Winfree’s WWE Smackdown Review 6.24.22

Hey there people, it’s Friday so it’s time for another episode of WWE Smackdown. Tonight we’ve got a rematch for the Intercontinental title when newly minted champion Gunther takes on former champion Ricochet. Also people are still trying to get into the upcoming Money in the Bank ladder match, so we’ll get Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and Aliyah vs. Shotzi to further round out their respective fields. Last week we got news about Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar. . . again but this time in a Last Man Standing Match for Summerslam. Since we’ve wrapped up the Riddle and Roman issue for the time being there’s a pretty big opening near the top of the Smackdown weekly TV roster, and we’ll have to see who gets slotted into it. We’re probably getting more build to Ronda Rousey vs. Natalya as well, plus there’s a decent chance something involving The Usos and Street Profits will happen. Alright, that’s the preamble so let’s get into the action.

A recap of last weeks show starts us off, then we head to the live broadcast.

Up first is Drew McIntyre, and his entrance provides ample time to remind us about Money in the Bank and recap the last couple of weeks when Drew and Sheamus have been doing battle over a spot in the match. Drew’s got a mic, and plays with the crowd, then says he’s been working to earn a title shot but no matter how many matches he wins or moments he makes the Tribal Champion keeps ducking him. So Drew is going to have to force his hand by becoming Mr. Money in the Bank. He then brings up Brock Lesnar getting a title shot for showing up, he calls that the Brock way but Drew does things the hard way. He says whoever survives the Last Man Standing match to expect a Claymore from him. This brings out Sheamus and his stooges. Sheamus has a mic on the way down, he tells Drew to cool his jets, but does acknowledge that Summerslam is the perfect time to cash in that briefcase. But Sheamus is the one to do it, not Drew. Sheamus and crew are in the ring now, and Sheamus with the local sports team reference for cheap heat. He brings up that Drew has no positive experience with the briefcase whereas Sheamus has successfully cashed in, and he did so against Roman Reigns. Paul Heyman interrupts things alongside Adam Pearce. Heyman introduces himself, and reminds us that Roman will defend his title against Brock Lesnar in a Last Man Standing match, a match that will not be won by Brock Lesnar. But at the moment we have a problem, even though Roman is the greatest of all time he knows he’ll be vulnerable to that briefcase at Summerslam, especially at the hands of someone like Drew or Sheamus. He reiterates that the champion will be vulnerable after that match, but he’s here to make sure it wont happen this time. Heyman then puts over Pearce’s character and says Pearce has a special announcement to make. Pearce says he was a bit hasty in putting both of them in the MITB last week, so after some influence from Heyman management has overruled Pearce and neither Drew nor Sheamus will be in the MITB match. However there is a path forward, if Drew and Sheamus can successfully team tonight and beat the Usos tonight then they’ll both be in the match. That brings out the Usos to pose with their belts on the entrance stage. Typical revolving door promo, and even by WWE standards this was horribly repetitive in terms of what everyone said.

After this break we’ll get Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura.

We come back to the announcement that Drew and Sheamus vs. the Usos is official.

Shinsuke Nakamura heads to the ring, then we cut to gorilla where Kayla interviews Sami. Sami says this will be a great night for the Bloodline. Tonight Sami dedicates his match to Roman, and he’s going to win MITB and then protect Roman with the briefcase.

Match #1 – Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Sami jumps Nakamura at the bell, but Nakamura fights back with kicks. They head out of the ring and Sami takes out Nakamura then tries for a count out win but Nakamura beats the count. Nakamura grabs an inside cradle for 2, then Sami lands an elbow to take over. Sami runs into a kick in the corner, but he’s able to catch another kick and send Nakamura out of the ring to the floor as we head to break.

