Winfree’s WWE Smackdown Review 6.10.22

Well it’s Friday, so time for another episode of WWE Smackdown. This week we’ve got to start building towards Money in the Bank, because the machine never stops, never sleeps, never slows, and who cares about quality when we’ve got quantity to produce. Sorry, that sentiment might seem anti-WWE and it’s not intended to be, that’s a big gripe I have with 95% of entertainment media these days. Anyway we’ll have two Money in the Bank qualifying matches tonight, first Drew McIntyre and Sheamus will renew their on again off again physical rivalry while on the women’s side of things Lacey Evans will return to the ring and battle Xia Li. We’re also going to have an Intercontinental title match because WWE remembered that Ricochet is the champion, he’ll defend the title against the Ring General Gunther. Under different conditions I’d be curious to see what Ricochet and the former WALTER could put together, with one weeks build and with how Smackdown has been trending lately I’m not holding my breath on a great match. Also Max Dupri will debut his first client for Maximum Male Models, there’s a decent chance it’s Pretty Deadly given that they dropped the NXT tag team titles recently. The primary driving force on Smackdown at the moment is Riddle’s quest for a shot at Roman Reigns, and while Roman himself is taking a much more relaxed schedule there’s a decent chance Riddle takes on either the Usos or semi-professional stooge Sami Zayn. Well that’s the preamble, let’s get to the action.

We open with an announcement that our main event will be between Riddle and Sami Zayn, if Sami wins Riddle is barred from Smackdown while if Riddle wins he gets a shot at Roman’s uWu title. Cole and McAfee are taking their sweet time running down the card tonight, are we going to be hard pressed filling time again.

Drew McIntyre sets to head to the ring, he runs into Butch at Gorilla and tosses him into Sheamus before telling Sheamus he’ll see him in the ring. No Ridge Holland tonight, he suffered a knee injury apparently and is resting up.

Match #1 – Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus w/ Butch

They tie up right away and fight for position in the corner before Sheamus starts laying in strikes. Drew counters and lays in strikes of his own. Clothesline from Drew and he follows up with chops. Sheamus hits a shoulder block then they hit the ropes and Drew drops Sheamus with a Michinoku Driver for a 1 count. Poor Taka Michinoku, his finish is getting done dirty these days. Sheamus sends Drew to the apron, lands a body shot then lays in his clubbing chest blows only for Drew to block after a few then land blows of his own. Both men are on the apron now, Butch distracts Drew and that allows Sheamus to shove Drew into the ring post then hit a White Noise on the apron to send us to break.

We come back to Drew fighting out of a neck crank before getting hit with an Alabama Slam for a 2 count. Drew fights to his feet again, then clotheslines Sheamus down a few times. Belly to belly from Drew, then another one and a neck breaker. Sheamus avoids a Future Shock DDT but runs into a spinebuster into a jackknife cover for a 2 count. They trade headbutts, then Sheamus hits the Future Shock DDT for a 2 count. Sheamus heads up top but Drew intercepts him with a punch. They start trading strikes as Drew climbs up with Sheamus, Drew hoists Sheamus up and hits a second rope White Noise for a near fall. Drew sets for the Claymore, but Sheamus intercepts him with a knee strike for his own near fall. Now Sheamus sets for the Brogue Kick, but Drew picks him up for a powerbomb into another jackknife cover for another near fall. Again Drew wants the Claymore, but Butch jumps in to intercept the kick then Sheamus clotheslines Drew out of the ring. Sheamus climbs up top and hits a flying clothesline onto the floor, then Drew hits him with a belly to belly suplex on the floor but Sheamus tosses Drew into the time keepers area. Drew and Sheamus joust with chairs and they’re counted out.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Double Count Out

Rating: 3 stars

To the shock of no one these two delivered a solid match, shame about the ending though.

Drew and Sheamus keep fighting as the match is over and we head to break. Even money says the match is restarted when we come back.

We come back and Drew and Sheamus are still brawling in the ringside area. Officials try to separate them but that’s not successful, and Drew tosses Sheamus over the barricade into the crowd. Eventually enough officials are able to separate them.

Next is a recap of RAW, specifically the stuff between Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. Yeah, I’m guessing we’re hurting for content for some reason.

In the back Kayla is at gorilla and talks with Lacey Evans. Evans says the MITB contract changes lives, and reminds us of what MITB is because someone has to. She isn’t sad about the challenges life throws at her, she’s choosing to keep working and will win. Evans then heads to the ring. She’ll take on Xia Li after this break.

Post break and here comes Xia Li.

Match #2 – Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Lacey Evans vs. Xia Li

Li grabs a waist lock then a side headlock but runs into a shoulder block for Evans. Some evasive moves from Li then she slams Evans into the mat. Leg kicks from Li then a thrust kick to the chest and a running tomahawk elbow in the corner. Snap suplex from Li gets a 2 count then she grabs a Cobra Clutch as a rest hold. Evans fights up and hip tosses Li then drops her with a clothesline. Snap mare from Evans then a running uppercut and a modified Bronco Buster in the corner for a 2 count. Li hits a kick to the body, but runs into the Women’s Right and Evans pins her to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Lacey Evans won

Rating: 2 stars

This bordered on squash territory in some respects, but also had some slightly sloppy points that dock it just a bit. That said this wasn’t bad and was a decent reintroduction for Evans.

