Smackdown Live Review 10/18/2019

WWE Friday Night SmackDown Review: October 18, 2019

This week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown comes to us live from Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, just one week removed past the WWE Draft that occurred a week prior. It has been confirmed by WWE that the Intercontinental Championship match between Roman Reigns and Shinsuke Nakamura will kick things off tonight. In all honesty, I think that this a fresh and new matchup as well as a new challenge for Nakamura, especially since he has not faced any new competition in his title reign as Intercontinental Champion. This freshly squeezed title match will definitely be one to watch with both men looking to have the prestigious gold in their grasp. Also on tonight’s card is a new edition of Miz TV as The Miz will be featured in his home brand for the first time in three years as he interviews new SmackDown Women’s Champion, Bayley. I will be up and arms to see how many times she calls the audience bitches over and over again (sarcasm)! We also have an eight man tag team match which we really do not care about featuring The Best Tag Team in WWE, which happen to be the SmackDown Tag Team Champions, The Revival. Finally, while talking about the SmackDown Women’s Division, a Six Pack Challenge is set to determine the new number one contender for the Women’s Title featuring Carmella, Sonya Deville, Lacey Evans, Mandy Rose, Nikki Cross, and Dana Brooke. In my honest opinion, I think this is a great way to span the horizons and actually give the division a chance. For all we know, we may get a shocker and find someone like Sonya Deville or Carmella the victory to face the champion at a later time. I just hope there is some sort of leverage for the women on the blue brand to grow in storyline. Oh and if you did not know by now, the greatest cruiserweight champion of our generation Drew Gulak is officially on the A-show! Does this mean he will get some air time and let all of us bask in his glory? – Hopefully so! Other than that, we have a stacked show for this episode post the draft. I firmly believe that this can be one to remember given all the matches and segments announced. Let us witness the awesomeness and the passion we all share on this Friday night!

Match #1 – Roman Reigns vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (with Sami Zayn) – Intercontinental Championship Match
The bell rings and Shinsuke and Roman Reigns lock up. Take note that Sami Zayn is at ringside on commentary, glorifying Nakamura. The King of Strong Style then grounds the Big Dog with multiple knee strikes to the abdomen and the head. Reigns comes back with a huge lariat and starts to get back in the groove of things. Shinsuke and Roman go back and forth with strikes until Reigns hits him with a Samoan Drop that makes the intercontinental champion roll out of the ring. After regrouping with Zayn at ringside, Reigns attempts to hit a drive by dropkick but misses when Zayn pulls Nakamura away. This leads the champion to hit a kick to the back of the head of the challenger to take us into commercial break. Coming back, Nakamura takes control with a grounded headlock to slow down the challenger. However, Roman powers out with elbows to the back of the head, composing himself. This is followed by a huge jab to the face to get some momentum going. After a huge clothesline to the intercontinental champion, Reigns hits his vintage clotheslines in the corner turnbuckle. Nakamura is floored and goes for the Superman Punch but is quickly transitioned into an armbar by Nakamura, transitions into the Triangle Choke Hold. Reigns powers out into the sit out powerbomb only for a two count. As Roman sets up for a spear, Sami Zayn comes in for the distraction, which leads to Nakamura coming back. Reigns attempts a superman punch and hits it. He sets up for the spear but King Corbin comes in and interferes after Corbin hits the sector to the back of Roman’s head, causing the disqualification. One Deep Six by Corbin later, Daniel Bryan comes in for the save and knocks down The King and The Intercontinental Champion until Zayn holds Bryan’s boot. Nakamura strikes Bryan with a Kinsasha to end the segment.
Result: Roman Reigns via disqualification
My Thoughts:
I am laughing at the fact that everyone was thinking Nakamura would drop the title tonight! First and foremost, I do not think that having Roman Reigns win would have been for the better. If anything, I think that the ending was well expected. However, I did not like the fact that the disqualification came on King Corbin’s end. It could have been a lot worse like having Nakamura win clean right fans who like to complain about not liking what you do not want? All bias aside, the ending could have been better but the introduction to new rivalries with Corbin and Roman as well as Bryan and Nakamura. In a sense, there was a positive and negative in all this. Roman did not need to win tonight! We all know that this will eventually lead to Daniel Bryan vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the intercontinental championship. Hope we can actually get somewhere with this going forward!

