Reviews

The John Report: WWE Smackdown 06/05/20 Review

By John Canton • Published 6th June 2020

Welcome to the WWE Smackdown review here on TJRWrestling. The next WWE pay-per-view is Backlash on June 14.

From the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, this is Smackdown for episode #1085. Follow me on Twitter @johnreport. Please visit TJRWrestling.net daily for our regular updates on the wrestling business featuring WWE news coverage along with reviews about wrestling’s past and present. Thanks to Melo Man for the banner up top.

The show began with a shot of the developmental wrestlers in the crowd at the WWE Performance Center. The announce team of Michael Cole and Corey Graves gave us a rundown of what’s coming up this week.

There was a shot of Jeff Hardy talking to some guys that are part of the crew to show he’s doing well this week.

A video package was shown from last week with Jeff Hardy getting framed in a car accident that saw his car hit Elias’ car and Elias got taken away in a stretcher. Later that night, Daniel Bryan beat Sheamus in an Intercontinental Title Tournament semifinal match thanks in part to Hardy showing up to distract Sheamus. After Smackdown, WWE said that Hardy was absolved, which means he was framed for what happened.

Let’s Hear from Jeff Hardy

Jeff Hardy made his entrance as the wrestlers at the PC were enthusiastic about seeing him. The announcers were shown at ringside. Cole noted that Elias has a torn pectoral muscle and broken ribs and could miss a couple of months of action. If he had a legit torn pectoral muscle then that means surgery and about five or six months out of action.

Hardy thanked WWE management and Fox for giving him this time to get this off his chest. Hardy said last week, the WWE Universe witnessed something awful where people’s lives were endangered, the show was thrown into chaos and Elias suffered serious injuries that could have been a lot worse. Hardy said he wanted to give us his point of view.

Hardy said he went up to the Performance Center parking lot. He got out of the car with his stuff, then bam it felt like somebody hit him with an anvil and everything went dark. The next thing he knew, police were surrounding him asking him questions, his clothes wreaked of alcohol, his brain was barely conscious and the handcuffs were ripping the skin from his wrists. Hardy said he started to drift back to the dark time that he vowed he would never return to, so he questioned everything he worked for in the last 8 months – sobriety, his career and family. Hardy said how could he look his wife and two daughters in the eye and explain something like this? Hardy: “How many times could I beg for forgiveness?” Jeff said it’s all good because he’s in WWE for a reason. Hardy said it’s good to know he’s not in this alone because he knows he did not slip last Friday. Hardy said he was in the police station, he passed every sobriety test. There were eyewitnesses that showed up, they saw a guy get out of his car, they saw him flee the scene and they saw him with red hair and a red beard. Hardy said he couldn’t get back here soon enough. Hardy called out Sheamus saying he won’t let him get away with what he did.

Sheamus appeared on the stage with a microphone in hand. Sheamus told Hardy not to point fingers and all Jeff is doing is blaming others for his problems. Sheamus said that Jeff always has an excuse for his actions. Sheamus said that the fans are worse than Jeff and he called them enablers. Sheamus told the crowd to “shut their bleeding traps” meaning shut up. Sheamus told Jeff to be a man and admit to what he did. Sheamus said Jeff is not a man, he’s just a junkie. Sheamus said don’t worry about the embarrassment that his wife and daughters are going to feel because they’re used to Jeff doing that to them.

Hardy left the ring and went after Sheamus with punches. Sheamus managed to break free and hit a Brogue Kick to the face. Sheamus whipped Hardy into the plexiglass on the ramp repeatedly. Sheamus stood over a fallen Hardy and trash-talked him. Cole wondered if Jeff’s accusations about Sheamus are true. Sheamus posed to end it.