In the back Adam Pearce is on the phone, and here’s Drew McIntyre. Drew demands to be in the MITB match, Pearce says there are too many moving parts for him to just put Drew in the match right now. Drew reiterates his demand before walking away.

Back to the ring, here comes Ronda Rousey. Commentary recaps Natalya winning the Six Pack Challenge match last week to become number one contender. Ronda is in the ring, she’ll talk after this break.

Post break Sheamus finds Adam Pearce and wants to be in the MITB match. Sheamus doesn’t want excuses, he wants results, then storms out. Not a great line there.

Back to the ring here’s Ronda with a mic. She reminds us that MITB is just 3 weeks away, and every writer in the back soils themselves. Ronda says at MITB she’ll prove that her armbar is better than Natalya’s knockoff Sharpshooter. Shotzi interrupts this telling Ronda to shut up. Shotzi has serious aggression and a killer instinct (please still love us John Cena), and she tries to goad Ronda into a title fight right now. Ronda laughs, then plays with the crowd before accepting. We head to break and that match will be up next.

Match #3: Ronda Rousey vs. Shotzi

The match begins as we come back. Ronda quickly tosses Shotzi around and Shotzi runs into the ropes to escape her. They tie up again, Shotzi lands a knee to the body then tries a suplex but Ronda kicks her off then hits a leg scissors sweep into a 2 count. Snap mare from Shotzi but she runs into a less than stellar powerslam for a 2 count. Ronda runs into a boot then Shotzi tries her hanging head scissors but Ronda counters into an Ankle Lock before Shotzi escapes. They walk around the ringside area, and Shotzi hits a tornado DDT off the apron to the floor. Shotzi sends Ronda back into the ring and gets a 2 count. Stomps and elbows from Shotzi, then she tries a suplex but Ronda blocks it and they botch an O’Connor Roll spot leading to Shotzi landing a head kick for 2. Shotzi grabs at a modified chicken wing, Ronda rolls through to escape and tries the Ankle Lock but Shotzi kicks her off. Snap suplex from Shotzi gets a 2 count. Shotzi suplexes Ronda into the corner then lays in stomps. Ronda avoids a corner attack, the crowd is pretty dead for this. Ronda tries Piper’s Pit but Shotzi escapes and lands a kick then a knee and sloppy as hell rolling punch. Now Ronda catches a kick, takes a couple of slaps but she fires up and hits The Baddest Slam. Arm throws from Ronda then a striking combination, and eventually a Piper’s Pit. Ronda could pin, but instead locks in the armbar to get Shotzi to tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Ronda Rousey won

Rating: 1.5 stars

Neither of these two are the kind of person to benefit from this pairing, neither can really manage or lead a match. They’re trying with Shotzi I guess, but she’s just not all that good in the ring. This was also pretty slow, and went too long.

Post match Natalya attacks Ronda from behind and locks in a Sharpshooter for a bit before leaving.

Megan is in the back and talks with Riddle. She reiterates the stakes for his main event match, and he says he thrives under pressure and is motivated by what the Bloodline did to Randy Orton. Tonight all he has to do is beat Rusty then he’ll be able to get his vengeance on Roman Reigns.

Ludwig Kaiser is here to introduce Gunther, new music for Gunther. That title match will be up after the break.

Post break we get a recap of Natalya attacking Ronda, you know in case you missed it. Ronda is in the back getting iced and Kayla says Ronda was seriously injured during that attack and we’re supposed to believe there’s doubt about her ability to wrestle at MITB.

To the ring and here comes Ricochet.

Match #4 – Intercontinental Title Match: (c) Ricochet vs. Gunther w/ Ludwig Kaiser

Ricochet gets tossed around quickly by Gunther. They tie up again and Gunther hits a snap down. Side headlock from Ricochet then he starts laying in strikes and beginning to hit and move before Gunther obliterates him with a chop. Gunther drapes Ricochet over the top rope and chops him again then starts stomping on Ricochet up there. We actually get a commercial break there, who paced this out?

We come back to Ricochet starting his come back with leg kicks before he runs into a big boot from Gunther. Ricochet counters a powerbomb with a Yoshi Tonic for a 2 count. More leg kicks from Ricochet, he’s heating up with strikes now and hits a head scissors take over into the corner. Gunther avoids a flying nothing and grabs a Sleeper Hold, he weakens Ricochet with the hold before Ricochet arm drags free. Ricochet flips out of a German suplex and lands a knee but then runs into a stiff lariat for a 2 count. Gunther grabs the Sleeper again, Ricochet is able to get to the ropes to break the hold. Ricochet moves to the apron, Gunther tries the Sleeper again but Ricochet gets free then kicks Ludwig and tries to fly but Gunther avoids him at first before Ricochet hits a moonsault press then a standing shooting star press for a 2 count. Now Ricochet heads up top, but Gunther avoids the 450. Enziguri from Ricochet then a rolling drop kick but Gunther counters with a shotgun drop kick of his own. Powerbomb from Gunther connects and he pins to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Gunther won the Intercontinental title

Rating: 3 stars

The commercial break kind of gutted this, but you got a good taste of what these two could do and frankly I’d love a rematch where they were allowed to cut loose.

