This week’s WWE Smackdown Live was held in Birmingham AL at the Legacy Arena.
Show Open
Smackdown Live was less U.S.A!! and more U.S. “eh….” for me this week. The show kicked off with WWE Champion Jinder Mahal speaking to the crowd from inside the Punjabi Prison. I suppose the WWE wanted to make what Jinder was saying about Battleground that much more menacing with the visual. Jinder said that this structure would be the final resting place of Randy Orton’s legacy. It didn’t take long for the U.S.A! chants to begin. The funny part was that this was prior to Jinder saying anything negative about the country.
The champ allowed the Singh Brothers to go over the rules of the match. Basically there is an inner and outer bamboo structure surrounding the ring. The inner structure has four doors that lead out. These can be opened by the referees at any time at the request of either superstar. The door that is opened will only be so for 60 seconds and if no one goes through it, that door will be shut for the remainder of the match. The second structure has no doors and the match can only be won by a superstar climbing over it. Fairly simple.
After they were finished Mahal, true to form, got his jabs in on the United States. He said that during the match he would smash Randy’s face until it resembled the ugliness of the nation that he represents. After that dig he did the old “speak to my people in Punjabi” stuff, struggling to talk over the U.S.A! chants.
The Viper Responds
While Mahal was speaking to his people, Randy Orton’s music interrupted the modern day Maharaja. The Viper began by questioning whether the champ was the bravest SOB he has met or if he just wasn’t that smart. He was confused as to why Mahal would challenge him to a match where his greatest weapon would be neutralized. He stated that the Singh Brothers were the only reason Mahal rose so quickly as well as Randy’s title loss. This is a fair accusation, but Randy you left out the….uh….totally legal and healthy workout regimen and diet.
Randy walked to the ring and began to climb the outer structure. While he was doing this he would inform Mahal that while he had nothing to lose after the past few months of disappointment, Mahal had everything to lose. The weight of the country of India, the hopes and respect of 1.3 billion souls, and his championship. “What will you do when 1.3 billion people consider you a disgrace”? When Randy finally reached the top of the structure he stated that this would be his view right before he takes his legacy and title back. The segment ended with Orton striking his famous pose while Jinder screamed at him from the ring. Let’s hope that this Punjabi Prison match is better than the previous few from the past.
Jimmy Uso vs Kofi Kingston – Winner: Jimmy Uso
The Good
This was a solid match. It was longer than last week’s match between Jey and Xavier, which allowed both superstars to spotlight some real aggression from both guys. I do miss Kofi in singles competition. In my opinion he is the best in terms of in ring talent in The New Day. It was also a pretty much clean win from Jimmy, which should be celebrated, considering that wins caused by interference are plaguing both brands as of late.
The Bad
These commercial breaks during matches really bother me. I know it isn’t anything new, but man I miss the days when that would be unheard of. Even worse is when the control of the match switches superstars during that break. With as much strategy that goes into production, you would figure the WWE could make it so that breaks don’t make the viewer snap out of their involvement in the match.
The Ugly
Didn’t really have much in this match to call ugly. Sorry guys.
Shane’s Angels
It seems that Shane holding court with the female division superstars might just become a regular thing. He reminded them that it was just days before Battleground and the excitement of their match. However he wanted to make sure that Birmingham didn’t miss out on that excitement from the women’s division. Charlotte suggested that she fight Lana to get some revenge for Lana interfering last week in her match. Natalya surprisingly also wanted to fight Lana, but not as surprising Becky Lynch wanted a shot at the Ravishing Russian. Tamina shut everyone down and yelled that NO ONE would be fighting Lana tonight. I felt like Jan Brady for a second during this segment……LANA LANA LANA!
Natalya then had the idea that Charlotte should fight Becky if Shane wanted some exciting competition. The Queen of Smackdown Live responded that it wouldn’t be a good idea because Shane wanted a “competitive match”. That threw a log on that STRAIGHT FIYA that Becky constantly has burning inside her. The back and forth that followed made Shane’s mind up for him. Later on tonight the long time frenemies would have to cancel tea time, they would have a match tonight.
Chad Gable’s Response To The Kurt Angle Reveal On RAW
At this point anyone who regularly follows the WWE now knows the subject matter of the cryptic text messages Kurt Angle has been receiving during RAW. Kurt Angle has a child from a relationship during his college years. This child grew up to be none other than one half of American Alpha, Jason Jordan. This reveal was accompanied by the announcement that Jordan would now be on RAW, leaving his former partner Chad Gable alone on Smackdown Live. Renee Young sat down with Gable to get his response.
Chad was blindsided by the news when he found out the news while watching RAW. He felt that a heads up would have been nice, but he understood why Jason kept it to himself. Over the past few weeks Gable noticed what weight of the secret was doing to his partner, he just didn’t know what was causing it until this week. Chad said he supported Jordan and his new journey. Renee the asked Chad what this meant for him. Even thought American Alpha accomplished so much together over the years, he is excited to show the WWE Universe what he can do as a singles competitor.
