By Jason Powell, Prowrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Smackdown Live on USA Network
Taped earlier in the day in London, England at O2 Arena
[Hour One] Tom Phillips introduced the show and noted that they were running from the O2 Arena for the second straight night. Phillips and broadcast team partners Corey Graves and Byron Saxton set the table for the television main event of AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura with the winner of the match earning the right to choose the main event for their WWE Championship match at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view…
Daniel Bryan was introduced by Renee Young for an in-ring interview. The live crowd chanted Bryan’s name as Young spoke about his loss to Rusev last week. “Feel that!” Bryan said multiple times regarding the crowd’s chants. Bryan said losing doesn’t feel good and no one likes to lose. He said when he came back he was happy to do what he loves, but now it’s not enough to be back. “I don’t want to just be back, I want to be on top,” he said. “And I know it’s going to be a fight and it’s going to be a climb and I’m going to have to scratch and claw every step of the way, but before all is said and done I will become the WWE Champion.”
Big Cass interrupted Bryan and walked out minus entrance music. Cass walked as he spoke about being Bryan’s first true disappointment since his comeback. Cass said Bryan will keep losing because he will make sure that Bryan never achieves his dreams and aspirations in WWE. Cass said he’s man enough to admit that he lost at WWE Backlash. He said he didn’t tap out because he was in pain, he tapped because he wanted to get right back up and beat the hell out of Bryan again. Cass said Bryan won’t be able to go anywhere in WWE without a seven foot shadow following him around.
Cass boasted about eliminating Bryan from the Greatest Royal Rumble. Cass asked if Bryan is a loser, then did the yes bit. Cass entered the ring and Bryan went right after him. Cass shoved him down, but Bryan got up and kicked Cass’s bad knee. Bryan worked over Cass in the corner and kicked his bad knee repeatedly until two referees came out. Bryan left the ring, then ran over and wrenched Cass’s bad knee around the ring post twice. Cass stood up and Bryan entered the ring and clipped the knee and then applied a heel hook. Cass tapped out while four referees and producer Adam Pearce talked Bryan into releasing the hold…
The broadcast team hyped Styles vs. Nakamura, and said the New Day vs. Sheamus and Cesaro match for a spot in the Money in the Bank match was up next… [C]
Powell’s POV: This was the type of strong and determined statement that was needed after Bryan lost to Rusev last week. The London crowd adored Bryan and it was nice that he didn’t respond with smiles or lead Yes a bunch of chants. He and/or creative found the right tone coming off his loss and he delivered a good mission statement about wanting to fight his way to the top of the card. By the way, I’m filling in for Jake Barnett tonight, but he will be by tomorrow with the WWE Smackdown Hit List.
1. Big E and Xavier Woods (w/Kofi Kingston) vs. Sheamus and Cesaro for one spot in the Men’s Money in the Bank match. The Miz sat in on commentary. Ring announcer Greg Hamilton noted that the winning team would choose a member to be in the MITB match. Sheamus and Cesaro clotheslined Woods heading into a split-screen commercial break. [C]
Woods was isolated and made a hot tag shortly after the break. E worked over Sheamus with multiple belly-to-belly suplexes. Cesaro tagged in a short time later and struggled before eventually applying a Sharpshooter on E. Later, E speared Sheamus off the apron and then Woods hit a top rope elbow on Sheamus and pinned him…
Big E and Xavier Woods defeated Sheamus and Cesaro in 9:25 to earn one spot in the Men’s Money in the Bank match.
The broadcast team hyped the Mellabration segment… [C]
Powell’s POV: A good match. The Miz predicted that New Day having to choose one member for the MITB match would lead to their implosion. It’s an interesting approach to take and I’m curious to see whether they script drama between the trio or if they clown around and it’s not a big deal. My guess is Big E is in the MITB match, but nothing is official that I’m aware of.