Sami Zayn is at gorilla, Paul Heyman walks up and says this is the biggest chance of Sami’s career. If Sami wins Heyman can try to sell Sami to Roman Reigns. But if Sami loses, Heyman just shakes his head sadly. Sami heads to the ring, and we get the video of John Cena meeting some Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands. It’s a genuinely heart warming story and John Cena is probably the best human being to come through the refuse filled world of wrestling.

We’ll get the main event after this break.

We get a reminder of the supermarket brawl between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Booker T, Pat McAfee then proceeds to roast Michael Cole about all the humiliating things that have happened to him for a few moments. After that, a recap of the tag team title match from last week, because this episode needed more filler.

After that Riddle heads to the ring. Our CGI animals for Riddle this week are giraffes. The match will start after this commercial break. We seriously couldn’t have given Gunther and Ricochet another 4-5 minutes, we needed that segment of TV?

We come back to another recap, this time of Happy Corbin vs. Madcap Moss from Hell in a Cell. Next week we’re getting a rematch, Moss and Corbin in a Last Laugh Match. Because, like all things involving Corbin, it’ll take several weeks too long. Also we’re not getting the debut of Max Dupri’s first client this week, they’re claiming travel issues and that will be set for next week. Paul Heyman is on commentary for the main event.

Match #5: Sami Zayn vs. Riddle

They tie up and Riddle lands strikes, they hit the ropes then Riddle grabs a triangle choke and Sami moves to the ropes to break the hold. riddle follows Sami out of the ring and resumes kicking the crap out of him. Back in the ring Riddle with a gutwrench suplex, holds on and rolls through to hit a gutwrench powerbomb for a 2 count. Senton from Riddle gets a 2 count. More strikes from Riddle and Sami runs away yet again. Riddle follows Sami, but Sami hits a clothesline and starts in with stomps. Back in the ring again and Sami continues with his usual control spots. Riddle fights back with an arm drag then a rolling kick to the head. Corner offense from Riddle then an Exploder suplex and a punt kick to the chest for a 2 count. Sami grabs a small package for a 2 count. Back elbow from Riddle, then he climbs to the rope rope but Sami shoves him off into the barricade as we head to another commercial break.

Sami with a really awkward flying move attempt, botched badly there, so Sami hits a brainbuster for a 2 count. They move out of the ring and Sami tosses Riddle into the ring post a few times then looks for a count out victory. Riddle gets back into the ring at the count of 9, then Sami starts laying in mounted punches. Sami heads up to the top rope, Riddle jumps up to meet him and looks for a super RKO but Sami is able to shove him off then try a flying nothing only to eat a Final Flash for a near fall. Riddle is sent to the apron, and Sami tries the hanging DDT and hits it. Sami continues taunting and sets for the RKO as Heyman yells at Sami to cover Riddle. Riddle hits a Final Flash to cut off Sami then unloads with kicks to the chest and head in the corner. Sami heads out of the ring, so Riddle drills him with a punt kick from the apron then the Floating Bro. Back in the ring Riddle hits a snap powerslam, Sami moves to the apron and now Riddle hits the draping DDT. Riddle sets for the RKO, Sami counters it into a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Heyman yells at Sami to get back on offense. Riddle grabs Sami for a Bro Derrick but Sami counters into a Victory Roll for 2. Sami hits an Exploder into the corner, he wants the Helluva kick but Riddle intercepts him with an RKO and pins to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Riddle won

Rating: 3 stars

They’ve gotten behind Riddle in a real way, this was a solid match and while the outcome was never in doubt they did a good job of getting there.

Post match the Usos jump Riddle and beat him down then toss him out of the ring and pose. That wasn’t a good idea, because Riddle comes back in with a kendo stick and beats the Usos into a retreat and poses in the ring to close the episode.

6.0

The final score: review Average

The 411

Let's be clear about the final rating here, it's on the back of a good but should have been great IC title match, and a solid main event. Our opening match went two segments for a non-finish, we had a sloppy bout between Ronda and Shotzi that didn't do for Shotzi what the same kind of setup did for Raquel a few weeks ago, and a serviceable if forgettable bout between Lacey Evans and Xia Li. This episode felt like they lost content, like they were desperate to fill air time with something other than wrestling and that resulted in recaps. So. . . many. . . recaps. The quality of the wrestling saved this episode, but Smackdown needs to sort itself out sooner rather than later.