Analysis: I thought Jeff’s promo was pretty good as he tried to explain what happened and why it wasn’t his fault. What I thought WWE would do is have some video that showed it was Sheamus caused what happened, but they didn’t go that far with it. The problem with WWE storylines like this is they don’t try to explain that there would be a criminal investigation for Sheamus beating up Jeff, stealing his car and causing an accident that injured Elias, which would lead to jail time. It’s WWE, though, so it’s not like they are going to go that far with it. I’m just saying when WWE tries to do these kinds of storylines, they tend to leave out a lot of things. The response from Sheamus was solid while mentioning Jeff’s wife and kids to make it personal, which led to the brawl with Sheamus standing tall. Later n the show, we found out they’ll have a match at Backlash. It should be intense.

The duo of Mr. Money in the Bank Otis and Mandy Rose were shown walking backstage where they witnessed the crown and robe of King Corbin. Otis made his grunting sounds as he put on Corbin’s crown with Mandy saying it looked good on him. They walked away, then Corbin was shown backstage and Corbin asked who stole the crown. A guy standing backstage said he saw Otis wearing it, so Corbin grabbed his robe and walked away for his match.

(Commercial)

Otis made his entrance with the lovely Mandy Rose and the Money in the Bank briefcase along with Corbin’s crown on his head. They don’t even mention Otis being in a tag team with Tucker and why Tucker has been off TV. Anyway, a video aired showing highlights of Otis and Mandy doing a “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” pool scene parody video that led to a makeout session. Otis is a lucky guy. King Corbin entered looking mad about Otis taking his crown.

King Corbin vs. Otis (w/Mandy Rose)

Corbin was aggressive as he kicked Otis in the ribs, sent him into the ropes and Otis came back with a clothesline over the top to the floor. Back in the ring, Otis hit another clothesline over the top to the floor. Corbin sent Otis back first into the apron and whipped him into the ring post. They went back into the ring, Corbin did his slide out, slide back in and Corbin hit a spinebuster for two. Corbin worked over Otis with punches leading to a two count. Corbin jumped on the back of Otis, but Otis managed to drive him into the turnbuckle. Corbin with kicks that were no sold by Otis making the comeback with clotheslines and a suplex across the ring. Otis with another overhead suplex across the ring followed by a running splash against the ropes. Corbin bailed to the floor and Corbin grabbed his crown. Otis followed him, so Corbin punched him in the throat and Corbin hit Otis with a chair three times in the ribs. The first chair shot let to a DQ finish after four minutes.

Winner by disqualification: Otis

Analysis: ** A decent match where they each got some offense in, Corbin was frustrated that he couldn’t slow the big man down and that led to the cheap ending. Otis does a really nice job with the babyface comeback that he does.

Post match, Otis came back with a corner splash followed by Otis doing his Caterpillar into the elbow drop and Corbin left the ring. Mandy went into the ring to hug Otis as Otis celebrated with Mandy along with the Money in the Bank briefcase.

Analysis: The DQ finish and post match interaction likely sets up a match between them at Backlash. Does anybody remember Tucker? Poor guy is forgotten now.

There was a white van shown in the parking lot with a camera showing John Morrison and The Miz in the truck. They saw Strowman driving into the parking and parked the car with Miz and Morrison watching him as he parked. They laughed about Strowman’s car. Strowman grabbed his luggage from the trunk, nodded at a security guy and went into the building.

(Commercial)

A commercial aired for free WWE Network that was launched earlier in the week. I’ll stick with the paid version I have had for over six years, but I do think the free version is cool for people wanting to try it.

The Miz and Morrison were shown in the van talking to the camera. They said all of their co-workers and the fans at home wonder why they challenged Braun Strowman. They did imitations of people asking them why they went after Strowman. Miz said that these are the people underestimating them just like Strowman has underestimated them. Miz said that some may say that what you’re about to see is childish, juvenile and other things, but it’s really strategic. Morrison said a wise man once said: “This is how we do it…it’s Friday night.” That was a funny way to quote a Montell Jordan song from the 1990s. Miz said that by the time they get to Backlash, Strowman’s life will be a living hell.