The latest Bludgeon Brothers video aired. They said family is for the weak (a shot of the Usos was shown), friendship is an abscess to be pierced (Sheamus and Cesaro), and joy is a disease (New Day). They said the cure is to bludgeon…
Smackdown general manager Paige was shown on the phone telling Carmella that she would have liked to have gone to the royal wedding, but she didn’t get an invitation. She told Carmella that she can’t have a horse drawn carriage. Paige hung up and Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville entered the picture. Rose thought she should be in the MITB match based on her win over Becky Lynch. They both wanted qualifying matches. Paige booked them both in a Triple Threat qualifier against Becky Lynch…
Renee Young interviewed AJ Styles on the interview set. She asked what stipulation he would choose if he beats Nakamura. Styles said it’s when not if he picks the stipulation match. He said it could be an inverted scaffold match or a pole on a pole match or bullrope, Hell in a Cell, inferno match. Young asked if that’s the one where the referees dress up as Elvis. Styles told her she’s being silly. He said no matter what he chooses the con artist Nakamura will be the only one who isn’t entertained. He said Nakamura may have forgotten how to speak English, but forearm to the face is universal…
Graves hyped the debut of Andrade Almas and Zelina Vega for after the break… [C]
2. Andrade “Cien” Almas (w/Zelina Vega) vs. Jake Constantino. No televised entrance for the enhancement wrestler. The crowd chanted “si” before Almas hit double knees in the corner. He followed up with his hammerlock DDT for the win…
Andrade Almas defeated Jake Constantino in 1:20.
After the match, Vega delivered a promo while Almas stood by. She said she expected more from Smackdown. She mocked the competition provided and said they are there to take over…
Powell’s POV: I noted last week that Almas is the guy I’d give the Money in the Bank win to. I think it would be cool to establish him as a major player right out of the gate and then let him rack up wins while holding the MITB briefcase. That said, I think it’s more likely that he ends up in a feud with Jeff Hardy over the U.S. Championship.
Backstage, Rusev wasn’t happy about having his usual locker room despite beating Daniel Bryan last week. Aiden English said he tried and then took some jabs at England. English was about to perform a song he wrote for MITB, but Lana showed up. She told them that she has a MITB qualifier against Billy Kay for next week. Lana said she and Rusev would be the first ever Mr. and Mrs. Money in the Bank. Lana asked English what day it would be. He sang Rusev Day…
Phillips hyped Lynch vs. Rose vs. Deville in the MITB qualifier, and Graves hyped that they were moments away from the “Royal Mellabration”…
Powell’s POV: I guess the storyline of Lana dubbing English the weak link is on hold or just scrapped. She was chummy with him here.
A man stood on the stage and read from a scroll before introducing Carmella. Three men dressed up in Queen’s Guard outfits walked out and stood on the stage. Carmella walked out and did her moonwalk and then headed to the ring where she set the Smackdown Women’s Championship on a podium that was covered with a leopard print pillow.
[Hour Two] Carmella wasn’t happy about the booing crowd and mocked them for lining up at a hospital to get a look at the royal baby. She said they don’t think she deserves to be champion, but Mella is money and Mella is champion. She badmouthed “not so Great Britain” and mocked the accept and then ran through a list of people she is better than.
Paige made her entrance and was well received in her home country. She said she had a royal proclamation of her own. Paige introduced Asuka as the challenger for the Smackdown Women’s Championship at Money in the Bank. Asuka made her entrance and took her mask off and swayed while the fans chanted “Asuka’s gonna kill you.” Carmella stormed out of the ring…
Young interviewed Nakamura on the interview set. He acted like he didn’t understand certain words. Then he said he said he actually did know what the words meant, but Young was using the wrong words. He said he would win and Styles would take knees to the face. Nakamura said he would dishonor Styles and take his title…
Saxton hyped the women’s MITB qualifier… [C]
Powell’s POV: The Mellabration felt a bit overhyped in that it was basically another gloating promo. She did fine with it and continues to be a strong personality, but I thought they might have something more over the top planned.
