HomeNewsWWE
WWE

WWE SmackDown Recap & Reaction (5/9)

by Robert Lentini

WWE Champion Randy Orton kicked off this week’s episode of SmackDown. Orton blamed Jinder Mahal for his loss at Payback. Jinder Mahal quickly interrupted and was joined by The Singh Brothers. Mahal pointed to the titantron and stated he already has taken his promotional pictures with the WWE Championship. Mahal said that India will erect a statue of Jinder Mahal after he wins the WWE Championship at Backlash.

Kevin Owens interrupted and Mahal looked pissed. Owens came down to the ring and told Orton and Mahal to stop. Owens also said that nobody cares about India and the crowd cheered. Owens boasted about ending Chris Jericho’s career last week on SmackDown. Kevin Owens then vowed to end AJ Styles’ career at Backlash. Owens stated that when he is done with AJ Styles, he is going after Randy Orton’s title to become the face of WWE.

AJ Styles joined the party and the crowd gave him a great reaction. Before Styles could talk, the entire crowd started to chant “AJ Styles!”. Styles told Owens to enjoy being the “Face of America” while he can because he will never be the face of SmackDown Live.

Baron Corbin made his return from “suspension” and came down to the entrance ramp. Sami Zayn attacked Corbin from behind. AJ Styles knocked Owens out of the ring. Randy Orton went to DDT Jinder Mahal but the Singh Brothers dragged Mahal out of the ring. It was then announced there would be a 6-Man Tag Team Match later tonight between Kevin Owens, Jinder Mahal & Baron Corbin vs AJ Styles, Randy Orton & Sami Zayn.

Reaction: This was a decent promo kick off the show. I still haven’t gotten used to Mahal in the main event picture. If you would have told me a couple of months ago that Mahal would be kicking of SmackDown in a promo with Randy Orton, Kevin Owens and AJ Styles I would have thought you were insane. On a positive note, Mahal having a photoshoot with the WWE Championship before he has won it was entertaining.

James Ellsworth and Carmella came down to the ring and insulted the crowd. Tamina Snuka just stood there and laughed at their jokes.  Carmella introduced Natalya before her match. Naomi then came down to the entrance ramp and introduced Becky Lynch. Charlotte then came down to the entrance ramp and said that she doesn’t need an introduction.

Natalya vs Becky Lynch

Ellsworth, Carmella, Snuka, Naomi and Charlotte were all ringside for this match. Natalya controlled the match early and slammed her to the floor outside the ring. Back in the ring, Natalya continued the beatdown and taunted the crowd in the O2 arena. The crowd got behind Lynch as she Clotheslined Natalya to the mat. Becky Suplexed Natalya and then climbed to the second rope. Tamina Snuka hopped up on the ring apron and Naomi attacked her. Natalya then picked up a cheap victory while Becky Lynch was distracted.

Winner: Natalya

Charlotte was shown backstage yelling at Naomi backstage and blamed her for costing Becky Lynch the match. Becky Lynch showed up and said that they needed to start bonding to defeat the Welcoming Committtee. Becky Lynch then said that Naomi, Becky Lynch & Charlotte will face Natalya, Carmella & Tamina Snuka in a 6-Woman Tag Team Match at Backlash.

The latest episode of the Fashion Files was shown featuring Breezango. Fandango and Breeze stumbled upon some splattered face paint on the floor. They then heard a bunch of screaming and opened a door. The Ascension were in the room screaming for some reason. Breezango then slowly backed away and closed the door.

Luke Harper vs Erick Rowan

Rowan immediately connected with a kick and threw Harper out of the ring. Harper got back in the ring but was leveled by Rowan. Harper connected with a chop and then hit a Splash on Rowan in the corner. Harper then knocked Rowan out of the ring with a Dropkick. Rowan got back in the ring and connected with a kick to the face on Harper. Rowan then applied a Chin Lock in the middle of the ring.

Harper battled out of it and connected with a big boot or a two count. Rowan slammed Harper to the mat for a two count. Rowan grabbed his mask and got ready to strike Harper with it. The referee grabbed the mask and Rowan thumbed Harper in the eye. Rowan then swung Harper around and slammed him to the mat for the victory.

Winner: Erick Rowan

Reaction: What the hell happened to Luke Harper? He had a ton of momentum behind him when he was battling AJ Styles before Wrestlemania 33. Now, Harper feels like an afterthought. This match was quick and the first hour of this week’s SmackDown has been quite boring. WWE is trying to build Erick Rowan’s mask into some kind of mystical thing that holds all the secrets. I have no idea what they are trying to do with the mask but I am absolutely certain that I don’t care.

Dolph Ziggler came down to the ring and called everyone in the crowd hypocrites. Ziggler bragged about headlining PPVs and referred to himself as a movie star. Ziggler said that the WWE Universe treats him like a “contagious disease” and scolded the crowd for cheering for Shinsuke Nakamura. The crowd started chanting “Nakamura” and Dolph said that Nakamura has never had a match on SmackDown. The crowd chanted NXT and Ziggler said that this will all be edited out and the crowd laughed.

Ziggler said that it is pathetic that Shinsuke Nakamura refers to himself as “The Artist”. Dolph claimed that he has never needed any of the fans and said that the fans never really cared about him. Ziggler then demanded that Nakamura come down to the ring.

Shinsuke Nakamura came down to the ring as the crowd sang along to his entrance music. Ziggler was shown in the ring angrily looking on. Nakamura grabbed the microphone from Ziggler and told him to shut up.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/862112260168318981

Nakamura told Ziggler to get a referee and he will show him what he can do now. Dolph grabbed the microphone and declined. Ziggler said that he will expose Nakamura for the fraud that he is at Backlash. Ziggler then whipped his jacket at Nakamura and attacked him. Nakamura planted Dolph with a series of kicks and Dolph retreated. The crowd chanted “Nakamura!” as Shinsuke stood tall in the ring.

