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Hey everyone, so this week has sucked a whole lot. I don’t quite have it in me to do my regular kind of schtick today, at least not right now so I hope you’ll just kind of bear with me being a bit drier than usual for this episode of WWE Smackdown. Tonight Brock Lesnar will show up, probably for the last time as he and Cena will be building their Wrestlepalooza feud on RAW primarily. Tiffany Stratton will defend the WWE women’s title against Jade Cargill again, and logically Nia Jax is going to show up and make everything worse. We’ve got Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre, Sami Zayn said he wants to do the US open challenge thing so he’ll likely deal with Solo Sikoa or one of his pointless goons, Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins seem like they’re headed for a break up as well. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss are still feuding with Chelsea Green and her goons, Aleister Black and Damian Priest are still feuding, WWE is taking WrestleMania to Saudi Arabia so expect more sportswashing propaganda in the near future as well. No Cody, he’s filming a movie, a women’s scene that’s starting to flounder on pretty much every level, a tag team scene doing everything it can to prop up the show, and a main event picture that feels largely lifeless. Smackdown is kind of in the doldrums these days. Oh, we haven’t seen Rey Fenix and/or Andrade since SummerSlam either. Wrestlepalooza is coming up pretty soon, so if Smackdown is going to have any meaningful offerings to it they really need to get kicked into gear now.

We’re in Norfolk, Virginia tonight and see various wrestlers walking around the venue. Commentary this week is Vic Joseph and Booker T, not a commentary team I particularly enjoy personally.

Next a recap of the opening hour of Smackdown last week. After that Brock Lesnar heads to the ring. Brock gets a mic but before he can say anything here’s R-Truth to rap himself to the ring. Truth asks the crowd what’s up, and Brock tells him to shut up. Truth says he’s going to be the first guy to welcome back Brock. Brock laughs at that. Truth then says he used to be scared of Brock, but not any more. Brock says he doesn’t even know who Truth is, and he better have a good reason to interrupt him. Truth says Brock has been disrespecting John Cena, his childhood hero and older brother, for 25 years. Brock asks how old Truth is and what his name is, Truth only answers the second question. Brock is only here for John Cena, and asks if Truth knows where Cena is tonight. Truth doesn’t. So why is Truth in Brock’s ring? Truth is here to defend Cena, his older brother. Brock asks about that, Truth says his name is Ron Cena which gets Brock to break briefly and there’s a “Ron Cena” chant. But Truth doesn’t know where Cena is still. They repeat themselves from a little bit ago and Truth says Cena made a little kid cry this year and he warns Brock about Super Cena coming for him. Brock can’t believe this silliness and he and Truth play about the brotherhood thing again with Truth claiming they’ve got the same dad. Eventually Brock settles this with an F5 to Truth, which splits Brock’s pants but Brock is a man and doesn’t care at all about it. Brock jokingly dances in his split pants for a bit before leaving the ring. I can’t help but feel like that segment got lost a few times.

In the back Sami Zayn talks about keeping the US open challenge going and talks to his challenger tonight, and it’s revealed that he’s talking to Rey Fenix. Well that should be a decent match, and it’s up after this break.

Post break we see Penta and others arrive at World’s Collide which will be up on youtube after Smackdown.

Solo video, he asks if we know what he had to sacrifice for the US title. He gave up love, loyalty, his own flesh and blood, to have it taken. I think if you bargain to give up all that you should have asked for talent. Anyway the leader of the Bloodline B-team vows to change things, to move out of the shadows and reclaim his title. Man what shadows, you take up at least 3 TV segments each time you’re here.

Sami Zayn heads to the ring for our first match.

Match #1 – US Title Match: (c) Sami Zayn vs. Rey Fenix

Fenix quickly hits the ropes but runs into arm drags from Sami. Fenix fights back with a flipping arm drag off the ropes, then he hits a hurricanrana before faking a dive onto Sami. That sends us to break.

We come back to Sami in control and hitting a tilt a whirl backbreaker for a 2 count. Triangle kick from Fenix sends Sami out of the ring then he lines up a dive then connects with a corkscrew plancha. Back in the ring Fenix heads up top and hits a crossbody for a 2 count. They start trading strikes then Fenix counters a Blue Thunder Bomb with a headscissors for a 2 count. Tiger Feint thrust kick from Fenix gets another near fall for the challenger. Next Fenix heads up top but Sami avoids a moonsault then follows up with a Helluva Kick but Fenix avoids him and hits a rolling DDT for a near fall and we go to break again.

