Reviews

The John Report: WWE Smackdown Live 09/25/18 Review

By John Canton • Published 25th September 2018

Live from Denver, Colorado (for the second night in a row), this is Smackdown Live for episode #997. Follow me on Twitter @johnreport. Thanks to Melo Man for the banner up top. Please check out even more of our great content over at TJRWrestling on Patreon now!

Truth TV

The show began R-Truth and Carmella in the ring hosting Miz TV except that Truth called it Truth TV. Truth and Carmella are a team in the Mixed Match Challenge. There was even a graphic that showed it on the screen. Carmella has new darker hair that is brunette. Truth did his “What’s Up” yell and introduced Carmella. R-Truth set up his first guest and Carmella introduced Daniel Bryan.

Daniel Bryan made his entrance in his regular flannel shirt and jeans. Bryan faces The Miz at Super Show-Down on October 6 in Australia. The fans chanted Bryan with loud “yes” chants. I should point out that Carmella’s boots had bills on them.

Bryan sucked up the crowd saying they are in Denver and asked Truth to hit him with his best questions. Truth put on regular glasses after wearing sunglasses because he had to read a card. Truth asked him if he can call him D, Bryan said sure and Truth asked about Bryan dealing with Miz and the other Carmella (Maryse). Truth said he’s glad that Carmella dyed her hair because she was starting to confuse people. Anyway, Truth asked a question about Bryan vs. Miz at Super Show-Down. Bryan said this show is way better than Miz TV. Carmella said it’s time and Truth said it was time for the seven second dance break. Bryan laughed about the dance break. Bryan said the show is infinitely better than Miz TV. Truth said that he had an animal segment coming up with people from the Denver Zoo.

Bryan asked Truth if he knew what catharsis is, Truth said he knew (he lied) and Bryan said that catharsis is the release of unspent emotional energy. Bryan said that it wasn’t just about coming back to WWE for him, it was about him becoming WWE Champion. Bryan said that when he was WWE Champion, he only got to defend the title once and he had unfinished business with that title. Bryan said that he had unfinished business with The Miz, so if he beat Miz it would be cathartic. Bryan said that he wants to be WWE Champion to prove that he is the best and he knows that Miz will do anything possible so he can say he’s the best. Here comes the interruption from The Miz with Graves saying, “finally thank God!”

The Miz was on the stage wondering what Truth was doing. Fans chanted “Truth TV” for it. Truth said that two weeks ago he beat The Miz and if he had a title he would have that, but since he doesn’t, Truth took his talk show. Miz called him an idiot and Truth said he was an idiot with a talk show. That was funny.

The Miz focused on Bryan saying that he knows the people love him because he’s Daniel Bryan leading to the “yes” chants. Miz said that Bryan is the underdog that always fights fair and that’s why people love him. Miz told Bryan that he will never beat Miz because Miz is smart, he’s not a coward, he wins at all costs and it’s why he beat him at SummerSlam and Hell in a Cell as well as one more time at WWE Super Show-Down. Miz said that Bryan may have foiled his ideas in the past, but Miz said that he always has ideas and he’ll do anything to move on to the WWE Championship. Miz wondered if Bryan would do anything and said no because he’s too proud to do it. Miz said the only way Bryan can beat Miz, he will compromise his moral code. Miz noted that if Bryan cheats, he will be forever tarnishing the name Daniel Bryan.

Truth yelled at Miz about all that extra talking will cause his animal segment to not happen. Truth banned (I think he said “banded”) Miz from Truth TV for life. Miz said that this isn’t Truth’s show. Fans chanted “Truth TV” again. Truth said that he’ll fight Miz for it right now. Miz said this isn’t even Truth’s show. Truth and Carmella did another dance break.

The Miz went backstage and went up to Smackdown GM Paige. Miz said what’s going on out there is a joke. Miz said he wants Truth TV canceled right here, right now. Paige told Miz he had to go out there and win back his show. She told Miz to go have a match. The dance break from Truth and Carmella continued with Bryan laughing about it. The match is up next.

