Smackdown Live Review 08/06/2019

SMACKDOWN LIVE REVIEW 08/06/2019

Tonight is the Go-Home Edition of SmackDown Live before this Sunday’s SummerSlam PPV!!!! Tonight ahead of their huge match that could end Kevin Owens WWE career Owens has invited Shane McMahon to be a guest on “The Kevin Owens Show” but will Shane accept? Also, how will WWE Champion Kofi Kingston respond to his challenger Randy Orton’s exclusive interview from last week? The story of who is out to get Roman Reigns heightened last night after someone now tried to run him over, after two very close calls will we finally get the answer of who is out to end Roman Reigns? Plus, Aleister Black is a man always looking for a fight but will he accept the SummerSlam challenge of Sami Zayn? Finally, is Charlotte Flair ready for her huge match against WWE Hall Of Famer Trish Stratus this Sunday?

SmackDown Live comes to us from the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.

SmackDown Live kicks off with us being welcomed by Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, and Corey Graves

In-Ring Segment: Charlotte Flair
Charlotte tells the crowd every time she steps foot in the ring they are witnessing greatness. She says sadly most people don’t have the genetics, talents, or discipline to achieve it so you either quit or lie to yourself or end up doing something. She tells that is just like her opponent at SummerSlam Trish Stratus. She tells how when the industry changed Trish decided to do something different, a family and a minivan. She says Trish sees her greatness and it eats her alive because she was never as good as she is. She proclaims how Trish wants that one more match, that homecoming match in front of her hometown. She says not only will Trish’s dreams not come true but she is going to shatter them. She then presents a video package of highlights from her career. Instead of showing Charlotte’s highlights it cuts and shows Trish’s. After the video ends her comes Trish!
Trish says not what you were expecting huh? She tells Charlotte doesn’t like that because she is not used to not getting what she wants. Charlotte says she thought she spotted her minivan in the parking lot. Trish says she played the video to remind Charlotte why she is even her. She says she has been dreaming of one more match, it has been eating at her because Charlotte is the embodiment of everything she fought for. She says she wants one more match and maybe it’s to prove it to her kids, or the fans, or to herself. She then quotes Harley Race and says “there is no greater feeling in the world than to be under these bright lights” and she wants that. She tells Charlotte, in the end, she may be The Queen but she is not her. Charlotte then welcomes to her nightmare and tells her this Sunday she will make her bow down to The Queen. Trish then slaps her. Charlotte laughs and exits the ring.
My Opinion:
Even though this was a quick build-up the story of this is a very impactful one. Charlotte has one of the strongest cases to be considered the best today and one of the best of all time but Trish has already cemented herself as one of the best of all time. For Charlotte, this match could mean everything because winning championships is great but defeating legends makes you one yourself, I mean look how Randy Orton built his reputation. For Trish, this is one of those must-win situations because if she loses it’s almost like she’s proving she can’t hang anymore and you know she wants to go out on top. This will be a heck of a match with so much at stake and right now it seems it’s a very even match and both competitors are ready to prove why they are the better woman.

Backstage Segment:
Rey Mysterio heads to the ring for his match with Dolph Ziggler.

Rey Mysterio vs Dolph Ziggler
*** For Ziggler’s entrance he mimics the iconic Goldberg entrance. Then as Mysterio makes his way down the ramp Ziggler attacks him on the outside knocking him to the ground. He then hits him with a superkick as Mysterio tries to stand. Ziggler is pulled off and he then taunts Mysterio. Ziggler grabs Mysterio and again hits him with a superkick. Ziggler grabs a mic and says another legend goes down courtesy of DZ. He says all the legends can crawl back here but the result will be the same every time. He says nostalgia is not enough and tells that he will end the legend of Goldberg at SummerSlam. Ziggler says he isn’t next and that he this Sunday will be Goldberg’s last match. Ali then comes out to check on Mysterio before attacking Ziggler. He takes him down with a spinning heel kick and is able to send him to the outside.