Strowman was shown in the backstage area of the arena. He said hie to a referee was there. Strowman poured some water into some mug to mix a protein drink and it got really fuzzy with all of it spilling out. Miz and Morrison celebrated while they watched it. Strowman grunted and walked away.

Analysis: It was juvenile and silly like Miz and Morrison said. I’ll give them that for being honest.

Shorty G was about to be interviewed by Kayla Braxton backstage when Mojo Rawley showed up. Mojo mentioned his buddy Gronk tragically losing the 24/7 Title on Raw. Mojo said that Shorty’s interview just got cut short and he laughed saying it’s funny because Shorty is so short. Shorty did a fake laugh about it. Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura showed up to attack Shorty with punches. New Day showed up to save Shorty. That will set up a tag team match later.

Lacey Evans made her entrance in a rematch from last week, but when Evans got to ringside, Sonya Deville hit her from behind and sent Evans into the steel steps. Their match is next.

(Commercial)

This week on Raw, Edge is a guest on the Peep Show hosted by Christian, but will Randy Orton strike? Find out on Raw. Also, a follow up to Bobby Lashley putting Drew McIntyre in the Full Nelson last week on Raw.

Sonya Deville vs. Lacey Evans

Their match last week ended in a double countout, so this is the rematch. Evans avoided a punch in the corner, then Evans tripped up Deville and Evans jumped over the top rope into an elbow to the chest. Evans worked over the arm of Deville against the ropes. When Evans charged, Deville hit her with a boot to the face and trash-talked Deville for being blonde like Mandy Rose is. Deville choked Evans over the middle ropes with Deville hitting kicks to the legs. Deville stood on the hair of Evans followed by a hard kick to the chest. Evans came back with knees to the ribs, then Evans flipped Deville over and Deville went crashing in the left leg of the referee Danilo Anfibio (they did not say his name) and he called out for help as female referee Jessika Carr went to ringside to take over. That’s rare to do a referee injury angle.

(Commercial)

The match returned with Jessika Carr as the referee as Deville hit a kick to the head. The announcers explained the referee change while not saying the names of the officials. They showed clips of Deville getting in cheap shots during the break. In other words, they did the referee injury angle to give Deville the advantage. Evans tried coming back with a shoulder tackle, but Deville pulled on the hair for a takedown. Deville pulled Evans off the apron into her knee on the floor. That looked rough, but it was done as safe as possible. Deville stepped on Lacey’s face against the steel steps leading to a two count in the ring. Deville put Evans on the shoulders, Evans got out of it and Evans hit a running clothesline. Evans with two more clotheslines, kicks to the ribs and a kick to the back of the neck. Evans with a running knee on Deville followed by the splash against the turnbuckle. Evans jumped to the top rope and hit a moonsault for a two count. Deville came back with a knee lift to the face and Deville worked over the left arm. Deville ran the ropes leading to a running knee to the chest for a two count. Mandy Rose appeared on the video screen telling Deville she’s not a fighter, she’s a failure. Deville was furious, she called Mandy a “Barbie Doll” and Evans hit a Woman’s Right punch on Deville for the pinfall win after about 12 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Lacey Evans

Analysis: **3/4 This was a competitive match with some good action. I don’t like the video screen distraction leading to a finish, but that’s what WWE does sometimes to keep a story going. Both women are believable in terms of being strikers with Deville throwing those good kicks and I like Lacey’s offense too. They are two young women in a similar spot in terms of being on the rise where both women could be future champions. I could see them doing the match soon with Deville getting the win back. There will be more Rose vs. Deville matches too.

A face to face between Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles is up next.

A commercial aired for NXT Takeover In Your House. Read our preview right here. I’ll have a live review on TJRWrestling on Sunday night.

(Commercial)

A video package aired showing highlights of Matt Riddle coming from NXT to Smackdown very soon. I’m a big fan of the guy, so I’m looking forward to his Smackdown debut.

