The WWE Smackdown Reaction for September 30, 2022

Welcome to the WWE Smackdown Reaction, where I offer my take on this week’s show in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Extreme Rules is next Saturday, October 8th.

As always, you can check out John’s full in-depth report here.

We kick things off with the epic return of the Smackdown Intro. I almost forgot the show had one. I couldn’t tell you the last time I saw it played. There was some really good pyro to hype up the fans.

We go straight to the ring for our opening bout, Sami Zayn and Solo Sikoa taking on Ricochet and Madcap Moss. I think I could get into the Ricochet/Moss team as a regular thing. They seemed to work well together. Zayn/Sikoa also worked well together. This was a really fun tag match to get the show going. The Canadian fans were really into Sami Zayn and wanted him to pull out the victory, but this match was all about establishing Sikoa’s power. Sikoa picked up the win for his team in the great match.

After the match, Zayn and Sikoa run into Jey Uso at The Bloodline’s locker room. Jey continued to show his distrust of Zayn. This storyline has rejuvenated The Bloodline gimmick, in my opinion.

Karrion Kross talked in a video package about his upcoming Strap Match with Drew McIntyre. The mysterious QR Code appeared at the end of it. I think the strap match is going to be really good. Still not sure who will pick up the win just yet.

Austin Theory was running his mouth backstage about Drew McIntyre, who was standing behind him. McIntyre told Theory, You, Me, In the ring, Now.

Alpha Academy showed up as Theory was walking to the ring. The “match” ended quickly with Alpha Academy getting involved. McIntyre was getting beat up 3-on-1 so Johnny Gargano, of all people, runs down to lend a hand. Cory Graves would offer up the tidbit later that Gargano and McIntyre were former Evolve Tag Team Champions together. Ah, that makes sense instead of sending Strowman down. We need a Canadian to help now, so Kevin Owens fits that bill. KO and company drive Theory and the Academy from the ring. I smell a six man tag coming. Where’s Teddy Long? We find out in a little bit that the six man tag is booked for the main event.

The Maximum Male Models are backstage with the Maxine Dupri attempting to set some Canadian record for longest pose, which they would hold throughout the remainder of the show with various people appearing backstage looking at them. Max Dupri eventually is not impressed and appears to end the Maximum Male Models. Please give us LA Knight back.

Shotzi does a Saturday Night’s Main Event style promo on Bayley backstage. I liked that. More please.

Hit Row comes out for the easy win over Los Lotharios for payback from their attack last week. Let’s build up some tag teams for The Usos, please.

Ronda Rousey takes on Natalya next. The match was solid and accomplished establishing Rousey as a threat for Extreme Rules. Rousey picks up the win and Liv Morgan comes out with a baseball bat (nice Fox baseball plug there) to face off with Rousey in the aisleway. They fight over the bat before security comes down for the pull apart. Morgan has been impressive with the new shot of intensity lately. Last week, she put Lacey Evans through a table by hitting a top rope senton to the floor. This week, she’s swinging at Rousey with a bat turning into a pull apart brawl. Morgan is gaining credibility as the weeks go on. They should have done this a while back.

Promo Time with Imperium is next. They talk about their Extreme Rules six man tag donnybrook match and GUNTHER’s (now in all caps for whatever reason) IC title match on next week’s “Season Premiere” of Smackdown. Sheamus shows up without his Brawling Brutes buddies, who were stuck in Florida because of Hurricane Ian. Sheamus was ready to fight anyway. They start brawling with Imperium getting the upper hand with the numbers advantage. This feud has been well done since Clash at the Castle. The Brawling Brutes have been turned face as a result and I think there could be a title change next week. It’s the only title Sheamus hasn’t won and they keep pointing that fact out.

Michael Cole offers breaking news, announcing the passing of Antonio Inoki. Corey Graves acknowledged Inoki’s unrecognized WWE Title run, which was surprising. Triple H is more about recognizing past history elsewhere than Vince McMahon was, that’s for sure.

Bayley is backstage to offer up a counterpoint Saturday Night’s Main Event style promo ahead of their match.

Bayley is out first without her Damage CTRL partners, since they were stuck in Florida. Shotzi got her tank entrance back and it shoots off pyro instead of missiles. I think that is a safer option. The match was good but only served up for Bayley to get a win ahead of her Extreme Rules match. Bayley attacked Shotzi after the match and Bianca Belair came down for the save. They scuffle a little bit to end it, nothing like the Morgan/Rousey pull apart.

It’s main event time with Panda Express (Kevin Owens and Johnny Gargano) teaming with Drew McIntyre to take on Austin Theory and Alpha Academy. The match was decent and the ending was never in doubt. McIntyre picked up the win for his team by pinning Theory after Owens and Gargano took out Alpha Academy. After the match, McIntyre gets the strap out and whips Theory with it to close out the show.

I know that John rated the show a 7 out of 10 in his review. I think that is a fair rating to go with. The main focus was to keep things moving along to next week’s Extreme Rules PLE.

Let’s take a look at tonight’s highs and lows.

The Highs

The opening tag match was the match of the night. I liked how well both teams worked together and their styles meshed well.

I really liked the Saturday Night’s Main Event style promos by Bayley and Shotzi. Can this be Smackdown’s thing but at the beginning with the matches that had been announced prior by WWE?

The Lows

The Maximum Male Models attempt at breaking the Canadian posing record was kinda dumb and I agreed with Max Dupri that they should be trying to go for WWE Tag Team gold instead. The tag division could use some additional teams. Maybe they’ll get repackaged as a semi-respectable team.

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You can find me on Facebook or Twitter (@ciscowebwiz76) with any feedback or discussion.

That’s all I’ve got, until next time.