By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Friday Night Smackdown (Episode 1,110)
Live from in Orlando, Florida at Amway Center
Aired November 27, 2020 on Fox
[Hour One] Smackdown opened with ThunderDome firing up, then Michael Cole checked in and plugged the insurance company sponsor. Cole was joined on commentary by Corey Graves, and Greg Hamilton was the ring announcer…
Jey Uso made his entrance while Cole recalled Team Smackdown being swept by Team Raw at Survivor Series. Once in the ring, Uso said everyone was talking about Undertaker coming out of Survivor Series when they should be talking about Roman Reigns. Uso delivered an over the top introduction for Reigns, which was interrupted by Reigns’ entrance music. WWE Universal Champion Reigns headed to the ring with Paul Heyman.
A video package recapped Roman Reigns beating Drew McIntyre at Survivor Series with help from Jey Uso. Reigns took issue with Uso not leaving the building despite being told to do so on Sunday. Reigns said he didn’t need Uso’s help to beat McIntyre. Reigns told Uso that Team Smackdown lost at Survivor Series because his team didn’t respect him. “If they don’t respect you, then who are you?” Reigns asked.
Reigns wondered if Uso looked at him as a “wannabe bitch in the locker room.” Reigns told Uso that he didn’t like the way that he makes him feel. Reigns dropped the mic and left the ring with Heyman, leaving Uso alone in the ring…
Graves hyped Otis vs. King Corbin. Otis made his entrance as Jey Uso left the ring and crossed paths with him on the stage. Uso went to the back, but then he returned and hit Otis from behind with a chair. Uso violently worked over Otis with a chair at ringside. “Whatchu talking about, Uce?” Uso asked in between chair shots… [C]
Powell’s POV: I was curious if they would play up the fact that Reigns told Uso to leave the building after Team Smackdown left. Uso’s character stuck around and helped Reigns, and things seemed fine between Reigns and Uso coming out of the main event. Even so, Reigns calling out his cousin in this segment was fair game considering the way they played it on Sunday. Reigns is being so tough on Uso that I wonder if Jey will split away from his cousin and actually face him at TLC. It’s not like there are other obvious candidates for the TLC match that is sure to headline the pay-per-view.
1. Smackdown Tag Team Champions “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins vs. Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode in a non-title match. Both teams delivered pre-match mic work. The Profits mocked Ziggler for being an HBK wannabe (they should have mocked him over his shitty entrance theme). Ford went up top early and had to kick Roode away before going for his frogsplash finisher, Ziggler was able to avoid. [C]
Late in the match, Ford put Ziggler down with a neckbreaker and then took out Roode with a spinebuster. Ford performed his frogsplash on Roode and had him pinned, but Ziggler broke it up. Ziggler superkicked Dawkins, then was cleared from the ring by Ford, who was rolled up and pinned by Roode…
Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode defeated “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins in 7:50 in a non-title match.
Powell’s POV: The Profits have already beaten all of the heel teams on Smackdown, so we’re back to Ziggler and Roode picking up a non-title win in an attempt to make them feel like threats to the tag titles. I get the mindset, but the problem is that Ziggler and Roode have been so damaged that it would feel like a huge groaner if they actually won the tag titles. Ziggler and Roode are talented and should mean something, but it will take a lot more than a non-title win to make them feel like they matter again.
The broadcast team set up a video package that recapped Daniel Bryan shoving Sami Zayn to the ground in a recent backstage segment…
Bryan was interviewed by Kayla Braxton on the backstage ring set about facing Zayn in a non-title match. Bryan was asked about his strategy. Bryan vented about having to accept the antics of Jey Uso and Zayn. Bryan said Zayn would do anything to escape with the Intercontinental Title on any night and that Zayn has a delusion that everyone is out to get him. Bryan said he’s not out to get Zayn, he’s out for his title belt. Bryan said he would get one step closer when he beats Zayn…
Graves hyped footage from Undertaker’s Final Farewell… [C]
Braxton interviewed Rey Mysterio, Dominik Mysterio, Aliyah Mysterio, and Murphy on the backstage ring set. Rey spoke about being thankful for his son’s career taking off, his daughter becoming a confident woman, and Murphy seeing Rollins for the piece of garbage that he really is.