We come back to the usual Sami control segments. Sami heads to the second rope, Nakamura grabs at him but gets kicked away. Sami jumps for an elbow but flies into a kick from Nakamura for a 2 count. Nakamura unloads with strikes before running into a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Sami heads up top, Nakamura crotches him then climbs up with him. They fight on the top rope for a bit, Sami elbows Nakamura down then stands on top only to get crotched again by Nakamura. Now Nakamura sets for the Kinshasa, but Sami avoids and rolls him up with his feet on the ropes which the ref sees and stops the count. Sami argues with the ref, Nakamura hits a diving knee onto the back of his head for a 2 count while he’s busy with the ref. Wheel kick from Nakamura and he wants the Kinshasa again, Sami rolls out of the ring. Now Nakamura follows Sami and lays him out with a Kinshasa on the floor. Nakamura could take a count out win, but instead tosses Sami back into the ring. As Nakamura is getting back in the ring Sami intercepts him with the Helluva Kick and pins to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Sami Zayn won

Rating: 3 stars

These two have good chemistry, but they’ve done this pairing almost to death over the last months.

New Day head to the ring for our next match, they’ll rematch Jinder Mahal and Shanky after this break.

Jinder and Shanky are coming to the ring as we come back, Shanky still dancing behind Jinder’s back.

Before the match Woods and Kofi have mics, and they say they won clean last week and no one wants to see this rematch. The New Day don’t engage in rematch after rematch (gentlemen, you are liars). But they’ve got a bone to pick with Jinder, because he robbed everyone of dancing Shanky. Well they’re going to the people what they want, the people want a dancing Shanky and Woods then plays his trombone and gets Shanky to dance. Jinder stops Shanky dancing and yells at him, then Shanky shoves him away, leading to Jinder walking away. Kofi reminds us that Jinder is walking away from Shanky just like he walked away from 3MB. New Day and Shanky dance for a bit, then some different music hits and here come the Viking Raiders. The Raiders come from behind and jump Shanky and New Day. Erik and Ivar run wild on New Day, Kofi eating a wheel kick from Erik. Double team powerbomb to Kofi as well then Woods takes a top rope Worlds Strongest Slam from Ivar. The Raiders stand tall over the fallen New Day.

Sonya Deville walks up on Pearce in the back, she reminds us of what happened in the opening segment and mocks his impotence. She asks about how he’s treating the women’s division right now, and says she’s not had a match despite being back on Smackdown for weeks. Sonya complains about not being given a qualifying match, Pearce tells her she’s in a match tonight with Lacey Evans and Raquel Rodriguez in a handicap match up after this break. Just, for the record WWE writers, having a hated heel character parrot legitimate criticism as a means of deflection is more than a little bit pathetic and has been for many many years.

Post break Sonya Deville heads to the ring, she brings with her Shayna Baszler and Xia Li.

Match #2 – Handicap Match: Lacey Evans and Raquel Rodriguez vs. Sonya Deville w/ Shayna Baszler and Xia Li

Raquel and Evans have to tag in and out. Sonya works to isolate Evans right away, some slow motion kick evasion from both women then a double down on a kick. Evans crawls towards Raquel and tags out. Raquel unloads on Sonya with strikes and shoulder blocks and a scoop slam. Snake Eyes to Sonya, then the ref gets distracted as Raquel tries a Tejana Bomb. Right from Sonya, but Evans makes a blind tag and lays out Sonya with the Women’s Right and pins to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Raquel Rodriguez and Lacey Evans won

Rating: 1.5 stars

Well that happened, this feels very desperate on the part of writing to just shoe horn Sonya back into things.

Post match Baszler and Li jump Evans and Raquel along with Sonya’s help. Raquel fights off Sonya and Li on her own then Evans drops Baszler with a clothesline so the faces stand tall.

In the back the Street Profits walk, and find Los Lotharios and a backstage plant. They wander some more and find Drew Gulak working out. Next up is Madcap Moss. Dawkins offers to tell Moss a joke, “Why did the coach go to the bank? To get his quarter back.” Moss and Ford both look almost as dead inside as I am after that one.

To the ring and here comes Natalya to Ronda Rousey’s music and in some Ronda get up, pushing a stroller. Natalya will talk after this break.

