By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Friday Night Smackdown on Fox
Aired live on October 18, 2019 from Indianapolis, Indiana at Bankers Life Fieldhouse
[Hour One] The AC/DC opening aired… Pyro shot off on the stage… Michael Cole and Corey Graves were on commentary, and Greg Hamilton was the ring announcer…
Ring entrances for the Intercontinental Championship match took place. Roman Reigns came out first and a graphic box listed that he headlined WrestleMania four years in a row and won an ESPY. Cole mentioned multiple times that Reigns was Smackdown’s first pick in the draft. Shinsuke Nakamura and Sami Zayn made their entrance. Nakamura’s graphic box noted that he speaks English and Japanese and is the first Asian born Intercontinental Champion…
1. Shinsuke Nakamura (w/Sami Zayn) vs. Roman Reigns for the Intercontinental Championship. Zayn sat in on commentary for the match and labeled himself the liberator for Nakamura. Reigns got the better of Nakamura early. Zayn said Nakamura needed him and then left the broadcast table. Reigns went for a Drive By kick, but Zayn pulled Nakamura out of the way. Nakamura kicked Reigns and knocked him down heading into a commercial break. [C]
Nakamura remained in offensive control coming out of the break and Reigns had some light bleeding from the mouth. Reigns came back quickly and went for a Superman Punch, but Nakamura countered into a triangle. Reigns powered up and powerbombed Nakamura to break free and got a two count.
Zayn, who had returned to the broadcast table, and distracted Reigns long enough for Nakamura go back on the offensive. Nakaura set up for his finisher, but Reigns caught him with a Superman Punch for a near fall. Reigns went to the corner and set up for his spear finisher. King Corbin came out and hit Reigns from behind with his scepter.
Roman Reigns beat Shinsuke Nakamura by DQ in 11:45.
After the match, Corbin performed a Deep Six on Reigns. Cole said Corbin tweeted earlier that Reigns would pay for what his cousin The Rock did to him. Daniel Bryan’s music played and he came out and worked over Corbin and Nakamura. Zayn grabbed Bryan from ringside, allowing Nakamura to hit Bryan with a running knee.
Powell’s POV: A decent match with a cheap and yet logical finish. Reigns would not have gained a thing from winning the Intercontinental Championship, and you had know they weren’t going to have Nakamura beat him clean. I suspect this leads to a Smackdown special (a/k/a tag team match).
The broadcast team touted the new Smackdown roster while a graphic was shown. Graves said the general consensus is that Smackdown came out on top…
New Day were shown backstage singing. Tucker from Heavy Machinery entered the picture and said it would be every team for itself during the tag team turmoil match at Crown Jewel, but said he wanted to boost Kofi Kingston’s spirits to help build camaraderie heading into their tag team match. Kingston said he had the power of positivity. Otis entered the room with a mixing bowl filled with pancake mix. He poured protein powder into the mix and drank some while most fell onto his beard. Big E led a “New Day rocks” chant… [C]
Backstage, Kayla Braxton asked King Corbin if he had anything to say “after brutally attacking Roman Reigns.” Corbin put his crown on and walked away… Shorty Gable made his entrance for a match. A brief video recapped heels picking on him for being short…
2. Shorty Gable vs. Curtis Axel (w/Bo Dallas). The B-Team entrance was not televised. Axel patted Gable on the head to taunt his height. Cole said Gable has embraced his nickname. Gable applied an ankle lock and got the submission win…
Shorty Gable beat Curtis Axel in 1:55.
After the match, Gable was interviewed in the ring. He said he thought he was held back due to his height for a long time, but the reality is that his height makes him who he is. “And in this life it’s okay to be exactly who you are,” Gable said. He added that people will want to make fun of you. He thanked them because he said they made him embrace who he really is. Gable said you shouldn’t run or hide from these people, you should accept who you are. “I accept who I am,” Gable said. “I’m Shorty Gable. Actually, let’s shorten that up. I’m Shorty G”…
Powell’s POV: Gable’s message was nice, but his name just got even worse. Awful.
