Smackdown Live Review 04/16/2019

Live from the Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec in Canada.

The Kevin Owens Show w/ The New Day
Smackdown Live kicks off with “Mr. Entertainment” himself Kevin Owens making his way to the ring with the KO Show set up. Owens says this is night two of the Superstar Shake-up and there are many surprises still to come. Owens’ guest tonight is Kofi Kingston. Kingston and Xavier Woods join Owens in the ring. Owens congratulates Kingston. Kingston says they did something special at WrestleMania. Kingston gives thanks to the crowd. Owens notes that Big E. is out hurt. Woods goes on a rant about how half the Up Up Down Down roster got traded to Raw. Woods demands that Tyler Breeze be traded to Smackdown ASAP. Owens says New Day is a trio and if they are going to face Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura tonight they should let Owens join them. Owens’ wants to be called Big O. Kingston and Woods eventually agree. Kingston hands Owens a crop top. Woods puts a unicorn horn on Owens’ head as if he is knighting him.
My Opinion
Kevin Owens got a huge reaction from his hometown crowd. I’m still so thrown off by babyface KO. Listen, he’s great. He’s still just as entertaining as he is as a heel but I feel like I’m just patiently waiting for him to become the selfish, angry, apron powerboming and mean Kevin Owens. Instead, we got him dancing with the New Day being called Big O with a unicorn horn on his head. I like how Woods addressed how he lost a ton of his important UpUpDwnDwn stars due to them being drafted to Raw.

– Cesaro offers to back up Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura

Finn Balor def. Ali
Finn Balor is the first former Raw superstar to show up on Smackdown for the superstar shake up. In a competitive match Finn Balor defeated Al after Ali misses a 450 splash allowing Balor to hit the shotgun dropkick followed by a Coupe De Grace for the win. Following the match the two shake hands.
My Opinion
Finn Balor is on Smackdown Live. This immediately gave me hope that he could potentially become the WWE Champion by the end of 2019. The idea of Finn turning heel, aligning with The Club again and feuding against The New Day seems like money right off the bat to me. I also liked this combo of Finn vs Ali. I hope this isn’t the last time we see these two face each other. I’m definitely not against Ali vs. Balor in an IC Championship feud to kick off things.

– Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are backstage with Kevin Owens who they are feeding pancakes too hoping he can beat Big E’s record. Fun stuff but still not use to babyface Owens.

– The weird puppet promo plays again which still feels like a Bray Wyatt return promo. If it is for Bray, I really hope he’s back on Smackdown Live. However, the WWE never ceases to amaze us and it could be for someone else.

Charlotte Flair def. Carmella w/ R-Truth
In a solid television match, Charlotte Flair defeated Carmella after making her tap out to the figure eight. Following the match Lars Sullivan came out and looked like he had his eyes set on Carmella. R-Truth came to her aid only to get beat up. He drops Truth with a sit-down powerbomb.
My Opinion
Charlotte gets her redeeming victory after losing at Wrestlemania. Carmella had a solid showing but couldn’t overcome the Queen. I think Lars may be official for Smackdown Live but we’re not sure. The fans were really against Lars when it seemed like he was going to go after Mella but thankfully Truth saved us from that happening only to be decimated by Sullivan. I don’t really have an opinion on Lars but Carmella is a smoke show.

Becky Lynch Promo
Lynch did what she said she was going to do. She went to WrestleMania and walk out the Raw and Smackdown Women’s Championship. Lynch says her job here is to run right through Lacey Evans, then slap the heads of any new dopes they put in front of her. The two titles give her free reign to go wherever she wants. Ember Moon walks out and says she is now on Smackdown Live. Moon is here to make a name for herself. Bayley comes out and Lynch asks her if she wants a hug. Bayley tells Lynch that she is here because she has her eyes on two other titles and no longer the tag team titles. The IIconics walk out and talk trash saying their titles are more important than Beckys. Paige saunters out on the stage. Paige says she is here because she has two women that she really believes in. Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville walk out. Paige rolls her eyes. First Paige introduces Asuka and her partner Kairi Sane! Paige sends Asuka and Sane to go get themselves some. A huge brawl breaks out. The faces clear the ring.
My Opinion
It’s great to see that the champions of the women’s division are popping up on both shows. This was a great way to introduce a ton of new Smackdown talent coming from Raw in the shake-up on a two hour show. I’m glad to see Ember Moon arrive to the land of opportunity and I hope its just that for her. I could care less for Bayley being on Smackdown and more curious about the future of my favourite Salsa Banks. I really wanted Sasha Banks on Smackdown Live and she might she be on it but as of right now between the rumours, her absence from television since Wrestlemania and the vibe she’s giving off on social media makes me wonder if she’ll be back at all or if this is just a phase. I also really dig the team of Asuka and Kairi Sane. I feel like we got new Women’s tag team champions soon and they’re the “Japanese Experience.” I’m just kidding but how ridiculous is that “Viking Experience” re-naming for the War Raiders? Good usage of Paige since they stripped her from the GM role. Also, loved how Becky just stepped back and watched the girls beat each other up. 

