Smackdown Live Review 10/09/2018

Hello Misfits. It is time for this weeks Smackdown Live review. It’s the fall out from Super Show-Down and the build up to Evolution, Crown Jewel and Smackdown 1000. AJ Styles beat Samoa Joe to retain his championship and Daniel Bryan beat The Miz to become the new number one contender. Is Samoa Joe done terrorizing Styles? Will he take his loss and move on? How does The Miz feel after losing to Bryan in 2 minutes? Its also announced that Becky Lynch will be defending her championship against Charlotte Flair to kick off Smackdown Live to have a definitive winner. If Lynch is DQ’d she will sacrifice her championship. The Crown Jewel World Cup tournament kicks off too with two qualifying matches already announced. Its Randy Orton versus a returning Big Show and a returning Jeff Hardy facing off against Samoa Joe. Last but not least…what else will we find out about Milwaukee? Lets find out.

Smackdown comes to us live from the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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

Smackdown Live Womens Championship
Becky Lynch (C) vs. Charlotte Flair
In a main event worthy competitive match. Becky Lynch and Charlotte fight to a double count-out. Following the match Charlotte Flair spears Becky Lynch through the LED boards of the entrance set-up.
Opinion
Its has been a while since Smackdown Live opened up with a match and definitely one with this much at stake. These two have great chemistry and know each other so this match was exactly what you expected. Becky continued to show more heel like attributes such as trying to leave the match and taking the L by count-out. The ref even almost had her lose her belt by DQ but Charlotte went for a pin that allowed the match to continue. They did end up brawling outside of the ring to a count-out which was a clever way to prolong this angle. The spear through the stage LED lights was awesome. It made me wonder if we’re getting a new and updated set next week for Smackdown 1000.

– Its announced that The Undertaker will be appearing at Smackdown 1000.

Crown Jewel World Cup Qualifying Match
Jeff Hardy def. Samoa Joe
They air a Jeff Hardy video package and a Samoa Joe video package before the match. In a solid match Jeff Hardy defeated Samoa Joe when the referee stopped the match because Joe couldn’t continue the match due to his knee injury. Jeff Hardy advances to Crown Jewel for the qualifying match.
Opinion
This was another very good match with Joe selling the knee injury from Saturdays Super Show-Down. I like how the finish protected both guys without either one of them really having to take the fall. They played up Joe’s injury to lead to the finish of the match. I’m curious if this means Joe will be off TV for a bit or if it will lead to something else.

– They air an awesome Randy Orton video package.

– Evolution reunites on Smackdown 1000 for the first time on Smackdown Live.

– We get an update on Charlotte finding out that she is okay and will compete in the MMC following Smackdown.

– Paige appears on our screen to let us know that Becky Lynch will defend her Women’s Championship once again against Charlotte in a Last Woman Standing match at Evolution. Awesome!

Miz TV with AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan
The Miz is in the ring and says that he was told to remain professional so he is going to remain professional. Miz introduces AJ Styles first. Miz says before he introduces his second guest he has to ask AJ Styles about his family after everything Joe put him through. Styles stands up and Miz back tracks and says he felt for AJ and he has a kid himself and that he thinks Styles rage led him to victory. Miz mentions that Styles next opponent is someone who does use psychological warfare, won’t attack him from behind, would attend Styles garden if he showed up to your house, a by the book boy scout..Daniel Bryan. Bryan makes his way out.
Miz mocks their handshake and mutual respect for each other. He says its the last thing people want to see in a feud for the WWE Championship. Bryan asks if Miz wants to talk about their match at Super Show-Down and says it wouldn’t take Miz very long. A jab at Miz since their match only lasted two minutes. Miz says unlike Bryan, he is going to remain professional. Miz asks Style how he ranks Bryan as his greatest challengers. Styles gives Joe credit for making it personal and being one of his toughest challenges but in this feud the fight is staying in the ring. Miz tries to say to that Styles thinks he’s better than Bryan. Bryan says he’s glad that Styles thinks that even though thats not what he said. Bryan says he wants to beat a worthy opponent and nobody is more worthy than AJ Styles who has been a fighting champion for over 300 days. Bryan says Styles has earned the right to think he’s the best and he still has a lot to prove since his return. Bryan says he knows he can beat AJ Styles. Miz exaggerates Bryan’s last comment. Styles tells Bryan that he hasn’t faced anyone who’s phenomenal since he returned from retirement. Bryan said he knows they’re having a good time poking fun at the two-minute man, The Miz but this is the time to get real. Bryan said he came back to fulfill his dream. He said was not to come back have psychological warfare, have fun, reunite Team Hell No or fight the Miz. Bryan says his dream was to become the WWE World Champion again and that Styles is the only thing standing in his way. Styles says he’s not moving for anybody. Miz says it took them long enough to make this interesting. Styles asks Daniel about how good it feels to punch The Miz in the face. The two start talking about beating up The Miz until the Miz interrupts in anger to say he’s had enough.
Miz says his shoulder was up at Super Show-Down but that Bryan is such a charity case that Paige wouldn’t give him a rematch and he beat Bryan over and over again. Bryan says AJ Styles is just another Bryan but with a Southern accent. Miz says Styles has been champion for so long but its been irrelevant and not prestigious. He said if Styles wants to know why the WWE Championship hasn’t been in the main event of PPV’s he needs to look in the mirror. Miz says he’ll be ready to fight whoever wins at Crown Jewel and introduces AJ Styles opponent Shelton Benjamin.
Opinion
This Miz TV was awesome overall but the ending fell flat to me. I would have rather had Paige come out to break the tension and announce the match with Benjamin rather than the Miz to end his tirade with introducing Styles opponent out of nowhere. Miz was great at trying to stir the pot and make this feud between two favourable babyfaces more interesting. He was perfect in that role. It was a smart way to kick-off the Styles/Bryan rivalry. Its going to be a competitive one.