The broadcast team noted that Team Hogan was down two wrestlers (Seth Rollins dropped out). Ric Flair’s mocking tweets were shown. Cole asked what Hulk Hogan would do. Hogan checked in from Clearwater, Florida via Skype. Graves asked what he intended to do about his team. Hogan said he’s been chasing Flair around since Graves was in diapers, so there’s no need to worry about who he has on his team. Cole asked who will join Ricochet and Rusev on his team. Hogan said the two guys who stood out the most were Shorty G and Ali. He said there will be “a huge announcement” regarding his team captain before the end of the show…
Heavy Machinery and New Day made their entrances for the eight-man tag team match… [C] Cole welcomed viewers back to “the A show” and then the heel teams made their entrances…
3. Otis, Tucker, Big E, and Xavier Woods (w/Kofi Kingston) vs. Robert Roode, Dolph Ziggler, Scott Dawson, and Dash Wilder. Cole noted that each team would be in the tag team turmoil match that will determine the best team in the world. Graves actually followed that up by pointing out the obvious, which is that the match comes down to the luck of the draw. Woods performed a flip dive onto Wilder and then went for a move on Dawson, but Roode and Ziggler put him down with a double team move going into a break. [C]
Cole noted that next Friday’s Smackdown will be broadcast on FS1 due to the World Series. Otis took a hot tag and no-sold Roode’s punches. Dawson made a blind tag. Otis worked over Roode and Ziggler, then caught Dawson charging and clotheslined him. Otis performed the Caterpillar. Dawson leapt off the ropes and was caught by Dawson. Wilder jumped off the ropes and knocked Dawson onto Otis, which led to a two count. Otis picked up Dawson and then Big E tagged in. Big E took Dawson from Otis, then Woods tagged in and they hit the Midnight Hour for the pin…
Otis, Tucker, Big E, and Xavier Woods beat Robert Roode, Dolph Ziggler, Scott Dawson, and Dash Wilder in 10:45.
Powell’s POV: The live crowd had fun with the harmless and fairly pointless eight-man tag match. I laughed at Cole playing up the tag team turmoil match determining which team is best in the world only for Graves to respond that the match is all about the draw. He’s right unless some team dominates from bell to bell, which is what makes the best in the world label completely ridiculous.
In a shocking twist, the broadcast team announced Reigns and Bryan vs. Nakamura and Corbin for later in the show…
Braxton interviewed Daniel Bryan on the backstage interview set and asked him about being beaten up by Nakamura and Corbin. Bryan said it’s not the first time he’s been beaten up. He said he doesn’t care about grown men complaining about where they were drafted. Bryan said it’s his first match on Friday Night Smackdown and that’s something to be excited about…
Bayley was shown walking backstage while Cole hyped her Miz TV appearance… [C] An Ali vignette aired. He said he is fighting to bring change. He said he knows he’s the underdog and hopes that he has the heart…
Powell’s POV: It’s nice to see Ali featured again, but I actually preferred the low budget handheld promos he delivered over this slick and polished video.
[Hour Two] The Miz stood in the ring and introduced Smackdown Women’s Champion Bayley, who has new music and a new video wall. Sasha Banks accompanied Bayley to the ring. Miz said he didn’t know that Banks would be there. She said she was supporting her best friend. Bayley interrupted Miz to point out that she beat Charlotte Flair to become a two-time Smackdown Champion. Banks said Bayley became the first grand slam champion. Miz set up a video package of Bayley destroying the inflatable tubemen and beating Flair last week.
Miz asked why. Bayley teased answering twice and then said, “I don’t owe you or anyone an explanation.” Miz asked about the kids who idolized her. Bayley shrugged her shoulders. “A champion who doesn’t talk, who are you, Brock Lesnar?” Miz asked. He wondered if Sasha is her Paul Heyman. Miz needled Bayley for a reason and wondered if it’s because she’ll always play second fiddle to Banks.