Braun Strowman was interviewed backstage by Kayla Braxton with Braun holding the Universal Title on his shoulder. Strowman said that Miz and Morrison messed with his protein shake, they were like annoying bugs in the summer and then we saw Miz and Morrison in the car again. Miz had a controller, he pushed a button and there was some green slime that poured onto Kayla in the backstage area. The slime didn’t hit Strowman at all. Miz said he wanted Morrison to put it on the left side and the guys argued about it. Braxton: “Those bastards!” There was some green slime on Strowman’s body, but most of it was on Braxton and Miz/Morrison considered it a success. Strowman left angrily.

Analysis: That was mildly entertaining. Poor Kayla. She’s very good at her job and I’m sure she enjoyed being part of a skit even though it led to slime getting poured on her.

It was announced that Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles will be the Grand Marshals for a Nascar Cup Series event on Wednesday, June 10 on FS1. I don’t watch car racing, but that’s cool for them.

Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles Go Face to Face

Renee Young was in the ring hosting this interview segment with the Intercontinental Title there as well. Daniel Bryan made his entrance first in his ring gear even though he’s not in a match, but he’s a wrestler’s wrestler, so that’s what he does. AJ Styles also entered in his ring gear. Their Intercontinental Title tournament final match takes place next week on Smackdown. It was already taped and was reportedly outstanding, which does not surprise me at all.

Styles said we know that Bryan is going to call Styles a coward for taking the bye to the finals while Bryan fought his way in. Styles said if Jeff Hardy didn’t get involved last week then Sheamus would have won the match. Bryan said “yes” he thought Styles was a coward while saying that AJ has his way of thinking while Bryan has his way of thinking and he’s okay with that. Styles said he took a bye into the finals because it was the smart move. Styles said when he looks in the mirror, he sees the greatest champion that WWE has ever seen. Styles said that Bryan is all heart and he’s not saying it’s a bad thing because it’s noble, but what AJ’s saying is it’s stupid.

Bryan said he sees that Styles is trying to get under his skin while adding that they have known eachother for a long time. Bryan said that they have two entirely different world views and two different visions of what it means to be the Intercontinental Champion. Bryan said in AJ’s vision he might defend that title sparingly and only a select few opponents under the guise that nobody else is good enough. Bryan said he knows Styles believes in himself as the greatest champion in WWE history, but he can’t fathom somebody shattering that vision and that is why Styles is a coward. Bryan said his vision of being Intercontinental Champion is defending that championship every week on Smackdown whether it’s against a decorated veteran or an up and coming guy, anybody that wants a shot will get it. Bryan said he wants to learn, he wants to grow and it’s not about who he is right now, but who he can be. Bryan said when the WWE Universe tunes into Smackdown, he wants them to be excited every week knowing there will be a championship match and know that somebody could break through to beat him for the championship. That is what Bryan wants and that is Bryan’s vision. The wrestlers in the PC applauded that.

Styles said it sounded like Bryan wanted Styles to give handouts. Styles didn’t believe in handouts, he believed in earning an opportunity. Styles said speaking of opportunity, how did Drew Gulak become Bryan’s coach? Styles said that it sounded like a handout. Styles said that he believes it’s a handout and Bryan believes it’s an opportunity. Styles wondered if he should give an opportunity against Drew Gulak right here tonight, right here in this very ring. Styles called out Gulak to get his handout aka an ass whipping.

That led to Drew Gulak making his entrance for this match with Styles. When Gulak got in the ring, he tackled Styles and Styles left the ring leading to a break.

Analysis: That was an awesome promo from two of the best in WWE. Early in their careers they were not known as great talkers, but in the last five years they have become two of the best talkers in WWE or anywhere in wrestling. Bryan came off as the noble babyface that said he was willing to defend the title every week against anybody. Styles was more of the crafty veteran heel that only wants to defend when somebody earns a shot. The passion with which Bryan spoke is what makes him so likable to the fans at home. Styles challenging Gulak also set up a fresh matchup for after the break.

