Smackdown Live Review 04/03/2018

Hello Misfits. It’s time for this weeks Smackdown Live review. There is only five days until Wrestlemania and this is the go home show for Smackdown Live. If you haven’t already check out my Wrestlemania predictions. This Smackdown’s final opportunity to get us excited for their contributions to the Wrestlemania 34 card. It was advertised already on Raw that Shane McMahon would indeed be on this weeks episode of Smackdown Live and I’m looking forward to see his reaction to the match that Bryan has booked and to hear his feelings after being brutally attacked a couple of weeks back. Also curious to see how Owens and Zayn will make an impact this week. Also, we’ll find out how the addition of Rusev to the United States Championship match effects the other competitors game plan. Hopefully Asuka will make an appearance on Smackdown Live tonight to help promote their match and I expect her too, since Charlotte and her are booked to meet after the show in the MMC finals. Will there be more confrontations between The Usos, New Day and the Bludgeon Brothers? Will the mental mind games between AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura continue? Lets find out.

Smackdown comes to us live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN.

–  Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton and Corey Graves are on commentary.

Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon
Bryan introduces a returning Shane McMahon. Shane dances his way to the ring. Shane thanks the crowd for the warm welcome. Shane puts over Bryan’s determination for staying focused on being able to return to the ring. Shane notes that he was hospitalized over the past few weeks due to the attack he suffered from Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Shane says he has also been cleared to return to the ring. Shane is ready for WrestleMania. Bryan says he has made a lot of mistakes over the past few months when it comes to Owens and Zayn. Bryan allowed himself to be manipulated. Bryan apologizes. Shane apologizes for his actions over the last few months as well.
Bryan says he has learned a lot over the past few years. One thing is that when tag team partners have their differences there is only one way to resolve it. Bryan extends his arms for a hug. Shane puts out his hand for a shake. Bryan says Nashville doesn’t want to see them to shake hands, Nashville wants to see them hug it out. Shane says he isn’t much of a hugger. The crowd chants “hug it out” Shane eventually hugs Bryan. Shane says they are definitely on the same page now. Bryan says they are going to get their payback for everything Zayn and Owens have done over the past few weeks. Shane adds that after WrestleMania, Owens and Zayn will never be seen in a Smackdown ring again.
Opinion
For the first time in a while I actually didn’t mind the Authority figures opening the show because it came with purpose. They are in a high-profile match this Sunday and they needed to promote it. This was also a great way to see Shane and Bryan show strength in their partnership again, after there was months of tension between the two of them because of Owens and Zayn. I still feel like there is a swerve to come this Sunday but this was a solid segment for tonight. The hug got a pop as a throwback to “Team Hell No.”

Charlotte def. Natalya
In a solid television match, Charlotte defeated Natalya with a figure eight. Mid-way through the match Carmella ran down as if she was going to cash in but Charlotte kicked the briefcase out of her hands before she could and then Charlotte laid out Carmella with a big boot as well.
Following the match Asuka made her way out to a pop and she danced to the ring. Asuka tells Charlotte that this Sunday the Queen will bow down to the Empress. Charlotte snatches the mic to let Asuka know that she is ready but she asks Asuka is she’s ready.
Opinion
This was a fun match and the failed cash in by Carmella added to that. I always enjoy it when Natalya and Charlotte got toe to toe because they have great chemistry. This was sort of a repeat of the last time Carmella tried cashing in but the way Charlotte fought it off was different. I wasn’t fooled though. I knew Carmella wasnt going to have successful cash in because there is no way they would risk losing the Asuka vs. Charlotte match but I was just hoping she didnt lose it here either. Speaking of Asuka she did show and the confrontation was straight the point. I enjoyed it.

– There is a pre-recorded video from AJ Styles with comments on Shinsuke Nakamura playing mind games last week. AJ says his emotions are not his weakness, they are his strength but if you want to talk about weaknesses, Nakamura has one – he takes AJ too lightly. AJ says he is the WWE Champion and they are far from the Tokyo Dome. This is WrestleMania and a dream match but this is no dream, it’s a reality and the reality is that he’s going to beat Nakamura.

– Daniel Byran/Shane McMahon and KO/Zayn video package.

Rusev w/ Aiden English def. Jinder Mahal w/ Sunil Singh
Bobby Roode was on commentary for this match. Sunil and Aiden English did some singing for the entrances which was funny and clever. Rusev defeated Jinder Mahal after getting rid of Sunil who was trying cause a distraction on on the apron and hitting a machka kick on Jinder Mahal.
Following the match while Rusev was celebrating, Randy Orton appeared to hit an RKO outta nowhere on Rusev. Aiden English gets on him to shortly gain the advantage but Roode pushed Aiden off the second rope right into a RKO outta nowhere. Roode picked up the US Championship and handed it to Orton as they had a brief staredown.
Opinion
This was solid match between two big guys. I really enjoyed the singing from Sunil and Aiden before the match. It just added to the entertainment factor of things. Jinder Mahal has had his fair share of big wins these past weeks, so it was awesome for Rusev to have a big one this week. He was long overdue for a big win. The shenanigans that took place after the match involving Orton were fitting. It’s really any mans game at Wrestlemania but I still think we’re going to have a new US Champion after Wrestlemania.
 