Banks said Bayley doesn’t need to listen to anyone and mocked Miz for being drafted in the fifth round. Miz said when he talks, people listen. He said that he doesn’t have to slash “Bayley Buddies” to be relevant. Bayley said that’s not why she slashed “those stupid Bayley Buddies.” She said they defined her throughout her entire career. She said the fans saw her as fun and colorful and something to put a smile on her face.
Bayley said she gave and gave with headbands, high fives, and hugs, but all the fans did was take. She said that when she lost her championship at Hell in a Cell she was heartbroken and crying. She asked if anyone was there to hug her. Bayley said she put herself second her entire career to be a role model for “their children.” The crowd gave her the What? treatment.
Bayley said she picked herself up and won her title again. Bayley said no one was there to congratulate her or hug her when she went backstage. She said the division lacks desire and passion. Bayley said she outgrew the people. Fans booed. She asked if the fans want inspiration. “Life sucks and then you die,” Bayley said.
Nikki Cross’s music played and she came out with a mic in hand. Cross said that was enough. She said the time for talking is done and the time for action is now. Cross told Bayley to make herself comfortable and then after she wins her match she will give her a big hug. Cole pointed out that Cross is in the six pack challenge.
Dana Brooke came out and said being underutlized and overlooked fuels her passion. She said this marks a new beginning and she can feel it. She said the Flex Appeal is on Smackdown, then encouraged the fans to flex like her. Lacey Evans came out and walked past Brooke. Cole hyped the match as coming up after the break… [C]
Powell’s POV: I would say that Bayley’s promo went on longer than it needed to, but the crowd went from giving her the What? treatment to actually booing her by the end. Her babyface character was geared toward children and her comments made it feel like her heel character is geared toward getting heat from children.
4. Mandy Rose vs. Dana Brooke vs. Lacey Evans vs. Sonya Deville vs. Carmella vs. Nikki Cross in a six pack challenge for a shot at the Smackdown Women’s Championship. The remainder of the entrances were not televised. Banks and Bayley sat next to the broadcast table. Cole noted that Cross and Alexa Bliss were moved to Smackdown in a “blockbuster trade.” All six women ended up at ringside going into a break. [C]
An ad noted Smackdown moving to FS1 for one week only next Friday (due to the World Series). Rose and Deville continued to to work together coming out of the break by doubling up on Carmella in the ring while the other three women were at ringside. A short time later, Cross performed a cross body block from the ropes onto three opponents. Evans threw Cross into the ring steps. Evans brought Brooke to the ring and got a two count, but Brooke came back with a powerbomb.
Brooke went up top and performed a swanton. Brooke had the pin, but it was broken up by Rose and Carmella, who fought one another. After a series of rapid fire big moves from the various wrestlers, Cross hit her spinning neckbreaker on Rose and pinned her…
Nikki Cross beat Dana Brooke, Lacey Evans, Sonya Deville, Mandy Rose, and Carmella in 9:00 in a a six pack challenge to earn a shot at the Smackdown Women’s Championship.
Powell’s POV: Solid work from the women, but it was hard to feel anything other than numb regarding the possible outcomes.
The broadcast team set up a sponsored video that focused on Braun Strowman. Cole and Graves hyped Strowman vs. Tyson Fury vs. Crown Jewel, then noted that Strowman would appear after the break… [C]
Indianapolis artwork was shown and then a video package recapped the recent Seth Rollins and Bray Wyatt developments…
Braun Strowman made his entrance while footage aired of their contract signing from Monday’s Raw. Graves said Fury mocked Strowman by pretending he couldn’t break the contract signing pen before he eventually snapped it…
5. Braun Strowman vs. Drew Gulak. The bell rang and Gulak quickly ducked between the ropes. Gulak got a mic and said it was his debut on Smackdown and he wanted the opportunity to introduce himself. Gulak said he’s a former cruiserweight champion and the preeminent historian on combat sports. Gulak said that if Strowman takes his usual approach then Tyson Fury will knock him out cold. Gulak said he created 345 slides in his power point presentation to help Strowman. Before the first slide could be shown, Strowman attacked Gulak and eventually put him away with a powerslam…
Braun Strowman defeated Drew Gulak in 3:05.
