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Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 8.22.17
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Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 8.22.17
OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Bobby Roode defeated Aiden English @ 6:22 via pin [*½]
– Non-Title Match: Champions The Usos defeated The Hype Bros @ 3:17 via pin [**]
– Handicap Match: Shinsuke Nakamura defeated The Singh Brothers @ 2:55 via pin [NR]
– Naomi & Becky Lynch defeated Natalya & Carmella @ 7:28 via pin [**½]
– WWE US Title Match: Champion AJ Styles defeated Kevin Owens @ 12:56 via pin [**½]
– Follow all of my reviews at this link.
– We get highlights from WWE Summerslam.
AJ Styles Talks: US Champion AJ Styles is out to kick off the show. He welcomes us to the house he built, and is still the US Champion because he’s the workhorse of WWE he’s bringing back the US Title Open Challenge. Kevin Owens makes his way out, but Styles says that they are done because he beat him at Summerslam. Owens disagreed, stating that a McMahon screwed another legendary Canadian out of a title. Shane McMahon danced his way out says he did what he said he would, he called the match down the middle and Styles won fair and square. Owens mocked Shane for his helicopter crash and jumping off of the cell, and when he got “grazed” at Summerslam couldn’t make the count on Styles. We get footage from Summerslam, Shane double hit on a count when Styles got his foot on the ropes. Owens says Shane hit the mat 3 times before that, and that 3 count should have been final like when the ref messed up a few weeks ago. Shane says the referee’s decision is final and they argue. Owens wants his title and calls Styles a joke of a champion. Styles tells then to shut up and calls Owens a bitch, and says he’ll give him a match tonight. Shane makes the match, but Owens wants to pick the referee for the match. Styles agrees and jokes that Owens can pick his mother for all he cares. Shane agrees to this, but if Owens loses, he gets no more shots at Styles while he is champion. I don’t think we need the rematch, but I thought it was a good segment and liked that Styles wasn’t afraid of a rematch, even agreeing to the stipulation that favors Owens.
– Bryan is on the phone and says he has some surprises for tonight. The Singhs and Mahal arrive, and Mahal puts over Bryan for wanting to meet with him and appreciates that Bryan knows his value. Bryan says Mahal can’t win on his own and tonight, The Singhs will face Shinsuke Nakamura tonight.
– Kevin Owens meets with Sami Zayn. He says they have been fighting or with each other for 15-years. He needs someone he can trust to ref his match tonight. Zayn says he watched Owens’ DVD, and it brought up a lot of memories. Owens says they shouldn’t be fighting each other and knows Sami isn’t doing anything important tonight and asks him to think about it.
– Aiden English is here to sing, but in interrupted by the debuting Bobby Roode!
Pardon the GLORIOUS interruption, @WWEDramaKing, but @REALBobbyRoode has OFFICIALLY joined the #SDLive roster! #GloriousDomination pic.twitter.com/2vWCbFdu8a
— WWE (@WWE) August 23, 2017
Bobby Roode vs. Aiden English: The crowd is thrilled to see Roode. English complains, and they play to the crowd. Roode sends him to the floor and we go screen in screen. Roode then beat down English in the corner, but English got to fight back a bit. Roode cut him off, and they brawled on the floor. Back in and English actually worked a short heat on Roode, picking up some near falls. Back to full screen, and Roode takes control back with chops. The spinebuster and flying forearm follows. Roode then hits the blockbuster, but English hits the director’s cut for 2. English up top, misses the senton and Roode hits another spinebuster. The glorious DDT finishes it. Bobby Roode defeated Aiden English @ 6:22 via pin [*½] I love Roode being on Smackdown, but felt they failed him on the debut. Going 50/50 with Aiden English is far from ideal, and I felt that going screen in screen really hurt the impact of his debut. This should have been Roode running through his opponent, and familiarizing the main WWE fan base with his signature stuff. The good news is that the man was over huge. I’m excited to see where he goes on Smackdown.
– Post match, Renee interviews Roode. He says Bryan and Shane broke the bank to bring him in. Smackdown just went from great, to glorious.
– Bryan meets with Chad Gable, and says he’s sorry about Jordan going to Raw. Gable is worried about his future. Bryan made a deal for Jordan going to Raw and Angle helped him sign a friend of his. Bryan says this guy may make for a good tag team partner, and it’s Shelton Benjamin. Shane says they will debut next week, but Shelton looked far from thrilled.
– Owens meets with Sami, and Sami refuses due to all of the shitty thing Owens did to him.
The Hype Bros vs. Champions The Usos: Mojo controls early, because the Usos ain’t hype. But he gets distracted and the champions take control. They work quick tags and isolate Mojo on their side of the ring. Mojo fire up and avoids a corner splash and gets the tag to Ryder, he runs wild and but the broski boot is stopped and Mojo takes out the Usos on the floor, back in and the Usos cut off Ryder, hit a superkick and retain. Champions The Usos defeated The Hype Bros @ 3:17 via pin [**] This was a short, energetic and solid defense for the Usos.
