Just 48 hours before WWE takes over Chicago for its Hell in a Cell premium live event. SmackDown hit the Fox airwaves for an episode highlighted by the continuation of the rivalry between unified WWE tag team champions The Usos and the newly formed tandem of Shinsuke Nakamura and Riddle.
Fans found out Friday night in a broadcast that also saw the return of Madcap Moss following a three-week hiatus caused by the dastardly Happy Corbin.
The New Day kicked off the go-home edition of SmackDown before Hell in a Cell and said they were again back on the winner’s list thanks to Drew McIntyre. The latter joined Kofi and Woods in the ring before talking about Big E, who was still healing from his neck injury.
1. Drew McIntyre and The New Day vs. The Brawling Brutes
A show-opening promo from New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods eventually incorporated the man that joined them for last week’s victory over Sheamus, Ridge Holland, and Butch, the former WWE champion, Drew McIntyre.
The Brawling Brutes predictably interrupted the proceedings, leading to a rematch of last week’s main event so predictable, that most novice fans could have seen it coming.
A solid, action-packed match concluded with Butch delivering the Bitter End to Woods to score the win for the heels and beg the question: Why is this feud continuing? Sheamus and Co. have battled New Day for months to no measurable benefit to anyone involved.
They keep wrestling each other for no real rhyme or reason beyond WWE Creative’s failure to find anything else for them to do.
Now, McIntyre has been dragged into the mix, hardly the position a prospective world championship contender finds himself in.
As if the repetitive matches were not bad enough, the outcome saw the heels inexplicably get their win back just seven days after finally getting their comeuppance at the hands of Woods.
In the typical unraveling of everything good about last week’s match, Woods suffered the fall and lost some of that critical credibility he gained through his win a week ago.
Lazy Creative was helped somewhat by a perfect match between five strong workers and a sixth in Holland who is improving weekly.
2. Jinder Mahal vs. Humberto
The latest in the burgeoning dance gimmick of the massive Shanky saw his partner, former WWE champion Jinder Mahal, battle Los Lotharios’ Humberto in a singles competition.`
The Modern-Day Maharaja scored the win in a nondescript match more concerned with getting over Shanky’s new on-screen gimmick than anything that went down between the ropes.
After the bell, Shanky danced with Samantha Irvin at ringside, teasing a potential on-screen pairing between the two. Whether that is for better or worse remains to be seen, but Vince McMahon’s fingerprints are all over this one.
Shanky has adopted a character that worked wonders for Hall of Famer The Great Khali. Whether he has the awkward charisma to pull it off as the former world champion did remains to be seen.
3. No. 1 Contender Six-Pack Challenge Match
The search for SmackDown women’s champion Ronda Rousey’s next challenger continued Friday with a 6-Pack Challenge Match featuring top contenders Raquel Rodriguez, Shotzi, Xia Li, Natalya, Shayna Baszler, and Aliyah.
A fast-paced match in which there was a lot of movement without anything happening. It saw the wily veteran Natalya seize an opening created by Rodriguez and score a pinfall victory on Shotzi for the win and title opportunity.
There are always worse options than Nattie, who has put in the work and established herself as a future Hall of Famer. She is one of the most technically sound wrestlers on the roster and has repeatedly shown up and shown out when given the opportunity in these high-profile title matches.
Her submission-based style should mesh well with Rousey’s and result in a perfect game if nothing else.
The Queen of Harts is hardly the most exciting option, but it makes sense that WWE officials would want to avoid overexposing the Rodriguez-Rousey match-up. A showdown between Rowdy and real-life best friend Baszler deserves a better build and much more fanfare than a thrown-together program.
With Shotzi and Aliyah stuck in an undercard feud and Li nowhere near ready to be taken seriously in a match with Rousey, Natalya is as good as any option. Unfortunately, her win came in a game that could never develop into more than a collection of spots before the abrupt finish.
Result – Natalya won the match and earned a title shot against SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rouse
4. Madcap Moss Returned, Attacked Happy Corbin
Madcap Moss returned, stepping out of an ambulance before entering the arena with new theme music, a new look, and a more serious demeanor than fans have seen out of him during this most recent run.
Happy Corbin interrupted the proceedings, as expected before WWE official Adam Pearce ordered a match between the two to start immediately.
After several moments of stalling by Corbin, an infuriated Moss unloaded on his rival with a steel chair. He then teased using the steel steps to smash the heel’s head. Officials hit the ring to prevent the assault. Samantha Irvin announced on commentary that Corbin was the official winner of the match due to disqualification.
From the promo to the “match,” this was a solid bit of business, thanks to the aggression-filled performance of Moss. Gone were the bad jokes and pandering to fans. He was serious, intense, and hellbent on avenging a career-threatening attack from Corbin. The result was a crowd that bought into him and wanted to see him punish his former cohort.
That time will come sooner rather than later. For now, fans can at least be cautiously optimistic that WWE has switched up Moss’ presentation.
Result – Happy Corbin def. Madcap Moss via DQ
5. Undisputed Tag Team Championship Match: Riddle and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. The Usos
The much-publicized Unified WWE Tag Team Championship match pitting The Usos against challengers Riddle and Shinsuke Nakamura did not entirely turn out as expected, thanks to a scripted mid-match injury suffered by The Artist.
Nakamura’s departure from the bout left Riddle alone to preserve championship aspirations and avenge the injuries suffered by RK-Bro teammate Randy Orton.
He came seriously close to pulling off the inconceivable, only to have one of the great performances of his WWE run come to a disappointing end. This followed a late-match distraction provided by Sami Zayn, who cued up Roman Reigns’ theme music from the production truck, allowing the Usos to take advantage and score the successful title defense.
The match was fantastic, should have been on the premium live event Sunday, and, like him or not, Riddle continues to impress with every passing contest. He is a great babyface, a physical performer. He has worked hard to implement the facial expressions and body language that help differentiate the quality and genuine leading event performers.
Kudos to The Usos, too, who have stepped up and helped carry SmackDown in cousin Reigns’ absence. Zayn has been equally as excellent as the delusional coattails rider.
Result – The Usos def. Riddle & Shinsuke Nakamura to Retain Undisputed Tag Title
6. About WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., doing business as WWE, is an American professional wrestling promotion. A global integrated media and entertainment company, WWE has also branched out into other fields, including film, American football, and various other business ventures.
WWE shows are sports entertainment, featuring story line-driven, scripted, and partially choreographed matches; though including moves that can put performers at risk of injury, even death, if not performed correctly. It was founded in 1953 as the Capitol Wrestling Corporation and is the largest wrestling promotion in the world. It is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.
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