By Jason Powell
The following is live notes of the WWE Smackdown pre-show that is being broadcast on the WWE Network. Refresh the page for the latest updates. If you are reading this on the Prowrestling.net app, our mobile website will refresh more frequently than the latest updates than the app will. CLICK HERE to see the very latest updates to this article throughout the show.
-The pre-show opened with a recap of Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan announcing the addition of the new women’s and tag team championships.
-Scott Stanford hosted the show with Jerry Lawler, Lita, and Booker T on the panel. The Headbangers were shown in a graphic for the tag tournament. Lita hyped Nikki Bella for Smackdown.
-The Daniel Bryan and Miz segment from Talking Smack was recapped. “It was a shoot if you ask me,” Lawler said. Booker brought up “wrestling and psychology and the science of what we do.” Booker also agreed with Miz that Daniel Bryan is finished “all because of that reckless style.” Booker said Bryan would have to call Muhammad Ali a coward for not wanting to be hit.
Powell’s POV: I am so baffled when I hear the pre-show team talk about shoots and psychology. They are trying to be relevant at the expense of the discussions actually making any sense within their universe.
-Dolph Ziggler will appear on Miz TV.
-Nikki Bella joined the show via Skype and wished Stanford a happy birthday. Nikki said Carmella attacked her because she’s smart and it got people talking about her, but she messed with the wrong person. Lawler read a tweet from Brie Bella that teased a return. Nikki said Brie is “so busy baby making” but didn’t rule it out if she doesn’t get pregnant soon. Lita mentioned that she had the same neck injury. Nikki said Lita was a huge inspiration to her. Nikki said she wanted to have her say on her last match. She said there was a 99 percent chance that she wasn’t coming back, but she saw the new generation of women and wanted to be a part of it.
-Nikki noted that Monday was her eight-year anniversary with WWE. Booker said all wrestlers feel like they have one last run and questioned whether this is Nikki’s. Nikki said she hopes it’s not, but she has to listen to her body and take it week by week. Nikki said she wants to build the women’s division on Smackdown and make it be the one that people are talking about.
-The Hype Bros vs. The Vaudevillains, and The Headbangers vs. Heath Slater and Rhyno in tag title tournament matches will air on tonight’s Smackdown. American Alpha vs. The Usos is set for the quarterfinals on a later date, so they can’t meet in the finals.
-Dean Ambrose vs. Baron Corbin in a non-title match was hyped for Smackdown. There was a lengthy video package for Corbin.
Join Jake Barnett for live coverage of Smackdown Live on the main page.
Be the first to comment