Smackdown Review 05/01/2020
Smackdown Review 05/01/2020
Hello! Welcome back to this weeks Smackdown review. Tonight’s show coming to us from the WWE performance center. Tonight we will find out two more participants who qualify for the money in the bank match for both men’s and women’s matches. Plus, Daniel Bryan kicks off the show and more, so, let’s get into it!
Live from the WWE Performance Center
– Smackdown kicks off with Michael Cole hyping up things to come tonight.
Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan makes his way out to the ring for a promo. Daniel talks about his excitement to be able to compete in the money in the bank, the most unique money in the bank, at that. He hypes up the match in such a spectacular way only Bryan can. He also reminisces on his past money in the bank win, and says that changed his career. He then called out King Corbin for their scheduled match. Corbin walks out on the stage and reminded Bryan what happened last week, when he beat Gulak. Corbin tells Bryan to let go of his dream of winning the money in the bank because he will stand tall atop of the ladder. Bryan asks him if he will squander his opportunity like he did last time. Bryan continued to run down King Corbin, calling him a loser, which fired King Corbin up. Corbin tells him he’s faster, better and stronger and he will show him now.
Daniel Bryan vs. King Corbin
These two went right at it from the start. Two very different styles clashing here as Corbin went for more of a striking offense, but Daniel was able to lock him down and wrestle him on the mat. Bryan kept in control for a good bit of time with grappling and holds until Corbin was able to fight his way out of it. Corbin battled back and took Bryan out on the outside with a nasty crash and burn over the top rope. We went to break, but as it returned, Corbin stayed in the drivers seat of this match. King Corbin stayed in control for a good chunk of the match which was surprising but after adversity, Bryan turned the tide of the match, and worked over Corbin’s leg huge. Ankle locks, knee bars & even stomping right on Corbin’s Achilles, Bryan has Corbin exactly where he wanted him. He really amped it up, too. Bryan with some nasty kicks to the face, even stomping his head into the apron, but a win came when King Corbin fled up the ramp and threw a ladder at Bryan. Daniel Bryan gets the win via DQ.
After the match, Corbin tried to attack Bryan more, but was caught in the Yes Lock. That was until Nakamura and Cesaro came down to save Corbin. They all beat Bryan down, then Corbin tosses Bryan off the stage into a sea of ladders to end the beat down.
My Thoughts
I actually really was into that match. I expected the post match beat down, just like they did to Gulak last week, but at least they did it after the bell. The match itself was really fun and felt very rough, in a good way. They beat the hell out of each other. More of that, please!
⁃ Braun Strowman was shown backstage talking to Alexa Bliss. He’s up next.
Braun Strowman
Braun came out and said that his past with the Wyatt family is just that, the past and before he could get much further, he was interrupted by Bray Wyatt’s firefly fun house. Bray told us a children’s story about a black sheep, which he kept entertaining and alluded the story to Braun of course. Bray finished by saying he would take the sheep to the slaughterhouse, but was cut off by Braun. He said he’s tired of Bray’s games, and challenged him to meet him face to face in the ring. Bray waved and said bye, ending the segment, basically denying his invitation. Fun segment, Bray is always great.
⁃ Sheamus is shown backstage getting ready. He is up next.
Sheamus vs. Leon Ruff
This went exactly how you’d think it would go.
Exactly like each week since we’ve seen Sheamus. He destroyed this poor young guy to say the least. But, one thing i found interesting was that he stared down the commentary team at times as he laid in punishment. Sheamus finished Leon off with a nasty brogue kick.
After the match, Sheamus got out of the ring and asked Cole if he was going to talk about Jeff Hardy, which he said he is. Sheamus got beside cole and told him let’s take a look.
This led us into the next chapter of the Jeff Hardy redemption story. This went over his rehab and training, talking about how he is ready to return. Showed a cool hype package for Jeff’s return. Jeff Hardy will return Next Week. After the video package, Sheamus said next week Hardy will be here, and so will he. Sheamus sends a warning to Jeff Hardy.
My Thoughts
Both segments overran each other pretty quickly, so my thoughts on both is exactly what I’ve been hoping for. The feud between Jeff Hardy and Sheamus is coming to light, exactly like it seemed to be. Personally, i dig it. I think Sheamus is the perfect opponent for Jeff Hardy’s return, and i can’t wait for next week.
⁃ Kayla Braxton interviews Otis and Mandy Rose backstage about both of their qualifier matches. Mandy Rose did all the talking as she hyped both matches up, she said they’ll both win tonight and both win at the PPV. And she’s up first. Mandy Kisses Otis’ cheek and heads off to the ring.
