The John Report: WWE SmackDown 08/30/24 Review
This is WWE Smackdown featuring LA Knight defending the US Title, Nia Jax-Michin in the main event, Cody Rhodes-Kevin Owens talking, and more.
It’s the final Smackdown episode before WWE Bash In Berlin (check out the preview here) on Saturday in Berlin, Germany. Tonight is the first of four nights in a row of WWE reviewing for me since I’ve got Smackdown, then Bash in Berlin on Saturday afternoon, then NXT No Mercy on Sunday night, and Labor Day Raw on Monday night as well. I do review NXT as well, but usually not live like the other shows. This is also the second last episode of Smackdown on Fox before it moves back to USA Network (for those of you in the US) on September 13th.
From the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany, this is Smackdown for episode #1306. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport. Let’s get to it.
There were arrivals shown earlier in the day featuring Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens, who was shown wearing his “Sami Zayn forever” shirt. Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton were also shown walking outside the building earlier in the day.
It was Michael Cole on commentary with Wade Barrett. Cole noted it was 27 years since WWE television aired from Germany. Cole mentioned on Raw that he’s going to be on commentary with Corey Graves on Smackdown starting next week. Barrett is starting on Raw this coming Monday with Joe Tessitore. The teams will change in January again. The German commentary team was there as well.
Let’s Hear From LA Knight
The United States Champion LA Knight got a huge ovation wearing a shirt that says “I Lack People Skills” on it. LA noted it has been 27 long years since WWE has done a major televised event here in Berlin. The fans shouted “YEAH” when Knight cued it up. Knight said that sitting on his shoulder is the US Championship and just last week he had his first title defense in the US capital of Washington, DC. Fans booed so Knight said you don’t need to boo it. The fans chanted “you deserve it” for Knight. LA said that he might as well defend it over here in the capital of Germany as well. The fans cheered. Knight said he’s holding the LA Knight Invitation US Open Challenge, so if anybody wants to answer it, come on out to accept the challenge.
It’s Ludwig Kaiser from the Raw brand and he got a huge ovation because he’s a German-born wrestler. Kaiser said that if Knight is really the champion that he says he is then he wants to defend that title against the very best all over the world. Kaiser claimed that nobody was better on German soil than the German Ludwig Kaiser. Kaiser said that he’s going to take the US Title and make it bigger than it ever was by making it his own personal European Championship. There were “Ludwig Kaiser” chants from the fans.
Knight told Kaiser it’s impressive and called him Gunther’s stooge. Knight said that the only problem is that Kaiser can’t win the title from Knight. LA said that he’s going to make Kaiser pledge allegiance to the US Champ with everybody saying…“LA Knight…yeah.”
Analysis: It was a good promo from Knight as usual while Kaiser accepting it was a smart choice. I thought Kaiser would be on the Bash in Berlin PLE, but he isn’t in a match on it, so it makes sense to use him here even though he’s a Raw guy. Somebody might be out there complaining that a Raw guy is competing for a Smackdown title without any explanation, but it really doesn’t bother me. Plus, when it’s an open challenge, WWE can say that is open to anybody. Simple enough.
(Commercial)
United States Championship: LA Knight vs. Ludwig Kaiser
Knight wrenched on the arm of Kaiser and flipped him over onto his back. Kaiser got some offense going with an uppercut punch followed by stomps. Knight came back with a clothesline. They left the ring where Knight hit a belly-to-back slam onto the ring apron. Kaiser sent Knight kidney-first into the ring and sent Knight back first into the steel steps. Kaiser ran around the ring and dropkicked Knight’s shoulder into the steel steps. The move is really just Kaiser dropkicking the steps to make noise, but it works because of how the opponent sells it.
(Commercial)
Kaiser was in control of Knight while the fans were singing and chanting in support of their fellow German Kaiser. Knight picked up Kaiser against the turnbuckle while the fans were chanting Kaiser’s name. Knight clotheslined Kaiser over the top to the floor. Knight rammed Kaiser’s head (more like arms) onto the hood of the German commentary table. Back in the ring, Knight hit a jumping neckbreaker followed by an elbow drop off the middle turnbuckle. Knight stomped on Kaiser repeatedly followed by a running knee to the side of the face. Knight ran the ropes leading to Kaiser hitting a jumping kick to the face for two. Knight and Kaiser exchanged punches followed by Knight hitting a powerslam. Kaiser slipped out of a BFT attempt and got a rollup for two followed by a clothesline. Kaiser hit a running kick to the jaw. Kaiser had Knight on his shoulders for a Kaiser Roll that was like a rolling senton. Knight came back with a knee along with a Side Effect-like move. Knight hit the BFT (Blount Force Trauma) for the pinfall win after about 12 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: LA Knight
Analysis: ***1/4 It was a pretty good match with Knight picking up the win, which was expected. The match was a rare sight in the sense that Knight didn’t get the loudest cheers of the match, but the fans did like him enough to cheer him by the end of it. Kaiser had a few moments where he looked like he might win and the fans bought into it, so that always helps. The finish was rather sudden with Knight hitting a few moves before hitting the BFT for the win.
