Smackdown Live Review 05/15/2018

Hello Misfits. It is time for this weeks Smackdown Live review. They are coming to us live from London, England in midst of their post Wrestlemania “European Tour.” Last week we saw the first set of Money in the Bank qualifying matches and they continue this week. Also we’ll find out what is next for Daniel Bryan after suffering a loss in his qualifying match last week to Rusev. Carmella has also promised to have a Royal Mellabration here in the UK that will outshine the upcoming Royal Wedding. It was also announced last week that the much anticipated debut of Andrade Cien Almas along with Zelina Vega would take place this week. Also the saga between Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles continues. The last time they were there, AJ Styles defeated Jinder Mahal for the WWE Championship. Will there be any big unforgettable moments such as that this time around? Lets find out how Smackdown Live from over the pond goes.

Smackdown comes to us live from the O2 Arena in London, England.

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

Daniel Bryan
Renee Young tries to ask Bryan a question but she is drowned out by “Daniel Bryan” chants from the London crowd. Young asks Bryan how he is feeling after his loss to Rusev in the MITB qualifier last week. Bryan says he was disappointed. Bryan was happy to be just happy to be back but he isn’t just happy anymore he wants to be back on top. Before all is said and done Bryan will be the WWE champion. Big Cass walks out to a chorus of nothing. Cass says he has been sitting in the back listening to Bryan run his mouth and Cass is sick of it. Cass knows the real truth. Cass says he is the reason Bryan lost to Rusev. Cass is going to make sure Bryan never reaches his goals in WWE.
Cass says he knows he tapped out at Backlash but that was so he could get out of the hold and beat up Bryan all over again. Cass says Bryan won’t be able to go anywhere without a seven-foot shadow. Cass gets into the ring. Bryan attacks Cass. Bryan kicks Cass in the knee. Cass stumbles into the corner. Bryan wraps Cass’ knee around the rope and attacks it. Referees hit the ring and pull Bryan off Cass. Bryan slams Cass’ knee around the ring post over and over again. Bryan puts Cass in a heel hook. Cass taps out even though this isn’t a match.
Opinion
This was an awesome way to open the show and was good storyline progression between Daniel Bryan and Big Cass. Daniel Bryan is still over as fuck in the UK just like he is everywhere else. I’m sure we’re going to see Cass get retribution for looking weak here tonight in the weeks heading into MITB but this was really a good way to progress feud,

Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
The New Day def. The Bar
In a sweet Money in the Bank qualifying match where the winning team gets to pick a member of their team to enter the MITB match, The New Day defeated The Bar after Xavier hit his skywalker elbow on Cesaro.
Opinion
This was a great match between two teams that have great chemistry. I was rooting for the Bar but The New Day will add some fun and potential for spots in the MITB match. I think there is still a chance for one of the members of The Bar to qualify for the match. I think it’ll be cool to have one of them in the match.

– Backstage, The Bludgeon Brothers invite the Smackdown tag division to come play with them.

– Backstage, Paige tells Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville they will face Becky Lynch tonight in a triple threat match. Winner gets a spot in the MITB match. I like how Paige is strategically trying to break Rose and Deville apart.

– Backstage, AJ Styles says it doesn’t matter what kind of match he picks for his MITB title match. Either way, Shinsuke Nakamura can’t beat him in the house that AJ Styles built.

Andrade Cien Almas Debut
Andrade Cien Almas w/ Zelina Vega def. Jake Costantino
In a completely one-sided match to showcase Almas in his main roster debut, Andrade defeated Costantino after Almas hits Meteora followed by the Hammerlock DDT for the win.
After the match, Vega says they were expecting more. Vega says they want more. They didn’t come to Smackdown Live to play nice, they came to take over.
Opinion
This was exactly what it should have been and both Almas and Vega looked great. I’m looking forward to see how they book Almas moving forward. Possibly on Miz TV next week?

– Backstage, Aiden English has a mini shrine set up for Rusev. English is about to sing but Lana walks in. Lana tells Rusev and English that she has a qualifying match for the Women’s MITB next week against Billy Kay. Lana says they will be the first Mr. and Mrs. MITB.

