Smackdown Live Review 04/24/2018

Hello Misfits. It’s time for this weeks Smackdown Live review. It’s a week after the superstar shake up and three days before the “Greatest Royal Rumble” this Friday. They also have to start building towards the PPV the following week which is Backlash. However, most of the potential matches can’t be announced because they can’t ruin the results for this show in Jeddah. It’s going to be interesting to see how Smackdown feels with all the fresh faces. This is also a huge episode because it was promoted as the episode where The Miz and Daniel Bryan have their first confrontation since Daniel Bryan has been cleared to wrestle. It’s something I have really been looking for. Last week superstars like The Bar, The Club, Sanity, Almas and others were given vignettes for coming to Smackdown but didn’t appear, so it’ll be interesting to see if they appear this week. Carmella is still the reigning Women’s Champion and Charlotte has her eyes on her rematch. However we saw Asuka make her return last week and I wonder if she’ll play a part in the title picture this week. What is next for Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles before they face each other this Friday? Lets find out.

Smackdown comes to us live from KFC Yum! Centre in Louisville, KY.

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

Miz TV
Miz takes the mic and is met with some heat from the crowd. He reminds everyone to shut their mouths when his hand goes up. Miz declares that The A-Lister is back on SmackDown, making it the A Show once again. Miz says one thing is missing – a title. He goes on and says he will win back the WWE Intercontinental Title at the Greatest Royal Rumble event on Friday in Saudi Arabia. Miz says he will beat champion Seth Rollins, Samoa Joe and Finn Balor to bring the title back to SmackDown. Miz brags about elevating the title and says that’s in 3 days but tonight is now, and this is what the world has been waiting for. Miz talks about tonight’s guest, saying he still holds a grudge from Talking Smack. Miz goes on about Daniel Bryan and recently welcoming his first daughter into the world, saying he’s a changed man now. Miz brings up Bryan’s Twitter threat on punching him tonight. He goes on and introduces tonight’s guest but Bryan never shows. The music hits and out comes Big Cass instead.
Miz asks Cass if he can help him. Cass says it looks like Miz needs a guest, so that’s why he’s here. Miz says he was supposed to interview Bryan and Cass says no one gives a damn about Bryan. Cass talks about how hard he worked to return from his injury but who else was cleared on the same day he was cleared? Daniel Bryan. All he hears from the WWE Universe is Daniel Bryan this, Daniel Bryan that and no one was talking about Big Cass. Cass says he’s been living in the shadow of an ordinary little man. Miz and Cass have words before they face off in the middle of the ring with Cass looking down at Miz. Miz says this isn’t about them, this is about the Daniel Bryans of the… Cass cuts Miz off and talks trash about Bryan and his look.
Cass goes on about the fans and how they will never live their dreams because they are a bunch of Joe Schmoes. Cass talks about how he was once like Bryan but he got tired of it and grew to be 7 feet tall. He then went back and got payback from everyone who pushed him around before. Cass goes on and says he despises Bryan. Now here he is in WWE and he didn’t have to work bingo halls or Japan or indies around the world. He’s here because he’s tall, educated and good looking. That makes him valuable, that makes him a star, that makes him money. Cass says he won’t be living in Bryan’s shadow for much longer because he’s going to send Bryan back to where he belongs – on the shelf… beaten and retired. Cass says Bryan will never cast another shadow over him or anyone else ever again. Cass mocks the “yes!” chant and drops the mic as his music hits. Cass leaves the ring as Miz looks on.
Opinion
It is great to see Miz back on Smackdown Live where automatically feels like one of their top stars. I didn’t really care for Big Cass when he separated from Enzo and when he showed up last week. However, the promo he cut tonight had me entertained and made me care about him. The time off due to injury might have been the best thing for him because it let him come back fresh on a new brand with no string attached to anything from his past. There was no Bryan and Miz confrontation but I’m sure slowly but surely we’ll get there.

– Backstage, as Asuka and Becky Lynch are on their way to gorilla for their match, referees are with Bryan. Bryan is on the ground clutching at his shoulder as we cut to commercial break.

