wrestling / TV Reports
Winfree’s WWE Smackdown Review 9.04.26
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...Alright everyone, it’s Friday and it’s time for WWE Smackdown. For the second week in a row we’re pre-taped so if you want spoilers they can be found HERE. Tonight we’re getting the debut of Bakusai, Shinsuke Nakamura’s new team with Kyoki who is the former Hiromu Takahashi, as they take on Miz and Kit Wilson. In the WWE title picture human landfill Sami Zayn is making everything worse everywhere by never letting a match actually take place. WWE champion CM Punk is just looking for more action while Sami has now drawn the ire of Punk, Kevin Owens, Gunther, and Finn Balor along with everyone in the general vicinity of Sami who has to smell him. So expect more of that tonight. Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton will be having their next match at SNME tomorrow, so hopefully we get something else between them. US champion Baron Corbin continues to exist and is preparing for his 5 minutes along with Lil Yachty tomorrow, and let’s all be grateful Vince isn’t still around to turn that into another Michael Cole and Heidenreich situation. But if Yachty survives that 5 minutes then Trick Williams gets another shot at the US title. On the women’s side of things WWE women’s champion Chelsea Green is going to have to defend against Nia Jax in the near future, because for some reason Jax is always in the title picture, but in the meantime poor Tiffany Stratton keeps getting beaten down. Giulia and Blake Monroe are still brawling in the back because Blake doesn’t want to actually debut. So we’ve technically got the go home show for SNME tonight, let’s see how things play out. Or just click the spoilers and know how they play out, either way works.
Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett welcome us to Cleveland, Ohio for the show. After that a recap of the WWE title stuff from last week.
First to the ring is the Ring General Gunther. Gunther doesn’t look happy and gets a mic, he’s been looking for Sami Zayn who he knows is hiding here somewhere. Well this show wont go forward until Sami brings himself out here. Sami pipes up from in the crowd, he knows Gunther is mad at him just like everyone else. But please let’s all gain some perspective, Gunther is not the victim here Sami is. Sami was robbed and should still be WWE champion, the WWE champion should be a good guy rather than a snake like CM Punk. Man the audio editing here is weird as far as mixing goes. Sami isn’t asking for the world, he just wants another shot at the gold. That’s it, all he wants and yet he’s made to jump through hoops. If Gunther isn’t happy, then get comfortable because Sami will continue to make everything worse until he gets what he wants. Is there a kayfabe reason he isn’t being fired for this? Gunther has heard enough and heads towards Sami to attack him, Finn Balor shows up in the crowd too and he’s got a bone to pick with Sami. After last week Balor is going to take his justice out of Sami’s hide. Sami scampers like the coward he is, he avoids Balor but the music of Kevin Owens hits. Owens charges at Sami and Sami has to run away again but Owens is right behind him and chases him to the back.
In the back CM Punk and Nick Aldis watch TV, Aldis says they can’t keep doing this and need a number one contender. Punk sees depressed Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae. Punk offers Johnny a WWE title shot if Johnny Wrestling can wake up. No response at first, Candice tries to get Johnny up but he’s not moving. Punk turns away, the camera then pans back to Johnny who’s upright and making history as the first human ever to become less depressed by going to Cleveland. Johnny accepts for tonight.
Back to the ring here comes Fatal Influence, Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley will be in non-title action after this break. Hopefully they don’t injure anyone this time. Their match against Charlotte Flair and Tatum Paxley will be up after this break.
Post break we get confirmation of Punk defending the title against Johnny.
At gorilla Charlotte gets ready, Bliss shows up and Charlotte apparently didn’t read the booking sheet as she thought she was teaming with Bliss. Tatum shows up and is overjoyed to team with Charlotte. Bliss is still trying to get those two to bond. Charlotte isn’t thrilled but will go along with this.
Match #1 – Tag Team Match: Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid w/ Jacy Jayne vs. Charlotte Flair and Tatum Paxley w/ Alexa Bliss
Fallon and Tatum start, Fallon then tags out. Reid attacks right away and corners Tatum in the heel corner but asks for dubbed in heat for too long so Tatum fights back. Fallon tags in and they double team Tatum for a bit as we head to break because we’re gonna be stretching a lot tonight.
