Posted on 11/01/125 by Bob Magee
– Following the WWE signature, we went to shots of Salt Lake
City, as well as shots of Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, Nia
Jax, Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair, as well as Jade
Cargill (dressed as the Punisher).
– We went to a recap of Jade Cargill’s attack on WWE Women’s
Champion Tiffany Stratton from last week. Michael Cole and
Corey Graves then welcomed us to tonight’s show before
Stratton interrupted.
Tiffany Stratton opens SmackDown
Stratton demanded that Jade Cargill come out to fight her
now until SmackDown GM Nick Aldis asked that she back down
as there was to be no physical contact before tomorrow
night.
Cargill appeared as GM Aldis had security come out to
prevent physicality. She said that she tasted her own blood
last week and it only made her hungry to become the WWE
Women’s Champion. Cargill vowed to end “Tappy Time” tomorrow
night as Stratton tried to come at her. Security got in the
way and prevented any physicality to happen.
Kind of a nothing segment and didn’t really do anything to
build towards the Cargill/Stratton title match for tomorrow.
**********
–
U.S. Title Open Challenge: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Nathan
Frazer
As Fraxiom was entering for the Open Challenge, Tommasso
Ciampa stormed past the two and was upset about not getting
picked. Dragunov interrupted and told Ciampa that Frazer
would get the opportunity as he got him to leave.
Once the match started, Dragunov struck Frazer in the corner
but found himself floored by an enzuigiri. Frazer followed
that up with a suicide dive on Dragunov. Back in the ring,
Frazer used his agility to briefly stymy the U.S. Champion,
but a Dragunov chop put a stop to that. We went to
commercial after Frazer went face-first onto the commentary
table.
We returned from the break with Dragunov connecting with the
repeated German suplexes on Frazer. He managed two before
Frazer landed on his feet on the third. Frazer leapt off the
middle rope with an amazing reverse DDT followed by a
shooting star for the near-fall.
Frazer’s kick was blocked by Dragunov, who dropped him with
a standing uranage. That wasn’t enough to end this Open
Challenge. Dragunov tried to jump at Frazer, but found
himself flying over the top rope. A missed senton by
Dragunov allowed for Frazer to land a frog splash, but that
only got a near-fall as we took a second break in the
action.
Action resumed with Dragunov attempting a powerbomb, but
Frazer managed to stun him with a kick. On the top rope,
Frazer had Dragunov set up for a Frankensteiner. After a
struggle, Frazer nailed it as he had Dragunov on the
backfoot with a dropkick outside the ring. He then took off
from the top with a Phoenix Splash. One, two…. Dragunov
barely kicked out!
After he battered Dragunov with punches, Frazer tried to go
to the top rope again. The U.S. Champion chopped at Frazer’s
knee, which let him connect with a middle rope suplex.
Frazer miraculously kicked out at two after that high-risk
move. This war of attrition ended with Dragunov finishing
Frazer off with a powerbomb, followed by the H-Bomb for the
three.
Post-match, after Dragunov showed respect for Frazer’s
effort, Tommasso Ciampa attacked the defeated challenger
outside the ring. Axiom and Johnny Gargano made their way
down to the ring as a brawl erupted between the teams.
Ilja Dragunov def. Nathan Frazer via pinfall to retain the
United States Championship
A fantastic Open Challenge match as Frazer got his time to
shine and looked incredibly strong in defeat.
*********
– Backstage, as Fraxiom and #DIY were brawling, Dragunov was
confronted by Tama Tonga, who did his signature “yeah yeah
yeah” taunt while he had the U.S. Title in hand.
Kit Wilson vs. Carmelo Hayes
Wilson got the advantage early with a flying elbow to Hayes,
as he pulled at his head and then stomped on the back of the
head. Wilson hit a swingng DDT.
Hayes fought back with a chop followed by a hurricanrana.
Wilson retreated from the ring, but got dropped by a
vaulting press from Hayes. Outside the ring, The Miz threw
Hayes into the ringpost with the ref distracted. This
allowed Wilson a temporary advantage, but Hayes won out with
the First 48.
Post-match, The Miz snuck up on Hayes and delivered a Skull-
Crushing Finale.
Carmelo Hayes def. Kit Wilson via pinfall
Nothing really to write home about in terms of a match, and
this Miz/Hayes feud is alright, I suppose.
**********
– Sami Zayn asked to have the Motor City Machine Guns’ back,
but Nick Aldis told him to stand down. Cody Rhodes showed up
and had some friendly words with Zayn before Mr. Aldis asked
Rhodes bluntly if he had something to do with the attack on
Jacob Fatu two weeks ago. Rhodes denied it, and was then
asked by Aldis if he read the contract for the Saturday
Night’s Main Event match.
