Smackdown Live Review 07/24/2018

Hello Misfits. It is time for this weeks Smackdown Live review. Last week the show went off the air with Randy Orton brutally beating Jeff Hardy to cause him his match for United States Championship against Shinsuke Nakamura. Will Hardy look for retribution? Will Orton finally speak on his change of attitude? Becky Lynch will also be taking on Smackdown Women’s Champion Carmella this week. If Becky beats Carmella, she will become the number one contender for Mella’s title and face her at Summerslam. Last week we saw Daniel Bryan come after The Miz after the Miz made a mockery of the short Team Hell No reunion. Will the Miz and Daniel Bryan feud we all have been waiting for finally commence? AJ Styles last week had a great match with Andrade Cien Almas, but will we find out the destiny for both of them this week? Who will AJ Styles be facing at Summerslam? Paige has a huge announcements regarding that this week. Whats next for Almas? Whats next in the rivalry between SanIty and The New Day? Do the Bludgeon Brothers face new challengers? Lets find out.

Smackdown comes to us live from the Ford Centre in Evansville, Indiana.

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

– Tonight’s SmackDown opens up with a limousine pulling up in the back. The Miz and Maryse step out first. Maryse goes back in to bring out their daughter. They head to the arena and tonight’s show will feature a premiere party for their new “Miz & Mrs.” show on the USA Network.

Randy Orton
Orton says he has heard all of our theories on why he did what he did. Orton says this had nothing to do with unfinished business with Hardy or the Smackdown top 10 lists. Orton says the reason he did it was because of all of us. Orton has busted his ass for years. Look around. Who is still here from when Orton started in WWE. Orton doesn’t get the respect he deserves. Orton doesn’t flail around like an idiot or steal the fans money by changing the color of his merch every week. Orton didn’t come up wrestling in bingo halls. Orton didn’t steal a sweet hand gesture from someone else either (Orton does the too sweet symbol with his hand). Orton didn’t pay his dues in front of 100 people but he paid his dues in front of millions.
Orton started off as the legend killer but it took him 16 years to realize who the real legend killer is. Each and every person in the WWE Universe. Orton is going to take out everyone the fans love, starting with Jeff Hardy. Orton says he is going to end Jeff Hardy’s career. Hardy’s career has been inspiring. Orton is going to write the final chapter of the Jeff Hardy story. You can call Orton whatever you want but you only need to refer to him as the three most destructive letters in the world: RK… before saying the “O,” Orton just walks away.
Opinion
This was a great opening segment. Heel Orton is the best Orton and it feels like its been a while since we had a heel Randy Orton. Babyface Orton always gets stale for me and I’m a huge loyal Randy Orton fan. I just always preferred heel Orton. This promo was exactly what it needed to be and there was truth behind it. When looking at it from Randy’s perspective it made sense and its true. Orton’s been around for so long he has lost the respect from the fans and unlike Roman he actually embraced the hate.

Andrade “Cien” Almas w/ Zelina Vega def. Rusev w/ Lana
In a competitive match, Andrade “Cien” Almas defeated Rusev, when Rusev got distracted by a fight between Lana and Zelina outside the ring which caused Aiden English to come out to break it up only to land on Lana allowing Andrade Almas to hit the hammerlock DDT for the win.
Opinion
I was hyped to see Almas in a match against Rusev. I wasn’t expecting him to win but having him win due to continuing to build the tension between Rusev and English was smart. It’s also been a while since we got a good cat-fight outside the ring between two female managers. I didn’t notice until this match how much I missed the female mangers and the distractions they can play outside of the ring. Hyped for Almas getting this win and looking forward to see what happens next with English and Rusev.

– Backstage, R-Truth is complaining to Tye Dillinger about having to face Samoa Joe tonight. R-Truth asks Dillinger if he remembers what Joe did to Dillinger last week. Before Dillinger can answer R-Truth says, of course, Dillinger doesn’t remember because he was sleep. Dillinger tries to give R-Truth a pep talk.

-Backstage, English and Lana argue. Rusev says enough. Rusev tells Lana and English that maybe neither of them are good for Rusev Day.

Samoa Joe def. R-Truth
In a quick match, Samoa Joe defeated R-Truth by making him tap out to the coquina clutch.
Opinion
This was exactly what it was supposed to be and allowed Joe show some dominance after being off TV for weeks. Mostly considering what would take place later in the show, this was necessary.

– Backstage, Asuka says that Billie Kaye isn’t ready for Asuka

Asuka def. Billie Kaye
In another quick but entertaining match, Asuka makes quick work of Billie Kaye defeating her after three stiff kicks and covering her.
Opinion
Asuka hasn’t been seen since her second loss to Carmella and it was time for her to build some momentum again. I still wish the IIcconics played a role in Carmella retaining at Extreme Rules along with Ellsworth because this match would feel more important and we could be building an angle here. Instead it was just Asuka trying to regain her dominance and just murdering Billie Kaye in the process.

– Backstage, WWE United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura has words for Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton. Nakamura taunts Hardy for coming close to winning last week and says Hardy has now been bitten by The Viper. Nakamura warns Orton to be careful because he bites back.

– Backstage, The Miz is with his family as the paparazzi takes photos of them.