We come back to Fenix pulling himself up top again, Sami chops him then climbs up with him. They battle for position up there then Sami tries an avalanche Attitude Adjustment but Fenix fights that off and hits a lovely double stomp to the back of a seated Sami on the top rope which leads to a near fall. Fenix back to the springboard moonsault for another near fall. They fight over a suplex spot then Sami blocks a superkick, Fenix hits the ropes but takes a Blue Thunder Bomb for a great near fall. Fenix barely got a shoulder up there, really nice stuff from him. Jawbreaker from Fenix but Sami then hits the corner Exploder suplex. Sami with a Helluva Kick attempt but Fenix counters into a Frankensteiner with a deep leg hook on the pin but again just a 2 count. The crowd think this is awesome, and Fenix hits the rope walk kick but misses the wheel kick in the corner then Sami hits the corner Exploder again. This time Sami’s Helluva Kick connects and he retains.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Sami Zayn retained the title in 15:51

Rating: 3.5 stars
Thoughts: Probably even higher for the live crowd as the commercials disrupted a bit of the flow for the TV audience. Still, it’s Fenix and Sami, of course they were going to give you something really good at a bare minimum.

Earlier today Giulia and Kiana James messed with B-Fab, and B-Fab winds up getting a match with Giulia.

Giulia heads to the ring for our next match, non-title so Giulia probably loses because champions losing non-title matches is still a thing that happens a fair amount. We head to break during Giulia’s entrance.

We see more people arrive in Las Vegas for World’s Collide, man Smackdown really feels like a B tier show.

Next is a Wyatts video. Bo asks where the Profits go from here now that they failed their test, and he warned them that they’re at war with principalities. Rowan is pained to see them fraying already, people never appreciate what they have until it’s gone. They have to decide if the disease spreads or if they amputate a limb and heal. Bo says they just sow the seeds, and again asks where the Profits go from here. Follow the buzzards. OK then.

B-Fab is heading to the ring next. She attacks James pre-match which pisses off Giulia. Giulia kicks her off the apron then batters her around the barricades. Back into the ring and James stomps on B-Fab then holds her for a Giulia Arrivederci knee strike. Michin then heads to the ring while B-Fab’s selling leaves a lot to be desired. Michin with kendo stick shots to James then she attacks but Giulia avoids her and we just get a stare off.

Drew lifts weights to warm up in the back while Tiffany Stratton and Jade Cargill walk. That match is next, so yeah no clean finish if they’re not closing the show is my guess.

WrestleMania and Saudi repeat announcement on return.

Aleister Black video, he warns that he is the sickness and cure for Priest. They can keep fighting because of Priest’s code and die by it and calls himself the prophet of violence.

Jade Cargill then heads to the ring and is followed by Tiffany Stratton.

Match #2 – WWE Women’s Title Match: (c) Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill

Tiffany avoids a pump kick then lands elbows but Jade then blocks an arm drag but Tiffany with a hop up dropkick. Jade catches a handspring back elbow and tries a back suplex, Tiffany slips free but runs into a power slam. Tiffany knees her way out of a suplex then rolls up Jade awkwardly for 2. Jade gets misdirected out of the ring then Tiffany follows with a plancha. That sends us picture in picture.

Back in the ring Jade tries a superplex and hits it. Some control work from Jade then a corner chop. More corner work from Jade then she tosses Tiffany out of the ring. On the floor now Jade bounces Tiffany around the barricade and poses before they head back into the ring. Jade grabs a chin lock then slings Tiffany down. Tiffany fights back with a drop toe hold into the ropes then a hip attack but she hits the ropes again and runs into a Black Hole Slam from Jade for a 2 count. Jade grabs the chin lock again, maybe don’t point Tiffany at the camera if you’re going to talk over the next spots like that? We come back to Jade hitting a fall away slam. Tiffany avoids a corner attack and sort of hits a spinebuster, that was ugly. Some clotheslines from Tiffany then she tries the cartwheel Alabama Slam but winds up settling for a hurricanrana then the handspring back elbow in the corner and a low dropkick. Tiffany goes up top and hits a Swanton Bomb for a near fall. Even Booker called that kick out lazy. Superkick from Jade sends Tiffany out of the ring but Tiffany trips up Jade then hits the ring to try a baseball slide but Jade catches her then drops her onto the apron. Back in the ring Tiffany avoids a pump kick and hits a Finlay Roll then Jade crotches Tiffany trying a Prettiest Moonsault Evet then hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for a 2 count. Tiffany counters a chokeslam with a roll up for 2 then hits the Alabama Slam. Prettiest Moonsault Ever but Jade rolls away and drills her with a pump kick and both women are down. They start trading elbows, the crowd is more with Jade at this point. Jade spills to the apron then brings Tiffany with her and they start trading blows on the apron. Superkick from Jade then she misses a corner attack and posts herself. Tiffany follows with an apron low dropkick, then heads up top for an orihara moonsault but she misses and lands hard on the mat, then Jade Spears her into the time keepers area as the 10 count expires.

OFFICIAL RESULT: DRAW, double count out, in 11:12

Rating: 3 stars
Thoughts: Good enough sprint style match, definitely a step up from their last singles encounter, but they don’t seem to want to pull the trigger on Jade so putting her in here with Tiffany over and over isn’t doing her too many favors going forward if this is what we’re going to continue doing.

