Posted on 8/15/126 by Bob Magee
– As always, we kicked off the night with the arrivals to
the arena, with our principal players shown making their way
around backstage.
A Decision on Chelsea Green
SmackDown GM Nick Aldis was in the ring talking about how
WWE Women’s Champion Chelsea Green sustained a broken
orbital bone last week as he called her down regarding a
decision being made.
Aldis said that he talked to WWE medical officials and that
he couldn’t allow Green to compete with a broken eye socket.
With that in mind, Aldis told Green had to relinquish her
WWE Women’s Championship. Green responded by talking about
all the hardships and embarrassments she suffered over the
years in WWE, and that every night after she went to bed,
she knew it’d be worth it for the moment of becoming the WWE
Women’s Champion. Green said that Aldis knew how this felt.
Green declared that until someone took the title off of her,
it was hers to keep. “I thought you of all people would
understand that,” said Green as she left the ring and her
title to Aldis. Just as Green left, Aldis told her to wait.
Aldis said that as the GM, he thought he was doing the right
thing, but as the person, Aldis didn’t give a damn what
medical thought. Aldis then decreed that Green had 30 days
to get herself cleared for action and that she was right in
stating that the WWE Women’s Title was hers until someone
took it off of her.
At that moment, Gunther interrupted and said it was time to
put all our attention to important things on WWE. Gunther
asked Aldis about the stunt he pulled at SummerSlam. Aldis
told Gunther he was going to talk about it to him. He then
talked about what he did at SummerSlam as he questioned
Aldis on why he added Kevin Owens to his match.
Aldis answered by saying that in truth, it was Gunther who
was added to KO’s match, and that he did him a favor.
Gunther mocked Green, but that only got the WWE Women’s
Champion to talk trash to his faces, as Matt Cardona stepped
in to defend her wife. Gunther said that Cardona was going
to do nothing to him, and that he could call Green every
slur in the world and Cardona would do nothing. as Green
left the ring, Gunther took one more mocking word towards
Green and Cardona, which earned him a punch to the face.
************
An interesting opening segment that actually kinda worked
well. Shocking, I know. Several stories being advanced, like
Chelsea Green pouring her heart out about being a champion
even while on the mend and Gunther’s continued antagonism
towards Mr. Aldis was good to see. Will it be enough to save
tonight’s show? We’ll see.
Gunther vs. Matt Cardona
This match began after the commercial break with both men
fighting in their street clothes. Cardona punched at
Gunther, but got taken down with a forearm. Gunther then
followed it up with a chop. Cardona fought back with more
stomps as he went for a Broski Boot. Gunther rolled out of
the ring and ate a dropkick from Gunther. However, the Ring
General turned it around by slamming Cardona onto the
timekeeper’s barricade, before he powerbombed his foe onto
the commentary table and the apron. Gunther went into the
ring and looked for an easy countout win. Cardona got
himself into the ring in time.
Gunther welcomed him with a hard lariat as he continued to
antagonized Green at ringside. Back Saito suplex from
Gunther to Cardona as he continued to mock Green. Behind the
referee’s back, Cardona hit Gunther in the groin, followed
by the Rough Rider. One, two…. NO! Cardona at it again, but
Gunther drops him with the Powerbomb. Boston Crab and this
one’s done.
After the match, Nia Jax and Lash Legend appeared from the
ramp. Jax said that Green was pathetic for being injured.
Jax talked about how there was a ticking clock and that she
wanted a shot at the WWE Women’s Championship. Jax
threatened Green until Tiffany Stratton ran in for the save.
However, the Numbers Game gave the Irresistible Forces the
upper hand, with green unable to do anything due to injury.
Gunther def. Matt Cardona
This was an alright match. Kind of a formality that Gunther
would win, though I have to comment on the inconsistency
with the title defense deal, since there’s a 30 day
ultimatum for Chelsea Green, but Liv Morgan didn’t get such
a rule enforced on her.
**************
– Backstage, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss were talking
about Tatum Paxley, who had a surprise for them. This
surprise was a small locker room which was filled with
images of Charlotte, like a shrine of sorts. Charlotte and
Alexa went into the very claustrophobic room as Paxley
welcomed the two in.
