The August 28th episode of WWE SmackDown aired live from the ScotiaBank Arena in Toronto, Ontario. In addition to the takeaways below, Billie Kay defeated Naomi in a short match. Here are 6 takeaways from this week’s show:
King Booker Celebrated With New Day
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SmackDown Tag Team Champions New Day came down to the ring to celebrate becoming 5-time champions.
Booker T interrupted as King Booker and joined New Day in the ring. Booker introduced himself as ruler of the SmackDown world. New Day bowed before King Booker as referred to Woods as “Lord Xavier the Wise” and Kingston as “Sir Kofi the Brave”. Booker simply referred to Big E as “Big E” and that pissed the big man off.
Big E said he wanted a cool nickname and accused Booker of going “full Saxton” on him. King Booker got angry and told Big E that he should be on his knees kissing his feet. King Booker then welcomed New Day to the 5-timers championship club and did a spin-a-rooni in the middle of the ring. Woods and Kingston also did a spin-a-rooni and then Big E flopped on the canvas as Xavier & Kofi spun him around.
The Bar Moved A Step Closer Towards A Title Shot
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New Day then joined commentary for a Triple Threat match between Gallows & Anderson, Epico & Primo & The Bar. Sheamus and Karl Anderson started off the match. Sheamus connected with a shoulder tackle and then posed in the ring. Anderson got up and Dropkicked Sheamus in the face for a near fall.
Cesaro tagged in and delivered a couple uppercuts to Anderson’s face. Anderson battled back with another Dropkick and then tagged in Gallows. Gallows bounced Cesaro’s head off the top turnbuckle and then beat him down in the corner of the ring. Gallows followed it up with a Suplex for a two count.
Anderson got back and walked right into an uppercut from Cesaro. Primo tagged himself in and connected with a chop to Anderson’s chest. Epico then tagged in and continued to beat the hell out of Anderson as the crowd chanted “we want pancakes!”. Karl Anderson decked Epico with a boot to the face and then hopped up on the second rope.
Primo distracted Anderson from the apron and Epico shoved Anderson to the floor outside the ring. Epico then tagged in and leveled Anderson with a Clothesline as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, The Bar was in control and had Karl Anderson isolated in the ring. Sheamus lifted Anderson up in the Torture Rack but Karl escaped and dropped Sheamus with a Neckbreaker. Anderson leaped across the ring to tag in Gallows as Cesaro tagged in at the same time.
Gallows sent Cesaro to the corner of the ring and connected with a Splash. Gallows then delivered a Pump Handle Slam and followed it up with another Splash for a two count. Primo tagged himself in and leaped towards Gallows but got a boot to his face for his troubles.
Anderson and Gallows then cleared the ring and went for the Magic Killer on Primo. Epico broke it up and took out Gallows and Anderson. Cesaro then tagged in as Sheamus took out the Colons outside the ring. Cesaro hit a big uppercut on Gallows for the pinfall victory.
SmackDown GM Paige then spoke with Rusev, Aiden English, and Lana backstage. Paige informed Rusev Day that they will face SAnitY and The Usos next week in a Triple Threat match. The winner of that match will then face The Bar to determine the #1 contenders of the SmackDown Tag Team Championships.
Jeff Hardy Will Face Randy Orton At Hell In A Cell
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Jeff Hardy came down to the ring to issue a challenge to Randy Orton. Hardy noted that Orton has this strange obsession with him and that Randy made him believe that he could fly. Hardy then rolled footage of his Swanton Bomb on Orton on last week’s episode of SmackDown.
Hardy claimed that was just the beginning and dared Orton to come down to the ring. Orton answered the call and walked down to the entrance ramp with a microphone in his hand. Orton congratulated Hardy on rediscovering himself and appreciated Jeff giving him the credit for all of that.
Randy stated that he is not finished working on Jeff Hardy and that he is going to end Jeff’s career. Orton said that he needed to leave Hardy as a heap of broken bones in the middle of the ring to accomplish that.
Orton added that he was not going to get in the ring under Hardy’s terms tonight. Jeff interrupted and challenged Orton to a Hell in a Cell match at the PPV next month. Orton nodded his head and stared at Jeff to conclude the segment.
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The Miz & Maryse Sent A Message
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Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella came down to the ring to cut a promo on The Miz & Maryse. Bryan brought up The Miz mocking his retirement speech last week and said that The Miz is a very poor actor. Bryan called Miz a coward once again for hiding behind Maryse last week.
Brie stated that Maryse is always helping Miz cheat to win but it felt really good to punch Miz in the face. Daniel joked that it was also really hot and referred to Brie as a “butt-kicking, diaper changing, face-punching hot mama” and vowed to shut Miz & Maryse up at WWE Hell in a Cell.
Andrade “Cien” Almas and Zelina Vega interrupted and marched to the ring. Vega introduced herself as the breathtaking, deal-making business manager for Almas. Vega boasted about Almas putting Sin Cara on the shelf, bringing AJ Styles to his limit and destroying Rusev. Zelina added that it was no time for Almas to outwrestle Daniel Bryan.
Bryan asked Paige to come out and make the match official. Paige came down to the entrance ramp out of breath and stated that she just had to run out here in heels. Paige asked the crowd if they wanted to see the match and then made it official.
