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Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 9.11.18

September 11, 2018 | Posted by Larry Csonka
AJ Styles WWE Smackdown 91118 Image Credit: WWE
6.5
The 411 Rating
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Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 9.11.18  

Csonka’s WWE Smackdown Review 9.11.18

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Non-Title Match: Jeff Hardy defeated Champion Shinsuke Nakamura @ 15:30 via DQ [**½]
Non-Title Match: Champion Charlotte defeated Sonya Deville @ 9:25 via submission [**½]
For a Tag Team Title Shot at HIAC: Rusev & Aiden English defeated The Bar @ 13:25 via pin [***]
– Andrade Almas defeated R-Truth @ 2:40 via pin [NR]
– Brie Bella defeated Maryse @ 4:50 via DQ [DUD]


– 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 51 matches of AUGUST list at this link.

– They ring the bell 11 times in remembrance of the anniversary of 9/11.

– Jeff cuts a drug-fueled promo about demons and cleansings (fighting Orton at Hell in a Cell). Jeff says he is a daredevil without fear and will make Orton fade away and classify himself as obsolete.

Non-Title Match: US Champion Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Jeff Hardy: Nakamura powders to the floor to begin. He rolls back in and Jeff attacks and sends him back to the floor, follows, and attacks. Post break, and Nakamura has things grounded. Jeff fires back and to his feet, slamming Nakamura to the buckles. Nakamura cuts off the jawbreaker with a knee strike and follows with kicks. Nakamura works a cravat, transitions to a guillotine, and Jeff works to escape ad lays in elbow strikes. Nakamura cuts him off again with knee strikes, and follows with more kicks. Jeff catches one and fires back with rights. Nakamura hits an enziguri and then runs into a sling blade. Nakamura fires back with another knee strike but Jeff cuts that off and hits whisper in the wind. Jeff back up top and Nakamura cuts him off with kicks and more knee strikes. Nakamura then kicks him to the floor. We go screen in screen as Nakamura rolls him back in. Nakamura lays in more kicks and covers for 2. He then grounds the action, Jeff fights but Nakamura lays in knee strikes and covers for 2. Jeff cuts off the kicks but Nakamura cuts him off and looks for an arm bar. Jeff escapes and follows with a standing splash for 2. Back full screen as Jeff follows with strikes, and the running forearm, jawbreaker, and leg drop to the balls; the basement dropkick gets 2. Jeff misses a corner splash and Nakamura follows with kicks in the corner. The knee strike follows and Nakamura looks for Kinshasa but Jeff counters and hits the twist of fate. Jeff heads up top and the swanton is cut off by Orton for the DQ. Jeff Hardy defeated Champion Shinsuke Nakamura @ 15:30 via DQ [**½] This was a solid, but flat and at times very repetitive match with the expected non-finish.

– Post match, Orton beats down Jeff and uses a chair to inflict more damage. Jeff fights back and lays in chair shots and hits the twist of fate; the swanton follows and Jeff stands tall.

– Kayla interviews Miz & Maryse. Miz puts over Maryse, and Maryse says she’s ready for tonight. She’s back in the ring 5-months after giving birth and will make the Miz & daughter proud. Miz makes fun of Bryan and Brie, noting that Brie is back to earn money since Bryan is a failure and can’t fight his own battles.

AJ Styles Talks: Before the show, Styles cuts a promo in an empty arena. He says Joe knows how to make him angry and get into his head. But after 20-years of friendship, he knows a lot about Joe. Joe has a family, but he would never mess with Joe’s family. Joe’s strength is trash talking and intimidation, as well as being a piece of garbage. But when the bell rings, no one has an upper hand on Styles. At HIAC, Styles will show Joe how phenomenal he really is, because this is the house that AJ Styles built, and it’s not for rent or for sale. This was pretty good, and I appreciated the different setting for the promo.

– We get highlights from last week’s Becky & Charlotte promo.

– Promo time with Charlotte, who talks about her match with Sonya tonight. She says she will prove herself as champion tonight. At HIAC Becky will learn it’s easier to talk the talk than walk the walk.

Non-Title Match: Champion Charlotte vs. Sonya Deville: Mandy Rose is out with Deville. Deville looks for takedowns early on, but Charlotte counters away and works into north south position and then a side headlock. Deville counters out and Deville takes Charlotte down and into a cradle for 2. Deville fights off a back slide and lays into Charlotte with kicks in the corner. The sliding knee strike follows for 2. Deville then gets a cradle for 2. Charlotte cuts off the sunset flip and hits a knee drop. Rose distracts Charlotte but she shakes it off and continues to attack Deville. Post break, and Deville is on control, working an abdominal stretch. Charlotte battles back and hits a belly to back suplex. Deville lays in strikes but Charlotte cuts her off with chops and slams her down. Charlotte heads up top and the moonsault eats knees. Deville hits the spinebuster for 2. Deville then follows with knee strikes, and jumps into a triangle but Charlotte powers out and hits the sitout powerbomb for 2. Charlotte locks on the figure eight and Deville taps. Champion Charlotte defeated Sonya Deville @ 9:25 via submission [**½] This was a solid back and forth match with Deville getting in a lot before losing; the post match was also good.

