Smackdown Live Review 10/03/2017

Hello Misfits. It’s time for this weeks Smackdown Live review. It’s the go-home show before Hell in a Cell so we’re gonna see the focus on the stars and angles that are on the card. It was advertised ahead of time that Kevin Owens and Shane McMahon will have a face to face confrontation. This being the first time they could really get physical in 2-3 weeks. Lets see how Smackdown Live did to get us excited for Hell in a Cell this Sunday.

Smackdown comes to us live from Pepsi Centre in Denver, Colorado.

– Smackdown Live kicks off with the entire roster at the top of the ramp for a moment of silence for the victims of the Las Vegas shooting.

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

Shinsuke Nakamura
Video package for Jinder Mahal and Shinsuke Nakamura’s confrontation last week on Smackdown Live. Renee Young is standing in the center of the ring and introduces Shinsuke Nakamura. Nakamura discusses the comments made by Mahal the past few weeks, but then the Singh Brother interrupt. They introduce Mahal, who then appears behind Nakamura for an ambush. Nakamura fights off Mahal, but the Singh brothers jump in and the numbers advantage proves to be too much for Nakamura. Mahal then finishes things with the Khallas.
Opinion
This was a decent opening. It was completely different than anything we’ve seen between these two in months. I think Nakamura’s limited mic skills is what made his promo feel a tad bit more rushed than say if anyone else was speaking. I like the heel act of setting up the babyface and trying to get the best of him before the big match.

Natalya & Carmella w/ James Ellsworth def. Charlotte & Becky Lynch
Natalya and Carmella defeated Becky Lynch and Charlotte when Carmella hits Lynch in the back with the Money in the Bank briefcase. This catches Charlotte’s attention, which leads to Natalya locking in the Sharpshooter on Charlotte. The Queen taps out.
Opinion
This was what you’d expect from a television female tag team match. Natalya made Charlotte tap out due to the distraction of Carmella. This was angle advancement and it foreshadowed what could happen at Hell in a Cell. It humanized Charlotte and made it seem like the once dominant Queen could tap out to the Queen of Harts this Sunday.

-When we come back from break there is a video recapping the Kevin Owens and Shane McMahon feud and how we’ve gotten to this point.

Bobby Roode def. Mike Kanellis
In a quick squash match, Bobby Roode defeated Mike Kanellis after a spine buster and Glorious DDT.
Dolph Ziggler then interrupts Roode’s celebration and says he is working on new entrances and teases Right to Censor entrance. He then says he says that is no good and tries something else. Then he comes out with instruments. Drums, streamers and blows an air-horn into the microphone when he gets to the apron of the ring. Dolph says he is going to show the world an entrance they have never seen before. He tells Roode to have all his bells and whistles for an entrance, but at some point the bell will ring. Ziggler than says that he is nothing but an entrance and that is all he’ll ever be. As he drops the mic and tries to leave, Roode addresses Ziggler and comments on Ziggler’s entrance. Says it was horrible. Then told Ziggler it goes a little something like this and hits the GLORIOUS pose in the center of the ring with a beautiful spotlight shining on him.
Opinion
The match was forgettable and I feel for Mike Kanellis. However, it was great to see Bobby Roode and his entrance. The promo between Ziggler and Roode was good and just more angle advancement for this Sunday’s match. If they plan to continue this past this Sunday, I wonder how they’ll do that.

The Usos/The New Day
The Usos make their way to the ring to read The New Day their rights. Usos say The New Day will be welcomed to The Uso penitentiary, where there won’t be no Booty Os or twerking. They say they’ll lock every tag team in the HIAC and put the division on lock. Then add that they’ve brought the tag team division to a whole new level and will become 5-time WWE tag team champions. Then as they were about to put an exclamation on their promo, Big E’s voice rings through the arean. The New Day make their way to the ring and plug their new underwear merch. They said that the Usos want to talk about their rights, so they’ll talk about lefts. They cleverly use the word ‘left’ to describe their dominance of the tag team division and the Usos will be LEFT in a pile of their own “day one ish.” Then Big E leads the crowd in a ‘New Day Rocks’ chant and hips start swinging. The Usos leave the ring and head towards the ramp.
Opinion
I absolutely loved the Usos promo. Their promo style is fun, different and unique to them. Heel Uso Twins rock. They have so much more character and you just want to root for them. The New Day act is still over as fuck but I still think they don’t need the tag titles for them to remain over. I strongly believe this could be the match of the night this upcoming Sunday and these two teams won’t let us down. This segment was good but not something you’ll remember 4 weeks from now, but it did great to build for this Sunday.

