Smackdown Live Review 09/26/2017

Hello Misfits. It’s time for this weeks Smackdown Live review. No Mercy has come and gone, meaning the next big PPV is Smackdown Live’s Hell in a Cell. I feel like the PPV has potential and so far there are already two Hell in the Cell matches booked with Jinder defending his WWE Championship against Nakamura and Shane McMahon defending his families honour in the cell against the mad man known as Kevin Owens. I love HIAC matches but I’m still not a fan of a PPV surrounded around the match. It kind of takes away from the excitement you get when a cell match is announced. I mean I still do get excited when they announce one for any other PPV but when its for this PPV, youre sort of like no shit. LOL Anyway, I’m tired and barley had any sleep this week. This review is like two days late and is going to be shorter than usual but HERE IT IS.

Smackdown comes to us live from Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

– The show opens with highlights from last week’s Shane McMahon/Kevin Owens drama.

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

Kevin Owens/Sami Zayn Segment
Kevin Owens made his entrance to start the show with a serious look on his face. Owens was in the ring doing a promo asking where Shane McMahon is. Owens said that he was called a coward last week for not being at Smackdown Live, but he’s standing in the ring right now, so maybe Shane is the coward. Owens admitted that Shane isn’t actually a coward, he’s a very smart man. Owens said that he had nothing but respect for Vince McMahon, he means it and he actually likes Vince. Owens told Shane that we saw what he would do to a man he likes like Vince McMahon, so imagine what he’ll do to a man he doesn’t like such as Shane.
Sami Zayn made his entrance to interrupt his former best friend and long time rival Kevin Owens. Zayn got into the ring to ask Owens what was wrong with him. Zayn told Owens he has lost control and he reminded him that he headbutted Vince McMahon. Zayn told Owens when he snaps it never ends well. Zayn said when he saw Owens headbutt Vince he knew that Owens snapped. Zayn said he’s there against his better judgment because right now he’s on a collision course with Shane McMahon at Hell in a Cell where he will cross a line he’s never crossed before. Zayn mentioned Kevin’s family and told Owens to get a grip and stop thinking like this right now.
Owens told Sami he didn’t snap. Owens told him not to worry because that’s for Kevin to worry about. Owens said that Sami is out there because once again Owens has completely outshined and eclipsed him like he has done for the last 15 years of their lives. Owens said look at their WWE careers with Owens telling Sami he signed with WWE 2.5 years before Owens yet Owens has been IC Champ twice, he’s been Universal Champion and he won the US Title at WrestleMania while Zayn watched from the back just like Zayn will watch Owens main event Hell in a Cell and destroy Shane McMahon. Owens said if Zayn think he’s gone too far, just watch Hell in a Cell. Owens asked Zayn what has he ever done that ever had as much impact as Owens smashing his skull on Vince McMahon’s head? Zayn told Owens since coming to WWE, Owens has done more than he’s done because he’s taken every cheap shot, cut every corner and when Sami’s day comes he’s going to do it his way, he’ll do it the right way. The crowd cheered. Zayn put over Owens winning those three titles that Sami hasn’t won and Sami said when he looks himself in the mirror he doesn’t see a giant piece of trash looking back at him. Owens dropped his microphone and Zayn dropped his microphone.
Cue Smackdown’s General Manager Daniel Bryan.Bryan appeared on the ramp saying that Shane is not there right now and he doesn’t know if he will be there. Bryan said that it might be better for Owens. Bryan said that we’re going to see Kevin Owens fight Sami Zayn and we’re going to see it tonight. Owens walked out of the ring while Zayn stood in the ring staring at him.
Opinion
I enjoyed this and it was the common opening segment that set up the main event for the show to keep the fans watching until the end or tuning back in. The WWE went back to the well with the Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens backstory to help with the storyline advancement in the Shane McMahon and Kevin Owens feud. It works and makes sense, it just sucks that majority of memorable things Zayn has done on the main roster revolve around or somehow involve his connections with Kevin Owens.

Baron Corbin def. Ty Dillinger
AJ Styles was on commentary for this match. In a quick match, Corbin defeated Dillinger by count-out after tossing him into Styles and Dillinger wasn’t able to make it back to the ring for the ten count.
After the match, Corbin kicked Dillinger to knock him down. Styles went into the ring and Corbin left. Corbin had a microphone while on the ramp. Corbin said he knew Styles and Dillinger were going to work together. Corbin told Styles he can’t beat Corbin one on one for that title. Corbin said that at Hell in a Cell, he wants to face Styles and he’s going to take his United States Championship.
Opinion
This was just angle advancement and there is nothing wrong with that. I’m a huge Styles fan but I just dont care for Corbin whatsoever. Hopefully, Styles brings the best out of him at Hell in a Cell.

