Smackdown Live Review 11/14/2017

Hello Misfits. It’s time for this weeks Smackdown Live review. The road to Survivor Series continues and the war for brand supremacy between Raw and Smackdown continues. Similar to last week there are two big championship matches on this episode that could change the matches for Survivor Series. The two championships that weren’t defended last week will be defended this week. Natalya defends the Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair in her hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina. Also the accumulation of the short Sin Cara and Baron Corbin rivalry comes to a crash as Corbin defends his United States Championship against Sin Cara. If last week taught us anything with AJ Styles beating Jinder Mahal for the WWE Championship on Smackdown Live, its that there is no fear of the company deciding to switch champions and plans last minute for Survivor Series. This is also the final Smackdown before Survivor Series, so I am more than sure Raw is going to invade Smackdown tonight in retaliation of Smackdown putting Raw under siege a couple of weeks back.

Smackdown comes to us live from Spectrum Centre in Charlotte, North Carolina.

– The show kicks off with Shane McMahon rallying and giving an inspirational speech to the Smackdown roster about this Sunday and beating Raw. It was good but cheesy at the same time. Its wrestling so I can’t really complain or judge it. I mean Baron Corbin sounded like a dork and we all know he’s not that. It did build anticipation of what could happen on this episode.

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

Daniel Bryan Advocates for AJ Styles
Daniel Bryan enters the ring. Dragon Boy says its first time back on Smackdown Live since being taken out by Kane and that he did not agree with attacking Monday Night Raw. Bryan says that tonight Raw will counter attack, but Smackdown Live will be ready. Bryan says that he is proud of every single performer in the back. He says that Smackdown Live will prove that it is a far better show and better performers then Monday Night Raw. Bryan mentions the Smackdown Live team adding John Cena and emphasizes how big that is.
Bryan then introduces the new WWE Champion AJ Styles who then enters the arena.When Styles enters the ring he is met with a loud crowd reaction as they are chanting his name. Bryan tells Styles that champions are treated better on Smackdown Live. He says that Brock Lesnar has his own advocate and asks if Styles wants one. Styles says yes. Bryan then starts to impersonate Paul Heyman. Bryan says that Lesnar tends to quit like he did WWE and tapping out in UFC. Dragon Boy than says that Lesnar cannot keep up with the Phenomenal One. Bryan calls Styles the best in-ring performer of this generation. Styles asks for the mic to remind us that he can talk and he’s not a puppet like Brock Lesnar.  Styles agrees that he is the underdog and wouldn’t have it any other way. Says he will prove that Smackdown Live is the A-show and the house that A.J. Styles built.
Opinion
This was a really good opening segment. It got Styles on the show to hype his match this Sunday against Brock Lesnar. I liked the idea of Bryan acting as his advocate as well. It was a clever way to get it feeling more like a Raw vs. Smackdown thing too since Bryan is the Smackdown GM. I know it sounds weird but I felt like I could sense Bryan’s internal feelings of wishing he could be the one facing Lesnar at Survivor Series with the way he was throwing shots. I liked when Styles talked stating that unlike Lesnar he knows how to. It was a well put together segment and it featured two very likeable and popular stars who get each other because they came up in a similar way to get to the WWE. There just this sense of real mutual respect between the two.

– AJ Styles is backstage and is met by Jinder Mahal. Mahal says that he will beat Styles and once again become WWE Champion. I don’t like the way that Jinder Mahal is not on a Survivor Series card and that his prime role is being put on hold until after this PPV. I suppose that he’ll be challenging for the WWE Championship at Clash of the Champions.

United States Championship
Baron Corbin (C) def. Sin Cara
In a back and forth match Baron Corbin defeated Sin Cara after Cara missed an arial move only to be met with an End of Days. Corbin remains to the US Champion and will face The Miz at Survivor Series.
Opinion
This was a solid match but nothing you’ll remember forever. I’m glad Corbin retained because i just think Cara winning the United States Championship at this point would just be a poor decision and make the title more forgettable. Also who wants to see Cara vs The Miz? I feel like there is more potential entertainment value in Miz vs. Corbin.

– After the video, Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon chat backstage. Bryan and Shane stress cohesion. Bryan says that he and Shane need to have a conversation about cohesion. Bryan says that he never consulted him about #undersiege.

Women’s Championship
Charlotte Flair def. Natalya Neidhart (C)
In a competitive match between two talented second generation women, Charlotte Flair def. Natalya after making her tap out to the figure eight. Charlotte will now go to Survivor Series to face off against Alexa Bliss.
Opinion
I was definitely shocked with the outcome. I shouldn’t have been shocked considering how things have been these past few weeks but I was. I was also surprised they didn’t have Alexa be involved somehow in this segment. Let it be the first hint that Raw might be in the building and be the reason why Natalya lost so she has a reason to complain for a rematch. This was one of Charlotte and Natalya’s better matches of this most recent series. I’m looking forward to the Charlotte and Alexa Bliss match. The only two women to have held both the Raw and Smackdown Women’s Championship titles.

