Smackdown Live Review 06/25/2019

Smackdown Live Review: June 25^th,  2019

Author: Captain Charisma

Live from the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon

This episode of SmackDown Live comes to us live from the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon just two days removed from this past Sunday’s Stomping Grounds Pay-Per-View, which I will be honest in saying that it was the best pay-per-view since WrestleMania! The card seemed to be typical WWE lackluster but in the end, each match carried its own awesomeness. For example, the WWE Universal Championship match became more fun to watch than their previous battle at Super Showdown not too long ago. Same thing applies to the steel cage WWE Championship match between Dolph Ziggler and Kofi Kingston. The fact both competitors were focusing on escaping rather than the pin fall was incredible. However, with all this said, after an phenomenal episode of Raw last night, I do not see a lot going on to top off that performance tonight. WWE has no real hype towards tonight as the only thing announced from promotional videos and social media is the response Kofi Kingston will give to Samoa Joe after being attacked last night. Hope to see this episode be better on screen rather than on paper

Shane McMahon opens the show by stating that he fears no man, declaring that Roman Reigns and The Undertaker are targets. He warns the WWE locker room not to mess with him because he is pissed.

Opening Segment – The New Day (WWE Champion Kofi Kingston, Big E, and Xavier Woods)
The New Day kick things off with a roar from the Portland crowd as they make their way to the ring. Kofi Kingston then grabs the microphone and states that during his eleven year career, he has had incredible moments. However, on the flip side, he has experienced the most brutalizing times, stating that he literally had to take the leap of faith to retain his WWE championship. After the Kofi chants emerge, Kingston refers to the attack made by Samoa Joe last night on Raw. After the footage was shown, the WWE Champion then describes Joe as a ruthless animal, ready to attack at any moment. He then goes onto say that at Extreme Rules, he will be damned to let Joe take his WWE title from him. Dolph Ziggler interrupts and states that he will not let someone else take his moment from him. He then goes down to say that at Super Showdown, he was saved by Xavier Woods. Respectively, at Stomping Grounds, he took the cowards way out. Ziggler says that he talked backstage with WWE management, where he then reveals that he will face Kofi tonight in a 2 out of 3 falls match where if he wins, he will be added to the WWE Championship match at Extreme Rules, making it a triple threat match.
My Thoughts:
I feel that Dolph Ziggler is seriously at the top of his game right now! His promo skills are tremendous, with the feeling that WWE is really pushing towards him as SmackDown’s top heel, which in reality, he is! The opening segment was your typical Ziggler/Kofi altercation but something about this was different. I felt as if this promo battle was the best between the two veterans of WWE. You felt the heat of the moment that Ziggler could possibly be added into this championship match at WWE Extreme Rules. Despite popular belief of Ziggler being shoved in our face and down our throats, I think this is a great way to showcase his true heel persona. I see a great future within the Showoff! As for Kofi Kingston, I think that his promos have been incredible at this point as WWE Champion. At first, I was unconfident on his ability to show the world that he is world champion. I hope that we see more engagement within the two superstars soon.

Backstage Segment – The Miz, Elias, and Shane McMahon
Elias appears backstage, playing his guitar next to Shane McMahon’s office when The Miz appears to enter the office. Elias warns Miz that he is a dead man walking and mockingly plays his guitar in arrogance. Miz stops his guitar and threatens Elias that he will kick his ass if he does not tell Shane about his challenge to a match for tonight, ending their rivalry. As Miz walks off, Shane comes out of his office and praises Elias’s musical talents. Elias then tells Shane about the challenge, where Shane accepts, only if Miz can defeat Elias in a two out of three falls match.