Match 1: Dolph Ziggler vs Ali
Ziggler gets in control as the match begins. He hits Ali in the corner but Ali is able to fight out. Ziggler sends him to the apron but Ali continues to fight. Ziggler stays on him and sends him to the floor. Ziggler meets him out there and bounces Ali off the steps. Back in the ring, Ziggler goes for the cover but Ali kicks out. As Ali is down Ziggler taunts him before bringing him to a verticle base. Ali tries to fight back but again Ziggler knocks him down and follows with a chin lock. Ali gets to his feet again and hits Ziggler with punches to the gut. Ali comes back and knocks Ziggler to the mat. He hits him with a right hand and then chops to follow. He hits Ziggler in the corner and then is able to sidestep him to land a big kick. Ali takes Ziggler down and goes for the cover but he kicks out. Ziggler fights back and hits a clothesline that sends Ali inside out. He then looks for the superkick but Ali ducks and gets him into a pinning predicament. Ziggler though kicks out and gets to his feet to hit a huge superkick. Ziggler goes for the cover and gets the 1 2 3 for the win.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
My Opinion:
Ziggler talked trash, laid out Rey Mysterio, and then got a huge win. For Ziggler, this is a great night, talk about building momentum before one of the biggest matches of his career. You can tell how bad Ziggler needs this, not a lot of guys can say they beat Goldberg so if he can pull it off this will finally give him the respect and credibility he has always sought. For Goldberg, this is going to be his chance to show the fans he still has it and he can still be the machine we know him as. This match is probably going to be quick one way or the other so Ziggler is going to have to come ut hot and wear him down if he wants this win. He won’t be able to taunt and play games, he’s gonna have to have the smash mouth DZ style.

Roman Reigns Exclusive Interview:
Kayla thanks Roman for speaking with her and then asks him how he is keeping it together. He says he has been through so much this year but he has always known what’s going wrong and what is attacking him. Now he doesn’t know and he is in the dark here. Kayla asks how this affects his life. He says WWE has offered him personal security. He says it’s one thing to attack him in the ring but not backstage. This is affecting his life, his family, and his lively hood. She then asks who is responsible. He says he knows who’s not and that is Samoa Joe. He then apologizes to Joe. he says someone is still out there and he has questions and he will make sure he gets some answers tonight.

Backstage Segment:
Natalya heads to the ring for her match with Ember Moon.

Match 2: Natalya vs Ember Moon
Natalya goes after the are of Moon but Moon quickly works out. Natalya uses her power to throw Moon and then goes to work on her in the corner. She backed off and afterward, she tries a back body drop but can’t get all of it and Moon comes back with a kick. Moon goes up top but Natalya moves to the outside and stops the momentum. Moon comes to meet her on the floor and Moon is abe to dropkick her into the barricade. Natalya fights back and shoves Moon into the apron. She then slams her on the mat before locking in the SharpShooter. The ref then calls for the bell as she reaches a count of ten. Bayley comes out and pulls Natalya off of Moon. Natalya then pushes Bayley to the ground and storms off as Bayley gets back to her feet.
Winner: No Contest: Double Count Out
My Opinion:
Natalya shows that mean streak again tonight and wow does she mean business. She is so locked in right now and seems 110 percent ready for Sunday. In a Submission Match, Natalya has the greater knowledge and she is showing once she gets that SharpShooter locked in it’s all but over. I don’t get why Bayley came out though, I know she does things the right way and wants Ember to be fully healthy but as a champion, you sit back and watch that with a smile knowing it’ll be easier for you when you get to them. This is the kindness that could hold Bayley back and give Moon the advantage this Sunday.

Backstage Segment:
Kevin Owens heads to the ring for “The Kevin Owens Show”.

In-Ring Segment: “The Kevin Owens Show” w/ Shane McMahon
Owens says this isn’t any normal Kevin Owens show and says Shane McMahon get out here. He says he knows Shane like a grand entrance but we don’t have time to wait for his sorry ass. Shane’s music then hits and here he comes.
Shane calls for Greg Hamilton but before he can really get going Owens takes the mic. Owens says he was asked why he didn’t tell Shane to put his career on the line. He says he didn’t because Shane is a McMahon and he can say what he wants and do what he wants. He says he has continued to hear this so he changed his mind and says since the McMahon family gives the people what they want he is asking Shane to put his career on the line too. If Shane beats him he is gone but if he beats Shane then he is done. Shane says let me ponder that for a second, he then says that would be an emphatic no. He tells Owens it’s his ego that got him in this situation. He says Owens is the one who proposed that if he loses he is gone. He says there is no shame in losing to The Best In The World and then goes over the ways he can win the match. He tells Owens his career will be over and finally, he will be rid of him. Owens says the point of this is that he is not gonna do it? He says it’s surprising because after all these years he just exposed that he really doesn’t have any balls. Owens then drops the mic. Shane says he’s got those and brains. He tells Owens maybe we give a prelude that what will happen this Sunday. From behind Elias attacks Owens. Owens fights back and sends him to the outside. Shane joins in for a series of cheap shots. Owens fights back and throws Shane over the announce desk. Elias comes and stops Owens but Owens fights back and hits him with a Stunner on the table. Shane comes from behind and takes down Owens. He then hammers on him with punches. Shane then pushes over the table with Owens on it. Shane goes over to him and continues hammering on him with strikes. Shane grabs a chair and puts it up against Owens face, he then dropkicks the chair. Shane then gets in his face and tells him this Sunday he is over and he will be out of his life. He then slaps Owens on the head. The refs tell him to get off. He tells Owens he has gone too far and he is done.
My Opinion:
Owens tried to trick Shane into taking the stipulation but he had to know Shane wouldn’t agree. Now Owens ends up down and out giving Shane even more of an upper hand at the moment. Owens is one tough dude and there is no doubt he’ll be fine by Sunday but right now Shane has to be in his head. Yeah, Owens might be able to take him in the ring but the more important thing is that Shane won’t be coming alone. He also makes the rules how he wants so Owens has a very tough uphill battle right now. Hopefully, KO will regroup and get back on track to be ready for Shane 5 nights from now.