Powell’s POV: The guy who was dominating in 205 Live was just squashed in his first Smackdown match. Hey, gang, check out 205 Live right after Smackdown, only on WWE Network!!!
The broadcast team hyped the WWE video game’s release for Tuesday. Cole said it was a good time to find out what was happening at the cocktail party, which led to a video game ad airing…
Daniel Bryan made his entrance for the tag team match… [C] The heel duo was already in the ring. Greg Hamilton introduced Roman Reigns as the captain of Team Hogan, then Reigns made his entrance for the main event. The broadcast team hyped Brock Lesnar and Cain Velasquez going face to face, and Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair appearing on next week’s Smackdown on FS1…
6. Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns vs. King Corbin and Shinsuke Nakamura (w/Sami Zayn). Graves read a tweet from The Rock that mocked Corbin and they cut to a break less than two minutes into the match. [C] Bryan was isolated by the heels. He was about to make a tag, but Corbin pulled Reigns off the apron and ran him into the ring steps.
Reigns recovered and ended up spearing Corbin through the timekeepers area. Meanwhile, Bryan fired away with a series of kicks on Nakamura and connected with the grand finale kick. Bryan played to the crowd and then set up for a move out of the corner, but he ran into a high knee from Nakamura. Bryan avoided a Kinshasa, then hit a running knee of his own and scored the pin…
Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns beat King Corbin and Shinsuke Nakamura in 9:05.
Cole said the match was an example of the type of action that viewers will get every week on Smackdown. Bryan celebrated in the ring. Reigns rolled in and joined him. Bryan and Reigns shook hands while Cole reminded viewers that Smackdown will air on FS1 next Friday… A video package touted Smackdown on FS1 for one week only…
Powell’s POV: The main event was fine and continued the feud between Reigns and Corbin while also giving Bryan a win over the Intercontinental Champion. Overall, though, this was an uneventful episode. The premiere came and went and the draft is over, and this felt like a typical Smackdown. It tells me that WWE and Fox executives feel that the quality of Smackdown was fine and was just missing the Fox marketing machine. I have a feeling that the ratings will quickly tell them otherwise unless they make some real changes and shake things up in a good way. I will have more to say about that in my weekly members’ exclusive audio review coming up shortly. Let me know what you thought of the show by grading it in our weekly post show poll on the main page.
They are going to have Chad Gable be a rapper! Shorty G. In the house and they are going to compare his height to a mouse.
After they run with that for awhile, they can always have him team up with R-Truth, too. Truth could rap the “What’s up” part of his theme, and Shorty G could then make jokes about his own height.
Hey, you know, even though we’re both joking, this is sorta how I envision a WWE creative team meeting unfolding that doesn’t involve NXT. We could get jobs at Stamford!
Hey Jason, do you see any noticeable angles in the show that could be a Bruce Prichard influence? It may be too soon as he just took the new position, and we also do not know if he will have full control of creative akin to Paul Heyman/ RAW.
No, because very little has changed. Everyone is saying that Prichard was essentially doing the job previously even though Eric had the title.
“I suspect this leads to a Smackdown special (a/k/a tag team match).”
How dare you not refer to this by it’s rightful name, the “Teddy Long Special”
You didn’t just say that.
Tell me you didn’t just say that!
(Sorry but I just could not resist!)
This show was atrocious. I expected it to be because WWE is in a holding pattern now awaiting the Crown Jewel piece of crapola. After the trip overseas, I really hope the writing picks up. Shorty G up in the hizz…What a piece of shizz….