Backstage Segment – The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E, and Xavier Woods) and Heavy Machinery
The New Day is seen backstage in the locker room, spreading the power of positivity when Tucker of Heavy Machinery comes in and tries to help out Kofi find some positivity with some pancakes. Otis appears with a cook hat and an apron, stirring pancake batter. After asking for a taste and The New Day eats it up, the segment ends with The New Day saying that they rock again.

King Corbin is seen appearing backstage

Match #2 – Shorty Gable vs. Curtis Axel of The B-Team (with Bo Dallas)
The bell rings and immediately, Curtis Axel makes fun of Shorty Gable’s height by patting him on the head. After Gable takes a brief moment of control, Axel hits a couple of knees to the abdomen and applies an arm wrench. Gable catches Bo Dallas on the outside and takes down Axel. This would lead to Gable applying the Ankle Lock for the submission victory. Post-match, Kayla Braxton interviews Shorty Gable. Braxton asks Gable about the diversity he has faced by people making fun of his height. Gable responds by saying that he will embrace who he is and that he can overcome whatever odds there are. He then cockily calls himself Shorty G to end the segment.
Result: Shorty Gable via pin fall
My Thoughts:
This Shorty Gable stuff is getting out of hand really quick, especially now with the renaming to Shorty G. Embracing the short nicknames is one thing, totally going off the grid with it is another thing! Why have Shorty Gable do an inspirational gimmick? He is not an early version of Bo Dallas! Do not get me wrong, he is a phenomenal athlete with gifted abilities. He made short work of a former Intercontinental champion. I just hope there is an actual good reason to continue to be invested in this story.

Via Skype, Hulk Hogan is interviewed by Corey Graves and Michael Cole and announces that Shorty G and Ali have joined Team Hogan

Match #3 – Eight Man-Tag Team Match – Heavy Machinery and New Day vs. The Revival and Glorious Ziggles (Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode)
As soon as the bell rings, Tucker and Ziggler kick things off. Dolph hits a lethal dropkick but Tucker hits a ruthless shoulder tackle. This leads to Otis coming in and Heavy Machinery hits a double suplex on Roode and Ziggler. Big E and Otis hit a wishbone maneuver on Ziggler. Xavier Woods then hits a senton suicide dive onto The Revival. However, Roode and Ziggler hit a phenomenal Zig Zag/Spinebuster combination onto Woods on the outside to take us into commercial break. Returning to the action, Dash Wilder applies a headlock on Woods. Woods fights out of it and hits a back suplex. While reaching for the tag, Woods is stopped by a newly tagged in Scott Dawson. Woods hits an enziguri to knock out Dawson. Wilder is tagged in and hits an assisted backbreaker on Woods. Ziggler is tagged in and goes to work on the trombone player. After attempting an superplex, Woods knocks off the Show Off and hits a missile dropkick. Woods and Ziggler make the hot tag to their respective partners. Otis takes down Ziggler and confronts Roode with an headbutt. He then cleans house with clotheslines and suplexes on the opposition. He then hits the Caterpillar on Roode and catches Dawson in mid air. The Revival hit a sneaky double team move for a two count on Otis. Otis tags in Big E and The New Day hit Midnight Hour for the victory.
Result: The New Day and Heavy Machinery via pin fall (Woods takes the pin)
My Thoughts:
Typical babyface tag team victory. Let us all forget that Kofi Kingston jobbed out to Brock Lesnar and let us be distracted with a fun little tag team match featuring the best tag team known to mankind (The Revival) and a bunch of bubbly teams. Do not get me wrong, I love Heavy Machinery and Glorious Ziggles but this is malarkey. Give this tag division a chance!
It is announced that King Corbin and Shinsuke Nakamura takes on Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan in the main event in a tag team match.

Backstage Interview – Kayla Braxton and Daniel Bryan
Kayla Braxton is seen backstage, introducing her guest Daniel Bryan, who will partake in the main event tag team match. Bryan mentions that he despises Corbin and Nakamura, respecting Roman Reigns as an ally, thus saving him. He is prepared for the main event tag team match.

