SmackDown Review – UK Edition: 11/08/2019
WWE Friday Night Smackdown Review: November 8th, 2019
Author: Captain Charisma
Live from the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England
Hello my fellow peeps! This is a new vibe towards the SmackDown review will be different as this past episode of SmackDown has been pre-taped since it was live from the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. Now, I am not saying that because it was pre-taped, without reading spoilers, that I am not excited for tonight’s show but I feel like tonight does not carry any hype towards it aside from a rematch between King Corbin and The Big Dog, Roman Reigns as well as Sasha Banks returning to singles competition on the blue brand. Do not get me wrong, I think King Corbin establishing himself as a great King is what is truly best for business but having consistent matches with the same opponents of Roman Reigns (his rival) and Shorty G gets me frustrated. In terms of “Salsa Banks” in the words of The Wrestling Classic, I believe having Sasha establish herself as a singles competitor again instead of Badass Bayley’s side piece is actually exciting! We have not seen The Boss compete in some time so I hope for the best. It is also announced before the show even starts that the SmackDown Tag Team Championships are on the line as The Revival’s Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder defend their coveted platinum against The New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Big E. I also understand that this is the first title match for one Kingston after being squashed out of the WWE championship picture on the premiere on FOX. Hopefully, we will witness more exciting outcomes and moments despite of what has been announced thus far. With the invasion of NXT last week, I expect this week to step up its game after a very phenomenal episode. With this said, I fell like my expectations are too high for tonight considering how little the card has been advertised. Let us see what occurs on the hottest show on television taped from the United Kingdom!
In-Ring Segment – King Corbin Promo
The show begins with the all mighty King Corbin gracing his presence upon the Manchester faithful. With a roar of boos, which seem edited as all hell, Corbin begins to make his state of address by addressing that this year’s Survivor Series will be real brand supremacy as the triple threat between Raw, SmackDown, and NXT will all collide. After a loud roar of NXT chants, Corbin finds the NXT invasion last week embarrassing. He then states that the one person to blame for the invasion to happen was the “locker room leader” Roman Reigns. Corbin lists Reigns’s accomplishments and accolades in WWE, even referring to him as a hero and a role model. However, after a standing ovation from the WWE Universe over Roman’s successful fight with leukemia, Corbin refers to the crowd as “fickle, blood-sucking” and states that they only care about being selfish. Corbin then states that Roman Reigns has done absolutely nothing since his return from leukemia, admitting that his priorities have changed. He then describes Reigns as a corporate, choosing to be the face of World Wrestling Entertainment rather than the fans and entertaining them. He downgraded to half the man he used to be according to The King, even his own brothers in The Shield have abandoned him. Corbin then goes onto a rant on how “The Big Dog’s testicles” (great, a balls joke) have shriveled up into tiny marbles and how his bark has turned from a big dog to a tiny little chihuahua. He then presents an example on the titantron, where Roman Reigns’s dog logo starts to bark like a puppy over and over. Corbin pokes fun at it more and more. The King then makes the proclamation that Roman is not man enough to step up to royalty face to face. The Manchester crowd chant for Roman Reigns but Corbin gives them the bad news that he is not in attendance at the moment as he is granting a wish for a kid in the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He does make the promise that he will be in the main event where Reigns will tuck his little tail between his legs and the audience will get out its doggy poop bags to scrape up the Big Dog’s excrements and take them home as souvenirs. Finally, Corbin makes the statement that the WWE Universe will bend the knee to your king.
My Thoughts:
I love King Corbin and all but that opening segment was absolutely dragging! What was the relevancy towards having Roman Reigns’s titantron dog bark like a puppy? Another question I have is why talk about testicles and feces? I get we are in the new era of TV-14 now with Fox upping its game on a more mature product but having stupid segments like this make me disappointed as a fan. I do applaud the standing ovation for Roman’s successful return to the ring from leukemia but why punish the audience in attendance and at home with something this appalling? Now I understand why everyone on social media was shooting this segment down as it was being taped. I hope we have better segments from our King sooner rather than later! Next thing we will know, Corbin gets the King Barrett treatment and become irrelevant within time.
