Posted on 8/08/126 by Bob Magee
– We opened with a memorial graphic for the late, great Dory
Funk Jr., who passed away this week. May he rest in eternal
peace.
– After the signature open, we saw the arrivals of Baron
Corbin, Trick Williams, Charlotte Flair, plus Jade Cargill
and her Baddies. Following that, we went to Joe Tessitore
and Wade Barrett, who welcomed us to the show. We learned
that the first thirty minutes tonight would be commercial-
free, as Cody Rhodes made his way to the ring to kick us
off.
Cody Rhodes opens SmackDown
Rhodes walked down to the ring, days removed from being
screwed over by Randy Orton at SummerSlam in Minneapolis.
Rhodes didn’t waste any time and called out Orton to face
him in the ring, right here and right now. He went into the
“what do you want to talk about” spiel when Orton didn’t
show up. Rhodes discussed how the wrestling world lost a
“champion’s champion” in Dory Funk Jr., before he shifted to
the memories he had in Philadelphia at WrestleMania 40 when
he finished the story. Rhodes then talked about how he lost
to the Best in the World on Saturday, as he assumed that CM
Punk did not know about Orton’s intervention.
The mere mention of Punk brought the Undisputed WWE Champion
himself to the ring. Punk took a mic and said that it
sounded like his friend wanted to ask him a question, so he
got right to it. Rhodes asked Punk if he knew about Orton’s
return. Punk said that it kinda hurt that he was asked, but
he said that knew nothing about Orton before offering he and
Rhodes go backstage and beat Orton’s ass. Rhodes declined
and said that he will beat Orton up himself before giving
the ring to Punk.
As Rhodes left, Punk talked about the unfinished business
that they had, noting “say when”. At that moment, Kevin
Owens appeared on the stage, perhaps ready to talk to CM
Punk about being the new contender for the Undisputed WWE
Championship. Owens and Rhodes stared down before the latter
offered a microphone silently.
Inside the ring, Owens walked right up to Punk’s face and
shared some words with the Champion as Nick Aldis appeared.
Owens looked towards Aldis and told him that he’d be
professional about it. Punk asked if Owens wanted to
wrestle, to which the new No. 1 Contender said that it was
all he wanted to do. Owens said that for 17 months, he lived
in uncertainty due to a career-threatening injury, but he
was proving people wrong for his entire career and here he
was. Owens said that people had come up to him and told him
that “CM Punk was a changed man”, but Punk was actually
proving him right by offering Cody Rhodes a shot over him.
Owens called Punk an “arrogant sociopath”, one that he’s
always been.
Punk responded by saying that he was the Best in the World,
and that some people didn’t like he did so, but he backed it
up time and time again. The fact that Punk was the
Undisputed WWE Champion meant that he was the Best in the
World. Punk talked about how Owens benefitted from his
arrogance, and from what he had been through. He was called
“skinny fat” in the past, as he asked if WWE was watiing
around, holding their breath for Kevin Owens.
Owens said how he spent years picturing the perfect way to
be a Champion, and that it involved winning and humbling CM
Punk to do so. Punk mocked Owens, stating that he’d be
working a 9-to-5 job every day and working weekend indy
dates without him and that Owens should be grateful for him.
Owens said that Punk was right in that… but, Punk also
showed Owens about what not to be, namely how somebody’s ego
could be affected by calling themselves “The Best in the
World”. Owens thanked Punk because it showed him how to not
let this business turn him into a “miserable piece of shit”
like him. The staredown got tense before Aldis and the
assembled referees and security agents got in the way before
any fighting can start.
This was a hot start, yes. Kevin Owens is a fantastic promo,
but I’m kind of burnt out on worked shoot angles and it
seems like almost all of CM Punk’s angles in WWE are in that
realm. At the very least, Owens did his part of the promo
really well. Interesting start to the show.