– Charlotte celebrates with the fans until she gets attacked by Becky in disguise. Becky beats her down and locks on the disarmher.

Samoa Joe sent a message for Styles and his family. He reads a bedtime story called “Night Night” AJ. He tells the story of Styles building his house and forgetting about his family until Joe arrived and attacked, scaring the wife and child of the man. Joe the warrior had a plan to become their new dad. He will stand as the new champion and man of the house, saving the day. “Goodnight Wendy and little Annie, and little AJ.” The closing picture is a drawing of Joe with AJ’s wife and daughter. Samoa Joe comes off as SUCH an amazing asshole and it’s spectacular.

– Becky walks and Kayla tries to interview her. Becky plans to break Charlotte’s arm after she wins the title.

– New Day is out with their custom commentary table. Kofi, in his interviewer disguise, makes fun of the Bar backstage.

– English is out to sing the intro for he and Rusev.

For a Tag Team Title Shot at HIAC: The Bar vs. Rusev & Aiden English: Lana is at ringside. They start the match during the break, with English working over Cesaro and then tagging in Rusev, who maintains control. Cesaro quickly cuts him off and tags in Sheamus but Rusev hits a suplex and follows with elbow drops. Back to full screen and cuts off Rusev and tags in Cesaro. The Bar works quick tags, but Rusev fight back and English tags in and dumps Sheamus. Rusev tags himself in and helps English with a backdrop onto the Bar in the floor. Back in and English hits a DDT for 2. Cesaro cuts off English allowing Sheamus to attack. Cesaro works him over on the floor, messes with New Day’s table and then back in lays in uppercuts on English. Back in and Sheamus tags in and he grounds things. Post break, and Sheamus is working a Canadian back breaker but then misses a corner charge and posts himself. Wholesale changes to Rusev & Cesaro, Rusev runs wild and hits a pop up knee strike and head kick for 2. The accolade follows until Sheamus breaks it up and dumps Rusev. Back in and the double DDT follows for 2. The Bar looks for double teams but Rusev fights them off, but runs into a Sheamus powerslam for 2. Sheamus sets for a brogue kick, but English takes the bullet for Rusev, Machka kick and IT’S RUSEV DAY IN AMERICAN ONCE AGAIN! Rusev & Aiden English defeated The Bar @ 13:25 via pin [***] This was a good back and forth tag match with the right team winning. I also love English continuing to prove himself to Rusev, even sacrificing himself to do so.

– The same person that painted on Mandy Rose’s pants also worked on Carmella tonight. This is in no way a complaint.

R-Truth vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas: Carmella & Vega are at ringside. Almas attacks at the bell, but Truth cuts him off with a RANA but Almas hits the back flip into a kick for 2. Almas follows with strikes, Truth fights off the suplex into a sit out suplex of his own. Truth fires back with kicks, and hits the corner splash. Almas avoids the scissors kick and Almas goes traquilo. Carmella takes out Vega but Alms rolls up Truth for the win by holding the tights. Andrade Almas defeated R-Truth @ 2:40 via pin [NR] This was solid and fun while it lasted, plus Almas needed a win. I’m all in on this Truth & Carmella pairing.

– Asuka is interviewed, and Naomi arrives and asks why she helped her. Asuka is no fan of the IIconics and Naomi appreciates her glow and they leave to bond over teriyaki. I don’t blame them, teriyaki is fucking delicious.

Brie Bella vs. Maryse: Miz & Bryan are at ringside. Maryse powders to the floor right away. Back in and Maryse plays keep away and powders again. Brie now grabs the mic and calls Maryse a coward. Maryse keeps running, so Miz gets on the mic and says Brie doesn’t deserve to share a ring with Maryse. He praises Maryse and says no one deserves this match. Miz and Maryse then walk off. brie follows and drags Maryse back to the ring. She slams her to the apron, and into the ring. Miz distracts Brie and Maryse hits a kick for a near fall. Brie gets the yes lock but Miz pulls her to the floor for the DQ. Bryan and Miz brawl until Miz runs Bryan into Brie. Brie Bella defeated Maryse @ 4:50 via DQ [DUD] What an absolutely enthralling and exciting main event to sell a PPV… Thankfully the post match was pretty good.

– Post match, Miz slams Bryan to the steps, and Brie makes a comeback only for Miz to distract her, but Bryan returns and he lights up Miz with kicks. Brie & Bryan clear the ring and stand tall.

– End Scene.

– Thanks for reading.

 photo fe36ffd0-0da4-4e3b-a2d3-b026b341dd87_zps41ef5d61.jpg
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

6.5
The final score: review Average
The 411
Tonight’s episode of WWE Smackdown was a solid go home show for Hell in a Cell. The Becky attack was good, Samoa Joe was great, Rusev Day winning is awesome, and while the “match” was shit, the build to Bryan & Brie vs. Miz & Maryse was good.
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