Backstage Interview – Kayla Braxton, Kofi Kingston, and Big E
While The New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Big E are walking down the parking lot into the arena preparing for their SmackDown Tag Team Title match later on tonight, Kayla Braxton appears to do an impromptu interview with the number one contenders. Just moments before their big championship match, Braxton addresses that The New Day have requested a special message for their injured partner, Xavier Woods, who is not in attendance. Big E reponds by jokingly saying “do not drop the soap.” Kingston responds by reestablishing the situation and confirms that Xavier is not in jail but at home, recovering from injury. E responds by asking if Woods did the embezzlement. Kofi ignores and goes onto praise The Revival as a tag teak, but questions their remarks towards taking Woods out. All jokes aside, Kofi goes onto say that they need that seven to become the seven time tag team champions. Big E then adds if they do not capture the SmackDown Tag Team Titles for the seventh time, how will they ever catch up to Charlotte Flair? Kofi adds on by saying in Manchester, they will beat The Revival and become seven time WWE World Tag Team Champions. They then expose their armbands with XW labeled on them in honor of Xavier Woods.
Match #1 – The New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods vs. The Revival’s Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder – SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match
The referee calls for the bell in this tag team championship match and Kofi Kingston immediately attempts two schoolboy pin attempts on Scott Dawson to try to put away this match in the early going followed by a small package. Nonetheless, it is Dawson who stops this offense and hits Kofi in the face with a right forearm. Grabbing Kofi by the hair, Dawson tags in Wilder and hits a double knee tag team maneuver. Dash is in the match and knife edge chops Kofi. Kofi strikes back at both Wilder and Dawson, getting back to his corner. Big E is tagged into the match and assists Kofi to hit a giant leapfrog leg drop onto Wilder for a two count. While Wilder is in the nix of coming back, as he leaps into the air for a leapfrog over Big E, he lands on his right knee and comes down hard on it. The referee checks on Wilder as he is down in his corner as we go into commercial break. We return to the action after Fox’s unlimited commercials and Dash Wilder is seen taking control of Big E with a headlock. E fights out of it and hits Wilder with a belly to belly suplex. After both men are taken out by that move, they both tag in their respective partners of Kofi Kingston and Scott Dawson. Kingston hits Dawson with a flying chop and starts the hot tag comeback. He then hits a huge dropkick on Wilder to send him to the outside. Dawson rolls onto the outside as well. This leads to Kofi to hit a springboard dive onto The Revival to pump up the Manchester crowd. Kofi sends Dawson back into the ring and hits the flying crossbody. Kingston sets up for Trouble In Paradise but Wilder from the outside pulls Dawson out of the way. Dawson then tags in Wilder and hits a superplex from the top turnbuckle followed by Wilder hitting a flying body splash from the other side of the ring. While going for the win, Big E breaks it up. This is followed by a Belly to Belly Suplex on Dawson. Wilder catches E with a Rope Assisted Tornado DDT, eliminating E out of the picture. Wilder attempts another Rope Assisted Tornado DDT on Kofi but Kofi escapes. Kofi hits an SOS finish but it is only good for two. Big E is tagged in and sets up with Kofi for the Midnight Hour but Scott Dawson from the outside pulls Kingston away and onto the floor ringside. This leads to Dash Wilder to hit a kick to the midsection of Big E. Wilder tags in Dawson and hit a double team of what looks like a Randy Orton like Apron DDT. Wilder is tagged back in and The Revival hit an Uppercut and German Suplex combination for a two kick out. The Revival look to end it with a Shatter Machine to Big E, however, they did not realize that Kofi Kingston made the tag. This leads to Big E reversing the Shatter Machine and Kingston hitting a Top Rope Missile Dropkick onto Scott Dawson, taking him out of the equation. Big E then holds Wilder in the spinebuster position and Kingston hits Trouble In Paradise for the pin fall victory. New tag team champions!