Even though I was hoping for a bit more of an edgy/Attitude Era style scandal with Kurt Angle, I’m OK with what this means for Chad Gable. As I mentioned in a previous article, he has all the tools to be a real star in the WWE if he is handled properly. He reminds me of a young Scott Steiner, but I believe that he has a better head on his shoulders. The sky (or writer’s block coming from WWE creative) is the limit for Chad Gable. I wish him luck.
Mike Kanellis vs Sami Zayn – Winner: Mike Kanellis
The Good
We finally got to see Mike Kanellis (Bennett) in the ring. The former Ring of Honor/New Japan Tag Team Champion, and Impact Wrestling superstar is widely regarded as a great wrestler. I for one was excited to hear that he was coming to Smackdown Live. I believe that the Smackdown Live roster holds more superstars that will fit his style, ultimately leading to more exciting match than if he was on RAW.
The Bad
Unfortunately Kanellis did not get a real chance to showcase his talents. Sami held control during most of the match. I mean this is good for Sami, who has been lost in the mid-card for quite some time. However a debut match for a well known talent from other respected organizations (minus the Owl) should be one sided for the newcomer.
The Ugly
The fact that Maria Kanellis had to involve herself to help Mike win his first match. I get it, they are heels….but come on.
John Cena Flag Match Segment
This was essentially a John Cena/Super Patriot pander fest. He took a bit of time to run down Battleground’s lineup of matches, but ultimately told the crowd that they would see a lot of great things, but would remember HIS match. The reason being that even though there are personal issues between Rusev and himself, this match has so much more meaning behind it. Cena did a patriotic fueled speech where he hit all the bullet points.
He knows that he isn’t the favorite son of the WWE, but he told the crowd that they could all agree in their love for the flag. He spoke about how no matter what happened in our country our flag still flew proudly afterwards. Attacks such as Pearl Harbor and 9/11, The Great Depression, protests, wars of foreign soil. He told the crowd that for weeks he has been thinking about the responsibility that he has to win the match at Battleground. He realizes the importance of making sure that the flag that would be flying in victory would be ours, and he was ready to meet that challenge. Captain America finished his speech by climbing the turnbuckle and grabbing the United States flag to wave it in symbolic triumph. You know what this segment needs? It needs the evil foreigner to come down and beat the face senseless days before a PPV. This would put fear into the hearts of the Cenation that there is a chance that the evil Bulgarian flag might be the one that flies in victory on Sunday. Wish granted.
Bulgarian Bummer
Rusev came down and jumped Cena from behind. He was able to put Cena in The Accolade but Cena powered up into standing position. Cena attempted to break the hold by smashing Rusev into the corner but this would unfortunately not be enough. Rusev held onto the hold until Cena was unconscious. The segment ended with Rusev grabbed his own flag, walked it up the to the flag stands near the arena entrance, and planted it in victory. This segment had to be just for the kids. There is no way that any knowledgeable wrestling fan believes that the WWE would have JOHN CENA lose a flag match. This Cena win is so telegraphed the match might be held in the 1830’s and the announce team will be covering the match in Morse code.
Charlotte vs Becky Lynch – Winner: Becky Lynch
The Good
In my eyes the top 2 female superstars on Smackdown Live had a pretty solid match. Some new moves strung together I haven’t seen before, and I got to see flashes of Charlotte perhaps making a return to being a heel. We had another clean finish in this match, which as I mentioned before, should be praised.
The Bad
There were a few times during the match that the two women paused way longer than they should have when performing their moves. For two women that have competed with/against each other for so long, more than one in a match seems like it shouldn’t happen.
The Ugly
Can someone PLLLEEEAAAASSEEE whisper in Lana’s ear that the one piece outfit she insists on continuously wearing looks so bad on hear. I know I have mentioned this before. I know it’s petty. Perhaps I am just hoping The Fashion Police will get involved.
The Fashion X-Files : The Truth Is Not H
AJ Styles/Shinsuke Nakamura vs Kevin Owens/Baron Corbin – Winners: Kevin Owens/Baron Corbin
The Good
I know I sound repetitive when these guys are in the ring. Regardless if it’s singles, tag matches, elimination, if you get these guys in the ring together it’s going to be quality. Even Corbin is holding his own recently. Maybe he’s just getting better. Perhaps the caliber of AJ, Owens and Nakamura is carrying him a bit through the match. Either way I’m enjoying him more and more as he climbs the rankings. Oh and guess what? Clean win.
The Bad
Corbin jumping Nakamura during his entrance wasn’t needed. I feel like Corbin doesn’t need to do this type of thing as much anymore. I know it is his “thing”, but now that he is at the level he is, he doesn’t need to rely on it so much.
The Ugly
I really, really…..truly…..intensely…..hate Nakamura’s “Good Vibrations” move. The hate comes from deep down in my soul. Real talk.