– We got a recap of last week’s Cody Rhodes/Randy Orton
situation. After that, Rhodes approached Nick Aldis
backstage and asked him to book a match between him and
Randy Orton. Aldis offered to make that match for Sunday
Night’s Main Event next month in Atlanta. Sami Zayn then
appeared and went into hysterics about Rhodes and Aldis.
Rhodes wasn’t going to have any of it as he told Zayn that
he didn’t owe him anything and then challenged him to do
something about it. Zayn said that he did something that
nobody was able to do: pin Cody in the middle of the ring
clean as a whistle. This led to a match being made for
tonight. Zayn whined that he couldn’t fight because he was
hurt. Aldis sweetened the deal by stating that he’d get the
winner of next week’s Kevin Owens vs. CM Punk title match in
Toronto.
WWE Men’s United States Championship: Baron Corbin (c) vs.
Carmelo Hayes
Hayes leapt at Corbin before he could get into the ring and
was on the aggressive to start as the bell finally rang with
both men inside the ring. Hayes punched away a Corbin as he
chopped at him in the opposite corner. Ten-punches by Hayes
was followed by an enzuigiri. The signature springboard
clothesline followed as Hayes was on fire early on. Irish
whip blocked by Corbin, as he caught Hayes for a chokeslam
attempt. Hayes avoided calamity and caught Corbin on the
apron with the bread and butter no-look springboard leg
drop. First 48 was blocked by Corbin, who hit a powerbomb,
followed by the big boot that sent Hayes out of the ring.
Hard throw to the barricade by Corbin was followed by a toss
to the ringpost. Corbin then chucked Hayes into the
timekeeper area as we took a commercial break.
Back from the break as Corbin drove Hayes into the corner
before he rocked him with the hard clothesline. Corbin
hoisted Hayes on his shoulder, but the challenger escaped
and got a second win. Another no-look springboard leg drop
got a near-fall for Hayes on Corbin. From the top rope,
Hayes connected with the frog splash, but again, Corbin
kicked out at two. First 48 again by Hayes was countered by
a Corbin big boot. Powerbomb attempt turned into a roll-up,
but Corbin kicked out.
Corbin hit Deep Six on Hayes for a close near-fall. As Hayes
recovered, Hayes hit two consecutive First 48s on Corbin. He
tried to go for Nothin’ But Net, but Corbin recovered and
pushed him out of the ring. Moments later, it was the End Of
Days for Hayes’ championship hopes.
After the match, Trick Williams appeared and taunted Corbin.
That led to Li’l Yachty hitting Corbin with the Trick Stick.
Yachty avoided being wrecked by Corbin as Williams stormed
the ring and hit the Trick Shot knee on the Men’s U.S.
Champion.
Baron Corbin def. Carmelo Hayes via pinfall to retain the
WWE Men’s United States Championship
This match was probably the best of Corbin’s tenure so far,
which isn’t really saying much. This U.S. Title reign is
still doing nothing for me, but at the very least, the title
itself is being defended on the regular.
**************
Kevin Owen & CM Punk Face-to-Face
The man who will face CM Punk for the Undisputed WWE
Championship next week in Toronto came out to the ring
first, with Punk himself appearing not long after.
Punk and Owens stood on opposite ends of the ring, as Punk
opened the proceedings. He said that Owens wasn’t a coward
and he was about to say something, so it was time to say it
to everyone here in Boston. Punk did his “is it great to be
alive” routine as he told Owens to get on with it.
Owens said it was funny that Punk was talking about saying
things to his face, when Punk called KO a “fat slob” a few
feet away. Owens then got into a story about 20 years ago,
where he and “Phil” wrestled in the same independent
wrestling promotion where he was the big top guy. Owens
talked about how Punk berated and belittled him in that
locker room full of his peers. Owens didn’t like Punk for
many years, and he talked about how Punk treated KO’s
friends (perhaps indirectly alluding to The Elite). Punk
said that being hated by losers was the price to pay of not
being one of them.
Owens claimed that everything Punk did was performative and
that he was a phony. Owens said that the only reason Punk
returned to make everything right was that he had no choice,
because the type of person he was screwed everything up.