In-Ring Segment: Sami Zayn
Sami tells how last week he offered Aleister Black a gift, offering a gift of a match at Summerslam that would expose him and free him of the burden of the hype he can’t live up to. He says Black respond with silence and locked himself in a dark room because he is safe there. He says the truth is mr. pick a fight with me doesn’t want a match with him because when he beats him and exposes him he knows it will all be gone and that terrifies him. Here comes Black. Black says this match isn’t happening at SummerSlam, this match is happening now.

Match 3: Aleister Black vs Sami Zayn
Zayn hits him with a kick and works a side headlock. He is backed to the ropes and Balck is able to fight out and hits Zayn in the chest. Zayn rolls to the outside. Black goes to the outside and reigns on Zayn with right hands. He then lands a big kick and follows him around the ring. Back in the ring, Zayn takes advantage and stomps on Black. He takes control in the corner and continues to hit Balck with right hands. Black comes back knocking Zayn down to the mat. Zayn once again is able to back him in the corner and continue wearing him down with strikes. Black hits him in the face and then tries to bounce him off the ropes but Sami hangs on and takes control. Zayn then hits him with more right hands. Zayn stays on him and is able to land a huge clothesline. A cover and black kicks out. One more cover form Zayn but again Black kicks out. Zayn uses the ropes to choke Black but after being pulled off Black is able to fight back. Zayn stays the course and lands a backbreaker. He tries another cover but still can’t keep Black down. Zayn then works a face lock. As Black gets to a verticle base he is hit with a hip check to the gut. Black slows him down with a kick and stays on him with strikes. He hits a back elbow and then takes Zayn down. A running knee and Black is in control. Form the middle rope Black hits a moonsault. Zayn once again connects with a wicked strike. He then hits Black Mass and gets the 1 2 3 on the cover.
Winner: Aleister Black
My Opinion:
A huge win for Black especially since he didn’t wait for SummerSlam and just came out to do this tonight. Black is ready for all challengers and I hope the challenges continue to come. The more he wins then the moreover he will get and the closer he will be to being a champion as he should. Black is someone who should be on every show, he is that kind of wrestler and character. Hopefully, the pace picks up for him and he continues the path of dominance.

Backstage Segment:
Shelton Benjamin is asked if he ever sees himself competing for the 24/7 Championship. Shelton says well, he smiles and then walks away.

Backstage Segment:
Big E and Xavier Woods head to the ring to face Daniel Bryan and Rowan.

*** New Firefly Fun House

Backstage Segment:
Elias tells Chad Gable to get his bands away from his guitar. Gable says that’s his bad. Elias says no that’s my bad I thought I was talking to a child. He then makes fun of Gable for his height. He tells Gable if he has a problem he can solve it.

***Exclusive Comments from Kofi Kingston:
Kofi tells how in 2009 he thought he made it but that’s not how it worked out. He tells how Randy wanted to humiliate him and once again tells how there were rumors that Randy wanted to hold him back. He says he always wonder why he wasn’t good enough to get to the next level. He tells that waiting 11 years for a WWE title match made him appreciate it more. He says he wants to inspire people that anything is possible because he did it. He says he uses his influence to hold people up where Randy Orton uses his to hold people down. He says this would be vindication and it would prove he belongs if he beats Orton.