In-Ring Segment – Miz TV with Special Guest Bayley – The Miz, Bayley, Sasha Banks, Nikki Cross, Dana Brooke, and Lacey Evans
The Miz is seen in the ring as Miz TV begins, welcomes Indianapolis to Miz TV. Miz gets things started by introducing the SmackDown Women’s Champion, Bayley. Bayley appears with new music and accompanied by Sasha Banks. Miz and Bayley then acknowledges being the first female grand slam champion in WWE. Sasha Banks states that she is a great champion already by achieving that accomplishment. After a replay of last week’s women’s title match, The Miz asks Bayley why did she change. Bayley responds by saying she does not owe the Miz or the WWE Universe an explanation. Miz then compares Bayley and Sasha Banks to Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar. He then goes onto assume that she plays the supporting character to Sasha Banks. Banks responds by stating Miz’s placement in the Fifth Round of the Draft. Bayley responds by saying that she gave everything that she had for years and did not see who she was as a role model. She states that she elevated the division and lost the championship, feeling no empathy. She claims that the WWE Universe destroyed her, despite being that role model. She then makes big claims that the division is lazy. She has outgrown the WWE Universe and gives inspiration of “life sucks, then you die”. Nikki Cross interrupts. Cross states that the time for talking is over and the time for action is now, promising that she will give Bayley a big huge hug. Dana Brooke appears and talks about passion and desire. What fuels her passion and desire is being overlooked. Brooke states that the Flex Appeal is here. Lacey Evans appears to start the six-pack challenge happening next.
My Thoughts:
This episode of Miz TV was sponsored by typical Bayley heel promo and an explanation of why she did what she did. Of course they played the little child crying at Bayley destroying the Bayley buddies last week during the highlight part of the segment. Why do we need a constant reminder of why Bayley turned heel? Is it not obvious? At least the only thing I actually got from this segment was digging Bayley’s new theme song. I liked it and it soothed to her dark side, though the colors of the tron could have been better.

Match #4 – Six Pack Challenge to Determine the New Number One Contender for the SmackDown Women’s Championship (featuring Sonya Deville, Mandy Rose, Carmella, Lacey Evans, Nikki Cross, and Dana Brooke)
As soon as the match begins, Lacey Evans exits the ring. Fire and Desire start to clean house as Mandy Rose hits a stalling suplex on Carmella followed by Deville’s sliding knee. They then start to go to work on Nikki Cross. Cross fights back for a brief moment. She reverses a double team move but Rose takes her out with a clothesline, sending the Twisted Sister to ringside. They then move to the outside to take Carmella over the barricade. It is then Dana Brooke who comes out of nowhere followed by Lacey Evans with a big boot. While everything seems safe for both Deville and Rose, Carmella hits a flying crossbody from the announcer’s table to take us into more annoying advertisements. Back live to the action and Deville and Mandy Rose take control over Carmella. Carmella fights back and hits a bronco buster on Fire and Desire. Nikki Cross attempts a school boy. She then hits a flying crossbody on all competitors. Lacey Evans then hits a springboard dropkick on Dana Brooke. Brooke comes back with a Sit Out Powerbomb on the Sassy Southern Belle. After hitting a Swanton Bomb on Evans, Brooke’s pin attempt is broken up by Mandy Rose and Carmella. Carmella locks in the Code of Silence and Deville hits a knee strike to the back of the head. After all the chaos occurring in the ring, Cross hits Twisted Cross onto Carmella for the pin fall victory. Post-match, Cross and Bayley have a standoff.
Result: Nikki Cross via pin fall – Becomes the new number one contender for the SmackDown Women’s Championship
My Thoughts:
NIKKI WON THE FREAKING CHANCE TO FACE BAYLEY FOR THE SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP!!! Hell, that what happens when you pray for a really long time for your favorite person to receive another opportunity at the big gold. This probably means that Bayley will retain with her new gimmick of screwing people and calling them bitches. But still, thanks WWE! You actually got my hopes up for a split second and then made me come to the realization that one of my favorites is not winning the big one…EVER!!!

A promo package of Braun Strowman is shown ahead of Crown Jewel

A replay of the previous episode of the Firefly Funhouse is shown with highlights of Hell in a Cell and Rollins invading the Firefly Funhouse.