The Mellabration
Carmella is introduced by a guy dressed like it’s an actual Royal event. The introduction had its funny moments. Carmella interacting with them when he came out and them not reacting was hilarious. Carmella says she wants to give everyone the chance to show her how much we all love her. Carmella says we can have 15 seconds to shower her with adulation. The crowd boos. Carmella demands that everyone bows down before her. Carmella says she knows the crowd is just like every woman in the back. None of them think she deserves to be champion. Carmella says she is better than everyone. Carmella names all the women she is better than, including Ronda Rousey and Trish Stratus and Lita combined.
Paige comes out and joins Carmella in the ring. Paige says she heard Carmella says she is better than anyone. Paige says she is here to announce Carmella’s opponent for MITB. Carmella says she isn’t defending her title at MITB. Paige tells Carmella that she is. Carmella’s opponent will be Asuka. Asuka struts down to the ring. Asuka gets in Carmella’s face. Carmella grabs her title and hightails it out of the ring.
Opinion
This was fantastic. Carmella as a character knows exactly who she is and what her role is and it shows. I loved the way she mocked the UK fans and stayed a true heel the entire time. I enjoyed they gave Paige a moment to come out to the live crowd in her home country on TV. I find the idea of Carmella defending the championship against Asuka a scary situation. Personally, it feels like a lose/lose situation unless it ends in a DQ or something. I think Charlotte beating Asuka at Wrestlemania was a big deal but I dont feel like we should see Asuka lose again so soon and regardless how much I love her, definitely not suffer her second loss to Carmella. I also dont want to see Carmella lose the championship yet as it still feels like she just won it. Maybe, Carmella does beat Asuka by cheating or help from the Icconics forming a new stable but who knows how creative they’ll get.

– Backstage, Young is with Nakamura. Young asks Nakamura how he feels about his chances tonight. Nakamura asks what that means. Nakamura says Young is using the wrong word. The right word is “certainty”. Nakamura will win, Styles will lose. Knee to face. Nakamura says he is going to destroy Styles face, then he will take Styles title.

Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Becky Lynch def. Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville
In a really good triple threat match where all three women shined, Becky Lynch defeated both Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville when Lynch countered a roll-up attempt by Mandy Rose into a disarmher, causing her to tap out.
Opinion
This is nothing against Sonya or Mandy but they are much more green than Becky Lynch and Lynch made them both look good here. I was glad to see Becky win and be involved in the MITB. I actually wouldn’t mind Becky as the next Mrs. MITB. This was a great match for all three women.

The Winner Picks the MITB Match Stipulation
Shinsuke Nakamura def. AJ Styles
In an awesome back and fourth main event, Shinsuke Nakamura defeated AJ Styles when Styles tries the Phoenominal Forearm but Nakamura ducks causing Styles to almost hit the referee.  When the referee stands up Nakamura acts like Styles low blowed him. In the confusion, Nakamura hits Styles in the back of the head, followed with a reverse exploder suplex. Nakamura then hit the Kinshasa again for the win.
Opinion
I say this every match these two have had since Wrestlemania, but this might have been the best one yet. It makes me think we’re just slowly building to the real MOTY between the two. They’ve been holding back in every match a little less every time to build to the real banger in their blow-off match. Anyway, I enjoyed this match and it ended in controversy which has been a trend in this feud as of late. The fact that the referee was involved makes me wonder if we’re going to have a special referee scenario but I guess we’ll just have to tune in next week to find out.

Final Thoughts
Once again, Smackdown Live delivered. There were some very big names who weren’t present and it was felt such as The Miz, The Usos, Jeff Hardy, Randy Orton and Charlotte but it didn’t hurt the show. A matter fact, having to try to find a way for everyone to be on the show every week could hurt them more than benefit them if there isn’t always something for them to do. Less is more sometimes. Smackdown is a two hour show, so I understand they can’t fit everyone every week. The show top to bottom was entertaining. Two hours is just so much easier to sit through than the three hours of Raw. There were good matches and good segments. What else more could you ask for?
Rating – 7/10