***********
Men’s United States Championship: Baron Corbin (c) vs. Trick
Williams
Corbin took down Williams to start the match, but he got hit
with a jumping clothesline by the former U.S. Champion
afterwards. Outside the ring, Corbin was thrown all around
by Williams, right over the timekeeper’s area. Williams
leapt over the barricade and wiped out Corbin with a jumping
lariat as we took a commercial break (with the advertised
“commercial free half-hour” being dominated by the
Punk/Owens opening promo and the U.S. Title match
entrances).
Back from the break with Corbin in control of the match.
Corbin punched at Williams’ head twice before he grabbed him
by the hair and threw him into the corner. That seemed to
fire Williams up, who hit Corbin with two side kicks,
followed by the flapjack. Williams then gave Corbin the slap
to the face as he stomped away at him in the corner.
Williams dropped Corbin with the sit-down Death Valley
Driver, but that only got a near-fall. Williams looked for
the uranage, but Corbin countered it. That just led to
Corbin getting hit by the spinning kick to the face by
Williams.
Williams attempted the Trick Shot, but Corbin turned him
around for the Deep Six and a very close two-count. Both men
got to their knees and exchanged strikes as they eventually
rose to their feet. The trading of blows continued until
Williams hit Corbin with the jumping neckbreaker. Outside
the ring, Corbin rammed Williams into the ring post. As
Corbin threw Williams into the ring, he took the U.S.
Championship belt. That opened him up for the Book-End. The
cover, but Corbin kicked out at two. Williams once again
targeted Corbin, but that got countered into the End of
Days. However, Williams reversed that and got a head of
speed to hit Corbin with the Trick Shot. The cover, but
Corbin got a foot on the ropes. Corbin rolled out of the
ring and smashed the U.S. Championship belt across Williams’
face to get the cover and the title retention.
Baron Corbin def. Trick Williams via pinfall to retain the
Men’s U.S. Championship
This match was decent, but I’m just not feeling Corbin in
his return. He was never really a particularly good wrestler
and I don’t think much has changed since his WWE exit.
***********
– Sami Zayn approached Nick Aldis and whined about his
predicament as Kevin Owens appeared. Owens talked to Aldis
and said he wanted a shot at CM Punk’s Undisputed WWE
Championship in a couple of weeks time in Toronto. Zayn
complained that Owens’ return messed things up for him and
demanded an apology. Owens did so, but he noted that Zayn
would do it if he was in Owens’ position. Owens said that
he’d take care of it on his own, even with Zayn’s offer to
help. “Don’t expect me to stop chasing what I want just
because it happens to be what you want,” said Zayn.
– Baron Corbin spoke backstage that Trick Williams wasn’t
ever going to get the U.S. Championship, and that nobody
would get a shot at the U.S. Championship. That’s when
Carmelo Hayes jumped in and attacked Corbin. Hayes told
Corbin that he was going to face him for the U.S. Title next
week in his hometown of Boston.
Chelsea Green’s WWE Women’s Championship Celebration
The new WWE Women’s Champion (introduced as such and not as
an “Interim” one), made her way down to the ring, which was
covered in celebratory balloons, a red carpet, and
decorations. Green had a huge smile on her face as she told
the Philadelphia crowd that she loved them.
Green said that she appreciated the fans for sticking with
her for the beginning and pledging her allegiance. Because
of the crowds cheers, it was a huge part of the reason why
she walked out of SummerSlam the new WWE Women’s Champion.
Green said that she wanted to thank herself, as well as her
beautiful, stunning, blonde bombshell of a friend, Tiffany
Stratton.
Stratton entered the ring as Green immediately apologized
for what she did on Sunday, but she knew that her friendship
with Stratton was stronger than that. She wanted to offer a
toast to strong, female friendships. Stratton said that she
had something to talk to Green about, but they were
interrupted by Fatal Influence.
Jacy Jayne talked about how if it wasn’t for Stratton, she
would’ve been in the SummerSlam ladder match and she
would’ve become the WWE Women’s Champion. Fallon Henley said
that Green didn’t deserve to be the WWE Women’s Champion.