Ember Moon, Bayley, Kairi Sane & Asuka def. Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville & The IIconics
In a decent match, Ember, Bayley, Kairi Sane and Asuka defeated Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, Peyton Royce and Billie Kaye when Asuka took out Royce with a reverse DDT followed by Sane hitting the inSane elbow on Royce for the win.
My Opinion
This was a fun match but a bit overbooked. Although, I should have guessed that in an eight woman tag. It did a good job showcasing the new landscape of the Smackdown Live women’s division following this shake up. I hope Royce and Kaye stay on Smackdown Live after they drop the belts but I feel like they’re gonna end up on Raw. Sane and Asuka are going to take those belts from them sooner than later, and with them hopping brands, I’d love the IIconics to stay on Smackdown Live.

– The Hardys comment on winning the tag titles last week.

– Owens practices the Big E introduction routine. Quality stuff.

– In a pre-tape segement, Buddy Murphy announces that he’s joining Smackdown Live. This is awesome. He’s finally getting the chance to shine on the main roster.

Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods & Kevin Owens def. Shinsuke Nakamura, Rusev & Cesaro
In a fun main event, Big O and the New Day members defeated Rusev, Nakamura and Cesaro after Rusev got hit with a Trouble in Paradise from Kofi followed by a Stunner by KO to cost the match for Rusev, Nakamura and Cesaro.
My Opinion
“Big O” nailed the Big E part of the New Day Intro. It was hilarious. This was a fun and crowd-pleasing match. There is still no clear sign of who Kofi’s first challenger is going to be. I was hoping Owens would turn by the end of this match but that didn’t happen. I’d also love to see Nakamura and Rusev become separate single stars again. I wonder if this New Day shtick with Owens was just a one week thing. I hope it is but I wonder if they’ll carry it on.

Mr. McMahon Announces Smackdown Live’s Biggest Acquisition
McMahon gets greeted with “you screwed Bret” chants because of course we’re in Montreal. McMahon makes some jokes against the the fans and this city. Moving forward, Vince McMahon says he rarely puts a stamp on a Superstar but he is about to do that now. Mr. McMahon announces Elias. Elias makes his way out. Elias says calling him the “biggest acquisitions in Smackdown history” is accurate. Mr. McMahon gives Elias the ring. Elias says Vince understands what WWE stands for. Elias says he’s questioned Vince in the past, but now knows that Vince knows what the fans want. Smackdown will become the temple of Elias. Elias starts to sing a song, but Roman Reigns music hits. Reigns walks out and power walks to the ring. Superman punch by Reigns. Mr. McMahon gets in Reigns face. Reigns Superman punches Mr. McMahon. Reigns says he doesn’t care what Mr. McMahon says, Smackdown Live is Reigns’ yard now. Reigns lays out Elias too.
My Opinion
Vince McMahon in the middle of the ring in Montreal will always lead to quality stuff. I assumed he was just going to announce Roman Reigns as the big acquisition for Smackdown Live. I was not expecting the swerve with Elias but I’m glad it happened. I think Elias will also be someone who will prosper being on the blue brand. I can even see Elias becoming and having a long Intercontinental Championship reign on this brand. I feel like Roman being on Smackdown makes not only Smackdown feel fresh but Roman Reigns too. It sort of reminded of when Batista was first drafted to Smackdown from Raw in 2005. Roman Reigns can become one of Smackdown’s most popular stars on a list with Batista, Edge, Undertaker, Mysterio, Guerrero and Lesnar to name a few. The superman punch to Vince was great and Vince’s sell was great.

Final Thoughts
This was a fun show episode of Smackdown Live and I think the superstar shake up made it fun to watch. The shake-up did feel kind of underwhelming till the end with the final segment where Elias and Reigns appeared. I feel like Smackdown Live does feel fresh and new with these changes and I’m looking forward to seeing how things go from this point on. Will we find out who will be Kofi’s first challenger next week? Will Daniel Bryan make his first appearance since losing the WWE Championship? Who will Roman Reigns target next week? Will we see The Queen interact with any of the new women on the roster next week? Whats next for Randy Orton, Finn Balor, Kevin Owens and so many others moving forward? There are more questions than answers which means WWE did their job because you have to tune in next week for answers. I dig it! Check it out.