Match #1: The New Daniel Bryan and Erick Rowan vs. The New Day (Big E and Xavier Woods)
The bell rings and Daniel Bryan and Xavier Woods lock up. Bryan takes Woods down with a clothesline. Woods tries to gain advantage by hitting a huge dropkick on Bryan. Bryan counters and tags in Rowan. Rowan then hits a headbutt on Woods. While Rowan rams Woods to the corner, Bryan sneak attacks him while the referee is distracted. Rowan then hits a pound to the chest area and tags in Bryan. The tag team champions hit a double team maneuver to knock the wind out of Woods. However, Woods hits a boot on Rowan as a counter but is immediately countered by a Rowan body attack. Woods then escapes from Big Redwood’s offense for a slight moment. Nonetheless, it is Rowan who hits a running avalanche attack on Woods to stop any chance at momentum to take us into commercial break. Coming back from intermission, Xavier and Rowan hit the hot tag to their respective teammates. Big E hits a huge body suplex on Daniel Bryan. During an attempt to hut the Big Splash, Big E is caught with knees to the abdomen by Bryan and applies the label lock. Woods breaks it up. Big E and Woods set up for the Midnight Hour and hits it for the pinfall victory over the SmackDown Tag Team Champions. Post-match: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn attack the New Day. Heavy Machinery come out to fend off against the champions, Owens, and Zayn.
Result: The New Day via pinfall
My Thoughts:
It still makes me confused on why The New Day’s Xavier Woods and Big E are considered top contenders for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships considering that they lost at WWE Stomping Grounds to Kevin and Sami Zayn. Apparently, losses give you championship opportunities. Maybe the reason why they make The New Day over is because WWE creative is desperate enough to bring an ACTUAL tag team contender to step up to Bryan and Rowan. Don’t get me wrong, I love Heavy Machinery as a team but they are not the team to take those titles off of the tag team champions, that is including The New Day. I hope we can see a classic between The New Day and the team of Rowan and Bryan. But new champions at Extreme Rules? – Absolutely not!

Match #2: The New Daniel Bryan, Erick Rowan, Sami Zayn, and Kevin Owens vs. The New Day’s Big E and Xavier Woods, and Heavy Machinery
After it was announced as an impromptu eight man tag team match during the commercial break, Tucker and Rowan fight on top of the turnbuckle to gain control. Rowan answers that as he takes control immediately. He then hits a gigantic superplex on Tucker. Bryan comes out and hits a running knee on Woods, who attempts to make the save. Bryan is tagged in to take advantage but Tucker comes back with a huge clothesline. Otis is tagged in as well as Sami. Otis hits a tilt a whirl scoop slam that takes Zayn down. Owens is seen on the outside leaving while Otis hits the caterpillar. Heavy Machinery hits the Compactor on Zayn to get the victory.
Result: The New Day and Heavy Machinery
My Thoughts:
Typical multi man tag team match. The babyfaces go over and there is no chance for the heels to get the win. How can we condemn this failing tag team division? I remember when the SmackDown tag team division was the best it was with The Usos, American Alpha, Heath Slater & Rhyno, and so many other decorated teams. Now we have The New Day who are being forced to help something that is already dead. I hope there is (as said many times) a better future for something that is near and dear to my heart!

Match #3: The Miz vs. Elias (with Shane McMahon) – 2 out of 3 Falls Match
The bell rings and The Miz goes to work on Elias, even hitting a clothesline to send Elias over the top rope. He then hits a outside dropkick. While he begins to get hot, Shane McMahon distracts The Miz, which leads Elias to hit a air knee strike. He then sets up for Drift Away and hits hit, gaining the first fall to send us into intermission. After intermission, Elias goes to work on Miz as he hits a running clothesline. Elias attempts to pin but there is no count. Elias then hits a snap suplex and applies a lethal headlock to slow the A-Lister down. Miz comes back and fights off Elias. He then hits the infamous yes kicks followed by multiple double knees. He then hits a DDT for a two count. The Miz then gives a death stare at Shane McMahon ringside while he gives lethal yes kicks. Shane distracts Miz and causes him to give Miz a fall. Shane and Elias continue to mug The Miz, sending him into the outside. He is then thrown onto the announce table. Shane throws Miz into the barricade. Shane then mocks Roman Reigns and hits a spear. The bell rings for the third fall. Elias hits a flying elbow drop to gain the third fall, winning the match. Post-match, the onslaught on The Miz continues as Shane McMahon hits a Coast to Coast on him, sending a message to Roman Reigns and The Undertaker.
Result: Elias via pin fall (First Fall)
The Miz via disqualification (Second Fall)
Elias via pin fall (Third Fall)
My Thoughts:
This was a straight mugging. Elias had the upper hand heading into this match, which as a heel, I love. However, I do dislike the idea that they made Elias as a corporate guy instead of what got him into the dance, A DRIFTER!!! A drifter who rode solo and answered to no man in NXT. A man who got over with his concerts. Although, I do admit that it was pretty badass to see him enter with an electric guitar. Other than that, The Miz having this reoccurring rivalry with Shane McMahon only feeds the vibe that this is far from over. I even think that at SummerSlam, we might see the final battle between McMahon and Miz rather than this match being “the last straw”. I just hate the fact that this rivalry between The Authority (Shane in a sense) vs. Roman and Miz is just a repetition we cannot control as fans. Just end the damn thing, please?