There was a clip shown of Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys nearly hitting a teammate with an RKO. Parsons is a great NFL pass rusher and if he’s a WWE fan then they should get him involved.
A video aired promoting Gunther defending the World Heavyweight Title against Randy Orton at WWE Bash In Berlin. In my preview, I have Gunther getting the win in what should be an outstanding match that could be one of the best matches in WWE this year.
The team of Baron Corbin & Apollo Crews entered for tag team action.
(Commercial)
There was a video shown about the WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax, who also won Queen of the Ring earlier in the year. Jax is in the main event tonight against Michin.
Baron Corbin & Apollo Crews vs. Legado Del Fantasma – Angel & Berto (w/Santos Escobar & Elektra Lopez)
The Berto/Angel team is also called Los Garza apparently. Crews connected with a dropkick on Berto along with a delayed vertical suplex for two. Corbin tagged against Angel leading to Corbin hitting a double clothesline on both opponents. Corbin worked over Angel with punches followed by a uranage slam into the turnbuckle. Corbin ran the ropes leading to a clothesline on Angel. Legado did some double team cheap shots on Corbin followed by Angel doing a running kick on Corbin. Berto tagged in leading to Corbin sending him over the top to the floor. Crews tagged in with a hurricanrana on Angel. Corbin launched a running Crews over the top onto both Legado guys on the floor.
(Commercial)
The heel Legado boys were in control of Crews. Angel hit a running kick on Crews. Angel charged, Crews avoided it and Corbin made the tag. Corbin was on fire with a hiptoss and a running knee. Corbin slammed Angel off the shoulders and Corbin connected with a clothesline on Berto. Corbin lifted up Berto into a Cutter for a two count because Angel broke up the pin attempt. Crews tagged in with a cross body block off the top and a German Suplex on Angel. Crews went for a German Suplex on Berto, but Berto landed on his feet and Berto hit a springboard kick. Angel kicked Corbin and then Angel/Crews did a double cross body block collision to put them both down. Corbin gave Angel a uranage slam onto the German commentary table. Lopez distracted the referee, so Escobar sent Corbin into the steel steps. Berto got a rollup on Crews, but Crews came back with a pump kick. Crews went up top, Angel went after Crews and Berto hit an armdrag takedown off the top. Angel tagged in leading to Berto tossing Angel into the air leading to a knee by Angel and Cole said it’s called MTY short for Monterrey where they grew up. It went about ten minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Legado Del Fantasma – Angel & Berto
Analysis: *** A good tag team match with plenty of action and both teams coming close to winning a few times. The difference was Escobar getting involved by shoving Corbin into the steel steps without the referee seeing it, so once again the numbers game plays a factor. Angel & Berto are a talented duo that just needs to pick up more wins to look more credible as a unit. Corbin & Crews work well together, but they haven’t won a match yet as a team, so I think their role is just to put over younger talent for the most part. That could change in the future if WWE feels the need to push them.
Solo Sikoa and The Bloodline were shown in a darkened room. Solo Sikoa said that next week, The Bloodline will be against #DIY and The Street Profits. Solo said when he took over The Bloodline, he sacrificed his own brother Jimmy Uso and then he took out the “Wise Man” Paul Heyman. Solo said he took out Roman Reigns and he took the Ula Fala meaning he took the rights to be called The Tribal Chief. Solo said if he does that to his own family then imagine what they will do to the four of them. Solo said that whoever is the champion between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens, the Tribal Chief is coming for them. Jacob Fatu put the Ula Fala around Solo’s neck to end it.
Analysis: That should be an interesting eight-man tag team match next week. I’m not surprised by Solo saying he wants the WWE Champion no matter who it is.
(Commercial)
There was a reminder that Smackdown is moving to USA Network on September 13. The audience is going to go down from being on Fox, but it should still do well on cable.
The Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis was in the ring in a suit as usual saying it felt good being in Berlin. Aldis talked about how Bash in Berlin could change things in WWE forever. Aldis said that it’s the culmination of a successful European tour for WWE. That led to a video showing some clips and photos of the week-long European tour leading to this episode of Smackdown. Nick thanked the fans for their support.