Jayne pointed out that Stratton took away her chance at the
WWE Women’s Champion, Jayne was going to take something from
her… namely the Women’s U.S. Championship. Stratton
responded by saying that she’d give Jayne a shot at the
Women’s U.S. Title if Fatal Influence gave her and Green a
shot at the Women’s Tag Titles. Jayne accepted.
This was a fine segment, made interesting by the specific
reference of Chelsea Green as the WWE Women’s Champion
without the “Interim” tag, indicating that now-former Champ
Rhea Ripley’s recovery is going a bit slower than
anticipated, with Ripley even posting an update this week
essentially saying as much.
I do think we’re going to be on the road to a Tiffany
Stratton heel turn soon, and the interactions here with her
and Green will get that started.
***********
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Fatal Influence (Fallon
Henley & Lainey Reid) (c) vs. Tiffany Stratton & Chelsea
Green
This match began during the commercial break and we joined
the action in progress after the break. Green and Stratton
showed great teamwork against Reid. Stratton used her
athleticism to avoid Reid’s codebreaker attempt as Henley
tagged in and hit her with the single heel kick. Stratton
bounced right back with the handpsring Stunner as she tagged
in Green. The two hit stereo running knees to the back of
the stunned Henley and Reid. This was followed by suicide
dives to the outside as, yes, we went to another commercial
break two minutes into the match.
Back from the break as Green hit a neckbreaker on Reid as
Stratton got in the hot tag. Stratton hit the cartwheel
floatover Alabama Slam on Reid as she ascended to the top
rope. Swanton by Stratton on Reid, but Henley immediately
cracked her with the elbow. Green tagged in and looked for
the Un-Pretty-Her on Reid, but that got reversed. Reid to
the top rope, but Green threw her out. Jacy Jayne hit Green
with the Rolling Encore, which opened her up to the Fatal
Flaw from Henley and Reid to pick up the win here.
After the match, The Irresitable Forces attacked Green and
Stratton. Nia Jax took the WWE Women’s Championship and
raised it above her head.
Fatal Influence def. Tiffany Stratton & Chelsea Green via
pinfall
Not sure if booking the new WWE Women’s Champion to lose in
a tag match, then get beaten up afterwards by a third party
is wise booking. The match itself was just average, with the
standard interference finish.
***********
– We learned that next week on SmackDown, Damian Priest & R-
Truth would be defending their WWE Tag Team Titles against
the M.F.T.s and the War Raiders in a triple threat tag team
match.
– Because there’s time that needs to be filled on this two-
hour show, we got a video package for Brock Lesnar, who
supposedly retired after SummerSlam last weekend.
Randy Orton returns to SmackDown
To a great ovation from the Philly crowd, Randy Orton made
his first appearance on SmackDown in several months. A recap
of what happened at WrestleMania 42 last April with Orton
attacking Cody Rhodes post-World Title loss.
Upon entering the ring, Orton was serenaded with chants.
Before Orton could say anything, Cody Rhodes interrupted
looked like he wanted to fight. Rhodes charged the ring, but
Orton rolled out of the ring. Rhodes, with mic in hand,
challenged Orton to get in the ring to fight him. Orton
teased confronting Rhodes, but backed off.
Rhodes said that Orton owed him an explanation for what he
did at SummerSlam. Orton responded by saying that he didn’t
owe Rhodes anything. Orton said that Rhodes asked for this,
giving him permission to be the very best version of Randy
Orton he could be. Orton said that he gave Rhodes the best
version of himself at WrestleMania, but that only ended in
defeat. At that moment, the voices came back in Orton’s head
and they told him to do whatever he could to punt Rhodes as
hard as he could. That was the moment that it would be the
“worst” version of Randy Orton can and would take the World
Title. Orton vowed to do whatever he could to ensure Rhodes
would never become the WWE World Champion ever again.
