Posted on 8/24/124 by Bob Magee
– The show began with a video recapping last week’s
Bloodline developments. Video of the Bloodline entering the
building then aired. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller were
introduced and The Grayson Waller began.
The Grayson Waller Effect with Cody Rhodes
This was fairly formulaic, but it did the job. This long,
slow walk towards Waller and Theory breaking up has more
than overstayed its welcome – so much so, that to me, it’s
almost already come back around and is beginning to be
mildly interesting again. I could do without teasing tension
between Cody and KO in the main event, just because it feels
so predictable. Hey, here’s an idea: Owens fully turns on
Cody and goes full-on bad guy. That’d be fun. Speaking of
fun, I got a kick out of seeing Jericho on a WWE video
package the weekend of All In.
Waller introduced Cody and Cody came out to a loud pop. Cody
tried to pose on the top rope and Waller cut everything off,
telling Cody it was an interview and Cody needed to sit
down. Cody grabbed a microphone and said “So …” but Waller
finished with “Washington, D.C., what do you want to talk
about?” Waller said everything in the WWE is about Cody
Rhodes. The crowd chanted Cody’s name. Waller said, “These
idiots don’t know the real you,” while referencing the
crowd. Waller asked Cody what kind of friend Cody is and
mocked him.
Cody jumped in and asked Waller if he thought he was a bad
friend. Cody referenced Kevin Owens and said Owens could and
has beaten everyone on the SmackDown roster. Cody said Owens
has been fighting the Bloodline since before Cody came back.
Cody said Owens has not stopped fighting and he followed
that up by saying he has never used Owens. Cody asked Waller
if Waller could say the same thing and insinuated that
Waller was using Austin Theory. Cody called Theory “Magic
Mike,” which was funny, and told Theory that Waller was
using Theory and everyone is waiting for Theory to do
something about it.
Waller chimed in and said they would never turn on each
other. Waller said he prepared something for Cody to watch
and introduced a video package on Kevin Owens. The video
package chronicled all the times Owens turned on his
friends. That package included, among others, his program
with Chris Jericho. Back in the ring, Waller said that
didn’t look like a good friend to him, and just like that,
Owens’s music hit and Owens walked out with a mic. Owens
soaked in “KO” chants.
Owens said they are trying to convince Cody he’ll turn on
him, but Owens said everyone in the video had it coming –
except for Kofi Kingston. Owens said everyone knows what’s
going to happen … and eventually Nick Aldis will make a tag
match with the four. Aldis walked out and Owens asked Aldis
if he could make a tag match for tonight. Aldis said it’s a
done deal and the main event will be Kevin Owens & Cody
Rhodes vs A-Town Down Under. Owens asked Aldis if he could
still punch Waller right now and Aldis told Owens to make it
quick. The four briefly brawled until the heels retreated
and Cody’s music hit to end the segment.
**********
LA Knight defeated Santos Escobar to retain the U.S. title
[9:05]
This was ostensibly a home game for Knight, who once called
Hagerstown, Maryland, home, and Hagerstown, Maryland, isn’t
all that far from Washington, D.C. That said, it was nice to
see him get the win in front of (presumably) his family and
friends. There was very little suspense about the outcome
because this was Knight’s first title defense and … well,
come on. Still, both guys showed up for work and Escobar can
look to run it back without the rest of LDE being banned
from ringside. All the crowds love LA Knight anyway; they
loved him a little more tonight.
As the introductions began, Berto and Angel pulled Knight to
the outside and attacked him before the bell rang. Escobar
stood in the ring, smiling. As a result, referee Jessika
Carr sent Berto, Angel and Elektra Lopez to the back. The
bell finally rang and Escobar leapt at Knight, but Knight
moved and rolled Escobar up for a two-count. Escobar went
right back on the offensive and slammed Knight for a two-
count. The show then went to a break.
Back from that break, Knight landed a neck-breaker to take
control. The two went to the outside and Knight slammed
Escobar onto the commentary table repeatedly. Knight cleared
off the table, but Escobar threw Knight into the table.
Escobar then went to the barricade and hit a double-knees
onto Knight, onto the commentary table. Escobar went to the
top rope and landed a frog splash on Knight inside the ring
and got a two-count out of it. Escobar went to work on
Knight’s shoulder/arm. Escobar went for an elbow drop, but
Knight moved and before long, followed that up with an
inverted atomic drop.
Knight hit a running clothesline and a neck-breaker before
stomping a mud hole in Escobar. Knight then landed a clunky
Side Effect for a near-fall. Knight set up for a BFT, but
Escobar countered with a super-kick. The two battled on the
second rope until Knight pushed Escobar off and hit an elbow
from the top. From there, it was the BFT and the end.
**********
– Carmelo Hayes cut a promo in a barber shop and was talking
trash until Andrade barged in and challenged Hayes to a
match next week.