Jinder Mahal Backstage
Jinder Mahal is backstage and starts speaking in his native language for his people. He then says for everyone to see what happened to their hero, Nakamura, earlier tonight. Jinder tells Nakamura that what happened tonight will be exactly what happens in HIAC. Mahal says he will still remain WWE Champion after HIAC.
Opinion
Gave the champion more air time and was straight to the point. I dig it!

– The Fashion Files return this Sunday at Hell in a Cell instead of tonight. Its also announced that Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable will take on the Hype Bros on the Hell in a Cell kick-off.

Tye Dillinger def. Baron Corbin
In a a decent match, Dillinger picked up the win after a desperation surprise cradle.
As Dillinger quickly escapes, AJ Styles voice echos through the arena as he calls for Corbin. Styles said that SD Live is the place that A. J. Styles built. AJ says if he was successful he would’ve beaten Cena, had a successful cash-in or maybe would’ve beaten Dillinger. Styles says that he better get out of his way or his opportunities will get cut short
Opinion
Its crazy how incapable they make Corbin look. It’s almost as if he can’t get anything done or win the big one. In this case not even the small ones. I kind of fear they might have Corbin go over this Sunday, but I’d rather Styles retain and have a longer reign so he can put on better matches.

– Dana Warrior is in the ring with breast cancer survivors and the Smackdown Live Women’s roster. Dana talks about the partnership between WWE and Susan G. Komen and they are celebrating people who unleash their Warrior! The women are then introduced and given pink WWE Women’s Championship titles! They shake the ropes and we then go to break.

Randy Orton def. Aiden English
Rusev is in the ring with Aiden English and voices his displeasure of Randy Orton disrupting Rusev Day. Randy Orton’s music then hits.
In a short match Randy Orton defeated English after a RKO. Rusev kept trying to get involved to distract Orton but the plan failed. Following the match, Rusev teased attacking and fighting Orton but decided against it.
Opinion
Angle advancement while getting to see a cool RKO. I dig it. I wonder when this feud gets more personal or if it just ends after this Sunday.

– Shane McMahon is walking backstage and runs into Sami Zayn. Zayn says he doesn’t know what Kevin Owens is capable. He says that Owens has snapped and to look at himself as an example of what Owens can do. Shane says he will be fine and that he can take care of himself.

Shane McMahon and Kevin Owens Face Off
Shane-O arrives and calls out Owens. No Owens, so Shane talks some shit and calls him a coward by saying he expected nothing else from Owens. A coward for disrespecting his children, for attacking his father and for hiding behind Sami Zayn. Shane now makes the HIAC match a falls count anywhere match. Owens arrives through the crowd mocking Shane McMahon’s theme song, and Shane tells him to come to the ring. Owens refuses and says he spent too much time in Denver and Shane again calls him a coward. Shane then decides to take the fight to Owens and heads into the crowd after him. That leads to Owens attacking him form behind as they battle into the concourse. Shane deadweights Owens as Owens powerbombs him through a merch table. Owens is now back in the arena, and says Shane is having a rough night, but it will get worse on Sunday. Owens will powerbomb Shane again and again and again until he forgets his kids names. He promises to throw Shane off of the cell, and here comes Shane, limping back into the arena. Owens attack, but Shane battles back and almost hits a clothesline off of the barricade. Owens cuts him off, but Shane still wants to fight. Owens continues to work him over, hits the superkick to stop Shane from throwing his horrible punches. Owens finally hits a head butt and plants him with the pop up powerbomb and stand tall.
Opinion
This was an overall great segment. I LOL’d when Owens was singing Shane’s theme music as he came from the crowd. This was the type of physicality I wanted to see before the event but I was glad they held off on until now. The falls count anywhere rule kind of takes the purpose of the cell away but it does allow the story surrounding the match to be a bit more creative. I could see it ending on top. I know I want it too. I liked how Shane wouldn’t stay down, hence showing how he won’t do that same this Sunday.

Final Thoughts
This was a solid go-home but nothing to memorable really happened. I usually list all the guys and girls who didn’t appear on the show but I’m going to pass this week. Its been a long week and I’m tried. This episode of Smackdown was fun to watch if you’re just chilling but you can catch the best parts on WWE;s YouTube. I am looking forward to Hell in a Cell a bit more now. Dig it!?
Rating – 5.5/10

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