AJ Styles def. Shelton Benjamin
The Miz and Daniel Bryan both join the commentary team for this match which was hilarious because they just kept throwing jabs at each other on commentary. In a quality back and forth match, AJ Styles defeated Shelton Benjamin after hitting a Phenomenal Forearm.
Opinion
This was especially fun because of Miz and Bryan on commentary. The match was good but felt like it just ended out of nowhere. I would have liked to have seen Benjamin look more of a challenge for Styles.

– A video package for the Big Show airs.

One Night in Milwaukee with Rusev, Lana and Aiden English
The show returns from commercial with Aiden English already standing in the ring. Aiden says last week he gave everyone a glimpse of One Night in Milwaukee and was given six figure offers for the rest but instead tonight he gives us the directors cut. The video airs starting from what we saw last week. Lana follows up the “I want you” with Lana talking about how much Rusev appreciates Aiden English and everything he’s done for his career. Aiden says Lana and Rusev both mean the world to him. It freezes with Aiden making a move on Lana. Aiden calls out Rusev before he shows the rest saying he has a proposition. Rusev makes his way.
Aiden English says he doesn’t want to show the rest of the video but we all know what happens next. Aiden says he won’t show it if Rusev kicks Lana to the curb and reunited Rusev Day. Lana makes her way out and starts talking to Rusev. Aiden tells Lana that Rusev already made his choice as he starts making his way to the ring. Rusev tells Aiden that this is something really serious and tells Aiden to play the full thing. Aiden says this is a family show and no man should have to see that. Lana says if Aiden won’t, she will. Aiden asks how and Rusev lets him know he got hacked. Aiden’s password was “I heart Rusev”. Lana plays the full video which ends with Lana rejecting Aiden’s advances and leaving the room. The fans start chanting creep. Aiden says you got me but tells Lana the offers still on the table and that when she’s bored of those Rusev Days that she can have an Aiden night. Rusev attacks Aiden, but Aiden escapes the beating.
Opinion
Well that sucks. I wanted more drama. I could totally relate to Corey Graves…I’m disappointed. LOL

– They announce the return of Rey Mysterio next week for Smackdown 1000 followed by another video package. He will be facing Shinsuke Nakamura next week in a qualifying match for the World Cup Tournament for Crown Jewel.

– Backstage, they show Big Show heading to the ring.

Crown Jewel World Cup Qualifying Match
Randy Orton def. The Big Show
In a sold main event between two veterans, Randy Orton defeated the Big Show after poking Big Show in the eye and hitting an RKO to advance in the Crown Jewel World Cup tournament.
Opinion
This match felt like a blast from the past. It was a good match with both guys working to their strengths and knowing how to work against each other from experience. It was great to see the Big Show again but you can tell he’s slowed down a bit. Orton finds a sneaky way to overcome the giant and advances. The tournament seems to be filled with legends so far as John Cena, Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy and Randy Ortona are the ones to qualify thus far.

Final Thoughts
Smackdown Live delivered once again but seemed to have hit the brakes a little. The first match was competitive and took about three segments which lead to a lot of talent not being on this show. Its understandable because the match was great but I would have loved to see what happens next with The New Day, The Bar, Andrade Cien Almas and so many others. Plus with Evolution just around the corner I was curious to see what other matches Smackdown Live would contribute to the all Women’s PPV. There was no indication of any other match contributions to that card other than the Women’s Championship match. I do think things will get back on track next week but this felt a little lacklustre compared to last nights Raw which was in front of a loud Chicago crowd and filled with legends from the past. Its unfair to compare the two considering Raw had such an advantage with all the nostalgia but next week is Smackdown 1000 and I’m sure its gonna make up for this week.
Rating – 6.5/10