Jinder Mahal Promo
Jinder Mahal, the WWE Champion, was in the ring with the Singh Brothers and they had the rug in the ring. No televised entrance for Mahal is a bit of a surprise but I understand trying to make the most of their allotted time. Mahal said that he had controversial comments for Shinsuke Nakamura last week and he knew Nakamura was upset, so he had more positive comments this week. Mahal said let’s look at what Nakamura looked like when he saw those comments and then he had a Nakamura picture up. Mahal mocked another Nakamura photo and the Singh brothers did over the top laughter about it. Jinder showed another picture of Nakamura, but this time the picture moved because it was a live shot of Nakamura on the screen. Nakamura said he’s looking at him right here on Smackdown Live. The lights went out in the arena and Nakamura made his full entrance.
Nakamura made his entrance to a really good reaction as usual. Mahal sent the Singh Brothers at Nakamura and Nakamura struck them. Mahal attacked Nakamura from behind and sent him into the ring post. Mahal sent Nakamura into the ring. Nakamura came back with a spinning kick to the head. Nakamura hit one of the Singhs with a knee and an elbow. Mahal tried the Khallas, but Nakamura kicked him in the head and Nakamura hit the Kinshasa knee strike to knock Jinder out of the ring. Nakamura posed in the ring as his music played.
Opinion
At first I was worried they were running with the same promo again for the third week straight and it really made me have doubts about creatives ability to write anything, you know creative, for Jinder Mahal. Then the Shinsuke picture being him with the shuttle movement and him coming out was great. I know there is very little logic in wrestling but I found it weird that Jinder Mahal was making fun of Shinsuke the last two weeks and Nakamura never came out to defend himself. Especially last week where after the segment he was interviewed backstage. It was about time these two got physical and actually tried to make this rivalry be about something which is hard to do when its basically been Jinder the last two weeks trying to build the story while Nakamura has been pretty much doing nothing. I enjoyed this mainly because it was different, creative and finally Shinsuke came to defend himself making things physical.

The Usos def. The Hype Bros
The New Day came down and sat in the front row of the crowd for this match. In a decent tag match The Usos defeated the Hype Bros after Jey hit a splash off the top rope onto Mojo Rawley.
The Usos told New Day that they belong on the sideline along with the rest of the chumps. The Usos said that come Hell in a Cell, you’re looking at the five-time WWE Tag Team Champions. Big E pulled out a microphone from the popcorn he was holding. Kofi Kingston said that The Usos are talking a big game for two guys that just lost those titles. Big E mentioned The Usos penitentiary and Woods added that they don’t just want to defend the titles at Hell in a Cell, they want to defend the titles inside Hell in a Cell. The Usos seemed interested in that.
Opinion
The Hype Bros mini angle got some advancement here and the tension is still brewing between them. The Usos looked dominant which is necessary going into this Hell in the Cell match. I think this is the first tag team Hell in the Cell match since the one that featured DX taking on Legacy in 2009. These two teams have amazing chemistry with each other. They have found ways to make their matches feel different which makes me not disappointed they’re facing off again because I can’t imagine the action we’re gonna get in the cell between the two teams.

Rusev’s Bulgarian Celebration
Aiden English was in the ring, and said he was the Master of Ceremonies for the Pride of Bulgaria ceremony. He then introduced the Mayor of Plovdiv, Bulgaria (not really), and asked for silence as Rusev made his entrance to his National Anthem. English then sang the words to the Bulgarian Anthem as Rusev made his entrance. Rusev entered the ring and stood on a pedestal. The Mayor read in Bulgarian from a scroll, before handing Rusev a cheesy looking key and declaring 9/26 Rusev Day.
Rusev grabbed a microphone and spoke to the Mayor actor. He then said he wanted to relive the glory of last week, and threw to some footage of him beating Randy Orton last week. Rusev smiled and said what we had witnessed was the law of the jungle. Rusev said Orton had established himself the Apex Predator, and even earned the name Legend Killer. Rusev then called himself a younger, more dangerous predator, the Lion of Bulgaria, and said he had killed the legend of the legend killer and pulled out his fangs.
English grabbed the mic and said he had prepared a song in honor of Rusev Day. It was actually pretty funny. Orton appeared out of nowhere and hit an RKO on English. Rusev got the mayor guy out of the ring, and turned around into an RKO for himself. Orton celebrated at the end of the segment.
Opinion
This was simple and straight to the point. It was just one of those classic segment that was entertaining. They utilized Aiden English and he executed his role brilliantly. He sang Rusev a song to the tune of Orton’s theme which was so heelish it was awesome. Rusev was funny even though nothing about this was supposed to be funny besides the fact that he was celebrating that he beat Randy Orton last week in an impromptu match. Orton came out and laid both guys out with RKO’s to ruin the celebration. This was everything you could ask for while keeping simple and straight to the point. Anything more would be too much and anything less would have been well…boring.