Carmella vs. Mandy Rose (Money In The Bank Qualifier Match)
Started off fairly even, but once Mandy started to get in control, Sonya Deville made her way out to the stage and started cutting a promo on Mandy, which lasted a few minutes. Mandy somehow kept control of the match and had Carmella reeling, but Sonya then decided to start going down to the ring, causing Mandy to get distracted. Carmella hit her with a super kick and won. Carmella is the final entrant in the women’s money in the bank match.
After the match, Sonya beat the hell out of Mandy Rose and completely snapped on her until she was pulled off by referee’s. Sonya screamed that she will end Mandy as she was being dragged away.
My Thoughts
Surprisingly short match here, especially for a qualifier match. Not much to sink our teeth into, but Sonya’s beat down was pretty cool but expected. Decent.
⁃ Mandy was in the trainers room backstage, Otis checked up on her, then left, but on his way out of the door he was met by Dolph Ziggler who asked if Mandy okay. They had a stare down to end the segment.
New Day vs Forgotten Sons
Miz and Morrison came out before the match and joined the commentary team. Steve Cutler and Big E started the match off, fairly even bout off the bat. Frequent tags in and out, keeping it fresh between each opponent but I’m honestly not into the match at all. I’m not a big fan of the Forgotten Sons, and in my humble opinion this was a pretty simple cookie cutter tag team match, nothing special. I was actually more entertained by Miz and Morrison on commentary, because they’re hilarious. Especially when they banter with Michael Cole. The victory came with a neck breaker, double stomp combo on Kofi. The Forgotten Sons win.
My Thoughts
As I said above, I was not into this. Without trying to sound mean, this was boring. Simple as that. Forgotten sons get a win over the champs which is interesting, and i guess we will get a rematch but, I’m not looking forward to it.
⁃ We take a look back at the feud between Lacey, Sasha, Tamina & Bayley. After the look back, the camera cuts backstage to all four women brawling. It gets broken up by referees.
⁃ We then see Ziggler and Sonya backstage. They run down Mandy and Otis. Dolph hypes up his match and says he will beat Otis then win money in the bank again, cash in the contract again and be champion again. Yes, he said again that many times. Ziggler says once he is champ, and Sonya hurts Mandy, he will slide next to Mandy and make her feel better. Psycho’s these two are, huh?
⁃ They announce Daniel Bryan, Drew Gulak & a mystery partner vs. Corbin, Nakamura & Cesaro for next week as well as Lacey and Tamina vs. Bayley and Sasha plus Braun and Bray face to face.
Otis vs. Dolph Ziggler (Money In The Bank Qualifier Match)
Otis starting off visibly angry, with cause, seeing as he’s probably still furious after Ziggler was still hitting on Mandy a few moments ago. Every time Dolph tried to fight back and get on the right track, Otis just put a stop to it. Very one sided match, favoring Otis. That was until Otis made a little mistake and was sent shoulder first into the ring post. He spilled out of the ring and then was driven should’ve first into the barricade. Suddenly, the Otis train was derailed and it’s all Dolph Ziggler now. Dolph stayed in control for a large chunk of time after this, he even hit the ZigZag on Otis, but it wasn’t enough to keep him down. Ziggler was getting frustrated and set up for a super kick, but Otis reversed it, slammed Dolph down then hit the caterpillar elbow for the win. A very sudden end to this match. Otis wins and is qualified for the money in the bank match. The show goes off the air with a celebratory Otis.
My Thoughts
Another poor match. it started off with a lot of Otis, but then went right into all Dolph until the last second when Otis won. The match just felt very strange and with such a sudden end, and took a tole on the match in my opinion. Lackluster.
My Overall Thoughts
Smackdown started off hot, I really enjoyed the opening segment and match with Daniel Bryan and King Corbin and then I enjoyed Bray and Braun’s interactions but after that, things quickly went downhill. Everything after Bray Wyatt was not good at all to me, and I felt these two qualifier matches tonight were for sure the weakest qualifiers so far. But, on a good note, next weeks Smackdown looks great on paper. A mystery partner joins Bryan & Gulak go take on Corbin, Nakamura & Cesaro, Bayley and Sasha take on the team of Lacey and Tamina, Braun and Bray go face to face and the return of Jeff Hardy as he will seemingly take on Sheamus. So, needless to say I’m hoping next weeks Smackdown is great, because tonight’s was not. Thank you for reading, see you next week!