Backstage Interview – Kayla Braxton, Finn Balor, and Shinsuke Nakamura
Kayla Braxton is seen backstage, introducing the Intercontinental Champion, Finn Balor. Braxton asks Balor what was the strategy to beating Andrade at Super Showdown. Balor responds by saying that The Demon will always prevail. Braxton then asks who is next to step up to the Intercontinental Champion. As Finn attempts to answer, Shinsuke Nakamura appears, too-sweeting to the prestigious title to answer the challenge and walks away.

Match #4: Nikki Cross vs. Bayley –
If Cross wins, Alexa Bliss will get her rematch for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at Extreme Rules
The bell rings and straight out of the gate, Nikki Cross is all over Bayley with multiple body splashes. Bayley comes back with a head smash to the corner turnbuckle and hits a apron DDT for a two count. Cross hits a shoulder block and crossbody combo to get a two count over the SmackDown Women’s Champion. Bayley comes back by putting Cross in the Tree of Woe and hitting a slingshot elbow drop for a two count to take us into commercial break. Coming back, Bayley takes total control for a moment but Nikki fights back, hitting a running bulldog. She then hits a reverse DDT. Bayley then attempts at a suicide dive but misses. Cross tries to take advantage with a neck breaker. Bayley fights back. The champ hits a Bayley to Back Suplex and attempts to roll up Cross a couple of times but is unsuccessful. She connects with a knee, which is missed and is made into a rollup. She gets the upset victory and celebrates!
Result: Nikki Cross via pinfall
My Thoughts:
NIKKI CROSS WON!!! Happiness overload people. Cross has really not found her way on the main roster ever since her call up from NXT. Once upon a time ago, she debuted along with her SANITY brethren to challenge then SmackDown Live Women’s Champion Becky Lynch in her hometown of Scotland. Now, she is in a very confusing storyline with Alexa Bliss. I really believe that this win was useless because it was for Bliss, not herself. I only have hope that she gets added into this SmackDown Live Women’s Championship match at Extreme Rules.

Backstage Segment – Carmella, R-Truth, and Drake Maverick
Carmella is on pursuit of finding R-Truth, who as WWE 24/7 Champion, has to hide from any and all adversaries. Carmella finds Truth hiding in a production box. Truth and Mella are then confronted by Drake Maverick, who comes in peace after being defeated by Truth last night on Raw. Maverick states that Truth ruined his whole life by beating him on his wedding day. He states that he only wants Truth to know that he ruined his life. Truth responds by saying that as a representation of his forgiveness, he tells Drake Maverick to go get a referee as a free access pass to pin him willingly. Drake calls a referee but Truth plays him. Truth and Mella start running from the roster attempting to pin him, leaving Maverick in sadness.

Match #5: Ember Moon vs. Sonya Deville (with Mandy Rose)
As soon as the bell rings, Sonya Deville takes down Ember Moon and starts hammering on her with ground and pound offense, Moon comes back with a big forearm and a ground and pound of her own, sending Deville rolling out to ringside. She throws Deville into the ring and gets a momentary distraction by Mandy Rose at ringside. This leads to Deville to push Moon into the ring post and rolls her up for the victory.
Result: Sonya Deville via pin fall
My Thoughts:
I have differing opinions on this one. At one point, I am incredibly happy for Sonya Deville for getting the victory because she has proven herself as the top women’s star on SmackDown! She has scratched and clawed for the past few years she has been in WWE to get the attention she needs. Sadly, its in a tag team with Mandy Rose. Here is the other side of the story. With that victory only proves that she is going nowhere with this rivalry with Ember Moon. She is going nowhere being aligned with Rose because Fire and Desire are stuck at the low point of the Women’s Division, having shortened matches and horrible booking. If WWE does something right, it is to give Sonya the time to shine solo. She desperately needs that push and quickly.