Bryan and Almas locked up to start off the match. Andrade got the upper-hand and connected with a shoulder tackle. Almas then posed in between the ropes but Bryan Dropkicked him out of the ring as Miz & Maryse were shown backstage watching the match.
Back in the ring, Bryan rolled up Almas for a two count and Andrade responded with a giant chop to Daniel’s chest that echoed throughout the arena. Bryan responded with a few chops of his own and then a few kicks in the corner of the ring. Daniel went for a Dropkick but Almas countered with a knee to the face. Andrade went for another knee to the face but Bryan dodged it and sent Almas flying out of the ring.
Bryan connected with a running knee off the ring apron and then brought Almas back inside the ring. Daniel made his way to the top rope but missed and Almas hit an awesome back elbow to Bryan’s face for a near fall. Maryse and Miz were shown walking away from the TV backstage as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Almas climbed to the top rope as Bryan got back to his feet in the ring. Bryan tripped Andrade up and then joined him up on the top turnbuckle. Daniel hit Almas with a Superplex as The Miz’s music hit.
The Miz slowly walked towards the ring in an effort to distract Bryan. Daniel hit Miz with a Suicide Dive but Almas capitalized by leaping onto Bryan from the ring apron. Andrade brought Bryan back inside the ring and once again climbed to the top rope. Almas went for a Moonsault but Bryan got his knees up and then locked in the Yes Lock. Zelina Vega hopped up on the ring apron but Brie knocked her down. Maryse then attacked Brie Bella from behind and slammed her into the ring post.
The Miz hopped into the ring and attacked Bryan and the match ended in DQ. Almas planted Bryan with the Hammerlock DDT and then Miz applied the Yes Lock to Bryan. Daniel was forced to watch as Vega hit Brie with Double Knees and Maryse planted her with a DDT. The Miz then hit Bryan with the Skull Crushing Finale and shared a kiss with Maryse as Brie and Daniel were laid out on the canvas.
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Samoa Joe Called AJ’s Wife
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WWE Champion AJ Styles made his way to the ring as footage of Samoa Joe’s attack on him last week was shown on the broadcast. AJ claimed that Joe was not man enough to take the title from him. Styles added that Joe was not a man because he had to resort to mind games.
AJ demanded that Samoa Joe come down to the ring so that he could knock his teeth down his throat. Joe appeared on the jumbotron and said that he wasn’t going to come down to the ring tonight. Joe asked who is there for AJ’s kids right now and added that he wasn’t done playing daddy yet. Joe then pulled out a phone and called AJ’s wife.
Joe stated that he knows why she is angry and that he is going to keep the promise that AJ never did and send him home. Samoa Joe told Wendy to save him a plate for the back to school BBQ next Tuesday night. Joe hung up and laughed as AJ Styles sprinted backstage to look for him.
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Becky Lynch Attacked Charlotte
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Charlotte Flair defended her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Carmella in the main event of this week’s SmackDown. Before the match, Charlotte was interviewed backstage by Renee Young. Flair said that she was going to run through Carmella tonight and then give Becky Lynch the spotlight because Becky cannot win the big one.
Flair started off the match in control and slammed Carmella to the canvas. Carmella went for a roll-up but Charlotte kicked out at two as the crowd chanted “we want Becky!”. Carmella applied a Headlock and mocked the crowd for chanting for Becky. Charlotte lifted Carmella up in an effort to break the hold but Carmella held on and brought Flair back to the mat.
Flair broke free for a moment but Carmella bashed her face into the turnbuckle and applied the Headlock once again. Charlotte escaped and knocked Carmella to the mat with a Clothesline. Flair made her way to the top rope but Carmella got up and shoved her off the top and into the barricade surrounding the ring.
Carmella hit Flair with a Crossbody through the ropes and brought her back inside the ring. Carmella went for a cover but Flair kicked out at two as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
Carmella had Charlotte in another Headlock when SmackDown returned from the break. Flair escaped but Carmella hit her with a boot to the face that sent Flair to the corner. Carmella hit a Crossbody off the top rope and followed it up with a Flatliner for a two count.
Carmella hit an awesome Frankensteiner off the top rope and went for the cover but Flair was somehow able to kick at two. Carmella got pissed off and started shouting in Flair’s face. She then hit Charlotte with back to back Superkicks but Charlotte once again kicked out. Charlotte blocked Carmella’s third attempt at a Superkick and hit her with a Spear. Charlotte followed it up with the Natural Selection and then locked in the Figure Eight for the submission victory.
After the match, Becky Lynch attacked from Charlotte from behind as the crowd chanted “yes!”. Becky demanded a microphone as the crowd chanted “let’s go Becky!”. Lynch grabbed the SmackDown Women’s Championship and said she is taking the title back at Hell in a Cell. Becky then called Charlotte a bitch and raised the title in the middle of the ring. SmackDown went off the air with the crowd booing Charlotte Flair as she sat in the corner of the ring.
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Opinion: This week’s SmackDown was very entertaining. I thought Almas and Bryan had a solid match and The Miz & Maryse’s attack was also well done. There is absolutely no chance in hell that the crowd is going to boo Becky Lynch as WWE builds towards Hell in a Cell. It will be interesting to see how they handle that or just simply ignore the crowd as usual.
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What did you think of this week’s episode of SmackDown? Let us know in the comments below.