Post break and Natalya is in the ring with her stroller. She has a mic and does a really bad Ronda impression. Next we throw to footage of the Natalya ambush to Ronda a few weeks ago and we see Natalya again lock in the Sharpshooter. After Natalya almost made Ronda submit she had to admit the Sharpshooter is deadlier than the armbar and she admits she has no chance against Natalya. Some tapping from Natalya, then she apologizes to her fans and says she’ll hand over her title to Natalya then retire and leave WWE. This brings out the real Ronda Rousey, with a mic of her own. Ronda says she didn’t recognize Natalya without her rack out. She isn’t going to put her whole life on hold, or mutilate her body chasing impossible beauty standards, but she’s not going to just hand Natalya the title. Natalya feels like she’s owed this, but the truth is Natalya is so lacking in talent and charisma that her pedigree and work ethic have only resulted in her dressing up like Ronda. Ronda yanks Natalya’s jacket off, but Natalya hits Ronda with the stroller a few times then runs away behind the invisible barrier on the entrance ramp before Ronda can get a hold of her. Well that happened.

In the back Drew and Sheamus talk with Megan, they trade verbal barbs and both claim they could win on their own. Sheamus then badly botches the name of the title they’re trying to win, and Drew reminds him of that as Sheamus walks off.

To the ring, and here’s Ludwig Kaiser to introduce Gunther. Gunther’s new music is growing on me. After this break we’ll get that IC title rematch.

Post break here comes Ricochet.

Match #3 – Intercontinental Title Match: (c) Gunther w/ Ludwig Kaiser vs. Ricochet

Ricochet attacks at the bell and avoids a chop. More strikes from Ricochet but Gunther catches a kick and hits a scoop slam. Big boot from Gunther, then he starts laying in stomps. Uppercut from Gunther. Ricochet fights back with body blows but Gunther forces him down to the mat and grabs a half Boston crab. Gunther switches to an STF and Ricochet gets to the ropes to break the hold. Ricochet avoids a corner rush and hits a kick then flies but misses, flips out of a sleeper suplex and lands a jumping knee but runs into a wicked clothesline. Chops and uppercuts from Gunther then a German suplex. Shotgun dropkick from Gunther sends Ricochet into the corner, then he hits the folding powerbomb and pins to retain.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Gunther retained the title

Rating: 2.5 stars

A definite step down from last week, but they’re trying to get Gunther over more than they’re trying to have a great match so it makes sense.

In the back Kayla talks with Paul Heyman. Heyman is about to talk when Sami Zayn walks up. Sami says Heyman doesn’t have to answer any questions from Kayla and reminds us that Kayla hinted that if Sami won the MITB briefcase that he’d cash in on Roman. Sami says he’d never do that. Heyman smirks, wraps an arm around Sami but Sami says he’d cash in on Brock Lesnar and Heyman is displeased. Heyman glares at Sami and Sami slinks away.

Back to the ring and Tamina is in the ring, she’ll take on Shotzi in a MITB qualifying match after the break. I guess something happened to Aliyah.

Post break Shotzi heads to the ring as commentary tells us Aliyah got hurt.

Match #4 – Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Tamina vs. Shotzi

Shotzi grabs a sleeper, Tamina no sells it and just slams Shotzi down to the mat. Corner splash from Tamina then they botch an Irish whip because Shotzi wanted to take a sumemrsault bump. Powerslam from Tamina then she puts Shotzi on the top rope. Shotzi fights back with strikes then her reverse head scissors over the ropes. Drop kick from Shotzi then a discus elbow and an enziguri. Shotzi goes for a flying nothing but eats a super kick, and when Tamina covers Shotzi gets a foot on the ropes to break it. Stomps from Tamina, then Shotzi avoids a charge and Tamina posts herself. Cradle DDT that Shotzi calls Never Wake Up, and she pins Tamina to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Shotzi won

Rating: 1 star

Yeah, this wasn’t good, but that should be expected given the participants.

We get a recap of the Viking Raiders return. The Raiders talk in the back, they’ve been pushed aside for far too long and they’re here to rip apart anyone in their way. No one is safe.

Max Dupri talks to someone out of frame as we head to break, allegedly he’ll debut his clients after this break.

Post break and we get the music for Max Dupri, but again no people and we cut to the back where Max again complains to Adam Pearce about Pearce’s incompetence keeping his clients from showing up. This week it’s that the dressing room wasn’t up to his standards. But if Pearce can’t handle this then Max can’t sends his models out there to debut. They’ll run this back next week I guess.