Rhodes talked about how he was no longer held by the
standards of the WWE Championship, how he no longer had to
be the good guy. The way Rhodes saw it, Orton was the last
legend standing, with the only question left to answer: “Who
Kills You?”
This Rhodes/Orton feud sure feels like a do-over after the
trainwreck that was their WrestleMania 42 feud, Pat McAfee
involvement and all. In which case, I oddly dug this segment
and I hope this second go around with Cody vs. Randy goes
better than the last go-around.
***********
– Sami Zayn talked with Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae
about his laments, as CM Punk showed up. Punk told Zayn that
he was in the back of the line, even behind Gargano and
LeRae.
– We got a video from Nikki Bella explaining what happened
with her injury and how Paige let her and Brie Bella down.
Nikki blamed Paige for her sister’s injury, promising to she
was going make her feel pure misery.
Next Week on SmackDown
WWE Women’s U.S. Championship: Tiffany Stratton vs. Jacy
Jayne
WWE Tag Team Championship Triple Threat Match: Damian Priest
& R-Truth vs. The War Raiders vs. The M.F.T.s
WWE Men’s United States Championship: Baron Corbin (c) vs.
Carmelo Hayes
– Shinsuke Nakamura warned the M.F.T.s that he was going to
start a war, and that he wasn’t going to fight it alone.
Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill
As the bell rang in our main event, Cargill and Flair stared
one another down before the collar-and-elbow tie up test of
strength. Neither woman had the advantage at this stage of
the match as the two forced themselves out of the ring. At
ringside, Cargill drove Flair to the hard edge of the aprin.
Back in the ring, Cargill hit Flair with a running shoulder
block. As Cargill taunted, Flair kipped back up and took
advantage. Flair delivered the “Queen’s Decree” to a downed
Cargill, but she got rolled out of the ring while Cargill
had Flair on her shoulders. Flair was dropped onto the
commentary table, then deposited over the timekeeper’s
barrier as we took a commercial break.
This match returned from the break as Cargill went for the
cover after hitting a spinebuster. Cargill missed with the
running attack into the corner, as Flair countered with a
German suplex afterwards. Both women got to their feet and
launched bombs at one another with elbow strikes and
forearms a-plenty. Flair bounced back with chops to the
chest of Cargill. The pump kick by Cargill missed, but she
managed to stop Flair’s walkover clothesline with a big
boot. Flair whipped to the ropes, but she flipped over to
the apron and then connected with the crossbody. Cargill
rolled over that for the pinning combination, but to no
avail.
Cargill hit Flair with the big kick to the face, followed by
the Torture Rack Powerbomb. The cover, but Flair kicked out
at two. With Flair down on the mat, Cargill headed to the
top rope, but couldn’t get her move down. Flair recovered
and went for a Stratusphere, but Cargill caught her and
turned that into an avalanche powerbomb. One, two…. NO!
Cargill again missed with the pump kick and had her foot
caught on the top rope. Flair blasted her with the big boot
as she locked in the Figure-Eight. B-Fab and Michin caused a
distraction. At that moment, Alexa Bliss made her return,
with Lilly the doll in her hand. The lights went out
suddenly and Tatum Paxley was on the top rope and she hit a
crossbody on Michin & B-Fab at ringside!
Back in the ring, Flair hit Cargill with the Sister Abigail
DDT, paying homage to her best friend. She then hit a Super
Natural Selection for the pin and win in our main event.
Charlotte Flair def. Jade Cargill via pinfall
***********
This main event match was pretty rough, especially the
finishing sequence. However, it’s saved from total disaster
because of Tatum Paxley debuting as an ally of Flair and
Bliss, which was at least a nice surprise.
Tonight’s SmackDown wasn’t a particularly great show, but it
was better than previous weeks. The Cody Rhodes/Randy Orton
feud should be much better this time around with no Pat
McAfee running around. That said, the show is still rather
tough to follow from start to finish, between the weird flow
between matches and time-wasting recaps of Raw, and is
probably best consumed through highlights and snippets.