Smackdown Review 02/14/2020

Its the Wrestling Classic aka Justin Dhillon back here for this weeks review of Smackdown. I know that this review is extremely late but I was at the show live and since then made my way to California for a vacation. Although it is late I figured I would still write it and give you guys my opinion of Smackdown. I was there live but also watched it back on television since then. It really is a tale of two shows because in person there didn’t really feel like there was a ton of in ring action but the show was much more entertaining watching it back on TV. Lets get to it.

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOQOYraeFlX-xd8f3adQtTw iTunes – https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/twc-show/id1474551466 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5DXU6kqwuKJPYwhnQPvQQE

Live from the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

– Michael Cole and Corey Graves are our announce team for the evening. Michael Cole welcomes us to a sold out show and says there are 14,382 fans. That’s rare that they announce the attendance for regular shows so please come back to Vancouver please.

Moment of Bliss w/ Carmella
A special Valentine’s Day edition of “A Moment of Bliss” with Alexa Bliss and co-host Nikki Cross.
Bliss welcomes us to the first “Moment of Bliss” of 2020. Cross wishes everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day. Cross wants to talk about celebrity crushes and tells Bliss to go first. Bliss asks if she should say it, should she reveal hers. Cross interrupts and says it’s Brad Pitt. Bliss hesitates but then agrees, you’re right. They go on and Bliss introduces her guest for tonight. Out comes the #1 contender Carmella.
Bliss congratulates Carmella and says some people say the victory last week was surprising because we haven’t heard a lot from Carmella lately. Carmella loves surprises and will surprise everyone when she takes the title from Bayley later tonight. They bring up Carmella’s former friendship with Bayley and we see photos of them together. Carmella blames the end of their friendship on Sasha Banks. She goes on about how Bayley has changed for the wore since Banks came back. Bliss brings up her friendship with Cross but the music interrupts and out comes the SmackDown Women’s Champion.
Bayley says Carmella is nauseating. Bayley says this isn’t about Banks, it’s about Carmella. She says they were friends, not best friends but friends going back to NXT. Bayley goes on and calls Carmella a loser, adding that she is the most dominant champion we’ve seen. Bliss interrupts but Bayley mocks her and brings up their recent matches. Fans continue to boo Bayley. Bayley says nobody can touch her. Carmella gets up and gets in Bayley’s face. Carmella says let’s fight right here and now. Fans pop as she drops the mic and heads to the ring. Bayley watches from the stage and seems worried. She hesitates before walking to the ring.
My Thoughts
This was a fun way to kick off the show. The back and fourth between Alexa and Nikki came off awkward but of course I got excited once Mella made her way out. The Vancouver crowd was strongly behind her. Although I am so tired of the we used to be best friends angles in the WWE, this was a great last minute build up for a match we were going to get on this very show.

Smackdown Women’s Champion
Bayley (C) def. Carmella
In a main event calibre women’s championship match, Bayley defeated Carmella after blocking the code of silence into a rollup while using the ropes for leverage to get the three count.
After the match, Bayley’s music hits as Carmella looks on. Bayley attacks from behind and beats Carmella down as the boos get louder. The music hits and out comes Naomi. Naomi gets in Bayley’s face and they argue. Carmella comes back from behind and shoves Bayley, sending them both over. Carmella goes after Bayley. Naomi and Carmella both end up dropping Bayley with kicks. Bayley rolls to the floor as Carmella and Naomi stand tall. Naomi’s music hits as she celebrates with Carmella.
My Thoughts
This was a really good women’s match and although I wasn’t a fan of the finish, I understand why it played out the way it did. Once again, Carmella proves that when she’s put in a big match situation that she can deliver. One thing I really appreciate it is that Mella saves certain spots for her bigger matches. For example, you won’t see Carmella doing suicide dives in every single one of her matches on television but we know the stakes are high when she pulls it out. They teased us with Mella potentially winning but Bayley went over by cheating. There was no Sasha involvement which was disappointing since Mella referenced her in the Moment of Bliss segment. I hope we see Mella back chasing the title soon.
I figured Naomi was going to come out as that was the feud they were teasing a couple of weeks ago. I was shocked when she didn’t win the match last week to earn the shot but its clear they still might be heading that direction.