(Commercial)

Drew Gulak (w/Daniel Bryan) vs. AJ Styles

Styles hit a running back elbow as Styles stared at Bryan at ringside. Gulak with a jawbreaker, they ran the ropes with Styles going for a dropkick, but Gulak held onto the ropes. Gulak slapped on a submission and Styles got to the bottom rope to break. Styles with a snapmare into a kick into the spine. Styles with a trip into a backbreaker. Gulak with a boot to the face, but then ran right into a clothesline by Styles. Styles had a headlock and Gulak worked him over with some punches to the ribs. Styles came back with punches of his own. Styles missed a corner attack, Gulak with a clothesline, back elbow and a dropkick that sent Styles into the turnbuckle. Gulak with a running clothesline followed by a fisherman’s suplex across the ring. Gulak with a Michinoku Driver sitout slam for two. Styles with an eye rake, then a leaping kick to the head and a reverse DDT by Styles as he stared at Bryan after he hit it. Gulak tripped up Styles and hit a bridging pin on Styles for the pinfall victory after five minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Drew Gulak

Analysis: **1/2 It was a surprising result to an entertaining short match with Styles getting overconfident leading to Gulak pulling off the victory. I liked the final pinning sequence. They worked well together, which is not a surprise because Styles is one of the best in WWE while Gulak is always going to deliver a good match when he gets a chance.

Post match, Styles was furious about the loss while Gulak celebrated up the aisle with Bryan.

Analysis: I’m going with Styles beating Bryan next week to win the IC Title for the first time in AJ’s career. A win for Bryan would be fine with me too, but I just get the feeling that Styles is going to be the IC Champion. I’m looking forward to watching that match.

The Miz and John Morrison were shown in the parking lot. They found Braun Strowman’s car there, Miz smashed the windshield with a golf club and Morrison smashed the front windshield with a baseball bat. They were proud of themselves as they left.

Analysis: There isn’t much of a story in this rivalry, so by having Miz and Morrison destroy Braun’s car like that it gives them a lot of cheap heat as the heels in the storyline.

(Commercial)

The New Day’s Big E and Kofi Kingston entered as the Smackdown Tag Team Champions. The developmental wrestlers in the crowd were dancing for New Day’s entrance. They brought out their tag team partner Shorty G, who did some interesting dance moves of his own as well. The New Day and Shorty G tossed their t-shirts at Graves, which was funny. The trio of Shinsuke Nakamura, Cesaro and Mojo Rawley entered to Nakamura’s theme song with Graves talking about how they were a cohesive unit that entered as a team.

Kofi Kingston, Big E and Shorty G vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Cesaro and Mojo Rawley

Shorty got a sunset flip pin attempt on Cesaro for two and then a headscissors. Cesaro followed up with a knee to the ribs. Shorty with a dragon screw leg whip on Cesaro and Big E tagged in only for Cesaro to meet him with an uppercut. Mojo tagged in with a running cross body block on Big E for a two count. Nakamura with a forearm to the face of Big E, but then Big E caught him and hit an overhead belly to belly suplex across the ring. Kofi tagged in with a corner splash on Nakamura, Shorty with a snapmare and Big E slammed Shorty onto Nakamura with Shorty hitting a moonsault. Big E with a running splash on Nakamura and Kingston with a splash off the ropes onto Nakamura. When Nakamura went to the floor, Cesaro was there with him and Kingston hit a somersault dive over the top onto Cesaro on the floor while Nakamura went back into the ring. Kofi was selling a left knee injury and then Mojo hit him with a running shoulder tackle on the floor while the referee wasn’t looking. Kofi sold it great with a flip bump and it looked impressive thanks to the selling. That led to a break.

