Tonight on SmackDown, Moss will take on Tiori and Jimmy Uso will take on Angelo Dawkins in a singles match. Also on the show we will be told who will be the guest referee in the match for the undisputed tag team titles at SummerSlam. Welcome to the anonymous reviewer on PWNews!
Michael Cole enters the ring to introduce Pat McAfee. He appears in the arena to the applause of the audience and moves to the ring. Pat apologizes to the WWE Universe for making them listen to Graves and Corbin at the commentary panel last week. He explains that Corbin’s attack after Money in the Bank was the reason why he had to miss the show last week. McAfee tells fans that he only had a bruise on his neck and they shouldn’t worry. Pat recalls his past with Corbin when they played football together, and says that Corbin was always humble, but once he got into the WWE, he immediately became an “arrogant jerk”. He promises to beat him at Summerslam and make him a good man again.
Corbin appears on the titantron and asks McAfee to stop talking. He says that he would easily enter the ring now, but shows bruises on his arm and says that he does not want to suffer anymore. He says he’s away from the SmackDown arena right now, so he’ll only see McAfee at Summerslam. McAfee believes the real reason he doesn’t enter the ring is because he’s actually scared, after which he introduces Liv Morgan for a match against Natalya.
Liv Morgan ave. Natalia
Natalya confidently starts the match and pins Morgan in the corner of the ring, but the champion responds with a dropkick. They exchange blows, but Morgan again knocks Natalya off the ropes after a dropkick. Morgan throws a few kicks on Natalya’s head, and then turns her off, but only two. Morgan punctuates Natalya’s back, but receives a German suplex in response and loses control of the match. Natalya goes on hold after a powerbomb, but only two. Natalya submits a submission to the leg, but Morgan attacks through Oblivion and holds for up to three.
WinnerStory by: Liv Morgan
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After the match, Kayla Braxton joins Morgan in the ring. She says she noticed that her victory today was not as dominant as her victory over Rousey last week. She says she is fully aware that she is an underdog even in her title matches, but she has been an underdog all her life and now it has led her to the title.
We’re heading backstage to Mackenzie Mitchell and Tiori. He says that being Mr. MitB is hard, and with great power comes great responsibility. Paul Heyman appears nearby and chases Mackenzie away. He shakes hands with Tiori and says that it doesn’t make business sense for him to use his contract on Roman Reigns. Heyman invites him to work with him instead and says he will give him a title match if he doesn’t use his contract. Chiori replies that he still plans to use his contract at SummerSlam no matter what.
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After the commercial, the Viking Raiders theme song plays in the arena, but Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods appear on the ramp in their outfits. Woods and Kingston make fun of the Vikings, but the real Vikings appear in the arena moments later. The New Day calls them impostors, and Erik and Ivar promise to cripple them. The Vikings prepare to fight, but Woods blows his horn. Shanky and Jinder Mahal enter the ring and surprise the Vikings.
Backstage, Kayla Braxton stands next to Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser. She points to the footage of the previous week’s events after Kaiser’s match with Nakamura, then asks why Gunther attacked his comrade? Günther replies that there is no place for defeat and tells the Kaiser that losing is unacceptable. Kaiser starts apologizing, but Gunther rips his shirt off and chop him across his chest again.
Aaliyah comes out for the match against Lacey Evans, but the first thing Evans does is grab the microphone and want to talk to the fans. She says she may not be better than anyone else in the arena, but she is “pretty damn sure she’s better than all the fans.” She says she has overcome obstacles that the average American could not even imagine. She calls herself an American hero and says she exemplifies everything fans can’t be. She apologizes to everyone she offended, but the fans don’t like it. She says that if the fans don’t accept her apology, then they can go to hell, after which Evans throws down the microphone and leaves the ring. She goes backstage, and Aliya remains standing in the ring in bewilderment.
Drew McIntyre v. Ridge Holland
Butch bangs the gong and starts the match, and Drew McIntyre instantly rushes at Holland and launches him into the corner of the ring. McIntyre defiantly pins Holland to the ropes and throws nine punches at his chest, but Seamus grabs Holland and stops Mac from landing the tenth punch. McIntyre enters ringside. Butch tries to attack him, but Drew avoids the punch, but Holland pushes him straight into the ring post. Afterwards, Ridge takes control of the match, but McIntyre quickly stops him and repeats Seamus’ White Noize, before knocking Holland out after a Claymore for the win.
WinnerStory by: Drew McIntyre
Mackenzie Mitchell talking to Moss backstage. She asks his strategy for the match against Chiori. Moss replies that he plans to destroy Chiori. Paul Heyman appears nearby and says that if he beats Tiori before Summerslam, he will arrange for Roman Reigns to give him a title match for the undisputed championship. Moss suspects that Heyman is really worried that Chiori will be able to realize his case, after which he directs him to the ring for a match. We are informed that next week Max Dupree will present his new collection, and with it we will see his sister Maxine Dupree.
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Tiori Ave. Madcup Moss
The rising stars of the company face off, but Moss manages to throw Chiori to the ground several times. Mr. MitB knocks Moss down after a shoulder block and then shows off his muscles, but Moss quickly responds. Tiori closes Moss in a chinlock, but in general the guys show a clean 50 to 50. Moss throws Tiori out of the ring, but the next attack does not work. Moss flies into the steel steps as Tiori returns to the ring and drops him with a dropkick. Moss hits him again with a shoulder block and sends him out of the ring. Chiori grabs her suitcase and starts beating Moss with the case. The referee declares a victory for Moss by DK.
Winner: Madcup Moss by DK
After the match, Chiori said that he would soon realize his suitcase and become the next undisputed world champion. Sami Zane enters the ring and tells Tiori that he is disrespectful to Bloodline, which means that he will be in serious trouble. Zane stands on the ramp and says that as Bloodline’s representative he demands an apology. Chiori laughs and asks what will he do to him with one arm? Suddenly, The Usou’s theme music plays in the arena. Chiori decides to retreat back to the ring, but Moss meets him there and throws him into the ring stand.
Jimmy Uso vs. Angelo Dawkins
Dawkins fires the Usos, but Jimmy quickly responds with a Samoan drop. Uso near the ropes kicks him in the head, but Dawkins quickly returns and throws him out of the ring, and then straight into the barricades to the fans. Jimmy Uso knocks out the referee right in the ring, and Dawkins tries to roll him up, but no one can count to three. Dawkins gets to his feet, but gets a superkick to the head. Now Uso is trying to hold him to three, but the referee is out. The Usos try to wake up the referee, and Dawkins after a powerbomb pins Jimmy to three.
Winner: Angelo Dawkins
On the replay, we are shown that The Usos shoulder was raised, which again makes the ending of the match moot. Adam Pearce appears on the ramp and says it’s time to announce a special referee for their match so there are no more questions about refereeing. Pierce announces that the special referee for SummerSlam will be Jeff Jarett. After this announcement, the two teams begin to fight in the center of the ring, with a bunch of referees unable to stop them.
Friday Night SmackDown rating: 1/10 (author)
The absence of a world champion on two brands at a distance is becoming more and more palpable. SmackDown has lost its star power and it feels like there are ten wrestlers on every episode who are shown to us in a circle. It really was a terrible SmackDown broadcast. There were no spectacular matches on the show, and the logic of some characters is completely bewildering. I don’t understand what the WWE are trying to do with Lacey Evans. I don’t understand why we’re getting Viking feuds against New Day and McIntyre against Seamus and his gang. I don’t understand why Nakamura missed the broadcast when he should have demanded a title match. What I really understand after this SmackDown broadcast is that it was a sad episode of the blue brand.
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