Match 4: The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) vs Daniel Bryan & Rowan
As the match begins Bryan hits Woods with a knee. He then hits him with right hands in the corner. Woods is able to hit a hurricanranna and then dropkick Brayn to the outside. He flies over the ropes to take Bryan out on the outside as SmackDown Live goes to break.
As SmackDown Live returns, Bryan works the arm of Big E. Big E comes back with a huge clothesline. He goes for the cover but Bryan kicks out. Woods tags in and he and Big E land a double team on Bryan. Woods goes for the cover but Bryan kicks out. Back in it, Bryan works Woods to the corner and tags in Rowan. Rowan takes down Woods. He stays on him but Woods slows him down with a kick to the face. He then hammers on him in the corner. Rowan comes off the ropes with a huge crossbody. Rowan goes for the cover but Woods kicks out. He then wrenches on the neck of Woods before picking him up to a verticle base and hitting him with a headbutt. He wrenches on Woods in the corner and then tags Bryan. Bryan is sent into Woods and hits a dropkick. Rowan then hits a splash. Bryan goes for the cover but Woods kicks out. Bryan stays on Woods on the mat and continues working the neck of Woods. Bryan lifts Woods and Woods gets back into it with an elbow. Bryan prevents the tag but he is dropped with a rolling elbow. Rowan tags in and hits Big E off the apron. He then throws Woods to the floor. He meets him out there and throws him into the steps. Rowan then sends him into the timekeeper’s area as SmackDown Live goes to break.
As SmackDown Live returns, Woods is able to layout Rowan. Bryan tags in but so does Big E. Big E launches Bryan across the ring and then does it twice more after. Big E lands a huge splash and then builds momentum. Bryan comes back with a dropkick to the knee of Big E. He then tees off with the kicks to the chest. He misses on the last one and it allows Big E to get the cover, Bryan kicks out. Big E locks in a submission but Bryan fights out and turns it into a labell lock. Big E fights out but Bryan looks to turn it into a triangle choke. Big E lifts him and slams him. Big E goes for the cover and Bryan kicks out. Rowan tags in and hits Big E with a huge spin kick. He lifts Big E but Big E slides off. Woods tags in but before he comes in Big E drops Rowan. Woods goes to the top and flies. He hits an elbow drop into the cover but Bryan breaks up the cover. Big E takes out Bryan with a spear through the ropes to the outside. Woods looks to fly but Rowan hits Woods with the steps. He then hits Big E with them. Bryan stomps on Woods and Rowan then hits Big E with the Iron Claw. Bryan then hits Woods with the running knee.
Winners: The New Day: Via DQ
My Opinion:
Bryan and Rowan proved a point tonight. They didn’t care much about the win but instead went and showed they are the dominant and feared team of the division. The New Day need to regroup after this one but there isn’t much you can do when a weapon gets invovled. This was a great match between the two teams and a good main event of the evening.

Backstage Segment:
Reigns kicks everyone out of the locker room and tells Buddy Murphy to sit down. He says he saw him there and asks him if he did it. He says he doesn’t know what he is talking about. Reigns says he saw him there so tell him if he did or who did. Murphy says he doesn’t know who did it but if he did he still wouldn’t tell him a damn thing. Reigns then hits him with a slap. He throws Murphy into the trash can and then over a table. He then hits him with a forearm and asks who did it. Murphy says Rowan, he didn’t see Bryan just Rowan. Rowan and Bryan are then shown standing in the ring.
My Opinion:
Okay well now we have confirmation it was Rowan but the question now is how will Reigns respond. Reigns was ready to layout Murphy without even knowing if he did it so now that he knows it was Rowan I can only imagine what he is going to do. I personally would love to see Reigns and Samoa Joe take on Bryan and Rowan.

Final Thoughts:
For being the final show before SummerSlam I feel like it could’ve been more exciting since it very heavy on talking and showing highlights but it did its job. I liked the build-up we saw with Trish and Charlotte, it is clear both have so much to fight for and should be a great match between the two. I loved the mean streak Natalya showed again tonight, she wasn’t out to win but instead prove a point and there is no doubt she is ready for The Man on Sunday. As for Bayley I still don’t get why she would help her opponent but we will now see which one of them is truly the best and knowing Bayley that’s how she wants it to be. Dolph Ziggler impressed me a lot tonight, he not only talked the talk but walked the walk. Ziggler proved he is ready to end the career of Goldberg, he is not scared of the moment or at least not showing and he knows this could finally get him the respect he has always wanted. Aleister Black made a huge statement tonight taking out Sami Zayn and answering another fight. I can’t wait to see what is next for him and who will come looking for a fight next. Finally, we had a very good main event match but the bigger story is we found out Rowan is the one who tried to take out Reigns. It is definitely an interesting concept and I can’t wait to see where they go with this one. Like I said I’d love to see a Samoa Joe and Roman Reigns vs Daniel Bryan and Rowan but that’s probably a dream. Either way, I can’t wait to see where it goes and more importantly I can’t wait for Summerslam! I can’t wait for Sunday and I hope everyone enjoys!!!!!
Overall Rating: 5/10