Paige Announces AJ Styles Summerslam Opponent
Paige is in the ring for the contract signing for the WWE Championship match at SummerSlam. Paige has not yet revealed Styles opponet. Paige welcome Styles to the ring. Styles puts over the WWE’s all women PPV, Evolution. Styles says he is proud to defend the most prestigious title in the world at SummerSlam. Styles signs the contract. As Paige is about to make the announcement, James Ellsworth comes out and tells the WWE Universe the real reason he came back is for the WWE title. Who is more worthy than Ellsworth? Ellsworth has beaten Styles three times. Paige tells Ellsworth to stop it. Paige leaves the ring and tells Ellsworth he is a joke. Ellsworth makes fun of the way Paige looks and sounds. Paige says we don’t make fun of people around here. Paige walks up to Ellsworth and fires him. Paige calls for security to remove Ellsworth. They literally pick him up and carry him away. Paige follows them. Styles waits in the ring. Paige kicks Ellsworth out of the arena. The camera cuts back to the ring and Joe has Styles in the Coquina Clutch. Joe puts Styles to sleep. Joe signs the contract and flips the table over.
Opinion
THANK GOD ELLSWORTH IS FIRED AGAIN. This was a solid segment and perfect way to kick off the Styles and Joe feud. It is cliche to say but I really did catch TNA feels. I know these two have great chemistry and its going to be cool to see on a big WWE stage like Summerslam. Honest opinion, I’m looking forward to this more than I am Reigns vs Lesnar for the fifth time.

– Backstage, Paige yells at Joe for what he just did. Paige picked Joe to wrestle Styles because he was unpredictable. Joe fires back and says what she had planned was pedestrian but what he just did was phenomenal. Carmella walks up to Paige and complains about Paige’s power has gone to her head. Paige tells Carmella to go buy herself a new boyfriend. Carmella goes on about how she beat everyone twice and she’s going to beat Becky.

Becky Lynch def. Carmella
The stipulation here was that if Becky Lynch could defeat Carmella she would be the number one contender to face Carmella for the Women’s Championship at Summerslam, In another solid match, Becky Lynch defeated Carmella making her tap out to the disarmher.
Opinion
YES!! Its exactly like I predicted on the Becky Lynch episode of Squared Circle DNA podcast. Glad to see Becky Lynch in this position. These two had some cool sequences in this match which makes me look forward to their future matches. Everyone knows how much I love the Carmella character but Lynch might be able to give Mella some of her best matches yet.

-Backstage, Harper says four teams will fight but it doesn’t matter who wins. Rowen says the same thing awaits the winner- a bludgeoning.

Tag Team Tournament
The New Day def. SanIty
The Usos are on commentary for this match. Woods and Big E are representing The New Day while Dain and Wolfe are representing SanIty. In a competitive back and fourth match, The New Day defeated SanIty after some chaos with Young and Kofi getting involved ultimately leading to The New Day hitting UpUpDwnDwn for the win.
Following the match, The Bar show up and cut a promo about how they’re back and going to win the tag team titles at Summerslam.
Opinion
This was a solid match between two teams that have been working great together. I kind of wish SanIty picked up the victory though since they’re the newer team and The New Day didn’t really need to be in the running for the tag team titles again already. Its great to see both the Usos and The Bar back in the picture though. I liked how they played it as if the Bar took time off because of the World Cup.

-Backstage, Miz complains to Paige. Paige was supposed to get Miz and Maryse a sitter. Paige says she did. The camera pans right and Sin Cara is standing there. Miz asks what kind of babysitter wears a mask? Miz says never mind. It’s time the world meets Monroe Sky. Miz fumbles putting on a Baby Bjorn and they make their way to the ring.

Miz TV
Miz says last week they mourned the loss of Team Hell No but tonight they celebrate the future. Tonight they focus on each other. Maryse says the Evolution started with her and winks to the crowd. Maryse puts over their new show. Miz does the same. Miz says people get to experience the show with the stars of the show. Miz says the mere mention of Daniel Bryan’s name has put his daughter to sleep. Miz sets up a video package for the show. The video package that plays his a series of Miz’s worse moments in WWE. Daniel Bryan appears on the ‘Tron and says that looks like the greatest show in the history of shows. Bryan says he is sorry. Bryan is going to apologize to Miz in person. Bryan comes out to the ring. Security stops Bryan from getting to the ring. Bryan takes ou the security. Miz and Maryse both remind Bryan that the baby is in the ring. Maryse pleads with Bryan to leave. Miz tosses the baby at Bryan. Miz kicks Bryan in the face and hits the Skull Crushing Finale. Miz says he knew Bryan would try to steal Miz’s moment. Miz would never actually bring his daughter to a city like this. The baby backstage was an actor. The Miz says the show is awesome and leaves.
Opinion
I absolutely loved this segment. Its great to see The Miz and Maryse together again. They are married in real-life and just have this amazing chemistry. Everything Miz brags about always feels more believable when Maryse is beside him. They did everything they needed to accomplish here. They promoted the Miz and Marye’s new show, promoted the all women PPV and had the continuation of Bryan/Miz feud. I loved the swerve at the end that the baby was fake and that the baby from earlier wasn’t even his either. This was creative and fun. Definitely looking forward to this long awaited Miz and Byran feud.

Final Thoughts
Smackdown Live was awesome this week. It was a lot more entertaining and satisfying than Raw the night before. They progressed there storylines and have a lot of things going at once which keeps the show entertaining throughout the entire episode. It really feels like Summerslam season on Smackdown Live. I really enjoyed this weeks episode. There were a couple of good matches and a lot of angle advancement. Smackdown Live really knows how to make the most out of their two hours.
Rating – 8/10