Shane McMahon suspended!
Vince McMahon’s WWE return announced!
And James Ellsworth gets broken up with, snogged and slapped all in one night - or as I call
it, Thursdays.
I’m Oli Davis and this is the 5th September 2017 edition of Smackdown Live...in about
4 minutes.
Kevin Owens & Shane McMahon Carmella’s pre-announced match against Natalya
was meant to kick off Smackdown, but Ellsworth’s introduction was interrupted by the bout’s
new referee Kevin Owens.
Rather than officiating the match, though, KO chose to complain more about Shane McMahon.
Some shuffling trainer feet later and Owens and the Smackdown Commissioner had their version
of John Cena and Roman Reigns’ worked shoot promo from last week.
KO said everything Shane does is to impress his dad - jumping off Hell in a Cell (presumably
foreshadowing their eventual October pay-per-view match) and even surviving a helicopter crash.
In fact, the McMahon family would be better off if he died in the latter.
Strong words, but it was KO referencing Shane’s kids that sent the Commissioner crazy.
Probably too crazy.
It looked like he genuinely punched Owens in the face going by KO’s developing shiner
backstage].
It was a good angle, and the possibilities of KO suing the McMahon family and taking
over Smackdown are mouthwatering...but the idea of Shane physically getting the better
of actual wrestlers still irks me from a believability standpoint.
He should try to beat them up, but - not being a professional athlete - get knocked out in
return.
Shane’s story is the underdog’s, not the toe-to-toe fighter defending his family’s
honour.
Natalya beat Carmella With the hot opening angle over, Carmella
could finally take on Natalya, which she lost in about 3 minutes when Ellsworth attempted
to cash in her briefcase at the wrong time.
And then the heartbreak came yet again.
Owens and Jericho, Ciampa and Gargano, Goldust and R-Truth - to a much less extent - and
now…Carmella breaking up with Ellsworth.
Thankfully - as they’re a very entertaining act - the two were back together by the end
of the night.
But Carmella demonstrated a new aggression, snogging and then slapping Ellsworth, saying
they’re doing things her way now.
With Naomi vs Natalya on next week’s show, perhaps ‘her way’ means finally cashing
in that briefcase...
Dolph Ziggler Redebuts After two weeks of teasing a new gimmick,
Dolph Ziggler redebuted as John Cena.
And then the Macho Man Randy Savage.
And then Naomi.
He cycled through their entrances, stopping each one midway through to rile on the crowd
for liking characters over actual wrestling.
Ziggler pulled this off very well, and it’s an effective build for his reported feud against
another wrestler with a glorious entrance...Bobby Roode.
Aiden English beat Sami Zayn After Aiden English’s victory was scrapped
from the record books last week because of KO’s interference, he won his rematch against
Sami Zayn with a surprise roll-up in about a minute.
This was the worst part of the show and did nothing for anyone.
Shane McMahon Suspended Following the events that opened Smackdown,
Daniel Bryan called Shane McMahon down to the ring, where - in typical McMahon family
fashion - he suspended the Commissioner in front of the live crowd on Vince’s orders.
What a dad.
Baron Corbin beat Tye Dillinger Baron Corbin beat Tye Dillinger in a very
solid TV match, made even better by AJ Styles screaming ‘CHEAP SHOT, CHEAP SHOT’ on
commentary when The Lone Wolf punched Tye in the throat.
Corbin is so much better in this mid-card heel role, rather than being forced into a
main event slot that doesn’t yet fit him.
Afterwards, AJ asked Tye to answer his US Title Open Challenge next week.
10!
Shinsuke Nakamura beat Randy Orton Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura actually
opened Smackdown, delivering backstage promos looking RIGHT INTO THE CAMERA.
And in even better eyeline aesthetics, Jinder Mahal watched the night’s main event between
them from a VIP box in the arena - a refreshing change from the usual awkwardly angled TV
screen shot backstage.
Orton and Nakamura had a great, counter-based match to become the No. 1 contender for Jinder’s
WWE title - the best being a fantastic counter from Shinsuke turning an RKO into an armbar
mid-air.
Randy made Nakamura look very strong, losing clean to the Kinshasa.
Meaning Shinsuke has beaten both John Cena and Randy Orton in just over a month...probably
just to lose to Jinder Mahal at Hell in a Cell.
Vince McMahon Return Announced Smackdown found an even better cliffhanger
to finish on, though - Bryan telling Owens backstage that Vince McMahon will be on next
week’s episode to address his and Shane’s situation.
So that was this week’s Smackdown Live in about 4 minutes, here’s the usual ratings
recap from top to bottom: SmackDamn, Smacktastic, Smack Bang In The Middle, Ellsworthy and 19
hour Summerslam.
I’ll reveal my score very shortly, but first, vote in the poll above my head to give it
your own rating.
I’ll announce the results in tomorrow’s WrestleTalk News.
What a fantastic episode of Smackdown Live.
The Tye/Corbin and Nakamura/Orton matches were very good, the Owens/McMahon storyline
threading through the night was sufficiently intriguing, and Corey Graves was a pleasure
to listen to on commentary.
And what’s even more impressive is the foundations it laid for next week’s show - effectively
a mini-pay-per-view in Las Vegas.
The Usos vs New Day in a Tag Team Title Street Fight, Natalya vs Naomi for the Women’s
Championship, Dillinger to answer AJ’s open challenge, and the return of Vince McMahon!
This week’s Smackdown is a very, very solid SmackTastic.
But what’s the real reason JBL is no longer doing commentary for Tuesday nights?
And meanwhile, over on Raw, Roman Reigns has embraced his inner heel.
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I’ve been Oli Davis and that was wrestling.