3. Becky Lynch vs. Mandy Rose vs. Sonya Deville in a Women’s Money in the Bank qualifier. They cut to a break early in the match. [C] The former Absolution members worked together during the break until Deville knocked Rose to the mat. Graves played cheerleader for Rose and wasn’t happy when Deville punched her. In the end, Lynch made Rose tap to the Disarmer…
Becky Lynch defeated Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville in 8:00 to qualify for the Money in the Bank match.
Powell’s POV: It’s good to see Lynch qualify for the MITB match. Her talents and popularity often feel wasted by creative.
Samoa Joe vs. Big Cass in an MITB qualifier was announced for next week along with the previously announced Lana vs. Billie Kay MITB qualifier…
Joe delivered a selfie style promo and spoke about how ambition has made Cass a victim. He said the only thing truly big about Cass is his mouth. Joe said he’s dealt with fake tough guys like Cass his entire life. He said that men like Cass always come up short when push comes to shove. Joe said his own ambition has made Cass a target and it demands the MITB contract and the title shot…
Powell’s POV: Another strong promo from Joe. It doesn’t seem to matter if it’s in the ring or the oddball selfie style promos, Joe continues to deliver on the mic…
An Iiconics selfie style promo aired. They mocked London and Lana and called a briefcase the perfect accessory…
Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles made their entrances for the main event… [C]
4. AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the right to choose the stipulation to their WWE Championship match at WWE Money in the Bank. Phillips noted that it was the first time Styles and Nakamura had met in a singles match on Smackdown. He also claimed the match headlined WrestleMania 34.
Styles connected with an early forearm over the top rope and onto Nakamura at ringside. Nakamura came back with a nice kick on the apron and followed up with a running knee. [C] Nakamura remained on the offensive coming out of the break. Styles started to fight back, but Nakamura put him down with a running kick to the face that led to a two count. There were dueling chants for the wrestlers. At 11:20, Styles connected with a Pele Kick that knocked Nakamura off the ropes.
Late in the match, Nakamura set up for his finisher, but Styles rolled him into a Styles Clash set up. Nakamura kicked free, but Styles hoisted up Nakamura and dropped him onto his knee and covered him for a two count. Nakamura connected with a Kinshasa and only got a two count. Nakamura acted shocked. Nakamura lined for another, but Styles caught him with a heel kick. Styles went for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Nakamura ducked it and Styles sopped short of hitting the referee. Nakamura acted like Styles hit him below the belt while the ref wasn’t looking. Styles disputed it and then Nakamura performed a reverse exploder and hit another Kinshasa for the win…
Shinsuke Nakamura defeated AJ Styles in 17:35 to earn the right to choose the stipulation for the WWE Championship match at WWE Money in the Bank.
The broadcast team questioned what stipulation Nakamura will choose as he was celebrating to close the show…
Powell’s POV: A strong main event. It seems like these their matches get better with each outing and it was nice to see a pinfall finish rather than some of those awful finishes they’ve been given recently. Overall, a good show. The MITB qualifiers helped make a couple of Triple Threat matches feel meaningful, the opening segment with Bryan was strong, the Almas debut was solid, and the main event was entertaining. Throw in the lively London crowd and this was a fun two hours. I will be back later tonight with my audio review for members, and Jake Barnett will be by on Wednesday with the Smackdown Hit List. Thanks for watching along with me. Check out my interview with Jim Ross on the latest Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast below.
Great way for WWE to just bury Big Cass right into the ground by another lame tapout. They are pretty must destroying Cass. Carmella is outstanding on the mic.
Can’t wait for Samoa Joe to finish the job and put him to sleep next week. Cass sucks as a heel and on the mic period.
I agree on both counts. Watching Cass tap out to a Featherweight is horrible. But Carmella is a blast to listen to.