Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 8.15.17

Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 8.15.17

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Natalya defeated Becky Lynch @ 7:32 via submission [**]
– Rusev vs. Chad Gable went to a double countout @ 1:15 [NR]
– Non-Title Match: The Usos defeated Champions New Day @ 7:23 via pin [**¾]
– Non-Title Match: John Cena defeated WWE Champion Jinder Mahal @ 10:04 via DQ [*¾]
– WWE Title Match: WWE Champion Jinder Mahal defeated Baron Corbin @ 0:05 via pin [NR]

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– Follow all of my reviews at this link.

– I wrote a column looking at the possible candidates for Goldust’s newest masterpiece at this link.

– I also did a Q&A over the weekend, which you can read at this link.

– The Singh brothers introduce WWE champion Jinder Mahal.

Jinder Mahal Talks: This is independence day for India, and that Is cause for celebration. Mahal‘s strength and pride come from his people, and what better way than to celebrate than with a special performance. We get a drummer and some Indian dancers out to perform. Mahal then asks the fans, who he calls xenophobes, to rise so that a woman can sing the Indian national anthem. The fans of course shit all over it and we get more from the dancers. He says he will beat John Cena later on, because he’s the new face of the WWE because he made the company a global phenomenon. John Cena lost to Nakamura in a dream match and he will beat Cena worse than Nakamura did, and Nakamura’s dream, will become a nightmare at Summerslam. Mahal then talks to his people, and Nakamura interrupts. Mahal is insulted by the interruption, but the fans love it. Nakamura says today is India’s independence day, but in Japan, it’s a day to commemorate those who died in war. And on Sunday in America at Summerslam will be the day Mahal loses the WWE Title… to me! This was a solid little segment to hype the Summerslam match, but Mahal’s promos all run together for me. “I love India, I love my people, you hate me because I am Indian.” Nakamura is still rough on promos, but they are smartly keeping them short.

– Commentary gives an update on Ric flair.

– Naomi makes her way out to watch the match, joining commentary.

Natalya vs. Becky Lynch: They work some back and forth, with Becky scoring a near fall and then they brawl, Becky looks to attack the arm, but bails to the floor, Becky hits a baseball slide dropkick as we go screen in screen on the break. Natalya tries to stall a bit, and then begs off before sending Becky to the barricade. Natalya rolls her back in and grounds Becky. Back to full screen as Becky escapes the abdominal stretch and fires up with clotheslines. The XPLODER follows, and then the running forearm connects, with Becky covering for 2. Natalya counters the arm bar, they work into some counters, and Becky hits an enziguri. Becky heads up top, but MISSES the leg drop; Natalya locks in the sharpshooter and Becky has to tap. Natalya defeated Becky Lynch @ 7:32 via submission [**] This was a solid back and forth match with the right person going over, considering Natalya is challenging for the title.

– Post match Natalya locks in the sharpshooter again, but Naomi makes the save. Carmella then makes an appearance. She reminds us that she’s Miss Money in the Bank, and wishes them luck at Summerslam.

– Commentary hypes the Styles vs. Owens feud, including footage of Styles accidentally kicking Shane last week.

– Tamina bitches at Lana because she doesn’t have a match tonight. Lana says she isn’t ready, and says no one notices or fears Tamina. Lana says is she follows her lead, they will. She will manipulate her way to helping her, and then Tamina will become a destructive force and they will be unstoppable.

– Bryan meets with the Usos. Bryan wants to join their rap group. But they want to now which New Day members they will face at Summerslam, it will be Big E and Woods. But the Usos want Kofi & Woods tonight.

Rusev vs. Chad Gable: These two had a really fun outing a few weeks back. Rusev attacks at the bell, beating down Gable with ease. Gable then hits an overhead belly to belly and they spill to he floor, where Rusev shoots Gable to the steps. Rusev tosses Gable over the announce table and we get a double countout. Rusev vs. Chad Gable went to a double countout @ 1:15 [NR] personally I am a bit disappointed, because I was looking forward to these guys tearing it up again. The double countout was a bit lame, but Rusev looked like a beat prior to being laid out as Orton got revenge for last week.

– Post match, Rusev applies the accolade on the table. He then grabs the mic, but before could talk, Orton hit the #RKOouttanowhere.

Rule No.1 of calling out @RandyOrton: #TheViper CAN and WILL strike at ANY TIME! #RKOOuttaNowhere #SummerSlam #SDLive @RusevBUL pic.twitter.com/62qvnCkKel

— WWE (@WWE) August 16, 2017

– Lawler, Lita, Rosenberg & Otunga are all on the Summerslam preview show. Kill me now.