– Legado Del Fantasma were fighting backstage and Baron
Corbin and Apollo Crews walked into the scene. Escobar said
he would not tolerate disrespect and he would talk to Aldis
to “sort this out next week.”
Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair & Naomi defeated Alba Fyre, Isla
Dawn & Blair Davenport [9:35]
This was better than I expected it to be, though I’m not
even quite sure I know what I expected it to be. Good work
from all women involved. The pretzel-like submission that
Fyre worked midway through the match on Belair was fantastic
– and Belair sold it accordingly, too. Cargill gets just a
tiny bit better each time she’s out there and this was no
exception. There’s a lot to be said about the way WWE has
used her since she came over from AEW, but things kind
of/sort of feel like they are starting to work with her.
Naomi getting the win was a nice touch. Davenport taking the
loss, meanwhile … eh. She could use some booking love on
Friday nights.
Belair and Dawn began the match with Dawn getting the best
of Belair early on. Belair came back with a slam and a
springboard moonsault. Belair kicked Dawn and Dawn rolled to
the outside. From there, Belair landed a splash on Dawn on
the outside and the show went to a commercial break. Back
from the break, Blair Davenport had tagged in and was
working over Belair. The three heels landed an impressive
sequence of triple-team moves on Belair for a two-count.
Dawn ran in and taunted Cargill. With the referee distracted
the heels posed for the crowd. Dawn was the legal woman for
a split second until Fyre tagged in and the two front-
suplexed Belair. Fyre worked a submission on Belair until
Belair worked her way out of it with a back-breaker. Dawn
tagged in and cut off a hot-tag attempt, but Belair wasn’t
having that and landed a vertical suplex on Dawn and got the
hot tag to Cargill.
Davenport tagged in as well, but Cargill took out all three
heels, complete with a powerbomb and fallaway slam. The
heels fought back, but Naomi tagged in and hit a cross-body
on Davenport and Dawn. Naomi then landed dueling draping
DDTs on Davenport and Dawn. Cargill then kicked the hell out
of Fyre. Things broke down and went to the outside, where
Belair took everyone out with a cross-body. Back inside the
ring, Naomi hit a split-legged moonsault on Davenport and
got the win for her team.
**********
– A Bash In Berlin video aired and Natalya narrated it. The
Hart family was featured heavily in the video – including
Bret, Owen and the British Bulldog.
– The Bloodline made their entrance. Jacob Fatu was in a
walking boot. Solo Sikoa had a microphone and said,
“Washington, D.C., acknowledge me.” Sikoa said he had a lot
to talk about and he asked the crowd, who was booing him
loudly, to keep it down. Sikoa said their “O.T.C. is
D.O.N.E.” The crowd still chanted “OTC!” Sikoa said whoever
wins the title match at Bash – Cody or KO – Sikoa has next.
Sikoa said he will bring the undisputed title back to his
family. “We want Roman!” chants broke out. Sikoa reminded
everyone that Roman wasn’t there. Sikoa then said there is
something wrong with the tag team titles. Sikoa told Fatu to
step up. Sikoa told Fatu to give Sikoa his title. Fatu went
to hand it over, but Sikoa told Fatu to give it to Tanga
Loa. Fatu obliged. “You can’t wrestle!” chants began and it
was very, very funny. Fatu was promoted as the “personal
enforcer” for Sikoa. Fatu and Sikoa embraced and Fatu
screamed he loved Sikoa repeatedly. The Street Profits
walked out and mocked the Bloodline. Dawkins yelled that the
Profits want the smoke and walked to the ring for their
title match.
– LA Knight cut a promo backstage and talked about how he
was home. Knight said he was going to cross the ocean and
defend his title in an open challenge at Berlin next
weekend.
The Bloodline (Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa) defeated The Street
Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) to retain the WWE Tag
Team Titles [9:12]
I don’t know what the hell the deal is with Jacob Fatu and
if he’s injured, or how much he’s injured, or if this is all
a work, or if … whatever. But him throwing around super-
kicks like that – I like it. I also like the fact that
somehow, someway, we don’t really know for sure one way or
another what the deal is with Fatu. I guess we’re supposed
to assume that he isn’t cleared to wrestle because he’s not
a tag champion anymore … but if he wasn’t cleared to
wrestle, how can he get away with all the physicality?
Whatever it is, this adds a nice wrinkle to the act and this
match was pretty good. The “You can’t wrestle!” chants
beforehand had me cracking up, but Tonga Loa was fine here.
I’m interested to see how these tag champs work out. #DIY
still being involved in an unexpected – but welcome –
development. Does the Bloodline hold on to these belts until
the Lucha … oh, never mind.