The IIconics def. Becky Lynch & Asuka
Before the match, the IIconics mocked Becky Lynch and Asuka. Based on the IIconics scientific theory because Charlotte beat Asuka, and they helped beat Charlotte, that means they are better than Asuka!
In a solid television tag match The IIconics defeated Becky Lynch and Asuka when Kay sends Becky Lynch into the post allowing Peyton Royce to roll her up while putting her feet on the ropes to steal the victory.
Opinion
I love Peyton and Billie Kaye but their promos kind of annoy me. They sound like bullies from grade school. Not even high school but like pre-middle high. I love them though so I pretend to enjoy it and route for them. I’m glad they picked up the win but I hate how Becky Lynch still feels like she’s just there. I wonder how they’re going to continue this. There are so many talented women on Smackdown Live and only one championship belt. It’s going to be interesting to see how they keep them all relevant while there is one championship feud going on at a time.

– Renee Young is backstage outside of SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon’s office. WWE Champion AJ Styles comes walking out and he’s all smiles. AJ says Shane just gave him the chance to soften up Shinsuke Nakamura before Friday’s big match at Greatest Royal Rumble. AJ says Nakamura is bringing his friends tonight, Rusev Day. He would take them on in a Handicap Match if he had to but he’s got some back-up. It’s going to be a six-man match and while he doesn’t name his partners, he says they are “too sweet” and walks off. YES! The band is back together.

-Backstage, Naomi walks into the Usos lockerroom. Jimmy asks her not to come out to the ring tonight like she did last week. Naomi says she can’t promise him that. Naomi looked Harper and Rowen in the eyes last week and she saw nothing. Jimmy says he will be fine. Naomi still looks very worried. Naomi says she has a bad feeling about tonight

Jimmy Uso w/ Jey Uso def. Erick Rowen w/ Luke Harper
In a quick match, Jimmy Uso defeated Erick Rowen when Noami’s music hits and she does her full entrance distracting Rowen and Harper. As the Bludgeon Brothers are distracted Jey dropkicks Harper on the outside of the ring. Jimmy kicks Rowen in the head, then rolls him up for the win.
Opinion
This was clever and I would have gotten distracted by Naomi shaking her thing too. I know she won’t be involved in the match in Jeddah since no women are allowed to perform but possibly at Backlash if thing angle continues. I’m really curious what the pay-off is.

Carmella/Charlotte Contract Signing
Renee goes to introduce Charlotte Flair but Carmella cuts her off and takes the mic, complaining about disrespect. Carmella goes on about how it’s unacceptable for the champion to be introduced before the challenger. She says this isn’t Flair’s kingdom any longer, it belongs to her now. Carmella says she has something to address before Renee gets all boring. Carmella says she’s Renee’s champion and more importantly, she’s the champion of everyone in the crowd. Carmella says she doesn’t understand why she didn’t get a standing ovation after her extra special video package. Carmella says since she is the champ and she makes the rules we are all going to sit back and watch the video package again. Once its over, everyone will stand and give her the ovation she deserves. After the package, Carmella a says the crowd can do better than that. We are going to watch the package over and over until they get it right. The package airs again. Charlotte interrupts.
Flair takes a seat while Carmella struts around and mocks Flair. Renee asks her to be professional and take a seat but Carmella raises the title and wastes more time. She finally sits and Renee says it’s time to make the title match official. Flair signs the contract first and smirks at Carmella. Flair throws a “wooo!” at Carmella after signing and they have a few words while standing up to face off with Carmella going to raise the title. It appears she did not sign the contract. This quickly leads to Flair slamming Carmella’s face into the table and tipping it over. Flair leaves the ring as her music hits. Carmella recovers and scrambles to grab her title. Carmella looks on as Flair heads to the back.
Opinion
I absolutely loved this segment. Carmella is a fresh of breathe air and really found her own character. I freaking love her. Charlotte is a G and literally didn’t have to say a word to make an impact. Charlotte is such a made star that just her presence alone speaks. Carmella was hilarious and had me entertained the entire time. I’m really enjoying this Queen vs Princess dynamic. Carmella is the rebel princess while Charlotte is the champion queen. I dig the vibe.