Reaction: Ziggler and Nakamura have the potential to steal the show at Backlash. Nakamura is already a rockstar in WWE. Hopefully, WWE capitalizes on that and don’t drop the ball like they seem to do with countless Superstars.

Sami Zayn was shown backstage talking to Randy Orton and AJ Styles. Zayn talked their heads off and laid out a strategy for their tag match later tonight. Zayn closed his eyes and said he could envision them winning the match later tonight. When Sami opened his eyes, both Orton and Styles had left.

Reaction: Sami Zayn has brought his over-bearing geek gimmick over from Monday Night RAW. Zayn cut a similar promo when he was teaming up with Rollins and Reigns on RAW. I actually find it entertaining because it is an exaggeration of himself. I would just like to see Zayn placed in some feuds he can actually win.

I understand building up Baron Corbin or Braun Strowman in a feud with Sami Zayn. I’d just like to see Zayn finally get a moment of his own on the main roster. I thought his victory over Kevin Owens at Battleground last year was going to lead to something. Unfortunately, it didn’t and Zayn has been running in place ever since.

https://twitter.com/MySuperBliss/status/862112895437594628

Breezango vs The Ascension

Breezango dominated this match and won it easily. Fandango hit the Last Dance for the victory. After the match, the crowd sang along to their theme song. The Usos interrupted and stated that they were going to beatdown Breezango in 12 days at Backlash. The Usos then went on to make a bunch of jokes about Breezango kissing and rubbing each other’s backs while saying “12 days” in between every joke.

Winners: Breezango

Reaction: The match was pretty useless but the promo by The Usos following it was entertaining. I’m actually looking forward to this match at Backlash in a couple of weeks for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships.

Another Rusev video was shown and Rusev once again demanded a title match at Money in the Bank. Rusev revealed that he wants an answer and that he will be at SmackDown next week.

Mojo Rawley shared a story backstage while giving a tour to a group of children.

Randy Orton, AJ Styles & Sami Zayn vs Jinder Mahal, Kevin Owens & Baron Corbin

AJ Styles and Baron Corbin started off the match. Corbin launched Styles into the corner but Styles responded with a Dropkick. Zayn was then tagged in and Corbin tagged in Mahal. The crowd started singing “ole'” once Zayn was tagged in. Mahal booted Zayn in the chest and then punched him in the face. Mahal then beatdown Zayn in the corner and knocked him to the mat.

Zayn knocked down Mahal and Orton asked to be tagged in. Mahal quickly tagged in Kevin Owens. Orton went for an RKO and Owens rolled out of the ring to avoid it as SmackDown went to a commercial break. When SmackDown returned, Mahal was tagged into the match and attacked AJ Styles. AJ connected with a Dropkick and tagged in Sami Zayn.

Kevin Owens was tagged in and traded punches with Sami Zayn. Owens got the upper-hand and stomped on Zayn while he was on the mat. Corbin got back in the match and continued the beatdown of Zayn. Corbin threw Zayn outside the ring and Mahal attacked him. The action returned to the ring and Corbin went for a pinfall but Zayn kicked out at two.

Owens was tagged in and applied a Chin Lock ot Zayn in the middle of the ring. Owens shouted at Styles on the ring apron as Zayn battled to his feet. Owens knocked Sami back down to the mat and hit a Senton for a two count as SmackDown went to another commercial break. When SmackDown returned, Sami Zayn was still trapped in the ring and Corbin was beating him down.

Corbin hit Orton with a cheap shot and knocked him off the ring apron. Zayn finally tagged in Styles and AJ leveled Owens with a forearm and knocked him off the ring apron. AJ then connected with a forearm to Corbin for a two count. Styles locked in the Calf Crusher but Kevin Owens broke up the hold. Owens and Orton then began to battle outside the ring. Sami then hit a flip onto Owens, Mahal and Corbin outside the ring.

Zayn sent Corbin back in the ring. Styles went for the Phenomenal Forearm but Owens shoved Styles from behind. Corbin launched Styles across the ring and tagged in Jinder Mahal. Jinder hit Styles with a couple of knees to the back and then applied a Chin Lock. Styles fought out of it but Mahal leveled him with a knee to the face.

Owens was tagged back in and he stomped on AJ in the middle of the ring. Owens went for a Senton but Styles got his knees up. Styles then tagged in Orton and Owens tagged in Mahal. Orton planted Mahal with a Powerslam and delivered one to Corbin as well. Orton then hit a DDT on Owens while he was hung up on the the second rope. The Singh Brothers hopped up on the apron and Mahal hit a big boot on Orton. Zayn planted Mahal with a Blue Thunder Bomb. Corbin launched Zayn out of the ring. Styles hit the Pele Kick on Corbin. Owens shoved Styles out of the ring. Orton hit the RKO on Orton but Mahal hit Orton with the Cobra Clutch Slam for the victory.

Winners: Jinder Mahal, Kevin Owens & Baron Corbin

Reaction: Mahal picked up a big time victory over WWE Champion Randy Orton to close out SmackDown. The main event was entertaining, but the rest of the show was very boring this week. SmackDown has one more show before Backlash on May 20th. Hopefully, next week’s episode is much better than this one.

What did you think of this week’s episode of SmackDown? Let us know in the comments below.

Robert Lentinihttp://www.mankymedia.com
Writer from Boston, MA.

Related News