev until Nakamura distracts him, allowing Rusev to cut him off. English works the heat so that we can get a screen in screen ad for Friday’s show. Nakamura tags in and continues the heat on Styles. Rusev tags back in, and follows with a slam and elbow drop for 2. He and English work double teams. Styles cuts English off with a dropkick, and hits a PELE on Rusev. Hot tag to Gallows, and he runs wild. The pump handle slam and splash gets 2. Rusev posts Anderson, allowing Nakamura to Kinshasa gallows for the win. Shinsuke Nakamura, Rusev, & Aiden English defeated AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, & Luke Gallows @ 10:10 via pin [**½] This was a very solid, very WWE house show style match. It was fine, but really missing something. The good news is that the post match was great, with Nakamura continuing to be a spectacular asshole and Anderson taking the bullet for Styles. I also love the Good Brothers back with AJ, and hopefully it means they will be used better.

– Styles attacks Nakamura, but Nakamura goes fist to cock style and cuts him off. He looks for Kinshasa, but Anderson takes the bullet for Styles. He hits another as Styles has to watch.

– End Scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

6.0

The final score: review Average

The 411

Tonight’s episode of WWE Smackdown was a perfectly solid show, with some nice set up for Friday’s show as well as Backlash. The best parts of the show were Miz TV with Cass, and Nakamura being a complete asshole at the end.