Analysis: That was a unique way to start the show. I enjoy the R-Truth hijinks and some of the funny one-liners he said during that segment. It was very entertaining. It set up a Truth vs. Miz rematch, which I expected last week after Truth beat Miz two weeks ago, but we are getting it this week instead. They did their best to make this fun with the random dance breaks, Truth comedy stuff and Bryan putting it over as a much better show than Miz TV. Good promo work by everybody involved. It had a different feel to it and I liked it.

Still to come: Rusev demands answers from Aiden English after last week. Plus, AJ Styles and Samoa Joe will have a WWE Championship contract signing.

(Commercial)

Daniel Bryan is the guest on commentary for this match.

R-Truth (w/Carmella) vs. The Miz

Truth did a dance move early on, he got a rollup for two and Miz bailed to the floor. Miz sent Truth neck first into the top rope and Truth hit an arm drag. Carmella did a moonwalk on the apron. Miz slapped Truth. Miz ran around the ring, Truth chased after him and punched Miz in the face. Truth whipped Miz into the barricade with Bryan saying that Miz is full of crap and always lying. Truth sent Miz into the ring and worked him over with corner punches. Miz came back with a boot to the face. Bryan did give Miz credit saying that he does kick very hard especially with that high big boot. Miz did his It Kicks to the chest of Truth with Bryan mocking Miz for generating so little power with his kicks since he doesn’t turn his hips. Miz hit a DDT on Truth for two. They did a spot where Miz pulled back on the arms of Truth, but Truth turned that into a backslide for two. Truth with punches on Miz, but Miz came back with a knee to the gut as the show went to a break.

(Commercial)

The match returned with Truth on the floor while Miz was in the ring. Truth got back in the ring with two clotheslines, a jumping sidekick, a corner clothesline and Truth hit a suplex into a jawbreaker for a two count. Bryan said he’s really rooting for Truth TV to continue. Miz avoided a kick, so Truth hit a flying forearm for a two count. The crowd was into this. Truth attacked against the turnbuckle, the ref tried to back him off, Miz with a thumb to the eye and a Skull Crushing Finale on Truth. Miz stared at Bryan at ringside. No cover from Miz. Miz mocked the “yes” chant, the fans chanted “no” and Miz hit the running knee that Bryan does for the pinfall win after 11 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: The Miz

Analysis: **3/4 It was a solid match that Miz won to get his win back after he lost to Truth two weeks ago. The key to the match was that Miz cheated with an eye gouge without the referee seeing it leading to Miz getting the win. Truth looked good in the match and the fans believed in him possibly winning. Truth is 46 years old and looks as good as ever sometimes, so kudos to him for keeping in such good shape.

There was a clip from earlier today where Charlotte Flair was posing for photos in her Flair Dynasty shirt when Becky Lynch showed up and shoved Flair into some lockers. Lynch told the camera guy to keep taking pics. Lynch yelled at Flair saying that nobody wanted to see her face and said that they want to see The Champ’s face. Lynch put her foot on Flair and posed with the Smackdown Title.

Analysis: It was yet another cheap attack from Lynch on Flair. The fans cheered when they saw the attack and Lynch posed over Flair, so they continue to boo Lynch, who is booked like a traditional heel. I don’t mind it. As long as it gets a big reaction, which it is, that’s what matters. I’m not as concerned with the heel/face stuff like some people are.

The Smackdown announce team of Tom Phillips, Corey Graves and Byron Saxton were shown talking about it. Phillips said that Flair was sent home after the attack from Lynch.

Sheamus and Cesaro made their entrance since Sheamus had a match with Big E after the break.