Result: Kofi Kingston via pin fall – The New Day become Seven Time Tag Team Champions
My Thoughts:
Whoop-dee-do, the New Day become seven time tag team champions! In all honesty, I am somewhat happy to see Kofi Kingston carry a championship again but not in the way I wanted. You are meaning to tell me that the same individual who was strongly built at the beginning of this year to become WWE champion is now getting a tag team title run with Big E by the end of 2019? I applaud New Day on putting on a fun match with the greatest tag team champions of our generation in The Revival but was it necessary to keep the tradition of new champions in the UK? You are just going to have the match between The Undisputed Era’s Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly, The Viking Raiders – Experience, and now the New Day flop at Survivor Series? I really hope lightning can strike and somehow have The Revival regain their platinum! Do not get me wrong, I think The New Day achieving the seven time champion accolade is amazing, especially trying to beat Charlotte Flair’s record accordingly. I just do not want to see an ongoing pattern of multi-time champions being crowned on a consistent basis! Have new faces win the gold!
Backstage Segment – Daniel Bryan and Sami Zayn
Daniel Bryan is seen walking down the backstage area where Sami Zayn appears to confront Bryan. Zayn starts off by saying that after giving Bryan the invitation to join himself and the intercontinental champion, Shinsuke Nakamura, he commends Bryan’s actions from last week of not giving a straight forward answer. He then claims that if Bryan would have given the answer last week, he would be standing today as NXT champion under his watch. He then gives him the ultimatum of sticking together in times of war with Survivor Series approaching. Sami then states that he can boost Bryan’s career as he did with Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro. He then reveals that both Cesaro and Nakamura will compete in a tag team match later tonight against Shorty G and Ali. Zayn then invites Bryan to be ringside for that match to witness the success they will have because of Zayn. Zayn walks away and leaves Bryan in question.
My Thoughts:
I can tell that Daniel Bryan wants to bring the yes movement back. These past few weeks of staying in between a face and a heel has been mind boggling. This relationship between himself and Sami Zayn has been escalating for months so I think it would be time to bring back the Daniel Bryan we all know and love at this point right? I think we might see a change of heart tonight. Escalation is brewing!
Heavy Machinery were originally set for tag team action but are attacked by NXT UK’s Imperium (featuring NXT UK Champion Walter, Alexander Wolfe, Marcel Berthel, and Fabian Aichner)
Backstage Interview – Kayla Braxton, Bayley, and Sasha Banks
Kayla Braxton is seen backstage, introducing her guests the SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley and Sasha Banks. While Braxton reminds us the victory that Bayley had over Nikki Cross last week, Bayley stops her and cockily acknowledges her successful title defense. Braxton continues by saying after the match, NXT Women’s champion Shayna Baszler got the better of her, questioning if this is a preview of what is to come Survivor Series? Bayley responds by saying no and that states that this was a sign of her being relevant. She then claims that herself and Sasha Banks were the originators that put NXT Women’s Wrestling on the map. Sasha Banks adds onto say that today’s NXT Women’s roster will always live in their shadow just like Nikki Cross will in her match tonight against The Boss. Bayley closes the interview by saying that both Becky Lynch and Shayna Baszler better watch their back because herself and Sasha Banks can play takeover games too.
My Thoughts:
Typical Bayley and Sasha Banks Boss N Hug Connection promo. They both agree on being the foundation of the Women’s Revolution and get cocky as heels. It seems to me that there is no originality with these impromptu backstage interviews.
Match #2 – Tag Team Match – Shorty G and Ali vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro with Sami Zayn
Before the match begins, Daniel Bryan appears at the front of the stage to witness this match firsthand.