– There is a pre-recorded video from Shinsuke Nakamura, who tells AJ Styles that he’s not playing any games, he takes this very seriously. Nakamura goes on and says he does not take AJ lightly, he knows AJ very well and he knows AJ Styles is very emotional. Nakamura says these emotions will cause AJ to make a mistake and when he does, Nakamura will become the WWE Champion with a… knee to face.

-Back from a break and we get a backstage promo from The New Day hyping Wrestlemania and the WWE Network being free. They’re interrupted by SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos, who have some friendly but stern words about WrestleMania 34 on Sunday. Both teams walk off and we cut to The Bludgeon Brothers, who take out the camera with one of their mallets.

Mojo Rawley, Dolph Ziggler, Baron Corbin and Primo def. Zack Ryder, Tye Dillinger and Breezango
In a quick match to hype the Andre the Giant Battle Royal Mojo, Ziggler, Corbin and Primo won when Corbin catches Fandango with an End of Days.
Opinion
This was to hype of the Andre the Giant battle royal. It featured two former winners who didn’t really benefit much from winning so that says a lot for the match. The match was decent though and Primo is still around.

Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
Owens and Zayn hop the barricade and grab a mic. Owens says this is still the Sami and Kevin show. Zayn says he isn’t going to apologize to Bryan but he will apologize to Bryan’s wife and child for the broken man they are going to send home. This Sunday is going to be there WrestleMania moment. Zayn tries to start a “we deserve it” chant. Backstage, Shane and Bryan are watching what is unfolding in the arena. Owens and Zayn’s mic gets cut. Owens and Zayn try to leave through the crowd. Bryan and Shane come out on the stage. Bryan asks the cameraman to focus on Owens and Zayn. Bryan tells everyone to get their cell phone out because they are witnessing history in the making. This is going to be the last time you see Owens and Zayn on Smackdown Live. Shane gets the crowd to sing “Na, Na, Na, Hey, Hey, Hey, Goodbye” to Owens and Zayn.
Opinion
I personally really enjoyed this. There have been times where I’ve found heel Zayn more annoying than entertaining but today he killed it. Owens was great as always. They took some personal shots at Bryan and Shane such as Zayn addressing Bryans wife and child and KO bringing up what he did to Shane’s dad. Their mic’s being cut out was a great touch. I think they great with their last ditch effort to get people invested in this match without any physical altercation. I always love when the “Na, Na, Na. Hey, Hey, Hey, Goodbye” gets used in wrestling. Remember that time when Jim Ross couldn’t get the rhythm down.

Shinsuke Nakamura & AJ Styles def. Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin
In a quality main event AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin when Styles finished off Gable with a phenomenal forearm instead of tagging Nakamura back in.
After the match, AJ goes to ringside and retrieves the WWE Title belt, talking trash to Nakamura while he’s still in the ring. Benjamin comes from behind and lays Nakamura out. AJ watches from the ramp. Nakamura fights Benjamin off as AJ looks to be coming back into the ring. Nakamura turns around as AJ springboards in with a Phenomenal Forearm. AJ puts the brakes on just in time, exactly like Nakamura did last week. AJ taunts Nakamura and pats him on the head as Nakamura stares him down. AJ leaves with the WWE Title in the air as his music plays.
Opinion
The match was action packed and Benjamin and Gable make great opponents for Shinsuke and Styles. They all have unique but fun wrestling styles. I understand the struggle in booking a babyface/babyface championship match. However, the mind games and the competition to one-up the other between Naka and Styles has been done really well. I do think the build could have been better but it could have been worse. The crowd popped when Styles patted Nakamura’s head like Shinsuke did to him a week ago. The small details matter.

Final Thoughts
I oddly enjoyed the go-home show for Smackdown Live a bit more than the go-home show for Raw. That also might be due to the fact that Smackdown is two hours and it flies by, whereas Raw is three which meant we got at least three really long matches rather angle advancement. This episode seemed to be filled with angle advancement with sprinkles of solid wrestling. If you’re tuning into Wrestlemania this Sunday, I totally recommend that you check out this weeks episode of Smackdown or even just the highlights to get you all caught up to date. It still hasn’t hit me that I’m going to be there live. I can’t wait.
Rating – 7/10