We come back to Tatum fighting off both women and tagging in Charlotte. Reid and Fallon stand around so Charlotte can do the double crossbody spot then run through her usual offensive spots. Charlotte with her apron stuff then a diving roll up on Reid for 2. Fallon runs into a fall away slam. Reid lands a superkick, then we cut away from action as Charlotte hits Natural Selection. Tatum tags in and dives onto both women on the floor. Back in the ring Tatum hits a double leg, then gets distracted by Jayne so Bliss comes over and rams her into the ring post. Charlotte kicks Fallon, then Tatum shoves Reid into a boot from Charlotte then follows with a Cemetery Drive to win.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Charlotte Flair and Tatum Paxley won in 6:50
Rating: 2 stars
Thoughts: A bit too disjointed to go any higher, there were several odd editing choices and that meant actually following the action became difficult in places. Charlotte getting another odd couple partner is a choice, but it’s working well enough so far.
Post match, per usual, Jade Cargill and her goons show up. Everyone brawls and The Baddies stand tall at the end of it as Fatal Influence back out after a very obvious editing choice to cover something.
We get a recap of Nikki Bella’s terrible attack on Paige last week. Seriously it was not well done. In the back Nikki talks with Cathy, Paige shows up to talk at her. Paige knows Nikki never liked her, because Paige built her career on hustle, loyalty, and respect while Nikki just slept those. Next week in Mexico City they’ll settle things.
Elsewhere in the back Gunther talks with Aldis, and he’s a little upset with things. Danhausen pops up in the background as Gunther is annoyed that Johnny gets a title shot for just sleeping on cases. Gunther thinks Aldis is addicted to the limelight after their match so he can stay in the spotlight. Aldis cares not, if Gunther has a problem with Johnny then he can take it up with Punk and then heads out. Danhausen knows how Gunther feels, and Gunther tells him not to touch him again. Danhausen puts up his homemade Employee of the Month picture as we head to break.
We come back to find Aldis in the ring along with a WWE doctor to discuss the situation with Chelsea Green. WWE women’s Chelsea Green comes out as well for whatever this winds up being. Green’s right eye is still very obviously sporting a shiner. Green doesn’t care with the doctor has to say, she’s not going to beg and cry now. She’s very pissed off and reminds us she’s still the WWE women’s champion and doesn’t want Aldis to take that away from her. It’s been 13 years of working and waiting for this title, so if anyone thinks it’s easy to take it from her then let them. Given her booking it shouldn’t be hard to do actually. Aldis gets all that, he respects Green but is concerned for her safety. This isn’t up to him anymore, it is a medical call. The doctor tells Green she still has a broken orbital bone, but it’s healing and in his medical opinion that as long as she’s wearing the face mask she can wrestle. Good pop for that but immediately here’s Nia Jax and Lash Legend. Jax is dressed to wrestle and says she’s been waiting for this as well. She wants the title back right now. Aldis tries to restore order, but here’s Tiffany Stratton in ring gear to fight off Jax and Lash Legend. Aldis gives Jax the title match next week in Mexico City, but tonight she’ll take on Tiffany yet again. Tiffany with a baseball slide to Lash who barely moves, then Jax clotheslines her down to send us to break.
Match #2: Tiffany Stratton w/ Chelsea Green vs. Nia Jax w/ Lash Legend
Joined in progress as we come back. Jax is working a rest hold, Tiffany fights free with a Stunner then hits a hurricanrana and low dropkick for a 2 count. Pop up headbutt from Jax to get control back. Jax gets kicked off the ropes but Tiffany can’t find a pin. Tiffany tries some clotheslines then hits a wheelbarrow Stunner, a handspring Stunner, then a Crucifix Bomb for a 2 count. Tiffany goes up, Lash complicates things so Jax can hit a Samoan Drop then an Annihilator for the win.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Nia Jax won in 2:37
Rating: DUD
Thoughts: Way too short to matter, we’ve seen Tiffany and Jax a thousand times before and they can hardly even iterate on their prior work now. Tiffany has also been treated like kind of a loser for quite a while now, which is a shame all things considered. This felt like pointless filler.
