Smackdown Review 03/06/2020

Hello! Its The Wrestling Classic Justin here back for this weeks Smackdown review.The NWO will be making an appearance tonight on a “A Moment to Bliss” before they get inducted into the Hall of Fame Wrestlemania weekend. There is a big tag team gauntlet match as well between the teams involved in this Sunday’s Elimination Chamber as the winners will be the last team to enter the match.Also, Bray Wyatt will speak on The Fiend challenging John Cena last week. Lastly, Sasha Banks and Bayley are set to face off against Naomi and Lacey Evans and much more as this is the go-home show of Smackdown before Elimination Chamber. Lets see how it plays out.

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Live from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY.

– The show opened with a really well done John Cena video package

– Michael Cole and Corey Graves are our announce team for the evening.

Moment of Bliss w/ The NWO
 Greg Hamilton introduces Cross as Alexa’s best friend. Bliss welcomes us to a Moment of Bliss. She says they continue to celebrate the 2020 WWE Hall of Fame Class on the Road to WrestleMania 36. Bliss and Cross show graphics for 2020 inductees The Bella Twins, Batista and JBL. Bliss also sends a warning to WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Kabuki Warriors and tells them to stop hiding out on RAW, come face them. Bliss goes on and introduces 2020 WWE Hall of Famers the nWo – Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Sean “X-Pac” Waltman. Out they come to a pop, wearing nWo t-shirts and using the signature music. Cole mentions how Hulk Hogan is also in the group for the induction this year.
Cross marks out for the nWo and takes a selfie with them. Bliss goes on and brings up how they once feuded with WWE Universal Champion Bill Goldberg. Some fans chant for Goldberg. Nash mentions talking to Roman Reigns earlier this week and jokes about using a caddie prod to beat him at WrestleMania 36. Cross, Bliss and the nWo continue their discussion until the music interrupts. Out comes Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro.
Sami speaks on the way to the ring and mentions how they will win the WWE Intercontinental Title from Braun Strowman at Elimination Chamber on Sunday. Sami ends up taking a shot at Waltman, saying he carried the bags for Hall and Nash for years. Waltman stands up and asks Sami what’s up. Nash picks on how Sami looks. Sami says they could drop the nWo in seconds. Nash says they couldn’t touch the nWo on their best day. Waltman says on any day. The nWo stands up and faces off with Cesaro, Zayn and Nakamura now. Bliss and Cross watch as fans chant for a fight. Sami backs down and says the nWo just wants the rub from them, and that’s not going to happen because they are focused on destroying Braun. Sami and his crew are outside of the ring now. The music hits and out comes Strowman.
Cesaro runs up the ramp and attacks Braun on the stage. Strowman fights back and launches Cesaro into the LED screens. Nakamura runs up now but Strowman headbutts him, then launches him into the barrier. Braun stares Sami down now. Sami runs back into the ring but falls down in front of Waltman. Sami is trapped now as Braun enters the ring. Braun approaches but Sami puts Bliss in front of him. Fans boo. Cole calls Sami a coward. Sami escapes to the floor. Braun throws a chair at him and it just misses. Braun tosses more furniture out as Sami, Cesaro and Nakamura look on. Braun takes the mic and promises that all three will get these hands on Sunday. The nWo joins Braun at the mic as he says it will be “too sweet!” this Sunday. The nWo music hits to end the segment.
My Thoughts
This felt a little off. It was great to see the NWO but the segment felt like it was going nowhere until Sami Zayn, Cesaro and Nakamura made their way out. I did enjoy Nash taking shots at Goldberg being champion and talking about how he beat him years ago ending his streak. The interaction with Sami and the NWO was fun. Nash making a Seth Rogan comparison and Pac stepping up to Zayn was solid. This was a good way to highlight the Intercontinental Championship feud. Also glad Alexa Bliss called out the Kabuki Warriors.

– We see Sasha Banks and Bayley heading to the ring.

Sasha Banks & Bayley def. Naomi & Lacey Evans
In a competitive women’s tag match, Sasha Banks and Bayley defeated Naomi and Lacey Evans when Sasha hit the double knees on Naomi in the corner after Bayley blocked the split-legged moonsault and was able to roll her up for a three count.
My Thoughts
Of course I was glad Sasha Banks picked up the victory. I guess they didn’t want her to pick up the big win in her hometown last week but rather redeem herself this week. I understand why Lacey Evans was the choice here but would have rather it been Carmella. Regardless though, I am glad to see The Boss back and doing the thing.

–  Kayla Braxton is backstage with The New Day. Big E and Kofi Kingston are all hyped up for tonight’s Gauntlet Match and Sunday’s Elimination Chamber match for the titles.

– Sheamus makes his entrance before a commercial break.

– Back from the break and we see Bayley and Sasha Banks bragging about their win backstage. They also take shots at 2020 WWE Hall of Famers The Bella Twins. Banks says Bayley is her role model and she will dedicate her album to Bayley. Bayley talks about their dominance and says no one can touch them.

– We cut to the gorilla position to see Apollo Crews warming up. Shorty G approaches and Crews reminds him he didn’t want Gable’s help. Gable says he’s got Crews’ back as they both have the goal of stopping Sheamus. Gable tells Crews to just say the word, he’ll be there.

Sheamus def. Apollo Crews
In quick match, Sheamus defeated Apollo Crews after hitting a Brogue Kick.
My Thoughts
Once again, Sheamus mows through his opponent to Apollo’s detriment. I have no idea where they are going with this but I am really hoping Sheamus gets some serious competition soon. Hes in great shape and filled with momentum.