AJ Styles Apologizes to Shane McMahon: Styles makes his way out to the ring, and calls out Shane. He does his little dance and the fans are happy to see him. Shane tells Styles if he wants to apologize, there is no reason to do so. He’s there to get in between he and Owens and take a hit if need be. Styles says that the kick was an accident, but wants to know if Shane will use this to screw him over at Summerslam. Shane says it was an accident, he was in the way and it was in the heat of the battle. On Sunday, if Styles pushes or shoves him, that’s a different story because he will put his hands on Styles. Styles asks if that was a threat, Shane says that what happens on Sunday… but here comes Kevin Owens before Shane could continue. Owens doesn’t believe last week was an accident. He wants to make something clear, and says if he makes contact with Shane on Sunday, it would be an accident. He knows Shane will call things down the middle and will be winning his title back. Owens offers to shake Styles’ hand, things get chippy and Shane tries to break then up. Styles almost hits Shane but Shane blocks it and yells at him. This leads to Owens trying to superkick Styles, but he moves and Owens lays out Shane. I liked this and thought it was good. I dig the mind games they are playing heading into the match. I still think that the end game is Styles retaining, leading to Owens vs. Shane at HIAC.

– New Day cut a pre-match promo, hyping tonight’s match and the match at Summerslam.

Non-Title Match: The Usos vs. Champions New Day (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston): Kofi controls at the bell, laying in kicks and then working quick tags with Woods as they keep a fast pace and work rapid fire double teams. The battle goes to the floor as we go screen in screen for the break. Back in the ring, the Usos take control of things working over Kofi. They ground him and keep him on tier side of the ring, while working quick tags. Back to full screen, Kofi works to his feet but quickly gets beat down. The heat is solid here; Kofi eventually hits a belly to back suplex and tags in Woods. He runs wild and hits the honor roll. The enziguri follows, Kofi blind tags in and New Day hits double superkicks for the near fall. The midnight hour is cut off, and the Usos attack Kofi’s knee and hit double superkicks and pick up the win. The Usos defeated Champions New Day @ 7:23 via pin [**¾] This was pretty good, and while the New Day lineup will be different on Sunday, I am not a fan of WWE giving away another Summerslam match on TV. It feels lazy, like they had no idea how to fill their TV time this week.

All good things must come to an end…

The FINALE of #FashionPeaks is UP NEXT! #SDLive @WWEFandango @mmmgorgeous pic.twitter.com/LVGgTEYF4P

— WWE (@WWE) August 16, 2017

– Time for The Fashion Peaks finale. Fandango talks about the aliens probed him deep, mentally. Breeze is dressed in drag again, and says they need to solve some mysteries so that people don’t think tat they are making this up as they go along. Fandango has a space rock and throws it. The Ascension arrives, returning the pie from last week. Fandango finds hair in it, and a Band-Aid. He then finds gluten and Viktor flips out because he lives a gluten free life. They then find a note that says “Two B.” Fandango licks the note as they fear for the entire tag division. They will return in two weeks. The mystery remains unsolved.

"This goes far beyond #FashionPeaks, the WHOLE Tag Team Division is IN DANGER!" – @WWEFandango #SDLive @mmmgorgeous pic.twitter.com/XgIIvlMc93

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) August 16, 2017

Non-Title Match: WWE Champion Jinder Mahal vs. John Cena: We get the dueling Cena chants and they work a test of strength to begin. They work power for power, and the Singhs get involved allowing Mahal to take control. Cena sent to the floor as we go to commercial. Post break and Mahal controls as Phillips tries to sell this as the biggest main event in Smackdown history. Cena starts to make a comeback; plays the hits and the Singhs pull Mahal to the floor to save him. Cena chases, but the Singhs get involved again and then tossed to the back. Cena locks in the STF, but Mahal makes the ropes. Mahal fights off the AA and stuns Cena off the ropes. He follows with the knee strike for 2. Mahal sets for the khallas, but Cena powers out and hits the AA but Mahal kicks out. Cena seems shocked, but everyone kicks out of the AA it seems. Cena takes Mahal to the ropes, hits the second rope AA and Corbin is out for the DQ. John Cena defeated WWE Champion Jinder Mahal @ 10:04 via DQ [*¾] This was not a very good match at all, there was no sense of urgency, no drama and too much bullshit with the Singh brothers.

CORBIN TRIES TO CASH IN: Corbin lays out Cena and is now cashing in. Mahal is still down and the official hasn’t started the match and then rings the bell. Cena distracts Corbin and Mahal rolls up Corbin and retains. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! And so Corbin tries to cash in and fails in seconds. Some hated this but I had no issue with it, I find no issue with a surprise cash in failing, because it shows the audience that it isn’t an automatic championship win. Also, to be honest, I felt that Corbin winning wasn’t the best call. He and Carmella wining MITB were very similar, taking two marginally (at best) effective heels and attempting to get heat on them and make stars with the MITB win. Corbin has been a flat performer for me, not showing much improvement and for the most part, simply existing as a guy on the roster. With him causing the DQ and then Cena’s distraction, it in theory adds more heat onto their cold Summerslam match. You have to wonder if they lost faith in him or if he pissed someone off, because he looked to be a long term project for WWE management.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

5.5

The final score: review Not So Good

The 411

This was a show, a show that existed and didn’t provide anything must see or do anything to really get me excited for Summerslam.