Post match Jax takes Green’s mask, Green then stares Jax and Lash down who back off.
In the back Byron talks with Kevin Owens, Owens is happy for Johnny but warns that Punk isn’t being generous or manganous, he’s doing something selfish here. If Sami shows up in the main event he just warns he wont be the only one running down.
After this break we’ll get hype for Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton.
We come back to Corey Graves showing a sit down interview with Cody about the Randy stuff. Randy storms in and sits opposite Cody, neither of them can touch the other of course. Randy recaps what he said last week trying to get into Cody’s head. He keeps trying to goad Cody into physical action, he’s literally saying the same things as last week. When did Randy get this lazy with his writing? Randy says Cody respects the rules too much, because hitting him would cost him any future shot at the WWE title. He loves the WWE title more than his own family, and that’s sick Cody. Cody stands and admits he might be sick, but he knows it. But just think Randy, if he’s right that means Sunday Randy is screwed. Cody heads out and Randy has to sit with that. Randy still leaning manic is good, but Cody showing still showing his edge even as a good guy is a really nice wrinkle.
Commentary run down Sunday Night’s Main Event as a card.
In the back Trick Williams talks with Yachty about that match on Sunday. Trick is focused on getting the rematch while Yachty has been training hard and wants to win. He shows off a montage of his training, which is not confidence inspiring. Baron Corbin comes in to deliver the worst line readings of the night to threaten Yachty. Trick has some more bald references then says he’s getting the title back. Man do not let Corbin talk that much please.
Back to the ring here’s Miz and Kit Wilson for their match after this break.
We come back and the new team of Bakusai head to the ring after a hype video, they will no longer keep their energy inside. They’ve got music for the team, which is a nice thing instead of just using Nakamura’s theme. It’s pretty generic but that’s par for the course these days.
Match #3 – Tag Team Match: Miz and Kit Wilson vs. Bakusai (Shinsuke Nakamura and Kyoki)
23 minutes between matches, no bueno. Kyoki and Wilson start, they tie up and Wilson corners Kyoki but gives a clean break. Crossbody from Kyoki then a corner clothesline and running dropkick to send Wilson into his own corner. Miz tags in as Wilson doesn’t know what to do with the energy of Kyoki. Kyoki with a foot stomp, but Miz lands a chop, Kyoki then calls for more. Miz obliges but Kyoki wants another chop, ducks it and chops away at Miz with a flurry. Nakamura tags in, and hits a running knee to the ribs for a 2 count. Nakamura easily ducks a Miz punch and does the “come on” spot to set up the sliding German suplex. Wilson distracts Nakamura so Miz can kick the middle rope into Nakamura’s groin and the heels take over as we head to break.
We come back to Miz landing a running boot to Nakamura. Nakamura fights out of a front headlock but Miz then walks into a right hand, Nakamura counters a backbreaker into a roll up for 2. Spinning kick from Nakamura connects and both he and Miz are down. Kyoki really wants in and gets the hot tag, Wilson tags in as well but Kyoki gets to run through his offense now. Hurricanrana to Wilson the he runs him into Miz and Miz gets sent out of the ring. Kyoki with a superkick to send Wilson out as well, then follows with a top rope diving senton to both men, rough landing there. Back in the ring Kyoki with a Falcon Arrow and Miz has to break up the pin. Nakamura shows back up to fight Miz, Miz dodges him though and Nakamura spills to the floor. Kyoki lands an armdrag and Codebreaker on Miz, Nakamura then lands a Kinshasa on Miz. Kyoki with a reverse Stunner thing to Wilson and that gets the 3 count.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Bakusai won in 9:26
Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: Solid debut for Kyoki, he got to show off a lot of the energy and personality that makes him shine, Nakamura will play a nice mentor figure to him as well.