Regardless of what Punk thought of Owens, he did well for
himself. Owens put himself over for being able to go in the
ring, winning titles, and main eventing WrestleMania against
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
Owens asked Punk to say it to his face that he’s a fat indy
slob. Punk turned it around by saying if that was what Owens
actually thought of himself. Punk talked about how he was
the Undisputed WWE Champion of SmackDown, mentioning a
locker room filled of people want to face him. “I called out
Oba Femi and got endometriosis instead”. Punk saw a guy that
was smarter than him, but someone who avoided the work and
didn’t try to put one percent of the work in the business.
He called Owens wasted potential, a tough guy who was a bum.
Punk said that if Owens was more like him, he’d would’ve
been able to avoid Bill Goldberg’s spear that ended the last
run of Owens as champ.
Owens said that he loved who he was, the same person that
Punk screamed at twenty years ago. That same “fat indy
loser” was in the ring with Punk and was facing him next
week for the title in Toronto. Owens then took a shot at
Punk being unable to avoid Roman Reigns’ spear at
WrestleMania. Punk said that he saw a lot of himself in
Owens, but that he stil saw the same guy he saw twenty years
ago.
Owens mentioned that he regretted not punching him in the
mouth twenty years ago, as Punk invited him to do it. Owens
said he didn’t do it all those years ago because he knew
Punk would ruin his career, and he wasn’t going to do it
tonight because all he had to do was wait seven days to
punch him to win the title.
Punk said that Owens was going to be left looking up to him
when he put his fat ass to sleep next week.
This promo was… well, I’m just exhausted by nearly every CM
Punk feud in WWE being about worked shoot stuff that
includes indirect nods to his time in AEW and The Elite.
Call me old fashioned, but having everything boil down to
insider references and things meant to cause “smarks” to do
the Leonardo DiCaprio point to be boring after they go to
that well for what feels like the one millionth time. I’m
sure Punk vs. Owens, the actual match itself, will be good
next week but I’m just not a fan of this build at all.
**************
– Backstage, Finn Balor told Gunther that he was ready to
show him who he really was as it appeared he was going to
challenge him to a match.
WWE Tag Team Championship Triple Threat: R-Truth & Damian
Priest (c) vs. The War Raiders (Erik & Ivar) vs. The M.F.T.s
(Tama & Talla Tonga) (w/ Haku)
All teams got into it early as the Raiders and the M.F.T.s
brawled to the outside while Truth & Priest watched. That
was until Priest got on the rope and hit a crossbody that
took everyone out as we, yes, took an early commercial break
not even a minute into the actual match.
Back from the break as Truth sent Tama out of the ring.
Priest tagged in and went at it with Erik. He took out both
Raiders with kicks and clotheslines into the corner.
Superkick for Erik and the Flatliner on Ivar. Truth came
back in as he and Priest had Ivar on the top rope. Before
the could do anything, Talla Tonga took both Truth and
Priest out with a double chokeslam. Meanwhile, Ivar sent
Talla out with the cannonball. Tama found himself hit with
the pop-up powerslam by Ivar. The cover, but Tama kicked
out. Talla recovered and unleashed his offensive flurry on
everyone who was foolish enough ot stand his way.
Ivar and Priest stood up and decided to form a truce to take
the bigger Talla Tonga down with a double suplex. STF
applied by Truth to Talla, but that was broken up. Erik hit
his knee to the back of Truth as he and Ivar looked to
finish this off. Priest intervened, but he found himself
thrown into the timekeeper’s area with a pop-up powerslam
into the timekeeper’s area. In the ring, it was a swing and
a miss for Tama’s Cutthroat, which led to the John Cena
moves of doom, but that wasn’t enough. That led to Tama and
Talla hitting the Brother’s Keeper double powerbomb to pick
up the win and the WWE Tag Team Championships.
The M.F.T.s def. R-Truth & Damian Priest & The War Raiders
via pinfall
Another decent match and I do find myself not minding this
version of the M.F.T.s with Haku as the manager. Tht being
said, I am not looking forward to this somehow becoming
shoehorned into the latest Bloodline drama down the line. If
WWE can resist the urge to do that, then this tag title run
for Tama and Talla could turn out decent.