The bell rings and a distracted Shorty G gets a huge running uppercut by The Swiss Superman Cesaro. He drags Gable into his corner and tags in the intercontinental champion Shinsuke Nakamura. Nakamura resents to multiple stomps to the midsection of Shorty G and sends him into the corner turnbuckle. He sends him onto the top rope and gives him a lethal palm strike to the chest of Shorty G. However, it is Shorty G who reverses into an armbar that is broken up by the referee’s five count. Shinsuke tags in Cesaro but Shorty G is able to push him out of the ring. Shorty G’s attempt at a hot tag is interrupted by Cesaro and hits a powerful snake eyes. Gable attempts to fight back and hits a beautiful O’Connor Roll that transitions into a leaping hot tag to a fresh Ali. Ali starts this with a running hurricanrana and starts the comeback. This is followed by his vintage rolling X-Factor and a Rolling Tornado DDT. Ali goes for the pin but it is broken up by a Nakamura kick to the head and attempts to take out Shorty G. However, Shorty G sends Nakamura over the top rope with a Belly To Belly Suplex. Gable attempts a suicide dive but is caught in mid air into an Uppercut by Cesaro. While Cesaro throws Gable onto the outside, Ali sends Cesaro over the top rope with a dropkick and sends him into the WWE Universe over the barricade with a suicide dive. Ali sends Cesaro back into the ring and attempts a Diving Crossbody but is caught by Cesaro in midair into a backbreaker for a two count. Nakamura is tagged in and it seems that they both are trying ot put the match to rest but Shorty G comes in and applies the ankle lock to Cesaro. Cesaro reverses and sends Shorty G onto the outside. This leads to Ali sending him over the top rope and Shinsuke Nakamura takes advantage with an exploder suplex. Nakamura sets up for the Kinsasha and is caught with a superkick by Ali. Realizing the situation, Ali goes to the top rope. Sami Zayn attempts to get involve but the referee and Shorty G meet him halfway. However, the momentary distraction leads to Cesaro taking both Ali and Gable out, leading to the Kinsasha. Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura win.
Result: Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro via pin fall
My Thoughts:
It seems to me that Sami Zayn luring Bryan into his inner circle of Nakamura and Cesaro is more interesting now than it originally was. I was not expecting Nakamura and Cesaro to be key players to be what makes this show stand on its own two feet! Of course we have known for decades that Cesaro is an incredible talent as well as Nakamura being a legend in the ring as we all know and love but there has to be some sort of dominance towards this trio, especially recruiting someone of the likes of Daniel Bryan. Maybe having the intercontinental champion in a rivalry that does not involve the intercontinental championship is relatively bad since the prestige of the gold has not been dignified the majority of the year alone. I hope to see more to come of this rivalry and actually involve the title itself!
Match #3 – Sasha Banks vs. Nikki Cross with Bayley on commentary
Sasha Banks debuts a new remixed version of her theme song featuring her cousin Snoop Dogg
The bell rings and both Sasha Banks and Nikki Cross lock up. It is a few moments later where Banks takes the upper hand and starts hammering away with righthand strikes to the back of Cross. Banks drives Cross to the corner with a turnbuckle head smash and applies the foot choke. This leads to a snap suplex into a quick one count pin attempt. Banks chokes Cross with her knee onto the second rope. Banks then hits a running meterora for a two count. Banks gets cocky for a moment only for Cross to hit a comeback move followed by three arm drags. She then hits a running crossbody for a two count. She sends Sasha Banks onto the outside. Cross hits a apron dropkick and a running crossbody to take out Sasha and immediately decides to knock down the SmackDown Women’s Champion and celebrating with the crowd. While sending Sasha back into the ring, Bayley causes the distraction by holding Cross’s legs which leads to Banks taking advantage. Cross attempts the inside cradle but is unsuccessful. After two elbows to the face, Cross hits a crossbody for a two count. Banks rolls back to the outside to regroup with Bayley for a commercial break. Coming back to the action, Sasha Banks hits a double knees to the midsection of Nikki Cross for a two count. Banks starts hammering away at Cross, even with forearms to the corner. Cross comes back with a tornado DDT. Cross makes the comeback and gets fired up. After another running bulldog, Cross hits a crossbody which is reversed into the Bank Statement by Sasha Banks. Two pin attempts later, Cross gives a headbutt to the stomach and hits a step up kick. Banks attempts a jackknife schoolboy. Cross attempts a Swinging Neckbreaker only for Sasha to reverse into the Bank Statement and causes the submission victory. Post-match – Bayley puts the beat down on Nikki Cross. Shayna Baszler appears to attack Bayley once more after last week and hits a switch gut wrench slam. Baszler regroups after Banks comes to the aid of Bayley and Baszler exits the arena.