(Commercial)

Big E made his entrance along with his New Day brothers Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, who brought along pancakes as well as the trombone. Woods said that sometimes they have jokes, but they play too much. Kingston said that at the end of the day, they respect The Bar and he said that last week, Cesaro beat him. Kingston said it would be silly not to take them seriously going into Super Show-Down. Big E said since she had a lot of respect for The Bar, they had a #SaySomethingNiceChallenge for The Bar. The New Day went into the ring. Woods said that even though they poke fun at Cesaro’s awkwardly shaped areolas and he looks like a Swiss Jason Statham, they actually enjoy Statham movies. Big E said that even though Sheamus’ mohawk is distracting, they decided that the carpet must match the drapes. Sheamus ripped on them for their crappy jokes, but they don’t have them fooled. Sheamus said that New Day wants to joke around while all The Bar wants to do is fight. Cesaro said that this mockery will end at Super Show-Down when they take those tag team titles and Sheamus will beat Big E because they don’t just set The Bar, they are The Bar.

Analysis: The promo from New Day was okay. They went back to the same jokes they always do, so The Bar called them out for it and that set up the match. I don’t really think the promos were needed, but whatever it’s just part of New Day’s gimmick to give them promo time.

Big E (w/Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston) vs. Sheamus (w/Cesaro)

The fans chanted “we want pancakes” as the match began. Sheamus worked over Big E with forearms, so Big E gave him an arm drag over the top to the floor. Big E connected with his running splash on Sheamus on the apron as the show went to break.

(Commercial)

Back from break, Big E hit two belly to belly suplexes, Sheamus blocked another attempt and Big E hit a uranage one armed slam for a two count. Big E ran the ropes, he went for a splash, Sheamus got the knees up and covered for a two count. Sheamus with a powerslam for a two count. The fans chanted “New Day Rocks” for Big E. Sheamus let out his yell, which allowed Big E get back to his feet and Big E caught Sheamus with a Powerbomb that sent Sheamus hard into the mat. That was the lower back of Sheamus that hit hard into the mat. Sheamus to the apron, Big E charged, Sheamus with a knee to the face, Big E wanted a Big Ending, Sheamus got out of it and Sheamus hit a Brogue Kick for the win after about seven minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Sheamus

Analysis: **1/2 Good match for the time given. I wish they got a few more minutes, but they made the most of what they got. I liked the Powerbomb counter by Big E for a nearfall. The finish was set up well with Sheamus avoiding the Big Ending and hitting the Brogue Kick to win. That win means that New Day’s guys have lost two weeks in a row since Kingston lost to Cesaro last week as well. I’ll pick New Day to retain at Super Show-Down because it doesn’t seem like the right time for a title change.

There was a shot of Paige in the backstage area telling somebody not to destroy everything out there. The camera panned over to show AJ Styles, who said he was out there to sign on the dotted line and if he needs to destroy something, he’ll make sure it is Samoa Joe.

Analysis: A fight during a contract signing? That never happens…or it normally does. The choice is yours.

The lovely Lana was shown walking backstage and she knocked on Rusev’s door as he husband Rusev walked out. Rusev said that Aiden will pay for what he did, but he wants to know why he attacked him last week. Rusev demands answers up next.

(Commercial)

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A commercial aired for WWE Super Show-Down on October 6 in Melbourne Australia on WWE Network. It starts at 5amET/2amPT for those of us in North America. Will I wake up at 5am on a Saturday to write about it live? Probably. You’re welcome. Anyway, the card is at the bottom of this post.

Let’s Hear From Rusev

Rusev and Lana made their entrance to a good ovation. A clip aired from Aiden English turning on Rusev last week on SD.

Rusev started the promo saying that last week, his partner and friend Aiden English betrayed him on the greatest day of them all…Rusev Day. Rusev said that makes English a traitor. Rusev said that before he destroys him, he wanted Aiden the traitor to explain himself.

Aiden English walked onto the stage in his street clothes. English said that he knows that Rusev is angry and he has every right to be, but none of this is his fault. English talked about how before he met Rusev, Rusev was supremely talented, but none of these people cared about him. English said that Rusev was floundering, he lacked direction, but English saw potential, he joined Rusev’s side and made him the most beloved superstar in all of WWE. English cued up a video package.

They showed a clip from September 26, 2017 when English introduced Rusev as a guy proclaimed the day “Rusev Day” and English sang. The video package aired showing all the teamwork they did together while building up the “Rusev Day” phrase.