Back to ringside and Pat McAfee has a mic and is standing on the announcers table. He reminds us about last week when Happy Corbin lost a match and what happened afterwards. This naturally leads to a video recap of said events. McAfee reminds us that Corbin said if they wrestled McAfee would wish he was dead, which is impossible because McAfee loves his life and enjoys every single moment. When McAfee walked into the Thunderdome for the first time he felt alive. When he gets to do commentary he feels alive. And when he gets to wrestle Happy Corbin at Summerslam, he’ll feel even more alive.

McAfee settles down as Sheamus makes his way to the ring with his goons. Drew’s music interrupts theirs and he shoulders past all of the Brutes on his way to the ring. After this break we’ll get their tag team match to qualify for the MITB match.

Drew and Sheamus stare at each other and trade words as the Usos head to the ring. As the Usos hit the ring the Street Profits come out as well. The Profits hang out around commentary as the match begins.

Match #5 – Tag Team Match: Drew McIntyre and Sheamus w/ Ridge Holland and Butch vs. The Usos (Jimmy and Jey)

Drew and Sheamus argue over who’s starting the match, Butch jumps in the ring and Sheamus helps him out of the ring so Jimmy can attack Drew. Drew levels Jimmy with a clothesline then tags in Sheamus. Double hip toss to Jimmy, then Sheamus starts laying in uppercuts. Jey tags in and hits a corner splash. Strikes from Jey but he gets distracted by the Profits and Sheamus sends him to the apron then lays in chest clubs. Sheamus with a Finlay Roll then he wants the Brogue Kick but Jey rolls out of the ring. Drew heads after Jey, Butch gets involved so Drew throws him into the barricade. This annoys Sheamus, so he and Drew start trading punches but Jimmy and Jey hit stereo suicide dives onto them to send us to break.

Post break Jey is working a chin lock on Sheamus. Sheamus fights back with body blows and punches. Jimmy tags in and super kicks Sheamus after Sheamus dropped Jey with an Irish Curse. Punches and stomps from Jimmy, but Sheamus fights back with kicks and punches. Enziguri from Jimmy cuts off Sheamus, he wants a hip attack and hits it to follow up. Jey starts jawing at the Profits, Jimmy tries another hip attack but Sheamus intercepts him with a knee strike. Drew wants in, he gets the tag as does Jey and now Drew runs wild. Belly to belly to Jey from Drew, but Jey avoids a move and posts Drew then lands a super kick. Jimmy tags in, super kicks Sheamus then a sandwich super kick to Drew. Jimmy up and hits the Splash but Sheamus breaks up the pin. Jey ejects Sheamus, but Drew drops him with a neckbreaker then on for Jimmy as well. Drew wants the Claymore, but Jey pulls Jimmy out of the ring. Drew follows them and eats a super kick from Jimmy. Butch and Ridge come down to distract the ref, Sami is here but as he goes to Helluva Kick Drew Dawkins intercepts him with a Pounce. The Usos and Profits yell at ringside, and Drew hits an absurd dive onto all four men. Sheamus wipes out Jey with a Brogue Kick on the floor. Back in the ring Drew eats a super kick, but comes off the ropes with a Claymore to Jimmy then pins to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Sheamus and Drew McIntyre won

Rating: 3 stars

A touch overbooked but it was designed to protect the Usos just a bit. I’m rarely a fan of the tag team champs eating losses in this kind of format, but there was enough going on around it to help justify what happened.

Drew and Sheamus still argue a bit after the win, then both men pose to end the show.

7.0

The final score: review Good

The 411

This one sneaks into Good territory on the back of a few strong matches. Sami Zayn and Shinsuke Nakamura was good, as was the main event, and I get what they were doing with the Gunther and Ricochet rematch. Sadly the opening segment was kind of a predictable drag, Shotzi vs. Tamina was not good, and the handicap match with Sonya Deville and company felt backwards because while it's fun to see the heel get what's coming to them they tried to have her retain heat by getting a numerical advantage anyway. A lot of the booking on the women's side of things is still in serious flux and it shows. The Viking Raiders being heels is frankly overdue, and at this point I'm half curious how much longer they can drag out Max Dupri's ridiculous demands.