– Renee Young asks her about her facing Alexa Bliss at Survivor Series. Charlotte says all she has wanted was the title since she has been to Smackdown Live. Charlotte says it means everything to win in her hometown which I totally didn’t realize they were in until this moment. Charlotte than says that this Sunday she will make Alexa Bliss bow down to the Queen. I loved how Charlotte mentioned that before Raw had a Goddess, Raw had a Queen. Then Char talks about her dad’s medical issues these past few months. Then she continues about how NC has seen the ups and downs of Ric Flair and was upset that he couldn’t be there tonight. Charlotte expresses that she loves her dad and gives a WOO to her dad. As she makes her way to the ramp, Ric Flair’s music hits and walks out to give Charlotte a hug. The two turn to the crowd and then do the vintage Flair strut. It is the first time we’ve seen Flair on WWE television since his health issues and if it actually was a surprise to Charlotte, this was a super awesome moment. I think we don’t know it right now but we’re really fortunate that the Nature Boy is the man who has 9 lives.

– Bludgeoned Brothers vignette. Will make their debut next week. Looking forward to this.

Jimmy Uso w/ Jey Uso def. Chad Gable w/ Shelton Benjamin
The Usos cut a promo on their way down to the ring making fun of both The Bar and as one of them dubbed American Alpha 2.0 in Gable and Benjamin. Jimmy Uso defeats Gable when Jey chases Gable, but then kicks Benjamin from the apron. While Gable is distracted, Jimmy connects on a super kick for the pin victory.
Opinion
The promo before the match was solid and the match was solid. I’m sure the rivalry will pick up again following Survivor Series as well.

– Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are backstage complaining about not being on Survivor Series for Team Smackdown. Owens says is the only show that matters is the Sami and Kevin show. Sami says that it is the Kevin and Sami show.

Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn vs. The New Day/Raw invades Smackdown Live
In an entertaining main event the match goes to a no contest when Raw invaded Smackdown Live mid match.
The Shield music hit after Woods dived onto Owens and Big E started to size up Zayn. This gets the attention of all the guys involved in the match. The Shield start to make their way down to the ring. The Shield surround the ring as The New Day, Owens and Sami are waiting. The Shield get to the apron. Sami and Kevin bail on the New Day. The Shield start attacking the New Day. The Usos come in to help the New Day. There was a brief cool moment where the Usos and Roman stood still staring at each other which the commentators no sold. More members from the Raw team appear. It’s Sheamus and Cesaro and Balor and Joe from the other side. Team Raw now has the advantage. Backstage the Raw women’s roster invade the Smackdown Women’s locker room. Alicia Fox is leading the charge with her team and Alexa Bliss is there. Charlotte makes it to her feet, but then is planted by Bliss with a right hand. More members of the Raw roster enter the ring and brawl with the Smackdown guys. Shane McMahon leads the charge of Smackdown roster members to counter attack Raw. It is an all-out brawl. Kurt Angle then appears from the back and brings out Braun Strowman. Strowman just starts to layout everyone. Shane then tries to stand up to Strowman but nah. Braun lays out Shane. The Shield then start to beat down Shane allowing Raw members on ringside to get shots in on him. Joe hits Big E with a piece of the trombone. The Shield then hold Shane down, who is on his knees. Then Angle faces Shane, pulls him up and says if he thinks this is bad, he should wait until Sunday. Triple Powerbomb to Shane McMahon.
Angle takes off his jacket. Angle Slam to Shane which was followed by one more Triple Powerbomb from The Shield.
Opinion
This similar to Smackdown Live team invading Raw was both super entertaining but cheesy at times too. Its just crazy seeing everyone drop everything and be on the same page for this one night. If it was an on-going rivalry I think it would feel different. It was very well done though. There were a lot of super small stare downs and confrontations which you only picked up if you watched it a couple of times as I did when posting it on my page. It makes me wonder if Smackdown Live walks out with the win since Raw got the last big moment of standing tall. Thats just an old school booking trick so that might not matter anymore. Similar to when Raw got invaded some of Smackdown Live’s most prominent stars didn’t seem to be involved in the brawl. There was no Cena, Orton, Rusev or Mahal involved in the brawl. This overall was a fun way to go off the air for Smackdown.

Final Thoughts
There were a lot of big names missing from this show. It would have been cool to see Cena appear on this episode since he was announced for the team and it would have been cool for him to show up to announce his decision making process to represent Smackdown but maybe we’ll get an interview at Survivor Series. Also there was a lack of Orton, Rusev and the Fashion Police. I also didn’t like how small of a role Jinder played after months of being the champion. However, things will fall back into place with the focus back on their own brand primarily instead of a rivalry with Raw. This Charlotte/Natalya match with the Ric Flair surprise and the way the show went off the air is enough for this show to be memorable. I enjoyed this episode throughly and never felt a moment where I felt bored. It might have also been because I felt like a Raw invasion was inevitable but just didn’t know if they would have it play out throughout the night or to end off the show. 
Rating – 7/10

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