English pointed out how amazing they were while noting that there were 70,000 people chanting for them at WrestleMania not just for their match, but the whole night and they were destined to be legends. English said what happened is that “she happened” and said that this whole mess is Lana’s fault. English cued up another video.

The video showed clips of the problems between the group with Lana and Rusev arguing about things over the last few months.

English complained about Lana again, so she spoke up (no more accent) saying that English is a glorified cheerleader while saying that Aiden is trying to build up his name by using Rusev. English said that Lana stands by Rusev, she’s honest with him and that’s why Lana was going to tell Rusev what English said last week. Fans sang “Lana is the best, Lana number one” so English paused. English said that if Lana is the best and so honest, is Lana going to tell Rusev about that one night in Milwaukee? English dropped the microphone and left. Lana freaked out about it wondering what he was talking about. Rusev just stood there silently.

Analysis: That was well done. English is a very good talker that carried that segment well. The ending bit about “one night in Milwaukee” opens up the possibility of some kind of scandal between Lana and a wrestler, but it could also be something where English is making up a lie because that’s what a heel does. Smackdown has been very good at building up personal rivalries and this is another one. I hope it elevates both guys rather than just one of them. Take it slowly and build up to a big match down the road. For what it’s worth, Aiden English is married to Eddie Guerrero’s daughter Shaul, who was in WWE developmental and is not part of the company anymore. I’m just saying that for those that may not know. I don’t know if they are teasing that English was with Lana or where it might go.

The announcers set up the AJ Styles contract signing with Samoa Joe that is coming up later.

There was a shot of Naomi and Asuka in the locker room getting ready for their tag team match with Naomi holding pads while Asuka punched them. They’re in a match up next.

Promos aired for the Mixed Match Challenge matches later on Facebook Watch. I’ll have a review up on TJRWrestling.net on Wednesday.

(Commercial)

There was a shot of Rusev and Lana backstage. Lana said that she didn’t know what Aiden was talking about. Rusev said he believed her. Lynch showed up saying Milwaukee is a fun town. Lana said that this isn’t about her. Lynch said that she runs the women’s division right now, so everything is about her and she threatened Lana while saying that she may knock her out like she did to Charlotte Flair. Lynch: “Milwaukee huh?” Rusev asked when was the last time they were in Milwaukee and Lana left.

Analysis: The mystery continues.

The Iiconics duo of Billie Kay and Peyton Royce were in the ring with microphones, but Naomi and Asuka made their entrances to interrupt. They are in a tag team match at Super Show-Down on October 6. The Iiconics joined commentary for this match with Saxton asked Billie Kay if she’s okay after tapping out to Asuka last week.

There was an earlier today segment with Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville mocking Naomi and Asuka in the backstage area to set up this tag team match.

Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville made their entrance. I have missed Mandy in a featured role on this show. She’s a favorite of mine. I wonder why. Sonya is cool too. The match is next.

(Commercial)

Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville vs. Asuka and Naomi

Asuka with a German Suplex on Deville. Rose got the tag against Naomi with Naomi hitting a clothesline, a hurricanrana and a slap. Naomi with a kick to the face followed by a leg drop for two as Deville made the save. Naomi dumped Deville out of the ring, so Rose tagged in with a running knee to the face. Deville with a running knee on Naomi for two with Asuka making the save. Asuka dumped Rose to the apron followed by a running hip attack. Saxton said that was iconic and the girls told Saxton that they can’t say that word. Naomi with a springboard kick on Deville. Asuka and Naomi hit kicks on Deville at the same time for the pinfall win after about three minutes.

Winners by pinfall: Asuka and Naomi

Analysis: * It was an easy win to put over Asuka and Naomi ahead of their Super Show-Down match against The Iiconics. Basic stuff here.

It was announced that Becky Lynch will face Lana later. Also, AJ Styles will have a WWE Championship contract signing with Samoa Joe.

Shinsuke Nakamura, the US Champion, was shown walking to the ring.