Match #6: Dolph Ziggler vs. Kofi Kingston – 2 out of 3 Falls Match –
If Ziggler wins, he gets added into the WWE Championship match at Extreme Rules
As soon as the match starts, Dolph Ziggler mocks Kofi by teasing him with his collegiate wrestling background. Kofi then applies a waist lock which Dolph reverses. Dolph then hits a picture perfect dropkick followed by a hair pull. He then locks him in the sleeper hold. The WWE champion fights out of it but Dolph hits a monkey flip. Kofi lands on his feet and hits a dropkick of his own for a failed pin attempt. Both competitors battle it out for multiple roll up attempts. Ziggler throws Kofi over the top rope and then attempts to cheat with a pin attempt while using the rope. The referee catches him. Kofi rolls Dolph up to receive the first fall victory. Ziggler gets upset and attacks Kofi. He then hits a zig zag on Kofi onto the outside to take us into commercial break before the second fall begins. We return and immediately, Dolph hits a superkick on Kingston for the second, decisive fall. We are tied at one a piece! The bell rings for the third fall and Dolph hits a neck breaker. Both competitors are exhausted but Dolph with arrogance in his facial expression, rakes the eyes of Kingston. He then Irish-whips the WWE champion into the corner turnbuckle, followed by applying the sleeper hold once more. Kingston fights back with multiple headbutts. Ziggler yells at Kofi that it is his time. Kofi Kingston then hits an Irish-whip on Ziggler. Dolph comes back and hits his vintage Show-Off elbow drop for yet, another two count. Kofi hits huge strikes but The Showoff continues to fight back. Kofi attempts to get the win via backslide but Dolph hits a huge DDT for another two count after Kofi hits a huge springboard body splash. Kingston then makes the comeback for a moment but Ziggler rolls out. Kofi catches him with a kick to the head with a flying springboard chop for another two count. Dolph attempts a fame Asser but is caught by Kofi who revereses it into a spinning powerbomb. He then sets up for Trouble in Paradise but Dolph reverses into a second Zig Zag once again, which is unsuccessful. Ziggler in anger of trying to win, sets up for a superkick but Kofi reverses and hits a Trouble In Paradise for the victory.
Result: Kofi Kingston via pin fall (First Fall)
Dolph Ziggler via pin fall (Second Fall)
Kofi Kingston via pin fall (Third and Final Fall)
My Thoughts:
Compared to the first two out of three falls match we witnessed earlier with Elias and Miz, I actually enjoyed the hell out of this main event! Each fall meant something whether that was the superkick out of nowhere or the ending Trouble in Paradise. Again, I had only hoped to see a shocker and see Ziggler added into the WWE championship match. However, at the same time, I wanted Joe to win the title off of Kofi one on one so fans would not complain as much. Of course, fans are going to bitch about anything and everything but that is the beauty of being a passionate fan of professional wrestling. We voice our opinions and it impacts the atmosphere around us. It brings fans and people alike together. Kingston also needed the win desperately to prove himself as a strong champion after beating both Sami and Kevin last night on Raw. What better way than to put on a show to end the show on a good note? Two veterans putting it all on the line, just for our entertainment is insane to say! I am definitely pleased overall.

Final Thoughts
Not bad of an episode but compared to last week’s, I think this was a disappointment. Typically, from top to bottom, SmackDown has the tendency to have a smooth flow within each and every segment/match. Witnessing Finn Balor and Shinsuke Nakamura confronting each other for the first time since NXT was absolutely awesome! But why would you follow that with a fifteen to twenty second promo of Ali being considered “The Way”? Why have the SmackDown Tag Team champions be pinned and the challengers put over to then be put into a eight man tag team match? I honestly do not get it. Having Shane ruin a two out of three falls match was pretty heartbreaking as a fan (and that is saying something as a huge Shane McMahon fan). I felt as if this whole storyline has been a big whole disaster within itself. This whole Wild Card Rule has ruined the feel of a brand split or even to say writing these reviews as a “separate brand”. There are very few things that help me stay sane during a SmackDown, Raw, or NXT and that is I go into every single episode not knowing a single thing. I do not let other people’s opinions matter except for myself and I. Tonight was a pure example of process over outcome. This is just a process guys and gals. See you all next week where I hope the future is brighter and better!