Result: Sasha Banks via pin fall
My Thoughts:
I would not have expected anything less for the return of The Boss, Sasha Banks. I dig the remix of the theme but having Sasha rely on heel tactics from her best friend Bayley is getting old and fast. Remember when The Boss was heel on NXT, the same show she “laid the foundation for”? To me, that was the villain that revolutionized women’s wrestling. Now, she is not The Boss anymore since she has to count on someone at all times. I know some may hate but the fact of the matter is, Sasha needs to go back to her roots, not all this other shenanigan crap.
Backstage Segment – Daniel Bryan, Sami Zayn, and The Fiend, Bray Wyatt
We are taken backstage where once again, Sami Zayn and Daniel Bryan are negotiating about joining the dark side. Zayn then admits to Bryan that Bryan should have came down to the ring and celebrated Cesaro and Nakamura’s victory earlier tonight. Zayn also assumes that Bryan is desperate for help. Zayn thinks that Bryan wants to leave the people and the yes chants behind him and move forward with him. Zayn offers Bryan to speak his mind and in the process, the light quickly flickers. After offering Bryan to say what he has to say, the lights go out. Afterwards, the lights turn back on only to be in red lights and The Fiend Bray Wyatt to appear right behind Bryan. Sami Zayn notices the Fiend and starts to run away. Bryan on the other hand is caught in the mandible claw by The Fiend and is taken out.
My Thoughts:
First and foremost, I did not expect The Fiend to attack Daniel Bryan the way and time he did. In my view, this was the most shocking and inopportune time to reignite the Bryan-Wyatt rivalry. Especially since we are trying to bring back the Yes Movement. Then again, this is a plus for Bryan as he upgraded from the Intercontinental Championship feud with Shin to a potential Universal Championship match with Wyatt. I feel excited on where this will go moving forward!
In-Ring Segment – Tyson Fury, Braun Strowman, and The B-Team
The Gypsy King appears in front of his hometown of Manchester, England and receives a standing ovation. Tyson Fury greets his home audience and acknowledges his accomplishments in his career, including fighting Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel. However, there is no place like his home in Manchester, England. Fury states that he has unfinished business with The Monster Among Men, Braun Strowman. Strowman appears. Strowman then states that Fury got what he asked for. Fury thanks Strowman for the opportunity at Crown Jewel and shakes Strowman’s hand. Fury states that if he and Strowman were in the same ring together, they should be a tag team. Braun responds by saying that there is not two individuals stupid enough to step up to the both of them unless they want all four of those hands. The B-Team’s Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas appear. Curtis Axel calls Strowman and Fury morons and states that they are stupid enough to face them. Dallas reassures the situation and states that came out wrong, saying that the B in B-Team stands for…fearless? Braun gives Tyson Fury the microphone and does a running shoulder tackle to both men, sending them onto the floor of the ringside area. The Freight Train hits The B-Team by Braun Strowman. Strowman then throws Dallas into the ring, only for Fury to knock him out with a right hand. Strowman then hits a running powerslam to Curtis Axel and both Strowman and Fury celebrate in the ring.
My Thoughts:
I still do not understand why we have to watch Fury and Strowman act like Batman and Robin here. I thought this was a one and done deal at Crown Jewel, giving me the vibes of WrestleMania 21 with Big Show and Akebono. Instead, we get the Monster Babyfaces dominate against a heel jobber (I am sorry Bo and Curtis) team? The B-Team deserve better treatment than this! I just want to pretend that this segment never existed.
Match #4 – Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose – Fire and Desire vs. Dana Brooke and Carmella – the winning team will join Team SmackDown with Sasha Banks at Survivor Series
The bell rings and Sonya Deville and Carmella start the match with a lock up. Deville rag dolls Carmella and hits a huge lariat. Carmella attempts a roll up but it is only good for two. Carmella then hits the Mella-Go-Round only to be caught with a huge knee strike to the gut by Deville. Mandy Rose is tagged in. After multiple double team mudhole stomps and strikes, Rose mocks Carmella. Rose then hits a fallaway slam. Sonya Deville is tagged in. They attempt a double suplex but Mella comes back with kicks. Deville catches her with a kick to the face and applies a sleeper hold. Carmella fights out of it for a moment. While Deville is distracted taunting Brooke, Carmella makes the tag to Brooke. Dana Brooke makes the comeback and hits a cartwheel knee drop for a pin attempt which is broken up by Mandy Rose knee strike to the face. This leads Carmella to hit a superkick to the face of God’s Greatest Creation. Dana Brooke takes out Sonya Deville on the outside with a dropkick that makes her land on the steel steps. She throws her back into the ring and hits the Senton Bomb for the victory.