(Commercial)

The match continued with Cesaro hitting a backbreaker on Kingston for a two count. Mojo tagged in, but Kofi managed to get some momentum with a double foot stomp to the chest. Shorty went up top with a cross body block on Mojo, then uppercuts and an overhead suplex on Cesaro. Shorty with a running kick on Mojo followed by a neckbreaker and Shorty went up top with a moonsault for two. Mojo went for a slam off the shoulders, Shorty landed on his feet and slapped on a kneebar, but Nakamura broke that up. Big E grabbed Nakamura, but then they went out to the floor. Cesaro hit an uppercut on Shorty that the referee never saw. Mojo put Shorty on his shoulders and did the Hyper Drive slam that sent Shorty stomach first into the mat for a two count. I thought that was going to be it. Shorty knocked Cesaro down, Big E got the tag and Kofi made the tag for the double team Midnight Hour for the pinfall win after about 12 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: Kofi Kingston, Big E and Shorty G

Analysis: ***1/2 This was a fun and exciting tag team match with some cool tag team moves by the face team. I liked that sequence where all three guys were hitting moves consecutively. When Mojo hit that big slam on Shorty I figured the heels were going to win there to put over Mojo, but then the faces came back to win. I would have liked to see Shorty win for his team because New Day doesn’t need a win as much, but that’s just a minor thing.

Braun Strowman walked out into the parking lot with some green body paint on him. Strowman saw the car and yelled about how he worked his whole life to get that car. The Miz and Morrison watched from a white van in the parking lot. Strowman asked a security guy where they were, so the security guard told Braun because he was scared of Strowman. That led to Strowman punching the van. Strowman looked into the camera that was there and he told them they were dead men. Miz and Morrison were freaking out about it in the van. Strowman did one of his feats of strength spots and flipped the van over onto his side with Miz and Morrison selling it. Strowman laughed about it and told them that was funny.

Analysis: It’s a feat of strength moment to put over Strowman as we have seen in the past. When the camera angle is like that then he’s obviously getting help tipping it over. That’s the magic of television. With that said, the build for the Universal Title match at Backlash has been poor. It’s one of the weakest major title matches on a PPV that WWE has ever done.

(Commercial)

The announcers noted that Jeff Hardy vs. Sheamus was added to the Backlash PPV on June 14. They also mentioned Braun Strowman defending the Universal Title against The Miz and John Morrison, which we already knew. They will need to add more Smackdown matches.

The Women’s Tag Team Title match gets to main event this week. The champions Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross were up first. Sasha Banks and tag team partner Bayley, the Smackdown Women’s Champion, made their entrance. Banks and Bayley are the first Women’s Tag Team Champions that won the titles when they debuted in February 2019.

Women’s Tag Team Championships: Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross vs. Bayley vs. Alexa Bliss

The team of Bliss and Cross were in control of Bayley for the first minute or so. Bliss slapped Bayley, but then Bayley was able to power Bliss over to the heels corner. Banks tagged in and sent Bliss into the turnbuckle. Bayley got some payback with a slap to Alexa’s face. Bliss got a rollup on Bayley and then Cross got the tag with a running bulldog on Bayley for two. Bayley went to the floor, so Cross hit a baseball slide dropkick, Cross sent Banks into the ring post and Cross hit a cross body block off the apron onto Bayley on the floor. Banks went after Cross, so Bayley hit a knee on Cross to send her out of the ring. Banks hit a double knee attack off the apron onto Cross on the floor leading to a break.

(Commercial)