– We see how King Baron Corbin humiliated the Roman Reigns fan last week. Cole says Corbin was fined and barred from competing tonight.

– Backstage, Kayla Braxton stops Bayley and she’s upset. Bayley reveals that she will defend her title at WWE Super ShowDown in Saudi Arabia. She doesn’t care who her opponent is, because no one can touch her.

– Otis is backstage before his date with Mandy Rose and he’s really nervous. Tucker comes over and Otis says Mandy is running late. Tucker tries to calm him but Otis wonders if Mandy could really like him.

Sheamus def. Shorty G & Apollo Crews
In a decent handicap match, Sheamus defeated Shorty G and Apollo Crews after taking Apollo out with a brogue kick.
My Thoughts
I don’t really know what purpose this serves other than continuing to make Sheamus look strong. If that was the case, it definitely worked. I am happy that Sheamus is back and running through his opponents but there is still a part of me that isn’t a fan that its at the expense of Gable and Crews.

– Kayla stops Carmella backstage and asks about what Bayley did. Carmella says she doesn’t ask for handouts but she deserves a rematch after what happened tonight. Carmella tells WWE and FOX officials to name a time and place because she will be there and she will be the next SmackDown Women’s Champion.

– We see Mandy Rose at a restaurant. A host seats her at a table.

– Back from the break and the announcers go over WWE Super ShowDown. We get a video package to hype WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg for his match with WWE Universal Champion “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt.

Hulk Hogan Interview & Firefly Funhouse
Cole and Graves are joined live via satellite by WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan at his Beach Shop in Tampa. Cole asks about Hogan and the nWo going into the 2020 WWE Hall of Fame Class. Hogan talks up the nWo and says it’s 4 life. Cole asks Hogan if Goldberg has a shot at The Fiend. Hogan talks about feeling the power of Goldberg in the ring and says The Fiend better be careful. The screen has flickered a few times tonight and it looks like that was The Fiend. Hogan is interrupted by a nWo-like video, paid for by the fFh – Firefly Fun House.
We see Wyatt walking across the screen with the WWE Universal Title playing air guitar on it, like we used to see Hogan do with the WCW World Heavyweight Title. This goes into a regular Firefly Fun House segment now. Huskus The Pig Boy is there and Wyatt does some comedy. The screen splits as Hogan appears. Hogan says Wyatt is a funny guy with jokes but it won’t be funny when he gets in the ring with Goldberg. Wyatt gets serious and warns Hogan that he doesn’t need jokes, he has a Fiend. Hogan tells Wyatt to be careful because there could be room for him on the wall. Wyatt shows us a photo of Hogan with his eyes crossed out like the other victims. Hogan tells Wyatt he will see him at the Hall of Fame in April. Hogan walks off. Wyatt says the same and then waves goodbye to Goldberg to end the segment.
My Thoughts
When they announced Hogan to be on Smackdown most people were messaging me letting me know he’d be in the house, but right off the bat I only expected a satellite interview. I loved Wyatt and the Firefly Funhouse playing off the NWO gimmick and Hollywood Hogan. This was a fun creative memorable segment to promote the Hall of Fame and Goldberg versus The Fiend. Its crazy how they are trying to promote three PPV events at once when really they should be focusing on just Wrestlemania.

– We see Otis heading out for his date with Mandy Rose.

Sami Zayn and Cesaro
Sami talks about how they’ve been victims of injustice for weeks, at the hands of Elias. They have a protest song for us tonight. Fans aren’t buying it. Elias interrupts as they begin to play and out he comes. Fans cheer for Elias he comes out. Elias does his thing and asks who wants to walk with him. Sami isn’t happy that Elias is interrupting their protest concert. Elias says he’s staging a counter-protest.
Sami says any other night he would have his security toss Elias out, but it’s cool if Elias has something on his chest tonight. Sami orders his ringside security to let Elias into the ring. Sami wants Elias close so he can hear this song because a lot of it has to do with Elias. Sami and Cesaro start their sad attempt at music but fans interrupt with a chant for Elias. Sami tells Cesaro to do less cowbell as he tries to play the ukulele. Elias watches from the corner and he’s just amused. Fans chant for Elias some more. This finally falls apart as Sami tries to get local heat. They double team Elias until the music interrupts and out comes WWE Intercontinental Champion Braun Strowman to a big pop.
Strowman heads down to the ring and takes security out first. Strowman hits the ring and ends up chasing Sami around, backing him up the ramp. Security comes from behind and hits Strowman. Strowman chases him back into the ring where Elias is. They both launch the security guard out of the ring, onto the other guards. Sami watches and laughs, saying that could’ve hurt. Strowman and Elias stand tall in the ring as we go to a replay.
My Thoughts
This segment came off funnier on television than it did in person but that also might have been cause I wasn’t paying proper attention. The cowbell was as over live as it came off as on television.The show being local meant I recognized many of the talent that portrayed the security. Sami and Cesaro were great. I prefer heel Elias and I want to see Braun doing more.