Face To Face: Cody Rhodes & Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens was introduced by Kevin Owens for this chat in the ring. Owens was cheered by the fans as usual. Cody Rhodes was up next as the suit-wearing Undisputed WWE Champion with the fans singing his song like most fans do. Aldis wished them the best of luck on Saturday and left the ring to them.
Owens asked his buddy Cody what does he wanna talk about? Cody said he wants to talk about this WWE Championship and the fact that they are having a match for the Undisputed WWE Championship here in sold out Berlin, Germany. Owens said that it’s pretty huge, so we could talk about it. Owens wondered if Cody wanted to talk about what happened to his knee during the tour this week. Cody said that nothing happened to his knee and the knee is good.
Cody said let’s talk about last week on Smackdown when Cody & Kevin beat Austin Theory & Grayson Waller while calling Theory & Waller the future of WWE. Cody said that to a lot of people, it looked like last week that Owens was going to hit him in the back with the WWE Title. Owens mentioned the track record and his history. Owens said that all those guys he turned on pretty much deserved it, except for Kofi, he’s so sorry, but everybody else had it coming. Owens said that they have always been close since they met and Cody knows the relationship that Owens had with Cody’s dad. Owens asked why. Cody said maybe Kevin was a little angry with him. Cody said that he walked with a lot of people that Kevin used to walk with and he feels like Kevin Owens doesn’t get enough credit for the change in this business and perhaps Cody gets too much credit, so Cody said he would be mad about it too. The fans cheered and chanted “KO” to support Owens.
Owens said he didn’t know what to say to that. Owens said that he didn’t need to hit Cody with a cheap shot. Owens said that’s because of what happened to Cody’s knee on this tour. Owens spoke about how he kept getting text messages from people telling him that Cody’s hurt and Cody’s limping really badly. Cody wondered if Owens still thinks that he didn’t deserve a shot at the title. Owens wondered why Cody didn’t take his knee during his entrance earlier. Owens suggested it’s not a good idea to have this match if Cody isn’t 100% healthy. Owens spoke about how yesterday was eight years since the night he won the Universal Championship. Owens remarked that he remembers that night like it was yesterday. Owens recalled how people said that he didn’t deserve the title because they said he only won because of Triple H. Owens wondered what people were going to say when Owens beat beats Cody. That led to Cody saying his knee is 100% rock solid and he’s ready for the prizefighter Owens.
Cody said he knows Owens is angry that WrestleMania 38 when Cody came back, Owens was in the main event with Steve Austin and people were talking about Cody’s return. Cody told Owens that he loves him while saying he doesn’t have many friends in this business, but he considered Owens one of them. Cody said that he was going to beat Owens, nothing was going to taint the win and Cody wondered if they would still be friends. Owens tossed the microphone down. Owens spoke quietly in Cody’s left ear, which we couldn’t hear, and Owens walked away with his music playing. Cody was left in the ring to think about it.
Analysis: I thought it was a very good segment that tells us that Cody is going to be selling a knee injury during the match at Bash in Berlin and Owens is likely going to attack the knee throughout the match. They did a nice job of reminding us that they are buddies, but with the WWE Title on the line, could KO do something to cross the line and get the win? That’s the idea of a promo like that. Yes, I know most people think Cody will win and I think Cody will win too, but I think they did a terrific job of planting some seeds of doubt. Plus, there is also the possibility that if Owens does lose, could he attack his buddy Cody, and then maybe they have a feud that lasts a few months? That could happen although I like Owens in the babyface role as the veteran ass kicker. I’m just saying that Smackdown could use some top heels that aren’t The Bloodline guys and a few others on the show. Anyway, I liked the segment.
Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews were walking backstage and they were frustrated about their loss. The team of Grayson Waller & Austin Theory walked up to them with Waller calling them losers. Waller claimed Theory was saying they aren’t as good as this team. Theory looked at Waller as if he didn’t actually say it. Corbin got in Theory’s face, so Theory got in his face. After Corbin & Crews left, Theory said that Waller was always talking trash. Theory said that you’re working about Corbin & Crews falling apart, Theory said he thinks that they are falling apart. Waller said sorry because his whole family is in Australia and that’s how they banter over there. Waller said that Theory is his best mate, so he’s sorry for acting that way. Waller asked if they were good, Theory shook his hand and they embraced. They are good.
Analysis: The Waller-Theory split tease continues. I don’t know if Theory will thrive as a face whenever it happens, but it would be something different for him.
Andrade made his entrance for a match against a familiar opponent.