Guerrillas of Destiny … er … the Bloodline had control early
over Dawkins. Ford ultimately tagged in and landed a
standing moonsault on Tonga for a two-count. Ford followed
that with a clothesline and another two-count. Loa tagged in
and the two hit a combination neck-breaker on Ford. Loa kept
control until Ford landed an enziuri and tagged in Dawkins.
The Profits worked over the Tongans and Dawkins hit a Sky
High before tagging on Ford, who hit a frog splash on Loa
for a two-count that was broke up by Tonga. Tonga tagged in
and on the outside of the ring his some type of modified
Cross-Rhodes on Ford on the outside. The show went to a
break.
The show returned and Loa and working over Ford inside the
ring. Ultimately, Loa went for a pop-up move on Ford, but
Ford countered with a DDT. Dawkins received the hot tag and
Tonga tagged in. Dawkins went on a tear and Tonga was the
recipient. Dawkins landed a Silencer and tagged in Ford, who
helped out with a pop-up neck-breaker. Dawkins tagged in
again and shoulder-blocked both Loa and Tonga on the outside
of the ring. Ford followed that up with the leap over the
ring post spot. Still, Fatu ran over and super-kicked both
Profits with his walking boot. As a result, Tonga covered
Dawkins for the win.
After the match, the Bloodline worked over the Profits, but
#DIY’s music hit and Gargano and Ciampa ran out. The
Bloodline got the better of them with Fatu landing his pop-
up Samoan Drop on Ciampa. Sikoa then hit the Samoan Spike on
Gargano and Ciampa. To end things, the Bloodline stood tall.
**********
– Cody and KO were talking backstage. Owens said they want
to shut Waller and Theory up. Owens referenced the video
from before where Owens turned on all his friends and Owens
told Cody he’s not that guy anymore. Owens said he didn’t
ask for the tag match to set Cody up. Cody said he’ll just
take Owens at his word and be ready for what happens next.
– Saxton was shown backstage and B-Fab walked out of the
trainer’s room. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell showed up
and were concerned. Everyone was scared about what condition
#DIY and the Profits were in.
– A Michin vignette aired and it was very good.
– Pretty Deadly was shown gluing on pink diamonds onto Nia
Jax’s crown, which was messed up last week by Michin.
Tiffany Stratton asked Jax if there was anything she could
do for Jax and Jax said she could start by fixing Jax’s
crown. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven were shown talking
around the corner from Jax and they speculated about
Stratton cashing in on Jax eventually. Jax shut Niven and
Green up and said she was in no mood tonight. Next week,
Michin and Jax will wrestle in a street fight for the WWE
Women’s Championship.
Cody Rhodes & Kevin Owens defeated A-Town Down Under
(Grayson Waller & Austin Theory) [11:38]
Like I said earlier in this recap, I was hoping for a hard
turn from KO, but it was not to be. Still, this was all
right. Not terribly offensive. Not terribly inspiring.
Pretty much the kind of WWE television main event one would
expect on their way to a PLE. At some point, Waller and
Theory’s run on SmackDown like this is going to have to be
studied. They keep showing up. They keep working main
events. They keep losing. They keep … seem lesser than the
main event? That sounds harsh, but I’m not sure how else to
put it. Either way, it always works, even if it working
means it’s also kind of boring. For now, it’s on to the go-
home show.
Cody and Waller started the match. Cody had control early
and tagged in Owens, who chopped Waller and tagged Cody back
into the match. Owens quickly tagged back in and the
babyfaces had the upper hand, continuously working over
Waller. Theory tagged in and hit a rolling dropkick on
Owens. Theory pummeled Owens as the show went to its final
commercial break.
The show returned, and Owens and Waller were battling on the
top rope. Owens got the best of it, punched Waller off the
top and hit a frog splash. Owens got the hot tag to Cody and
Cody unleashed on Waller, complete with a Disaster Kick.
Waller went to the outside and Cody tried to run the ropes,
but Theory cut Cody off. As a result, Waller landed a
rolling Flatliner on Cody for a two-count. Theory tagged in
and kept control over Cody.
While Theory worked a head-lock on Cody, Owens fired up the
crowd. Before long, Cody managed to hit a Cody Cutter to
even things out. Cody went for a hot tag, but Theory cut
Cody off with a back-drop and a two-count. Waller tagged in,
but Cody took care of the heels and crawled towards Owens.
Cody got the hot tag to Owens and Owens clotheslined both
heels on the outside of the ring. Owens also hit a pair of
Sentons on the heels. Back inside the ring, Owens landed a
Cannonball and a Swanton Bomb on Waller, but Theory broke up
a pin attempt. Cody then hit a Cross-Rhodes on Theory and
Owens followed that up with a pop-up powerbomb on Waller for
the win.
The commentary team ran down the Bash In Berlin card. Owens
looked like he was going to hit Cody with the belt, but
instead gave Cody his belt back. The show closed after that,
and it was a bit of a fun way to end things.