Smackdown Live Review 11/08/2016

Now this is an exciting Smackdown Live! Sami Zayn is confirmed as Dolph Ziggler’s opponent for Survivor Series, we know have the full Raw teams and are about to get Smackdown’s full teams and we have the awesomely built championship match between Becky Lynch and Alexa Bliss, how can you not be excited for Smackdown Live this week?! No let’s find out thingy this week.

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WWE brings Smackdown Live to you from the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland taped earlier today.

AJ Styles’ music hits and he makes his way to the ring with footage of his match against Dean Ambrose last week. Styles started cutting a promo about him not being in the mood for boos or cheers because Dean Ambrose was a cheater and did not belong in the same ring as him. AJ then threw some insults to James Ellsworth and said he was not in Scotland and the General Manager Daniel Bryan said he couldn’t get his hands on James because he needs to focus on Survivor Series. AJ said even he wants to kick Raw’s ass.
Baron Corbin came out when AJ asked to bring the team out and said he would deliver at Survivor Series and not for AJ Styles. Then, the Wyatt Family sounder hit and when the lights came up, the Wyatt Family and Randy Orton were at ringside, then Dean Ambrose’s music hit and as he comes out he goes back up the ramp and James Ellsworth’s music hit and he came out as Dean Ambrose spoke for him. Ambrose said Ellsworth has never been in Scotland so that’s why he brought him and AJ Styles replied he didn’t care why he was there as long he stays out of Survivor Series.
After this, a confrontation between Ambrose and Styles broke out, Baron Corbin bailed during it. Then Shane McMahon ran down and said they need to put their differences aside and after Ellsworth called himself the official Mascot for Team Smackdown, Shane books Team Wyatt Family versus Ambrose, Corbin and Ellsworth to get the hostility out of the way.
Opinion: Ellsworth made a good job looking afraid and smaller than the other guys but I insist we’ve seen enough of Ellsworth, at least in a “Main Event” role.

Becky Lynch is shown getting ready backstage.

Shane McMahon stops Baron Corbin backstage and asks him if he asked he’s booked in tonight’s six man tag team match and Corbin replied he heard and wasn’t interested. Shane said he’s rebooking him in a match against returning Kalisto.

1) Breezango vs. The Vaudevillians. Survivor Series Qualifier.
Tyler Breeze and Fandango came out in Scottish skirts (Because I don’t remember what they’re called). Breezango defeated The Vaudevillians in quick fashion by pinfall after Fandango hit a Falcon Arrow on Simon Gotch.
Opinion: I’m getting sick of The Vaudevillians being treated so poorly but I’m glad Tyler Breeze is being part of a “high profile” match at a PPV.

Natalya is in the ring as Nikki Bella heads to commentary for the next match.

2) Natalya vs. Naomi.
In a match where we saw more of the same we’ve been watching from the women’s division on Smackdown, Naomi defeated Natalya by pinfall with a quick rollup after Natalya tried to break up a ringside fight between Nikki Bella and Carmella who came down to attack Nikki. Nikki Bella was out on commentary for the entire match.
Opinion: Starting to get a little sick here. Week after week, Carmella has been coming out to attack Nikki, we can literally count the weeks in a row that has happened. Plus, the conflict inside Survivor Series team was something we would obviously see but it just doesn’t seem interesting and Natalya’s involvement as coach seems pointless.

Backstage, James Ellsworth is talking to Dean Ambrose as Shane McMahon tells both of them he’s found them the perfect tag partner and it’s fair to say, his career is on fire. Ellsworth turns around into Kane who only tells him not to tag in.

Baron Corbin makes his entrance followed by Kalisto. As Kalisto made his entrance, Corbin received him with a clothesline and kept the attack while trash-talking about Kalisto not being a threat. As Corbin went to the outside to continue the assault, Corbin slipped on the apron and injured his knee and as he was in pain, Kalisto kicked him in the knee to the stepg and then did a frog splash on the same knee as the referees checked Corbin.
Opinion: Props to Corbin for taking that fall on the apron, even if it looked like it was on his second try. Kalisto also looked pretty good showing some intensity and genuine hatred for Corbin. Now ‘m just curious to see if this takes Corbin out of Survivor Series and who would replace him.

Backstage, Daniel Bryan is telling Shane McMahon the trainers told him Baron Corbin will not be able to compete at Survivor Series and Shane replied he will leave the decision on who to replace him with up to Bryan as he goes to watch the title match.

3) Alexa Bliss vs. Becky Lynch. Smackdown Live’s Women’s Championship Match.
In a really really decent match, Becky Lynch defeated Alexa Bliss by submission when Becky locked in the Disarmer and Alexa tapped with her foot under the rope.
Opinion: I really enjoyed this match and actually thought Alexa had a chance on winning but this is a good way ti further the feud without making one of them look weaker than the other.

Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan are backstage talking about replacing Baron Corbin and Bryan says he would pick a replacement by the end of the night. Maryse walks in and says she is annoyed with Bryan about letting Dolph Ziggler defend his Intercontinental Championship against a Raw wrestler and The Miz not being able to invoke his rematch clause, Bryan said that was the point of the Survivor Series concept and on top of that, Brian Kendrick will be defending his Cruiserweight Championship against Kalisto. If Kalisto wins, the whole Cruiserweight division moves to Smackdown. Maryse offered The Miz’ rematch clause for next week’s 900th episode and Bryan and Shane accepted.
Opinion: I love the concept of two inter promotional title matches and both matches look like they are going to be awesome but I don’t think I can be excited for yet another Miz v Ziggler title match on Smackdown.

Apollo Crews makes his way to the ring with Curt Hawkins already in the ring.

4) Apollo Crews vs Curt Hawkins.
In a really brief match, Curt Hawkins defeated Apollo Crews by pinfall after a Crucifix rollup.
Opinion: C’mon! Apollo Crews is one of the most talented guys in the roster and Hawkins could be immensimely over with the fans yet they get a non sense storyline and a 2 minute match. Unnaceptable.

Backstage, Renee Young is intervieweing Dolph Ziggler about having to defend his Intercontinental Championship next week against The Miz. Dolph says he can’t wait to beat and shut up The Miz again.

5) Kane, James Ellsworth & Dean Ambrose vs. The Wyatt Family.
In a match that wasn’t that bad actually, The Wyatt Family defeated Ambrose, Kane and Ellsworth by pinfall when Bray Wyatt pinned Ellsworth with a Sister Abigail.
Opinion: The 3 Wyatts and Ambrose had a great match but Kane and Ellsworth are clearly limited in-ring wise. By the way, the Sister Abigail Wyatt gave Ellsworth looked devastating, probably his best yet.

After the match, the full team got into the ring and kept arguing until Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan came out to sort things out. Daniel came with a clipboard and said he culd pick anyone from that list to fill Baron Corbin’s spot. He said he was an exception as he cannot compete, this got huge boos. He said that in the other corner of the list there was another name and then asked Shane McMahon if he would be the fifth man Smackdown needs. Shane started a “Yes” chant to accept and shook hands with everyone in the team.

Shane McMahon will be part of Team Smackdown Live at Survivor Series!

Final Thoughts
That’s Smackdown Live (not really live) from Glasgow, Scotland! What did you think of the show? I think it was a solid show, not the best but it had good in ring stuff, good storyline development, and huge progress on the Survivor Series matches.
Final Rating: 8.3 out of 10.

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