**************
WWE Women’s United States Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c)
vs. Jacy Jayne (w/ Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid)
Jayne got the early advantage by backing Stratton in the
corner before she hit the senton on the hurt ribs of her
foe. Jayne targeted the back of Stratton. The champion came
back and hit Jayne with the running attack into the back of
her head, followed by the dropkick. Jayne rolled out of the
ring as Reid and Henley caused a distraction. This allowed
Jayne to ambush Stratton with the backstabber as we took a
break.
Back from the break as Chelsea Green appeared to check up on
Stratton at ringside. In the ring, Stratton nearly had it
won on a roll-up. We got a double-down as Stratton and Jayne
hit each other with simultaneous clotheslines. Stratton
recovered and found a second wind of momentum. Cartwheel
Alabama Slam by Stratton led to her heading to the top rope.
Swanton bomb made no mistake, but Jayne kicked out at two.
Jayne kicked Stratton but got rolled-up for the near-fall.
Stratton hit the springboard handstand Stunner, followed by
the Rolling Senton. Prettiest Moonsault Ever, but Jayne
blocked it with the knees. The cover, but Stratton managed
to kicked out. Rolling Encore from Jayne countered by a knee
from Stratton. At ringside, Green got into it with Reid and
Henley, which led to Stratton hitting the two of them with
the dive to the outside, however, that was very costly. As
Stratton got into the ring, Jayne crushed her with the
Rolling Encore for the three and the Women’s U.S. Title.
Jacy Jayne def. Tiffany Stratton via pinfall to win the WWE
Women’s U.S. Championship
I didn’t mind this match. Jayne winning due to the
underlying thread of Stratton’s help of Chelsea Green
costing her big was a nice thing to continue. Now we have
the Fatal Influence trio all as champions, and this was
something done well, so credit where it’s due.
****************
Cody Rhodes vs. Sami Zayn
Before the match could start, Randy Orton attacked Rhodes
from behind. Orton planted Rhodes with the draping DDT
before he looked for the RKO. Countered by Rhodes, but the
rake to the eye led to Orton throwing his rival out of the
ring. Orton continued the attack with the steel steps to the
face. Orton planted the base of the steel steps against the
commentary table as he went after Rhodes. In the crowd,
Rhodes threw a drink in Orton’s face to regain the
advantage. He then struck Orton with a garbage can to the
face. The fight continued on through the crowd with neither
man getting a clear advantage.
This brawl eventually made its way back to ringside with
Orton now getting the best of Rhodes as the usual gang of
road agents and Nick Aldis came down. Rhodes was set against
the steel chair and helpless as Orton had the chair in his
hand. Just as Orton was going to take a swing, Rhodes hit
Orton with a low-blow. A shot to the back by Rhodes led to
Orton in the same predicament as Rhodes. Before Cody could
even hit Orton, he was stopped at the last second by some
road agents as the show faded to black just as Rhodes was
going to do something to Orton.
Cody Rhodes vs. Sami Zayn never happened
*****************
It was clear that the advertised Rhodes/Zayn match was never
going to happen just based on how we went to a commercial
break with about nine minutes of show left. The Orton/Rhodes
brawl that took place instead was fine, I suppose, but like
with a lot of things in Paul Levesque’s WWE Presented by
TKO, it’s been done to death that these kinds of brawls feel
played out rather than anything overly exciting.
This was a middle of the road SmackDown with some highlights
like Jacy Jayne winning the Women’s U.S. Championship, but
that was tempered by things I didn’t like as much, namely
the CM Punk/Kevin Owens promo. I’m burnt out on every CM
Punk feud (yes, this goes back to even his time in AEW)
relying on worked shoot stuff, and I can’t say I was too
pleased with his crack about endometriosis just for another
fat joke. Making light of a disease that primarily affects
women seems quite out of pocket, even for someone like Punk.
Like I said, I’m sure the match next week in Toronto will be
fine, but I really can’t say that I’m a fan of how this
match has been built over the last two weeks.