A commercial aired for WWE’s Wednesday night lineup on WWE Network with 205 Live (on tape), NXT and the Mae Young Classic.

(Commercial)

Thee were images shown of Daniel Bryan, Charlotte Flair and R-Truth visiting kids at the Children’s Hospital of Colorado. Visit ConnorsCure.com for more info on how you can help research for pediatric cancer.

Tye Dillinger was in the ring flashing the tens for his “perfect ten” gimmick for a match against Shinsuke Nakamura, who made his entrance with the US Title around his waist. The match was set up due to a “dispute on social media” which is about half the matches on WWE TV these days.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Tye Dillinger

This is not for the US Title.

Nakamura took control with a kick to the head, he set up Dillinger on the top rope and hit a knee to the ribs. Nakamura posed in the corner, Dillinger avoided an attack and Dillinger hit a superkick. Dillinger went up top and hit a Frog Splash for a two count, which frustrated Dillinger. The fans chanted “Mike Chioda” because he was the referee of the match. Randy Orton showed up out of nowhere he slammed Dillinger down. Nakamura left the ring. The match went about two minutes when the ref called for the bell.

Winner by disqualification: Tye Dillinger

Analysis: * It was a quick match to set up the post match attack from Orton.

Orton whipped Dillinger into the ring post. Orton attacked Dillinger outside the ring. Orton whipped Dillinger over the announce table. Orton with a belly to back suplex that sent Dillinger onto the announce table, but not enough to break it. Orton with a front suplex that sent Dillinger’s stomach into the top rope. Orton grabbed Dillinger and hit a DDT off the apron onto the floor. Orton left.

Nakamura grabbed the US Title, he was about to leave and Nakamura hit a Kinshasa knee strike that sent the back of Dillinger’s head into the LED board on the side of the ring apron.

Analysis: Orton’s current gimmick is to attack guys that the fans like, so Orton went after Dillinger since the fans love the “ten” chants with him. I doubt this is going to be a long feud since Dillinger is a lower card face, but it can lead to a match or two between them with Orton going over. That Kinshasa from Nakamura looked nasty in terms of the back of the head bump for Dillinger into the LED board. I hope that didn’t hurt him because the snap back looked rough.

Rusev was backstage with Lana. She asked Rusev if he believed her. He said that he believed her, but he was upset about the whole thing even though he knows English is lying. Lana left for her match. Fans were chanting “Milwaukee” during this. Lana vs. Becky Lynch is next.

(Commercial)

Randy Orton was shown walking and he was interviewed by Mike Rome, who asked him if Dillinger was his next victim. Orton says no, but what it boils down is that “perfect ten crap just pisses me off.” And he left. Simple enough.

The women made their entrance for the Lana match against Smackdown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch. It’s sponsored by Popeye’s.

Becky Lynch vs. Lana

This is not for Becky’s SD Women’s Title.

The fan chanted “Milwaukee” at Lana after the promo from earlier in the night. Lynch took down Lana a few times. Lana slapped Lynch and tackled her followed by punches. Lynch whipped Lana into the turnbuckle, Lana with a kick and bulldog for two. Lynch bailed to the floor. Lana left the ring, so Lynch whipped Lana into the barricade. Back in the ring, Lana got an inside cradle followed by a jumping kick for a two count. Lana to the middle rope, so Lynch pulled her off by the foot. Lynch hit the Bexploder Suplex. Lynch slapped on the Disarm-Her armbar for the victory after three minutes.

Winner by submission: Becky Lynch

Analysis: *1/4 It was an easy win for Lynch. Lana got more offense than I expected, but the result was obvious with Lynch winning by submission.

Post match, Lynch held up the SD Women’s Title as the proud champion.

Aiden English was backstage when Kayla Braxton showed up for an interview asking him about what happened in Milwaukee. English said that he won’t say right now, but next week he’ll have proof because he has video evidence.

Paige talked to security about being ready for the AJ Styles contract signing with Samoa Joe.

There was another plug for Mixed Match Challenge later in the night.