Match #5 – Braun Strowman vs. Drew Gulak
The match begins and Drew Gulak asks for a microphone. Gulak, having a combat background, acknowledges being cut from the same cloth as Strowman. He introduces 345 slide PowerPoint presentation on how to win in his match at WWE Crown Jewel against Tyson Fury. Strowman tosses Gulak with a Biel Throw and runs him over on the outside. He then ends the match with a Running Powerslam for the win. A FREAKING SQUAH MATCH!!!!
Result: Braun Strowman via pinfall
My Thoughts:
No comment. Well, take that back – I will sound off on this mess. First and foremost, can someone tell me why Braun needed to win this match on SmackDown? We are only less than two weeks away and yet you have him win now, in squash style? WWE just made the greatest cruiserweight champion job to freaking Braun Strowman Money in the Bank 2018 style! I hate WWE. I hate how WWE creative did Drew Gulak dirty like that given that he had the best reign that title has ever had followed by bringing that prestigious platinum and purple to NXT on Wednesday nights. Do not get me wrong, I popped for the return of the PowerPoint Presentations but what made creative actually think that having Gulak job to Strowman was a good idea? Let me guess the logic – Strowman had to look big, bad, and tough when going against Tyson Fury at Crown Jewel, so let us make him beat up a very gifted competitor just recently drafted to our show. Strowman did not need a match tonight as we already saw countless promos for his big match against Fury a thousand plus times. I was hoping Gulak would be facing off in ACTUAL competition! Maybe have a match we never got to see on 205 and put Buddy Murphy in the mix. But no, you had to make things horrible when you made the greatest steal in the draft a jobber! Just remember this my peeps, Drew Gulak is the most gifted pound for pound athlete in World Wrestling Entertainment today.
Promo skills? – Glorious
In-Ring Ability? – Phenomenal
The fact that Gulak carried 205 Live and the cruiserweight division on his back for over three years, went to NXT to better his craft, and made a name for not only himself but the cruiserweights in general outside of WWE is legendary. I hope WWE can read this as they really dropped the ball on their greatest acquisition and asset!

Match #6 – The Main Event – Tag Team Match – Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and King Corbin
Roman Reigns is announced as the captain for Team Hogan
Roman Reigns and King Corbin start off the match. As Roman goes to work on Burger King, he tags in Daniel Bryan. Bryan hits the vintage corner dropkick and the yes kicks. Shinsuke is tagged in. Sami Zayn, at ringside, distracts Bryan from the top rope. This leads to Nakamura and Corbin taking control for the commercial break. Coming back, Corbin takes control of Daniel Bryan. After multiple stomps on the abdomen, Nakamura and Corbin attempt a double team move but Bryan gets out of it. Bryan reaches for the tag but Corbin takes out Roman. This leads to Shinsuke Nakamura to attempt a pin attempt but is unsuccessful. On the outside, Corbin tries to take out Roman Reigns with steel steps. This leads to Bryan to apply the Yes Lock on Shinsuke Nakamura. Roman Reigns spears King Corbin through the barricade on the outside. In the ring, Shinsuke sets up for the Kinsasha but Bryan reverses it into a Running Knee to pin the Intercontinental Champion for the victory.
Result: Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns via pin fall
My Thoughts:
Big shocker my fellow peeps, Roman Reigns is the Team Captain of Team Hogan at WWE Crown Jewel Halloween night! All jokes aside I believe this was a somewhat of a fun main event to watch. We see a tweener Daniel Bryan pin the Intercontinental Champion for a foreseeable title shot. He still is not doing the Yes chants but at least we are getting some sort of a teaser for yet another heel turn by Bryan.

Final Thoughts:
To my fellow professional wrestling fans that I call peeps, let me address the following episode of SmackDown on Fox live from Indianapolis, Indiana. I would like to start this address by stating that having Nikki Cross win a match to become the next contender for the newly emo and “badass” Bayley persona was the best decision of the night. It was also the only highlight in my eyes aside from the SmackDown Women’s Champion’s promo skills. I mean, you could have had Sonya Deville or Carmella (Justin’s favorite) win too but did not want to privilege us. Other than that, the stacked card that I was hyped up about in the early goings was a complete and utter disappointment within itself. You had to save Shinsuke’s career by having a disqualification finish to kick off your Fox programming. While on that note, you had more and more short jokes come our way with the addition of the name change of “Shorty G”, which is deplorable. You then had to cap it off with a filler of a main event tag team match and a heinous act of a match with Braun Strowman and a newly drafted Drew Gulak? I found this episode a disappointing one and I am not being bias of Gulak’s destruction either. Everything to met felt thrown off. The only thing that felt new and exciting with proper alignment was Bryan and Nakamura. Tonight’s show receives a Matt Striker grade of a C- and a 7/10 on the Meltzer Scale. I seriously thought tonight was going to hype me up for the last few episodes before the vomit trophy known as Crown Jewel but it sadly did not. But, there is another way you can think of it. Just like college students say, C’s get degrees! Enjoy your weekend my firefl- I mean, my peeps! Stay passionate and remember, no matter how disappointing life gets, it will get better somehow and some way. See you all next week!