(Commercial)
A video aired about Giovanni Vinci speaking in Italian as we saw clips of him in nice clothes and driving a fancy car. Vinci said that soon, everybody will remember his name: Giovanni Vinci. He debuts (more like returns but it said “debuts” on the screen) next week.
Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes
They have had a rivalry for a couple of months with Andrade leading 2-1 in their matches. Melo won the last match two weeks ago on Smackdown.
It started aggressively with strikes and then Andrade sent Melo out of the ring. Andrade hit a corkscrew plancha over the top onto Melo on the floor. Melo came back with a springboard clothesline. Melo went to the turnbuckle, Andrade tripped him up there and Andrade did a double foot stomp off the top onto Melo’s chest while Melo was on the apron. The fans clapped for that.
(Commercial)
Andrade was in control with a dragon screw leg whip followed by a running forearm smash to the face. Andrade went up top for a moonsault, Melo rolled out of the way and Andrade connected with a double jump moonsault. That’s a spot Andrade loves to do. Andrade charged at Melo, who hit The First 48 double knees attack. Melo hit the running double knees against the turnbuckle. Andrade came back with a vertical suplex. Andrade did a rollup attempt, but then they turned it into a Powerbomb-style slam for a two count. A turnbuckle pad came off during that sequence as well. Andrade charged to the turnbuckle, then he stopped because the padding was off and Melo hit a superkick for two. Melo went to the middle rope and Andrade hit a springboard Spanish Fly slam for just two. Great move going into the break.
(Commercial)
The match returned with both guys on the top rope as Andrade hit an avalanche fallaway slam off the top for two. They exchanged strikes. Andrade charged with a boot, Melo avoided it and Andrade hit a spinning back elbow for a two count. They battled by the turnbuckle with the exposed turnbuckle and Melo tripped up Andrade so Andrade’s face hit the exposed steel. Melo went up top and jumped off with the Nothing But Net leg drop to the back of the head/neck for the pinfall win. It went 14 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Carmelo Hayes
Analysis: ***1/2 This was a great match that was given a lot of time and both guys showed off their athleticism throughout the match. That spot they did with the Spanish Fly off the middle rope was so well done. There was a lot of Andrade offense in the match, which is something that happens sometimes when the other guy gets the win. The turnbuckle pad being exposed was done in a subtle way and of course, it played a role in the finish because Melo capitalized after that to get the win. I’ve enjoyed this series that is now tied 2-2 after Melo’s big win.
Carmelo Hayes celebrated the win by gesturing “2-2” with his hands as the announcers talked about how there needed to be one more match.
Analysis: I assume we get a fifth match between Hayes and Andrade to settle this rivalry. It’s been fun to watch.
A replay was shown of two weeks ago when Michin interrupted the Nia Jax WWE Women’s Championship celebration, so that set up the Street Fight for tonight’s main event.
Nia Jax made her entrance as the WWE Women’s Champion.
(Commercial)
There was a Progressive Match Flo video featuring Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill about how they are ready to win back the Women’s Tag Team Titles.
Here’s the rundown for the Bash In Berlin lineup:
* Women’s Tag Team Championships: Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn (c) vs. Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill
* World Heavyweight Championship: GUNTHER (c) vs. Randy Orton
* Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley vs. Dominik Mysterio & Liv Morgan
* Strap Match: Drew McIntyre vs. CM Punk
* Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Kevin Owens
Michin was shown backstage saying she had fought her whole life for this. Michin said that you can like her or hate her, but when she becomes WWE Women’s Champion, you will not forget her. Michin said it’s not what she is, it’s who she is. Michin made her entrance for the main event as she brought a shopping cart full of weapons in it. I don’t think Michin has ever been in a main roster main event match before, so congratulations to her for that. There wasn’t a big reaction to her, but we know the fans don’t like Jax.
WWE Women’s Championship Street Fight: Nia Jax vs. Michin
Michin brought a kendo stick into the ring and hit Jax with the stick a few times to knock Jax out of the ring. Jax took the kendo stick out of Michin’s hand and Michin shoved Jax into the ring post. Back in the ring, Michin hit Jax with a kendo stick followed by a hurricanrana that sent Jax into the mat. The fans were chanting for a table, so Michin grabbed a table from under the ring. Jax hit Michin with a kendo stick to the body and Jax put the table back under the ring, which drew boos. Michin kicked Jax while on the apron and Michin brought the table out again.