Result: Carmella and Dana Brooke via pin fall
My Thoughts:
MELLA IS MONEY!!! Shout out to Carmella and Dana Brooke on becoming the newest members on Team SmackDown for the Women’s Team along with Sasha Banks but I thought Fire and Desire deserved the chance to showcase their talents on a huge show as Survivor Series. I mean, at least Sonya Deville in this sense, she is the future of this company! Despite that, I think this will give a huge opening for Carmella to shine again and possibly get some championship gold in the near future. She is owed one after all ladies and peeps.
Match #5 – The Main Event – King Corbin vs. Roman Reigns
The bell does not even ring yet and Roman Reigns hits a running clothesline that sends The Almighty King Corbin over the top rope and onto the outside. Reigns heads to the outside and hits The King with a right hand. After smashing Corbin’s head onto the announce table, Reigns sends him driven into the barricade twice and sends him back into the ring. The referee finally calls for the bell. Reigns hits the ten count turnbuckle punch and Corbin pushes him off. Corbin comes back and hits a royal ten count punch. Roman escapes and hits his vintage clotheslines to the corner. He then hits a running big boot. Corbin rolls out of the way but Roman brings him into the ring. Roman sets up for the Superman Punch when all of a sudden, the team of Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler show up unattended ringside. He then hits a superman punch and Samoan Drop to both men. That momentary distraction leads to Reigns to be caught by Corbin with the Deep Six for a two count to take us into commercial break. We return from commercial to see King Corbin with a strong strike to the midsection of Roman Reigns. He then resents to strikes to the corner and sends him onto the outside, where Ziggler and Roode attack while the referee is distracted. King Corbin drives Roman into the barricade and back into the ring. Roman tries to fight back with two right hands to the jaw but is reversed with a clothesline by The King for a two count. King Corbin aims for the left arm of Roman Reigns and locks him up. Reigns fights out of it. After a battle of right hands, Roman Reigns makes the comeback. Corbin catches him and hits a chokeslam for a two count. Corbin hits a knee strike to the gut followed by a running strike to the face. Reigns comes back with multiple right hands which leads to a huge running clothesline for a two count. Reigns sets up for the superman punch but Robert Roode distracts the referee as Dolph Ziggler attempts to attack Reigns. Reigns takes out both men and spears Ziggler. This leads to King Corbin to hit the End of Days on Reigns to get the victory, fulfilling the prophecy.
Result: King Corbin via pin fall
My Thoughts:
ALL HAIL THE KING!! King Corbin finally gets the victory in the main event of a SmackDown. Although I am happy to say that for the end, the overall match had me confused with ease? I thought we were going to end this rivalry not revamp it into new alliances with Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler (in which there was no explanation to at all). The main event was something new but bland due to its lack of storytelling. Having The Big Dog lose was huge considering the babyfaces end up winning all the time. The way that tonight ended was subpar towards main events in shows past and I am even disappointed saying that considering how great both Reigns and Corbin are as athletes.
Final Thoughts
If I have to be honest, that was the most stressful review in the history of Captain Charisma reviews for many reasons. First and foremost, this show felt rushed and nothing was as authentic as the past number of weeks we have seen on both SmackDown Live and SmackDown on Fox in its first few episodes. Maybe because it was pre-taped, it felt rushed. Maybe having Corbin winning in the main event had to spark some interest along with new tag team champions in the New Day. Other than that, there is not more I can say about tonight. Everything felt scrambled and out of place with the only pop I got was The Fiend appearing and Corbin winning in the main event. I give tonight’s episode a C for contemplating doing this review late which I am extremely sorry for! Some issues came about but overall, it was not that bad nor good of a show. For my final say, make sure you all tune into next week’s review and stay passionate my fellow peeps!