"Brooklyn… WELCOME to The #UsoPenitentiary!" @WWEUsos #SDLive pic.twitter.com/SMoaKQDiY6
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) August 23, 2017
– Post match they put the tag division on notice; it’s not paranoia, it’s the Usos. These guys are a ton of fun.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. The Singh Brothers: Mahal is out with the Singhs. The Singhs don’t have to tag in and out, and are wrestling in their dress shirts ands slacks. Nakamura dominates from the opening bell, working over the Singhs with ease. He sends then to the floor. Mahal distracts Nakamura, allowing the Singhs to attack and take control. Nakamura quickly fights them off, and taps out a Singh with the triangle choke. Shinsuke Nakamura defeated The Singh Brothers @ 2:55 via pin [NR] This was what it needed to be, with Nakamura getting some revenge, and seemingly setting him up to continue feuding with Mahal.
– Post match, Mahal attacks but Nakamura fights back and takes him out with the Kinshasa.
– Owens meets with the Fashion Police and they offer to ref his match tonight. Owens refuses, and yells at them to go away.
– Baron Corbin arrives and offers to be the ref, but only if Owens gives him a title shot if he wins, Owens agrees.
– Natalya is out and says Summerslam will be the day the glow was unplugged She’s the best there is, was and ever will be. Naomi can wipe away the tears and see what a real championship looks like (the bet is de-glowed and back to normal). It’s now her time. Carmella congratulates her, as Ellsworth runs down the crowd and makes fun of Natalya for finally winning something. Carmella then tells Natalya that it may be her time, but she’s waiting for when the time is right; Ellsworth teases that Carmella could cash in tonight.
Naomi & Becky Lynch vs. Natalya & Carmella: Carmella and Naomi in to begin. Carmella quickly tags out and opts to allow Natalya to begin. We then go to screen in screen, and Naomi lays in leg kicks. Becky tags in, she attacks the arm and then she and Natalya work to the mat. They work some solid back and forth until Natalya cuts her off, and slams her to the mat. Becky quickly fires up, tags in Naomi and she scores a near fall. We’re back to full screen as Becky tags in. Natalya attacks, beating her down in the corner. Natalya tries to keep her grounded, hits a cheap shot on Naomi and Natalya refuses to tag in, giving her the old alligator arms. The distraction allows Becky to hit an enziguri but as she looks to go up top, Natalya cuts her off and argues with Carmella. Becky tags in Naomi, and the sunset flip gets 2. Naomi locks in her neck crank, but Natalya escapes and tags in Carmella as she argues with Ellsworth. Carmella yells at Natalya, Becky hits the XPLODER and Naomi finished her with the split legged moonsault. Naomi & Becky Lynch defeated Natalya & Carmella @ 7:28 via pin [**½] This was really solid, I loved Carmella not tagging in and continuing to tease the cash-in. Naomi gets a small bit of revenge, and possibly earned herself a title match (or just a win to give the automatic rematch some hype).
– Dolph Ziggler is alive and interviewed backstage. He’s upset that he only gets a backstage segment, but while he was gone he watched a lot of WWE TV. He knows what it takes to be a star in WWE. He’s going to sing, play guitar or maybe dance around like an idiot. Maybe even a spotlight and lazers; possibly a fancy robe and a hot chick escorting him to the ring, who maybe glows in the dark. And that’s what he’ll do next week. So Dolph Ziggler is now a meta character?
– Tamina meets with Lana, who says that Tamina’s journey to the title begins next week. Lana tries to focus Tamina so that she can channel her rage properly. Lana says they won’t stop until Tamina is the most feared woman on Smackdown.
– Corbin meets with Styles backstage. He tries to make a deal with Styles, but Styles says there will be an open challenge every week if Corbin wants a chance.
US title Match: Champion AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens (w/Baron Corbin as special referee): Owens powders to the floor right away. Styles gets pissed, and that allows Owens to get in a cheap shot and attack. Owens beats down Styles until Styles hits the dropkick and plancha to the floor. Post break and Styles hits a PELE, sending Owens t the floor. Styles looks to follow, but Owens hits him off and slam him to the barricade. Back in and Owens covers for 2. Owens grounds Styles, working the side headlock. Styles fights out and hits a wheelbarrow gut buster, and then fires up with strikes and a sliding forearm. The ushigoroshi follows, and Styles covers for 2. Styles and Corbin argue, and Styles then heads to the apron and Owens avoids the forearm but Styles locks in the calf crusher. Styles rolls him back center ring but Corbin breaks it up because Owens “touched” the ropes before the roll. Styles and Corbin argue again, Owens shoves Styles into Corbin and Corbin shoves Styles, and Owens rolls him up for 2 on a fast count. They work into a double down, but Shane McMahon is out and yells at Corbin. Shane and Corbin argue, Owens low blows Styles, but Shane pulls out Corbin to stop the count. Corbin takes off the ref shirt and throws it at Shane before leaving. Shane will ref now. Styles stuns Owens off the ropes, hits the springboard forearm and covers for the win. Champion AJ Styles defeated Kevin Owens @ 12:56 via pin [**½] I have said it before and will say it again, Styles vs. Owens (in the ring) was an overall disappointing feud, a case of two guys that I feel just didn’t work well together. The match was perfectly average, and again, my biggest issue was that at no point was it focused on Styles or the US title. This was all about building to Shane vs. Owens, and possibly Styles vs. Corbin. I love Owens and Styles, but just couldn’t get into their matches.
– End scene.
– Thanks for reading.
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”