– Drake Maverick is backstage with Drew Gulak. Drake wants an opportunity to compete, he wants to face Daniel Bryan. Gulak knows all 163 of Bryan’s weaknesses, and doesn’t think Drake has what it takes. Bryan interrupts as Gulak is talking about his weak roundhouse kick. Bryan says he will be at Elimination Chamber this Sunday and if Gulak is confident he can exploit those weaknesses, why doesn’t he step in the ring with Bryan? Bryan walks off. So does Maverick get his match with Bryan? C’mon.

Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville w/ Dolph Ziggler def. Carmella & Dana Brooke
In a decent match, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville defeated Carmella and Dana Brooke after Rose catches Brooke with a running knee.
My Thoughts
This was what it was. I’m glad that Mella who has been on a roll as of the last few weeks didn’t take the fall here. I understand them trying to build on Mandy Rose as she has been in this popular angle with Otis and Ziggler. Having Ziggler out there was to add more fuel to the fire to get Mandy more heat as Otis is a mega fan favourite. Looking forward to seeing where we go from here. I feel like Sonya is going to play a bigger role than she has already.

Firefly Funhouse
We go to Bray Wyatt for a new Firefly Fun House episode. It looks like Ramblin’ Rabbit is a John Cena fan. Wyatt has photos of Cena hanging on his wall. Rabbit mentions Cena beating Wyatt at WrestleMania 6 years ago and we see a clip from that match. Wyatt says time can either hurt or heal you. Wyatt says he’s realized that the Fun House wouldn’t exist without Cena. Wyatt thanks Cena and forgives him, but there’s a catch. Wyatt says Cena also helped create something else, something built on pain and vengeance. Wyatt goes on and mentions The Fiend. “He” will be waiting at WrestleMania and he isn’t as forgiving as Wyatt. Wyatt talks about no matter how bright you make things in life, the dark side always comes again and that’s the beauty of a circle. Around and around we go. The screen continues to flash for The Fiend. Wyatt stares at the camera and “he” wants to be let in. Wyatt laughs and says goodbye to end the segment.
My Thoughts
Wyatt approached this exactly how he should have. He brought up his previous feud with Cena, he brought up Wrestlemania 30 and it made sense of the match that is booked this year at Wrestlemania between the two. Looking forward to see how the build goes from here.

– Kayla Braxton is backstage with King Baron Corbin. Corbin interrupts her and says he is finished with Roman Reigns, but he’s here to talk about his WrestleMania plans. We hear Elias playing his guitar off to the side. Corbin goes over and he’s not happy with the interruption. Elias says Corbin’s voice was annoying him so he started playing. Corbin runs Elias down and takes shots at who he is, calling him a gimmick and a one-trick pony. Corbin threatens Elias, saying if he keeps this up he will have to answer to his King. Corbin walks off.

– Backstage, we see Heavy Machinery. Mandy Rose walks by and Tucker wants to handle it but Otis apologizes for what happened on Valentine’s Day and brings up the text message. Rose says it’s a little too late for that because a woman doesn’t like to be stood up how he stood her up. She walks off as Tucker consoles Otis.

–  Graves says the next 2020 WWE Hall of Fame announcement will be made on his “After The Bell” podcast next Thursday.

Gauntlet Match – Winners Enter Last in the Elimination Chamber
Dolph Ziggler & Bobby Roode def. Heavy Machinery, Miz & Morrison, The Usos, Lucha House Party and The New Day
Heavy Machinery def. The New Day
The first match of the gauntlet was The New Day facing off against Heavy Machinery. After a competitive back and  forth outing,  Tucker and Otis defeated Big E and Kofi Kingston after hitting the trash compactor on Big E for the win.
Heavy Machinery def. Lucha House Party
In the second round of the gauntlet, Heavy Machinery was to face off against Lucha House Party. After some fun back and forth action, Tucker and Otis defeated Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado after Otis hit a big splash on Lince in the corner followed by the caterpillar for the win.
Heavy Machinery def. The Usos
In the third round of the match the Usos come out to try to end Heavy Machinery’s hot streak here. In quick yet surprising fashion, Tucker and Otis defeated Jimmy and Jey Usos when Tucker turns Jimmy’s pin into his own roll up for a three count.
Heavy Machinery def. The Miz & John Morrison
In the fourth round of the gauntlet, Heavy Machinery took on the tag team champions Miz and Morrison. After a decent match where Miz and Morrison were trying to take advantage of a fatigue Heavy Machinery, Tucker and Otis still defeated Miz and Morrison after Tucker rolled up Morrison out of nowhere.
After Miz and Morrison were eliminated they still brawled with Tucker and eventually tossed Otis through the barrier by the ring announcers area taking him out. We see Mandy watching backstage when Ziggler approaches her telling her not to worry about him before he makes his way out.
Dolph Ziggler & Bobby Roode def. Heavy Machinery
In the final round of the match we had Tucker taking on Bobby Roode and Dolph Ziggler while Otis was still knocked out by the ring announcer area of the ring. Ziggler and Bobby Roode picked up the win after Otis got the hot tag and made the comeback only to get caught with a superkick from Ziggler for the three count.
My Thoughts
I really am not a huge fan of gauntlet matches but this was good. They used this style of match to get Kofi Kingston over last year which helped the success of Kofimania and it seemed like they were trying to recreate that magic here with Heavy Machinery but primarily Otis. It was working but cut short by Ziggler to have us feel further sympathetic towards Otis. If it did anything, it has made me look forward to Ziggler and Otis being the chamber together.

Final Thoughts
This episode of Smackdown was decent but something felt missing. The Gauntlet taking up most of the show wasn’t horrible but I left the episode with desiring more. The NWO on Smackdown was cool but didn’t do anything too memorable but help advance a feud that hasn’t been that hot in the first place. The two women’s matches seemed to happen very fast and kept short. Sheamus continues squashing people with no real direction of where things are going. It was a fun watch but not one of their better episodes.