Post match MFT show up to stare down their next challengers. The tag division is still in shambles on Smackdown.
War Raiders video, they’re ready to defend against Damian Priest and R-Truth. Priest was ready to move on from tagging work, but the War Raiders pulled him back in by being jerks. Truth chimes in with comedy as everyone wants to win, Truth’s Spanish is quite funny as it drives Priest a little batty.
Commentary run down next week’s card in Mexico City. AAA tag titles on the line, as is the WWE women’s title, also Paige and Nikki Bella.
After this break Giulia and Blake Monroe will not have a match.
We come back to Cathy talking with Blake at gorilla. Blake says Giulia isn’t a suitable opponent for her debut, and here’s Giulia to attack. The two brawl onto the entrance stage. Giulia rams Blake into a display then lands headbutts. Blake tackles Giulia as refs try to get control over the fight. Giulia technically stands tall after flooring Blake with an Arrivederci knee strike.
In the back Johnny prepares for his match, and here’s Sami to make everything worse. Sami wants Johnny to promise him a WWE title shot if he wins, and Johnny does after Sami asks Johnny to take any opportunity that falls his way.
That main event will be up after this break.
We come back to Johnny Gargano coming out to Rebel Heart along with his wife. He’s followed by the champ who’s sporting Browns inspired gear.
Match #4 – WWE Title Match: (c) CM Punk vs. Johnny Gargano w/ Candice LeRae
22 minutes between matches again, very very no bueno for a show layout. Both men look at the crowd for a bit before locking up and Punk hits a scoop slam as he gets to work as the bigger man for once. Another scoop slam from Punk. Johnny avoids a third one and swings some punches but Punk drops him with a shoulder block. Corner attack from Johnny as he avoided an arm drag then he hits a 10 punch. Punk blocks One Final Beat and tries Go To Sleep but Johnny counters into a hurricanrana then hits an enziguri. Plancha from Johnny as Punk powders, that sends us to break.
We come back to Punk working a headlock. Johnny fights free of that with body blows then hits the ropes but runs into a heel kick from Punk. Head kick from Punk then he goes up top for an elbow drop but Johnny pops up and lands punches then climbs up with Punk. Punk shoves Johnny down then hits a crossbody but Johnny rolls through for a 2 count. Johnny with a Sunset flip for 2, Punk then lands a couple of kicks but Johnny ducks a head kick and lands a superkick for a 2 count. Both men fight upright while trading strikes. Punk is the better striker though and clocks Johnny with a head kick to get another 2 count. Punk kicks Johnny to the apron, but Johnny fights back and lands an enziguri then a slingshot Spear for a 2 count. Johnny looks to rally the crowd, but Punk blocks a superkick and hits a sort of Blue Thunder Bomb for a 2 count. Punk wants the finish but Sami runs down to ringside, Punk attacks him then as the ref deals with Sami Candice hits a hurricanrana on the floor to set up a Johnny suicide dive. Johnny with One Final Beat for a near fall. Sami, still ringside, gets the belt but here comes Owens to attack Sami from behind. Owens unloads on Sami at ringside and wants to kill him but Gunther shows up to boot Owens. Gunther then gets attacked by Balor, so Sami then hits Balor with the belt. More belt shots for everyone, then Punk hits Go To Sleep but Candice blocks the ref. Sami clocks Punk with the belt and both men are down. Johnny slowly rolls to the cover but takes so long Punk can kick at 2. Sami runs over to Candice and talks with her, but here’s Aldis to evict Sami from ringside. Evict him from the brand please. Back in the ring Punk hits a Go To Sleep and wins.
OFFICIAL RESULT: CM Punk retained the title in 13:11
Rating: 3 stars
Thoughts: Not a bad match but way too familiar in terms of layout at this point. Johnny was never winning but they did a decent job of getting the crowd to believe once or twice.
Post match Punk gets a mic and says he’ll happily get booed if necessary and says Sami doesn’t want the title as badly as Punk wants to break Sami’s face. If Sami wants a title shot he’s got one next week and it’s time for Sami to go to sleep. That’ll end the episode.
