WWE SmackDown recap & reaction (9/12)

Kevin Owens came down to the ring to start off this week’s episode of SmackDown. Owens welcomed everyone to the Kevin Owens Show. Owens said that he never fought back when Shane McMahon attacked him last week because he respects authority. Owens announced that he was suing everyone in WWE until SmackDown Live is no more.

 


 

Owens claimed that “Kevin Owens presents The Kevin Owens Show: Starring Kevin Owens” will replace SmackDown from now on. Owens announced that the first person Sami Zayn to get fired is Sami Zayn. Owens stated that Byron Saxton and Tom Phillips sound exactly the same, so from now on they have to wear one suit together. Kevin canceled the Fashion Files and then called Mr. McMahon down to the ring.

Shane’s music hit and Owens started flipping out in the ring. Dolph Ziggler then came out dressed like Shane and danced around on the entrance ramp. Owens chuckled in the ring and thanked Dolph Ziggler for entertaining everyone. Ziggler then walked backstage and Daniel Bryan’s music hit.

SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan made his way down to the ring as the crowd chanted “yes!”. Bryan informed Owens that he does not run the show. Owens said that he has big plans for Daniel Bryan as a janitor when Owens takes over SmackDown. Daniel Bryan said that he is not opposed to hard work and that Kevin Owens should try it sometime. Bryan informed Owens that Mr. McMahon will be here soon and that Owens will not like what he has to say. Owens stated that he cannot wait for McMahon to get here and that Vince will not like what he has to say.

United States Championship: AJ Styles (c) vs Tye Dillinger

Styles granted Dillinger an opportunity at the title after Baron Corbin interfered in their match last week. Dillinger spoke earlier in the day about making the best of his opportunity tonight.

The two Superstars locked up to start off the match. Styles connected with a Dropkick and then got on the ring apron. Dillinger joined him there and shoved AJ into the ring post. SmackDown went to a commercial break with AJ in pain on the floor outside the ring. During the break, Dillinger brought Styles back in the ring and attempted a cover but AJ kicked out at two.

AJ battled back and hit a couple of chops to Tye’s chest. Dillinger responded by hitting a Backbreaker for a two count. Dillinger applied a Crossface in the middle of the ring. AJ powered back to his feet but Tye knocked him back to the mat with a forearm to Styles’ back. Dillinger slung AJ off the ropes and connected with a forearm to the face for a two count. Tye remained on the attack and applied a Chin Lock.

AJ once again got out of the hold but Dillinger planted him with another Backbreaker for a two count. SmackDown returned from the break as Dillinger was punching Styles in the face in the corner. AJ escaped out of the corner and slammed Dillinger to the mat off the second rope.

Styles went for the Pele Kick but Dillinger got out of the way. AJ then immediately leveled Tye with a Clothesline and both Superstars crashed to the canvas. Dillinger and Styles made their way back to their feet. AJ hit Dilliner with a forearm and then set up for the Phenomenal Forearm.

Baron Corbin sprinted to the ring and Styles hit Corbin with the Phenomenal Forearm. Dillinger capitalized on the distraction and connected with the Tye Breaker but AJ kicked out at two. Styles quickly locked in the Calf Crusher in the middle of the ring for the submission victory.

After the match, Dillinger and Styles shook hands in the ring. Baron Corbin then dragged AJ out of the ring and threw him over the barricade. Corbin then leveled Tye with a Clothesline and planted AJ with the End of Days onto the floor outside the ring. Corbin grabbed a microphone and stated that he will be the one facing AJ Styles for the United States Championship next week on SmackDown.

Winner & Still United States Champion: AJ Styles

Reaction: This was a pretty good match. In my opinion, Corbin really hasn’t recovered from the embarrassment of losing his MITB cash in and then the quick loss to Cena at SummerSlam five days later.

Rusev was interviewed backstage. Rusev said that he was not a loser and vowed to break a legend.

WWE Champion Jinder Mahal came down to the ring with the Singh Brothers. Mahal raised the WWE Championship in the ring as a very quiet “Nakamura!” chant broke out in the crowd. Mahal started off the promo by praising Nakamura and stated that he possesses a charisma and energy never before seen in WWE. Mahal then showed a goofy photo of Nakamura on the jumbotron and the Singh Brothers thought it was the funniest thing they have ever seen.

Mahal said that when he looked at the image, he didn’t see inspiration. Instead, he sees constipation and the Singh Brothers started rolling around in the ring in laughter. Mahal said that Nakamura forgot to learn the most important phrase in the English language and that is “where is the bathroom?”. Mahal then showed another image and stated that Mahal rips off Michael Jackson. The Singh Brothers then mocked Nakamura’s pose in the ring.