– Sami Zayn went up to Daniel Bryan in the office. Bryan told Zayn that Shane McMahon just landed and Shane said he is coming for Kevin Owens. Zayn pleaded with Bryan saying that Shane is getting Owens at Hell in a Cell in two weeks, so he didn’t want Shane to do anything during the match. Bryan said he would try to talk to Shane.

– Randy Orton went up to Renee Young backstage. He wanted Renee Young pass on a message to Rusev that when Rusev wakes up, Orton would love to see him at Hell in a Cell. Orton wished her a Happy Rusev Day.

Charlotte Flair def. Carmella w/ James Ellsworth
In a competitive televison match, Charlotte defeated Carmella after a big boot to the face. James Ellsworth was still on his leash and tied to the ring post.
Natalya came out following the match. Nattie said that she was happy Ric was recovering because now he could watch his overrated daughter lose to her at Hell in the Cell.
Opinion
I think the whole Ellsworth on the leash thing is hilarious. I actually do find it entertaining but if I was being real, if it was the other way around, it wouldn’t work. The feminist would be all over that shit. It’s still funny. I wouldn’t be shocked if Mella gets involved in the match at Hell in the Cell teasing a possible cash in. It was great to see Charlotte starting to look dominant again and embracing this babyface attitude. The Natalya promo after the match was just a quick way to get some angle advancement in there and it worked.

– Natalya appeared on the ramp with the Women’s Title on her shoulder. Natalya said that nothing makes her happier than knowing that Charlotte’s dad Ric Flair is doing better and he can watch Hell in a Cell and see his overrated daughter fail. Natalya laughed about it. Charlotte told her to come into the ring, but Natalya didn’t do it. The segment ended like that.

Dolph Ziggler meets Bobby Roode
The gong sounded. Dolph Ziggler came out this week dressed like the Undertaker and did the entire entrance at a slightly faster pace than the real Deadman would. Ziggler told the crowd it looked like they saw a ghost and made some Deadman dad jokes. He laughed at the crowd and asked if they actually thought they’d see The Undertaker twice in one year? He then said anybody can put on the Halloween costume, shamble down to the ring, and act like a Zombie. He told the crowd that they still don’t get that no one can do what he does in the ring.
Bobby Roode interrupted Ziggler at that point and made his glorious entrance. Roode gave Ziggler credit for being an amazing in ring competitor and talent. He told Ziggler that for a guy who doesn’t care about what the crowd thinks, he sure loves to come out and tell him every week. He called Ziggler a hypocrite, and said that if he wanted to back up his claim, he could meet him at Hell in a Cell. Ziggler checked of some imaginary boxes about Roode having an elaborate robe and entrance, but said he was not on par with him in the ring. Ziggler said he was on for Hell in a Cell, and attempted to use the “Rest in Peace”, but Roode stopped him to remind him it’ll be GLORIOUS.
Opinion
The Undertaker spoof was great. If anyone found it offensive, then great…he’s a heel find him disrespectful and offensive. I just found it funny that the commentators acted like they initially didn’t think it was Ziggler but actually the Undertaker. FINALLY THE GLORIOUS ONE had returned. I know most people, including myself saw this coming with Roode but I still enjoyed it. I feel bad for Ziggler because I dont see him going over but putting over who the WWE is trying to groom for the future. My only question is what happens to Ziggler after all of this?

Final Thoughts
This Smackdown was alright but just fell flat for me. I mean things happened but nothing that had your mind blown. Smackdown has definitely been better in previous weeks and in the past but this episode just lacked the feeling of you being tuned into must watch television. I’m glad that the Fashion Police will return next week. There hasn’t been any Gable and Benjamin on Smackdown for a few weeks now. Overall, this was a pretty good episode but thats about it. Now with next week being the go-home show for Smackdown before Hell in a Cell, I expect a ton of drama.
Rating – 5.5/10

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