(Commercial)
Jax was in control as she set up a table against the turnbuckle. When Jax tried to grab Michin on the floor, Michin used a fire extinguisher spray into Jax’s face. Jax jumped off the top with a missile dropkick. Michin tried a DDT onto a trash can, but Jax countered by slamming Michin into the can. Michin had two trash can lids that she used to hit Jax with the cans. Michin connected with a Tornado DDT onto the trash cans for a two count. Michin slipped on the first attempt since Jax is tough to move around since she’s a big woman. Michin brought a trash can into the ring and then Michin set up a table. Jax was back up with a chair shot to the back of Michin. Jax put Michin on the table, Jax teased a move and Michin gave Jax a Powerbomb through the table.
It’s Tiffy Time as Tiffany Stratton ran down to the ring with the Money in the Bank briefcase. Stratton went into the ring and hit Michin in the back with the briefcase. The fans wanted Stratton to cash in the briefcase, but Jax was like “what are you doing?” Stratton hit Michin with the MITB briefcase and Jax covered Stratton for a two count. Bayley ran out to the ring for the save. Bayley went into the ring to hit Stratton with a clothesline. Bayley tossed Stratton over the barricade, so Bayley went over the barricade with Stratton. Michin rolled up Jax for two. The fans were singing the “Hey Bayley” song as Michin charged at Jax, who caught Michin and Jax gave Michin a Samoan Drop through the table that was against the turnbuckle. Jax put a trash can on Michin and Jax jumped off the middle turnbuckle with the Annihilator splash for the pinfall win over Michin. It went 11 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Nia Jax
Analysis: *** It was a solid match with Jax getting the decisive win after Michin used weapons throughout the match to get some nearfalls. The appearance from Tiffany Stratton drew a big pop because of the idea that she could cash in Money in the Bank on her friend Jax. That didn’t happen, but the tease of it will always get a big reaction. Bayley was there to watch Michin’s back and I was glad that the cheap shot from Stratton wasn’t the finish. It makes Michin look better that she kicked out of the briefcase shot. Jax winning the way she did makes Jax look impressive while also showing that it’s tough to put Michin away.
After the match, Jax threw some weapons at Michin and used a kendo stick to hit Michin while the trash can was on Michin. Jax celebrated with the WWE Women’s Title while her music played. That was the end of the show.
Analysis: I’m not sure who Nia Jax will feud with next on Smackdown. Bayley is an obvious choice if they want to go with that, but if Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill fail to win the Women’s Tag Team Titles then it could be either of them. I also expect Charlotte Flair to be back soon since she had surgery for a Torn ACL to start the year, so she should be back within a couple of months. Anyway, there should be some options for Jax, who also has the storyline with Stratton as her buddy, and at some point, that’s not going to end well.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Cody Rhodes/Kevin Owens
- Carmelo Hayes/Andrade
- LA Knight/Ludwig Kaiser
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The Scoreboard
7.5 out of 10
Last week: 7.25
2024 Average: 7.35
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Final Thoughts on WWE Smackdown
I thought it was a pretty good episode of Smackdown that did a nice job of setting up the Bash in Berlin while there were also some solid matches. There were four matches and all of them were given enough time this week to have competitive matchups. The best match was probably Carmelo Hayes beating Andrade to make their series 2-2 now. That should lead to a fifth match soon.
The main event with Nia Jax and Michin in a Street Fight was more competitive than you might think. Michin got plenty of offense and looked tough before Jax put her away. I liked the tease of Tiffany Stratton helping Jax, but also the idea of Stratton cashing in Money in the Bank drew a big reaction. Other matches were fine like LA Knight beating Ludwig Kaiser, who was cheered heavily as a German wrestler in front of a loud German crowd.
I enjoyed the Cody Rhodes-Kevin Owens promo segment quite a bit. They are respectful friends who are facing eachother at Bash in Berlin, but Owens claims he knows Cody has a sore knee while Cody says his knee is fine. That adds intrigue to their Bash match while teasing the idea that maybe Owens goes heel after he loses. It will be interesting to see what happens there. Bring on Bash in Berlin.
The next WWE PLE is Bash in Berlin on Saturday, August 31st in Berlin, Germany. Here’s the lineup.
* World Heavyweight Championship: GUNTHER (c) vs. Randy Orton
* Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Kevin Owens
* Strap Match: Drew McIntyre vs. CM Punk
* Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley vs. Dominik Mysterio & Liv Morgan
* Women’s Tag Team Championships: Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn (c) vs. Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill
You can watch WWE Bash in Berlin, streaming live on Saturday, August 31, at 1 PM ET/9 AM PT on Peacock in the United States and on WWE Network everywhere else.
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Thanks for reading. Go Los Angeles Rams. You can contact me using any of the methods below.
John Canton
Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter/X: @johnreport