Mahal then showed another photo and mocked Nakamura’s accent and shouted out “Godzirra!”. Jinder claimed that Shinsuke doesn’t want to hold the WWE Championship because Americans will treat him just as they have Jinder Mahal. Jinder said that Americans will make fun of Shinsuke’s eyes and will say that Nakamura looks like “Pikachu having a seizure”. Jinder spoke in Punjabi about what he was going to do to Nakamura at Hell in a Cell. Jinder then raised the WWE Championship in the ring as the crowd showed zero reaction.

Reaction: Well, this was just a stupid promo. Mahal has never cut a promo like this during his reign as WWE Champion. All of the sudden, he was a stand up comedian tonight and his jokes were terrible. How is Nakamura going to respond to this? Is he going to come down to the ring and crack jokes about Mahal’s physique and the color of his skin?

I’m bored with Mahal as WWE Champion. WWE has also somehow made Nakamura seem like just another Superstar since he has joined the main roster. Mahal’s feud with Orton was painfully dull and this one isn’t any better in my opinion. After their lackluster match at SummerSlam, I can’t really get excited for another match between Mahal and Nakamura at Hell in a Cell.

 

Kevin Owens was shown speaking to someone backstage. Owens was going over all the changes he was going to make to SmackDown as the person jotted everything down. Owens then noticed that Sami Zayn was backstage and Owens approached him. Owens asked Zayn if he remembered driving through a blizzard in Ohio after wrestling in front of 40 people. Owens brought up the promise the two made to each other that night and that was that they will both make it WWE so that they will never have to go through that again.

Owens said that he was about to own WWE and Zayn will be out of a job. Zayn stated that he would rather go back to wrestling in armories, rather than ever work for Kevin Owens. Zayn then walked away as Owens looked pissed off.

SmackDown Tag Team Championship Street Fight: The Usos (c) vs New Day

Big E and Kofi Kingston knocked The Usos out of the ring to start off the match. They set up a table outside the ring but The Usos got back up and attacked them. SmackDown went to a commercial break with The Usos in control of the match. When SmackDown returned, Jimmy and Jey were beating down Big E in the ring.

Jimmy hit a Superkick to Big E’s face. Outside the ring, Jey slammed Kofi into the ring apron and then threw a kendo stick into the ring. Jimmy hit Big E in the back with the kendo stick and then threw it to Jey. Jey hit Big E with the kendo stick as Jimmy shouted “this is too easy”.

The Usos tied up Big E on the top rope. Kofi get back into the ring and connected with a Dropkick to Jimmy and Jey as Big E broke free and fell to the floor outside the ring. Kofi then beat the hell out of both Jimmy and Jey with the kendo stick. Jimmy leaped at Kofi in the corner but missed and landed face-first onto a chair that was on the top rope. Kofi then hit a Double Stomp with a chair onto Jimmy for a two count.

Jimmy rolled out of the ring and Kofi launched the chair at Jey Uso’s head outside the ring. Kofi tried to leap onto The Usos outside the ring but they caught him and threw him into the barricade. Big E hit Jimmy with a Belly to Belly Suplex outside the ring and then thew Jey over the announce table.

Back in the ring, Big E hit a Splash onto both Jimmy and Jey. Big E then Clotheslined Jey out of the ring and walked into a Superkick from Jimmy Uso. Big E immediately hit a Big Ending to Jimmy but Jey Uso broke up the pinfall. Jimmy and Jey then connected with a double Superkick and Big E fell to the canvas. Jimmy and Jey climbed up to the top rope in opposite corners of the ring. Kofi shoved Jey off the top rope and he crashed through the table outside the ring. Back in the ring, Kofi and Big E hit the Midnight Hour on Jimmy Uso for the pinfall victory.

Winners & New SmackDown Tag Team Champions: New Day

Reaction: I enjoyed this match, but I do not understand the outcome at all. The Usos picked this stipulation for the match and still lost the titles. I don’t understand WWE’s hot-potato mentality with a lot of their titles. My takeaway is that their are no dominant teams on the roster. The Usos and New Day keep losing the titles back and forth to each other. Are The Usos going to get another rematch for the titles now at Hell in a Cell? If so, who really cares who wins at this point?

SmackDown Women’s Championship: Natalya (c) vs Naomi

Ronda Rousey was shown in the crowd before the match.

Carmella joined commentary for this match and Ellsworth was with her. Naomi controlled the match early, but Natalya battled back and bounced Naomi’s head off the turnbuckle as SmackDown went to a commercial break. During the break, Natalya continued to control the match and applied a Chin Lock to Naomi in the middle of the ring. Naomi got back to her feet to break the hold but Natalya slammed her back to the mat.