King Corbin showed up and mocked the Mysterios for one win over Rollins making them a happy family. Corbin taunted Rey for thinking that Murphy would still be around next Thanksgiving. He asked if Murphy was riding the coattails of Rey while it’s still worth something…
The broadcast team set up a video package on Undertaker’s Final Farewell, which included the Metallica video package along with some clips from Survivor Series…
After a piped in “Thank you, Taker” chant, Sami Zayn made his entrance… [C] Zayn cut an in-ring promo about the gluttony of Thanksgiving. He also claimed that WWE officials were out to sabotage him and would roll out the red carpet for Bryan getting a title shot. Bryan’s entrance music interrupted Zayn and then he made his entrance…
2. Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn vs. Daniel Bryan in a non-title match. Zayn went up top a few minutes into the match. Bryan shoved dropkicked Zayn from the ropes to the floor. Bryan leapt from the top rope toward Zayn, who sidestepped him and shoved him into the ringside barricade. [C]
[Hour Two] As both men were on the apron, Zayn shoved Bryan into the ring post. Zayn followed up with a brainbuster on the apron. Bryan returned to the ring as the referee’s count reached nine. Zayn performed a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall.
Bryan came back with an armbar. Zayn tried to roll out of it, but Bryan countered into a Yes Lock. Zayn put his foot on the bottom rope to break the hold and then rolled to ringside. Bryan performed a suicide dive, then followed up with another suicide dive. Zayn headed backstage. Bryan followed. Zayn returned and ran back to the ring and beat the referee’s count.
Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn defeated Daniel Bryan via count-out in 13:15 in a non-title match.
After the match, Jey Uso was shown working over Bryan with punches in on the Gorilla Position set. Kevin Owens broke it up. “You know where I’ll be,” Uso jawed at Owens, who told officials to make sure Bryan was okay, then chased after Uso…
Powell’s POV: I like the clever finish of having Zayn go over via count-out rather than going with the expected finish with the challenger beating the champion in a non-title match. It was a wise move to avoid being repetitive in this match given that the opening match saw the tag champions lose a non-title match.
An ad for Raw hyped Keith Lee vs. Riddle vs. AJ Styles in a Triple Threat for a shot at the WWE Championship, and the “A Moment of Bliss” talkshow hosted by Alexa Bliss with guest Randy Orton… [C]
Backstage, Uso told Reigns that he did what he told him to do. Owens showed up and told Reigns that he’s had enough with the family issues affecting everyone else on Smackdown. Owens told Reigns that for someone who thinks family is so important, he sure treats his own family like trash. After Owens left, Reigns told Uso that he takes pride in how his sons look at him. Reigns told Uso to fix it…
3. Bianca Belair vs. Natalya. Natalya’s entrance was not televised. Bayley came out before the opening bell and joined the broadcast team on commentary. Belair dumped Natalya to ringside and then followed her to the floor. Bayley jawed at Belair to get Natalya back inside the ring.
Belair ducked a punch from Natalya. Belair swung at Natalya, who ducked, causing Belair to punch Bayley. Back inside the ring, Natalya went for a Sharpshooter, but Belair kicked her, which caused Natalya to collide with Bayley, who had climbed onto the apron. Belair rolled up and pinned Natalya.
Bianca Belair beat Natalya in 3:35.
After the match, Bayley teased entering the ring to go after Belair, but Bayley retreated the floor…
Powell’s POV: I like the idea of Belair feuding with Bayley, as Bayley needs something fresh following her run with Sasha Banks, and it would be a nice feather in the cap of Belair to beat the former Smackdown Women’s Champion.
Paul Heyman was shown talking with Adam Pearce backstage. Graves noted how persuasive Heyman can be…
Murphy headed to the ring with the Mysterio family for a match against King Corbin… An ad aired for WWE Tribute to the Troops, which airs Sunday, December 6 on Fox… [C] King Corbin made his entrance…
4. King Corbin vs. Murphy (w/Rey Mysterio, Dominik Mysterio, and Aliyah Mysterio). Cole noted that Corbin had been scheduled to face Otis in the opening match, then recapped Jey Uso’s attack on Otis that led to the match being called off. Corbin jumped out to the early advantage, but he became distracted by the antics of the various Mysterio family members. Murphy took advantage of the distractions and went on the offensive until Corbin cut him off with the Deep Six.
Rey caused another distraction and was scolded by the referee. Later, Dom distracted Corbin, which led to Murphy delivering a high knee to the head of Corbin. Murphy covered Corbin, who put his foot on the ropes. Dom shoved Murphy’s foot off the ropes while Murphy scored the pin.