(Commercial)

WWE Championship Contract Match Signing

The Smackdown General Manager Paige was in the ring to host the contract signing for the WWE Title match at Super Show-Down. She said it’s AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe in a No Countout, No Disqualification match. She said she made all the necessary precautions for the match, but we know how contract signings usually end. Paige introduced AJ Styles.

AJ Styles, the WWE Champion, made his entrance to a good ovation as usual. There are only a few minutes left in the show as the graphic reminded us that it is Styles vs. Joe at Super Show-Down on Saturday, October 6 in Melbourne, Australia. It was noted by Phillips that it was AJ’s 322nd day as WWE Champion.

When Paige introduced Samoa Joe, no music played and there was no sign of Joe. Styles said that Joe didn’t have enough guts to stand face to face with Styles to sign the contract. Styles said that Joe may attack him from behind, so Styles said that he had eyes in the back of his head. Styles said that at Super Show-Down, a match with no DQ, no countouts and no rules might be up Samoa Joe’s alley.

Samoa Joe interrupted the promo on his cell phone with a promo that was shown on the big screen. Joe said that in the business, they get to travel all around. Joe showed that he was at Styles’ house with “Styles” on the mailbox. I guess we are supposed to think that AJ’s wrestler name is on his mailbox. Sure. Anyway, Joe showed the outside of AJ’s house and the white picket fence at the house. Styles freaked out about Joe being at his house. Joe said that AJ is in Denver and that there’s nothing he can do right now. Joe filmed himself in front of the house wondering if Styles felt guilty that he wasn’t there. Joe wondered what he should do. Joe told Styles to call Wendy, but then he said that Styles doesn’t bring the phone to the ring. Joe had a doll in his hand saying that he had a gift for Annie (AJ’s daughter). Joe wondered if AJ had guilt and rage. Joe said that AJ knows that Joe knows that AJ’s family is home right now. AJ said he was begging Joe to stop right now. Joe said that he wants AJ to remember the feeling of falling to pieces because that’s exactly how AJ will feel when Joe beats him for the WWE Championship in Australia. Joe said that when AJ stole the WWE Championship, that demanded consequences. Joe wondered if he should let himself in the house. Joe rang the doorbell: “Daddy’s home.” And that’s how Smackdown ended.

Analysis: That was a unique way to end the broadcast with Joe doing the heelish thing with the cell phone promo at AJ’s house. Joe was a great villain here. The way they filmed it was with Styles yelling at Joe, but Joe couldn’t hear him. There are obviously things we could pick apart with this where a guy is going onto another man’s property while the man in the ring is yelling at him to stop and maybe AJ’s wife could be calling the cops to help, but it’s not like WWE is going to go that far with it. It’s more about Joe getting into Styles’ head. In today’s culture where everybody is overly sensitive about everything, they are using Joe to push the buttons of Styles and I think it’s working well with Joe coming off as a dirtbag heel. I will probably pick Joe to win at Super Show-Down although I was wrong the last two times they faced off too.

Three Stars of the Show

Aiden English
The Miz
R-Truth

The Scoreboard

7 out of 10

Last week: 7.5

2018 Average: 6.56

Last 5 Weeks: 7.5, 6, 6.5, 6.5, 8

2018 High: 8.5 (July 31)

2018 Low: 4.5 (January 2, January 9)

Final Thoughts

I give this week’s Smackdown a 7 out of 10.

It was another very good edition of Smackdown this week. It’s an easy show to get through every week. Smackdown has been very good at building up personal rivalries of late with Styles vs. Joe, Miz vs. Bryan, Lynch vs. Flair and now English vs. Rusev. Orton vs. Jeff Hardy was like that too. It’s not just “wrestler A vs. wrestler B’ to see who is better and that makes for a better show. Raw is not the same.

The strength of this week’s show was mostly about the storyline development. The matches didn’t really stand out that much, but I thought the in-ring action was fine. I like the way it started off with some comedy from R-Truth and ended in a serious way with Samoa Joe making it personal with Styles.