– Dasha Fuentes is backstage knocking on Shinsuke Nakamura’s locker room door. Aiden English answers and says no interviews.

– Jeff Hardy is heading to the ring.

Shelton Benjamin def. Randy Orton
Jeff Hardy comes out to face Benjamin but in similar fashion of last week, Orton comes out to steal the match from Hardy like Hardy stole it from him last week. Jeff Hardy stays at ringside sitting on commentary.
In solid match, Shelton Benjamin defeated Randy Orton after Sunil Singh interferes to cause a distraction. Singh hops the barricade wearing a Lucha Mask and chop blocks Hardy. Sunil gets in the ring and Orton pulls off his mask and hits him with an RKO. Benjamin hits Paydirt on Orton for the win.
Opinion
Interesting to see where this goes. Sunil of course showed up in attempt to get to Hardy before this Friday’s match against Jinder Mahal. I liked the creativity behind it and didn’t expect it at all. It was great to see a Singh brother take an RKO one last time for maybe a while since they’re on different shows now. Benjamin picked up a big win here but it’ll be interesting to see if this leads to anything or if he’s just a pawn in a rivalry between Orton and Hardy.

– The New Day is backstage celebrating The Book of Booty, available online and in bookstores everywhere. The Bar walks in and interrupts. Sheamus and Cesaro assure The New Day that they won’t see them on SmackDown after tonight because they’re winning the vacant RAW Tag Team Titles on Friday in Saudi Arabia. They knock the SmackDown tag team division and do their catchphrase to taunt The New Day. They each grab a pancake and leave. This was great and it feels fresh for The Bar. The Bar were the ones to end The New Day’s longest tag team title reign so it was nice to see that rivalry revisited briefly.

– AJ Styles is backstage with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. They all embrace and are happy to see each other. They trade “too sweets” and start talking strategy as we go back to commercial.

– Theres a vignette for Sanity, who will be coming soon to the blue brand.

– Backstage, Bryan says he is fine. The doctors just wanted to be cautious. Bryan was attacked by a seven-foot coward. Bryan will face Cass at Backlash. Cass is going to learn that everyone is the same height when they are on the mat tapping out.

– A pre-recorded video of Samoa Joe talking about winning the WWE Intercontinental Title on Friday and then watching Roman Reigns get massacred by Brock Lesnar. Joe says if Reigns somehow survives and wins the WWE Universal Title then he will also take that title at Backlash. Believe that. We hear fans chanting for Joe in the arena.

Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev Day def. AJ Styles & The Club
In a competitive six-man tag main event, Shinsuka Nakamura and Rusev Day defeat AJ Styles and The Club after Shinsuke Nakamura hits the kinshasa on Luke Gallows who’s missed the dark tag.
After the match, Styles attacks Nakamura. Nakamura low blows Styles really hard again. Nakamura tries to Kinshasa Styles but Anderson leaps in the way to save Styles. Styles crawls to Anderson as Nakamura hits another Kinshasa.
Opinion
This was a great match. I enjoyed it and it was a solid way to cap off this episode of Smackdown Live. It is great to see this version of The Club together alone. It’s a bummer that we won’t see Anderson and Gallows with Balor anymore but they were great the last time WWE paired them up with Styles. It was the right choice to give Shinsuke , Rusev and English the W. Its rare but cool to see the heels get a clean victory. Shinsuke taking out everyone after the match was really showing his new vindictive side.

Final Thoughts
Two weeks in a row Smackdown Live really delivered. From Bryan being cleared, Paige being named GM, Nakamura turning heel and the superstar shake-up, Smaackdown really feels like it got a reboot. Everything feels fresh and new. I wouldn’t mind if Smackdown Live changed up its look a little to freshen things up like Raw did a few months back. On that note, I felt like Smackdown Live was the better show this week. I was entertained from start to finish where Raw fell a little flat to me this week. Definitely check out Smackdown Live from this week if you missed it.
Rating – 8/10