Nia Jax vs. Alexa Bliss
Jax took a cheap shot at Bliss while she was conversing with
Flair to start off the match. Jax crushed Bliss in the
corner as she held the upper hand to start off here. Jax
missed on an elbow, which gave Bliss an openingS
Bliss got caught and thrown into the ringpost by Jax. A
missed running hip charge across the apron caused Jax to
crash into the ringpost. However, outside the ring, Jax took
control once again by tossing Bliss into the barricade. This
took us into commercial.
The match continued from the break as Bliss dodged a running
hip strike in the corner. Bliss chopped away at Jax’s leg
and kept her grounded with a kick to the head. Jax ran into
the steel post again, which stunned her. Bliss headed up to
the top rope, but was caught for the Samoan Drop by Jax for
the near-fall.
Bliss was dragged into the corner as she was in the drop
zone for the Annihilator, but Charlotte Flair got on the
apron and created a distraction, this let Bliss drop Jax
with a kick and pick up the win.
Alexa Bliss def. Nia Jax via pinfall
Just a standard underdog vs. giant match as Bliss got the
win with the help of her tag partner.
**********
– Rey Fenix challenged Solo Sikoa to a match. Instead, Sikoa
offered Talla Tonga to face him next week instead. Fenix
slapped Talla in the face afterwards.
– The WrestleMania 42 teaser was shown.
– Damian Priest said that Aleister Black will feel his
punishment soon enough.
Saturday Night’s Main Event Card:
Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Drew
McIntyre
Intercontinental Championship: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs.
Penta vs. Rusev
World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk vs. Jey Uso
WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade
Cargill
The M.F.T.s (JC Mateo & Tama Tonga) (w/ Talla Tonga, Tanga
Loa, and Solo Sikoa) vs. Motor City Machine Guns (Chris
Sabin & Alex Shelley)
The Machine Guns had the upper hand early with a double team
assault that kept Mateo and Tama on their toes heading into
the commercial break.
We returned from the break as Tama held Shelley in a
resthold as the MFTs held the advantage now. Shelley escaped
with a Flatliner to the middle turnbuckle to Mateo, which
allowed him to tag Sabin in.
Sabin was a force as he held his own against Mateo and
Tonga. Shelley had the clear for the suicide dive. A Solo
Sikoa distraction allowed Tanga Loa to dump Shelley from the
top rope, followed by the not-so-hidden blade of Tama
Tonga’s Cutthroat for the MFT victory.
Sikoa had the MFTs attack the Machine Guns after the match,
as Rey Fenix and Shinsuke Nakamura tried to make the save,
but fell victim to the MFTs’ numbers game.
The MFTs def. Motor City Machine Guns via pinfall
Standard tag match followed by a standard beatdown by the
“Bloodline with a new hat” afterwards. Not much home to
write about.
*********
Next Week on SmackDown
Talla Tonga vs. Rey Fenix
Ilja Dragunov’s U.S. Title Open Challenge
Charlotte Flair vs. Nia Jax
Cody Rhodes/Drew McIntyre contract signing
Nick Aldis introduced Rhodes first to the ring. Once Rhodes
entered, he took the microphone as he wished Salt Lake City
a Happy Halloween. Aldis then introduced Rhodes’ Saturday
Night’s Main Event opponent, Drew McIntyre. Once both men
were in the ring, Mr. Aldis asked them to sign the contract.
McIntyre refused to do so, while Rhodes did so without
question. The Scotsman said he would not sign such a
“lopsided” contract as he complained that if he were to be
disqualified or counted out, Rhodes would keep the title.
Aldis stated that he had enough of McIntyre’s whining as
there were many others in the back that would gladly do it.
As McIntyre walked out, Rhodes called him out and said that
maybe McIntyre wants it where if he were to be counted out
or disqualified, the title will change hands.
Despite Aldis’ protestations, he agreed the new terms.
McIntyre again boasted about how he was the “real” American
Dream as opposed to Rhodes. The Undisputed WWE Champion
admitted that McIntyre may have created the blueprint that
many followed. Rhodes said where he and McIntyre differ was
when he was fed up with WWE, while Drew got fired. “Nice
guys used to finish last, ‘til I showed up,” said Rhodes.
McIntyre again whined and riled up Rhodes by invoking his
daughter’s name. In the chaos, Rhodes was again blasted by a
Claymore from the Scotsman. McIntyre then powerbombed him
through the table. McIntyre talked trash some more as the
Levesque & Fitting producer credits ended the night.
*********
A fine enough contract segment to end a rather weak SNME go-
home show. McIntyre standing tall does not bode well for his
chances of winning.
The rest of the show was just there, but seek out the
Dragunov vs. Axiom Open Challenge match. That was my
highlight of the night.