– Kayla stops Naomi backstage for comments. She goes on about how she’s tired of Bayley. Naomi says the glow is real and she will be the next SmackDown Women’s Champion.

– We see Mandy Rose back at the restaurant, still alone and waiting. Back to commercial.

– Back from the break and we get hype for John Cena’s upcoming return and the Ruthless Aggression docuseries on the WWE Network.

– Carmella vs. Naomi is set for next Friday with the winner going on to Super ShowDown to challenge Bayley for her title. Goldberg will also be there next Friday.

Otis & Mandy Rose’s Valentines Date
The announcers show us a video package with events leading up to tonight’s date between Mandy Rose and Otis. We go back to the restaurant where Mandy has been. Otis walks in and asks the host if he’s seen a peach. Otis is pointed to where Rose is. He’s nervous but he finally walks over after hesitating. We go back to Mandy but she looks up and Dolph Ziggler is standing there instead, all smiles. We cut to Otis coming around the corner. He sees Ziggler standing there. Otis gets disappointed and drops his flowers. Otis walks off, as sad as can be.
My Opinion
DAMN YOU ZIGGLER! I kind of wish Otis didn’t just leave but confront Ziggler instead but of course this is wrestling so its going to be a slow burn. We had seen Ziggler play a part in the angle weeks ago when he destroyed the cake Otis gave Mandy so the love triangle finally continues. 

– Back from the break and Cole talks about WrestleMania 37 going Hollywood.

Roman Reigns & Daniel Bryan def. The Miz and John Morrison
Miz and Morrison take the mic and start knocking The Usos, mentioning how they aren’t here tonight. Miz says they’ve been back for 1 month and already have cousin Roman Reigns fighting their battles. Miz talks about how he’s always here. The fans boo and Morrison tells them not to boo. Miz praises Morrison some and they talk some trash about SmackDown Tag Team Champions The New Day ahead of their match at Super ShowDown. Daniel Bryan comes out as Reigns surprise mystery opponent. Baron Corbin bought a ticket and sat at ringside for this match.
In a competitive main event, Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan defeated The Miz and Morrison after Roman connected with a superman punch and spear on The Miz.
After the match, King Corbin rushes the ring and drops Reigns with a scepter shot to the back of the neck. Corbin works Reigns over before retreating on his caravan as his music plays. SmackDown on FOX goes off the air as Reigns recovers while Corbin stands tall on his caravan.
My Thoughts
I totally forgot about Daniel Bryan when they were hyping up the mystery partner all night but glad when he made his way out. I know we’re about 2-3 hours away from his hometown but he got a hometown welcome. I kind of wish the match ended in some sort of DQ with Corbin getting involved rather than Miz and Morrison picking up a L before their big tag team title match at Super Showdown. This was a chaotic yet fun match though.

Final Thoughts
This was a very fun show of Smackdown. As a fan in the live crowd, the fact that there only three matches and a lot of stuff to watch on the screen was frustrating. However, watching it back on TV that didn’t bother me the same way. I enjoyed both experiences but a bit disappointed with the live show. The absence of New Day and The Usos was felt and the best part of the show was the first half with Carmella and Bayley. The women’s match was the best out of the three matches too. I hope the sold out crowd and the noise the Vancouver crowd made will encourage the WWE to come back more often for televised shows and PPVs. If you haven’t watched this show already I would recommend you check out Carmella challenging Bayley for the women’s championship.