The match returned with Banks and Bayley hitting a double team slam. A WWE tag team match returning with a face in peril happens about 95% of the time. Banks with a double knee attack leading to a two count and Banks grabbing a chinlock. Banks got a backslide pin for two. Banks tagged in with a chinlock, Bayley drove Cross into the turnbuckle and Bayley took too long to attack, so Cross moved. Cross blocked a neckbreaker attempt, shoulder tackle and Bliss got the hot tag. Bliss with two clotheslines, two punches for Bayley and two punches for Banks. Bliss with a dropkick on Bayley followed by the knees to the ribs two times. Bliss did a slow climb up top, so Banks grabbed the leg a bit and Bayley hit a forearm. Bayley hit the Bayley to Belly suplex off the middle ropes and Banks tagged in with a running knee to the face of Bliss for a two count. Good nearfall. Bliss sent Banks into the middle ropes, Cross took care of Bayley on the floor with a Tornado DDT and Bliss hit a Sunset Bomb for a two count for another good nearfall. Cross got the tag, she went up top and hit a cross body block on Banks for two. Banks avoided a neckbreaker, Banks with a backstabber and Banks went for the Bank Statement, but Bayley made the tag. Bayley tried a submission, Cross got out and hit a neckbreaker for two as Banks broke it up. Banks slapped on the Bank Statement on Cross again, Cross countered that, Banks countered and hooked Nikki’s arms down for the pinfall win and there’s a title change. Sasha and Bayley are the Women’s Tag Team Champions. It went about 13 minutes.

Winners by pinfall AND NEW Women’s Tag Team Champions: Bayley and Sasha Banks

Analysis: ***1/4 This was a good match with Banks working her ass off to get the win for her team while also saving Bayley when it was needed. They booked Banks in a way that made her a big star and also likable to the fans even though she’s a heel. Banks was awesome here. There was a moment where it looked like Bayley was going to cost the team, then Banks saved Bayley, tagged back in and got the win for the team. The Bliss/Cross team was fine as the champions, but it’s not like they had any interesting storylines although WWE tried that feud with them and The IIconics. Putting the women in the main event of Smackdown and giving them time to have a good match like that is nice to see. It will help raise the credibility of the titles a bit too.

Bayley and Banks celebrated the win with Bayley holding both of her titles. They showed replays of the finish.

Bayley and Banks continued the celebration with Bayley bragging about how the two titles are so heavy. Bliss and Cross looked on from the ring. That was the end of the show.

Analysis: That was a funny celebration. Congrats to Bayley on becoming #BayleyTwoBelts if she wants to go with that name like Becky Lynch did. I still think that Banks is going to split away from Bayley soon and maybe it’ll involve the tag team titles. Perhaps there will be a spot where Bayley can save Banks and she doesn’t do it, which is what costs them the titles. Now that Bayley and Banks are champs again I don’t expect a long title reign, but they can do a title loss to set up the feud.

During their backstage celebration, Sasha and Bayley went on the floor to celebrate in an over the top way. It was a dig at the reports from last year that they were sad about losing the tag team titles last year at WrestleMania. Both women denied that happened and whoever reported it apologized for it. We never reported it on TJRWrestling, for the record.

Three Stars of the Show

Sasha Banks/Bayley
New Day/Shorty G
Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles for that promo

I’m bad at picking just three people. I admit it.

The Scoreboard

7 out of 10

Last week: 6.25

2020 Average: 6.14

Final Thoughts

I thought it was an entertaining edition of Smackdown this week. There were several matches that were very good and they were given time to tell a story. I’m a big fan of Smackdown episodes where we get at least three matches over ten minutes. This roster is incredibly talented and it’s just a matter of giving people a chance to show what they can do. There were also some entertaining promos from Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles to set up their Intercontinental Title match next week. The explanation for the Jeff Hardy angle from last week was okay, but not great and now we know it’s Hardy vs. Sheamus at Backlash.

The Women’s Tag Team Title match was one of the better matches for those titles with Sasha Banks really getting a chance to shine as the star of that match. Bayley is entertaining as a heel as well. The Bliss and Cross team worked well with them. I liked the six-man tag team match a lot. Evans and Deville had a hard hitting match although the ending was cheap. They started an angle with Otis and King Corbin, so that’s probably going to be a Backlash match. The segments with Braun Strowman dealing with Miz and Morrison were cheesy, so that feud for the Universal Title isn’t interesting.

Overall, I enjoyed the show. Smackdown has been better post Money in the Bank and I like where some things are headed.