Murphy beat King Corbin in 3:50.
After the match, Corbin took the mic and said he was the victim of a four on one situation. He called the Mysterio family a bunch of spineless cowards. Corbin called for a rematch next week and said he would be prepared…
Powell’s POV: Corbin wants a rematch, but his character is apparently too stupid to ask for the Mysterio family banned from ringside during that match. Anyway, I know we don’t open the voting on year-end awards until January, but Murphy gets the nod for the Player of the Year. Not only is he hooking up with a woman who is 13 years younger than him, and not only did he get the blessing of the woman’s mother and father, but now he even has his girlfriend’s father and brother interfering in matches on his behalf. Respect.
Cole said he knew what Heyman was talking to Pearce about, then announced Kevin Owens vs. Jey Uso as the show’s main event. Owens was shown applying wrist tape… [C]
Big E and Apollo Crews were clowning around in front of the backstage ring set when Sami Zayn told them that he was scheduled for an interview. Zayn boasted that he beat a future WWE Hall of Famer. He said it usually takes three seconds to win a match, but he beat Daniel Bryan in ten seconds. Zayn boasted that he did the same to Crews. Big E held back Crews from going after Zayn. After Crews walked off, Big E said Zayn built himself a house with no foundation.
Big E said Zayn’s margin for error is razor thin. He said he has a house of cards and all it takes is a flick or a gust of wind and it all comes crumbling down. Zayn accused E of trying to diminish his accomplishments. Zayn said E’s Intercontinental Title reign was forgettable and he should respect what he’s accomplished. E applauded Zayn, then shook his hand and squeezed it while counting to ten. Kayla Braxton was ready for the interview, but Zayn told her to leave him alone…
Cole and Graves were about to talk at ringside when Billie Kay showed up with her headshots…
Carmella delivered a sit-down promo while footage aired of her recent attacks on Sasha Banks. Carmella said she’s not doing anything for anyone anymore. She said she calls the shots and everyone else jumps for her. Carmella snapped her fingers twice. A “Boss” wearing hand entered the picture while holding a drink. Sasha Banks attacked Carmella and put her in the Bank Statement. Pearce and Pat Buck showed up and talked Banks down…
Kevin Owens made his entrance for the main event… Bianca Belair and the Street Profits hosted the WWE Shop ad… [C] The broadcast team announced Dolph Ziggler, Robert Roode, Bianca Belair, and Kevin Owens for Talking Smack… Jey Uso made his entrance…
5. Kevin Owens vs. Jey Uso. Cole said Uso is confused because he thought he did the right thing by helping Roman Reigns at Survivor Series. Reigns and Paul Heyman were shown watching the match on a backstage monitor. The match spilled to ringside where Owens superkicked Uso over the barricade. [C] Late in the match, Uso grabbed a chair from ringside and hit Owens with it for the DQ.
Kevin Owens beat Jey Uso by DQ in 12:05.
Cole emphasized that it wasn’t about winning the match for Uso as much as it was pleasing Reigns. Uso hit Owens with the chair multiple times. Owens regrouped, took the chair, and hit Uso with it repeatedly. Owens looked into the camera and jawed at Reigns.
Owens asked Reigns where he was. He said Reigns wants people to fear him, but Owens said he fears no one, including Reigns. Owens said that if Reigns has a problem with him then he should come say it to his face. Owens brought Uso back inside the ring and performed a Stunner on him.
Backstage, Reigns scowled while Heyman looked worried about how Reigns was responding. Owens took a seat at ringside and asked where Reigns was. Reigns and Heyman remained backstage. Reigns looked upset while Heyman continued to flash a look of concern. Owens said he would be waiting for Reigns…
Powell’s POV: I guess this means Owens will be fed to Reigns in the TLC match at the pay-per-view, though nothing is official at this point. Putting that aside, I give WWE a lot of credit for getting through Halloween and now Thanksgiving without doing any of their usual holiday themed sports entertainment nonsense. Smackdown is taking itself seriously these days and it’s a refreshing change that has made for a better television product.
Overall, this was a solid show that filled the time nicely while not giving too much away during a holiday week when viewership might be down. Let me know what you thought of Smackdown by assigning it a letter grade in our post show poll available via the main page. I will be back shortly with my weekly same night audio review for Dot Net Members. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend.
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