Post match here’s Nia Jax to make everything worse. Jax tosses Jade into the ring steps then hits a Samoan Drop on the floor. Headbutt to Tiffany then they head into the ring and she hits a pop up headbutt to Tiffany. Annihilator to Tiffany. Jax is utterly incapable of being interesting or in anything but a title program, can we get rid of her already?

In the back Chelsea Green talks with Nick Aldis, she and Alba Fyre want a tag team title shot. Green gets verbose, and Aldis says they can get a title shot in the near future then he walks off but finds Miz. Aldis says Carmelo Hayes is welcome to grab a brass ring, Miz thinks that’s a tag team title shot for them, Aldis clearly knows better but declines to comment.

Elsewhere Randy Orton warms up for the main event and we head to break.

We come back to a hype package for the history of John Cena and Brock Lesnar. As someone watching when Cena first stepped to Brock and Cena christened his finisher the FU in response to the F5 from Brock this should be nostalgic. OK, claiming Cena labored up the independent scene before hitting OVW is ahistorical nonsense. They do a decent job talking about Brock excelling early and Cena having to dig into finding the Doctor of Thuganomics gimmick to save his career. Also talking about how Brock lost the desire to be in WWE while Cena embraced the grind. They end with Cena’s winning the US title and Brock’s leaving, next week we’ll get more of this video package.

Drew McIntyre heads to the ring and we head to break.

Post break we get coverage of people at World’s Collide. Unwashed Dominik Mysterio goads on Rey Mysterio for a bit, then Rey walks off and Finn Balor shows up to tell Dom he’s on his own tonight.

Sami Zayn talks with Cathy in the back, he puts over Fenix then Carmelo Hayes walks over. Hayes says he’s calling his shot for next week while we can see Uncle Howdy in the background. Hayes then turns into Miz, and they bicker a bit as Miz says he’s trying to guide Hayes to the tag team titles. Hayes says he’s trying to do what Miz did and become US and tag team champion, that seems to mollify Miz.

Back to the ring and here comes Randy Orton.

Match #3: Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton

27 minutes between matches. They tie up and Drew backs Randy into a corner then starts laying in strikes. Randy comes out of the corner with a clothesline then hits uppercuts before going for the 10 punch which he punctuates by clotheslining Drew out of the ring and sending us to break.

We come back to Randy hitting a suplex. Randy with the Garvin stomp then a knee drop to the face but Randy is still selling the knee so Drew kicks it then hits a chop block. Drew with corner leg work and he starts to isolate the leg. Figure Four from Drew, Randy writhes in pain but then turns things over and Drew has to grab the ropes to break the hold. Some rights from Randy then a back suplex which leads to Drew rolling out of the ring. Randy follows Drew out of the ring and starts bouncing him off the announce table then tries the release back suplex but Drew rakes the eyes then hits Randy with the back suplex onto the announce table then follows with another chop block and we head picture in picture.

Drew with more leg work back in the ring, including the old Mr. Perfect body drop on the leg in the ropes. They start trading rights as we come back to broadcast. Drew kicks the knee then scoop slams Randy into the ropes and then yanks on the leg. Randy rolls out of the ring, Drew follows and lands some punches before they head back into the ring where Randy thumbs Drew in the eye to take over. Some corner work from Randy but Drew sends him into the corner then tries another Figure Four but Randy kicks him into the ring post and Drew falls out of the ring. Drew gets back in the ring but runs into clotheslines then avoids a snap powerslam. Randy gets snapped over the top rope then catches a charging Drew with a snap powerslam. Drew avoids the draping DDT but as he tries to head to the floor Randy follows then hits the release back suplex onto the announce table a couple of times. Back in the ring Drew catches Randy with a Claymore but Randy rolls out of the ring to avoid being pinned. Drew follows and sends him back into the ring but now it’s Randy surprising him with an RKO and Drew rolls to the floor now. A little blood on the forehead of Randy, not sure what caused that. Both men head to the floor, Drew shoves Randy into the ring apron then heads back into the ring but Randy catches him with the hanging DDT. Randy looks to fire up and lines up a Punt kick, the ref tries to block him and that means Drew avoids it when it happens then hits a Claymore to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Drew McIntyre won in 17:28

Rating: 3 stars
Thoughts: Decent little match, they tried to hype this up as PPV/PLE worthy and while the name value checks out the action didn’t live up to that particular bit of hype. Drew and Randy work well together but this was pretty standard WWE TV stuff overall.

Post match Drew lines up a Claymore through the table but Cody Rhodes is here to attack Drew. Cody lays into Drew with punches then hits a Cody Cutter. Mic time for Cody, better get to it bud the credits are rolling. Cody says the champ is back and says he’ll see Drew at Wrestlepalooza. That ends the episode.