Natalya hit a Dropkick to Naomi’s back and then once again applied a Chin Lock. SmackDown returned from the break as Naomi broke the hold. Naomi connected with a flurry of kicks and then perched up Natalya between the ropes. Naomi then hit a Leg Drop and Natalya crashed to the mat for a two count. Naomi went for a Moonsault but Natalya got out of the way.

Natalya went for the Sharpshooter but Naomi kicked her out of the ring. Carmella and Natalya started arguing outside the ring. Naomi hit a Crossbody onto Ellsworth and Carmella. Natalya then grabbed Naomi and threw her into the ring post. Natalya brought Naomi back in the ring and locked in the Sharpshooter for the submission victory.

Winner & Still SmackDown Women’s Champion: Natalya

Aiden English was shown singing backstage. Owens showed up and said that he enjoyed Aiden’s beautiful voice. Owens said that English should sing the new theme song for the Kevin Owens Show. English then sang “ladies and gentlemen, it is time for the Kevin Owens show” as Owens smiled.

Dolph Zigger came down to the entrance ramp and cut a promo about being under-appreciated by the WWE Universe. Dolph then went backstage and came out to the entrace ramp to Bayley’s theme music. Ziggler then ran backstage and the Ultimate Warrior’s theme song hit. Ziggler sprinted to the ring with an Ultimate Warrior mask on and shook the top rope as the crowd booed. Ziggler once again grabbed the microphone and said that anyone can do what he just did, but nobody can do what he does in the ring. Ziggler said that the crowd couldn’t care less about Ziggler and Dolph stated that he couldn’t care less about the crowd.

Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin vs Hype Bros

Ryder and Rawley controlled the match early. Mojo charged at Gable but Chad moved out of the way and Mojo slammed into the ring post. Benjamin hit a Spinebuster to Ryder and then set up Ryder for a Powerbomb. Gable tagged himself in and leaped onto Ryder while he was on Benjamin’s shoulders. Ryder then fell to the canvas and Gable pinned him for the victory. After the match, Mojo shook Gable and Benjamin’s hands. Ryder refused and walked backstage.

Winners: Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin

Kevin Owens came down to the ring and waited for Vince McMahon to join him. Vince’s music hit and he power-walked down the entrance ramp and joined Owens in the ring.

Owens said that Vince was intimidated to be in the ring with him. Vince said he wasn’t intimidated, he was nauseated.

Vince McMahon said that Owens didn’t fight back against Shane last week because Shane was kicking his ass. Vince asked Owens how he has any respect at all when he looks in the mirror. Vince said that if Owens filed the lawsuit against the McMahons, he will fire him. The crowd chanted “yes!” as Vince dared Owens to file the lawsuit.

Vince bragged about never losing a lawsuit and being a billionaire. Owens got pissed off and said that Vince’s son put his hands on him. Vince said that he suspended Shane for not finishing the job the last week. Vince said that he suspended Shane because he didn’t kick Owens’ ass enough.

Vince announced that he was going to reinstate Shane and that there is going to be a match between Shane and Owens. Vince then announced that the match will be inside a Hell in a Cell. The crowd once again chanted “yes!”. Owens stated that he needed Vince to promise that he will not be fired if he beats a McMahon senseless. Vince said that Owens has his word that he will not be fired. Owens then shook Vince’s hand and headbutted him. Vince’s head was cut open and Owens grabbed the microphone.

Owens said that Vince just gave his word that he can beat a McMahon senseless. Vince got back to his feet and Owens punched him the face. A referee came down to the ring but Owens continued the attack. Owens then booted Vince in the ribs and more referees got into the ring. Vince got back to his feet and Owens hit him with a Superkick. Owens then threw a referee out of the ring and climbed to the top rope. Owens hit a Frog Splash onto Vince McMahon.

Stephanie McMahon then confronted Kevin Owens on the entrance ramp. Stephanie then walked down to the ring to help her father. Vince limped up the entrance ramp and fell to his knees. Vince said that his ribs were hurting and Stephanie asked Vince to get on the stretcher but Vince refused. Vince slowly started walking up the entrance ramp as SmackDown went off the air.

Reaction: That was one hell of a way to end SmackDown. I was expecting Owens to shove McMahon, but he kicked his ass here. McMahon was bleeding from the head and Owens ended the attack with a massive Frog Splash. The rest of tonight’s show felt like a standard episode of SmackDown. However, this storyline is great and Owens will most likely have a very entertaining match with Shane McMahon at WWE Hell in Cell.

What did you think of this week’s episode of SmackDown? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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