WWE Smackdown
Golden 1 Center
Sacramento, CA
September 20, 2024
Commentators: Michael Cole and Corey Graves
Ring Announcer: Alicia Taylor
We are just two weeks away from Bad Blood and Roman Reigns had to enlist some unlikely help to battle the Bloodline. WWE Champion Cody Rhodes supposedly is to meet Roman face to face to discuss what they have to do later tonight. We also have a US title match with LA Knight taking on Andrade. So let's get to the show.....after a dark match.
Dark Match
Karl Anderson vs Baron Corbin
Anderson of the OCs takes on the wrestling version of the 4A baseball player. Corbin wins it with End of Days.
Winner: Anderson by pinfall
The show opens with a vignette from last week with Cody Rhodes defeating Solo Sikoa in a cage match but gets jumped by the Bloodline. Roman Reigns ran in to help Cody clear them out and Solo challenged them to a tag match at Bad Blood. Cody initially refused so Roman said he can do it without him. Its his company and his ring, Cody replied "It was". The Bloodline attacked Cody and Roman again and they both signed the contract, the tag match is on. Michael Cole welcomes us and tells us of a movie style vignette between Cody and Roman tonight in Atlanta. We're shown The Bloodline arriving to the arena and Jacob Fatu beats up security dudes at the metal detector. Jacob "Anyone else want a pat-down??" Cole says the Bloodline is embarrassed and sends us to our first match.
Match 1
Andrade vs LA Knight for the WWE United States Championship
Andrade won his Best of Five series with Carmelo Hayes so he gets the title shot tonight. They circle to start and Andrade wants a handshake. Knight shakes it and they lock up to start. Andrade gets cradled up for a one count and they both block finishers. Andrade bails to the outside as we go to commercial. Back from break Andrade chops Knight and Knight counters with one of his own. Andrade chops away but Knight counters with right hands. Andrade chops away in the corner like his father in law and Andrade does the Flair Flip onto the apron. He goes upstairs and hits a crossbody for 1..2...no. Andrade locks in a chinlock then Knight drops him with an elbow to the face. Andrade bails to the outside and pulls Knight out. Knight bounces Andrade's head off the announce table to a chorus of "YEAH!" and throws Andrade back inside. Knight hits a slingshot shoulderblock and covers for 1...2...no. Knight shoulderblocks Andrade in the corner but is backdropped onto the apron. Andrade also goes to the apron and shoves Knight into the ringpost. Andrade hits a top rope moonsault on Knight as we go to break again. Back from commercial, Andrade hits a big forearm to drop Knight. Andrade stomps Knight in the corner but misses a charge. Knight hits an inverted DDT and covers for 1...2...no. Knight stomps away at Andrade and hits a running knee to the head. Knight hits a reverse neckbreaker and covers for a deuce and puts Andrade on the top rope. Andrade knocks him off with an elbow and goes for a moonsault, sticks the landing because he saw Knight rolling, then hits a standing moonsault for 1..2...no. Incredible spot as the crowd chanting "this is awesome". Andrade hits a running knee in the corner and covers for 1..2....no. Knight hits a running powerslam and goes to the second rope, hitting the big elbow drop. Andrade rolls him up for 1.....2...no. Andrade hits a spinning back elbow and covers for 1......2...NOOOOO. Knight fails to jump up to the top rope so he gets shoved off. Andrade misses the missile dropkick and Knight catches him with the BFT. He covers for 1.....2....3 to win the match. Now THAT'S how you open the show. Damn good match and Cole tries to bail out tonight by saying its hot and the ropes are slippery. After the match Knight goes to bump fists but Andrade wants a handshake. Andrade physically makes him shakes hands after. Ah well, respect is respect.
Time of match: 17:09
Winner: Knight by pinfall
We cut to last week where WWE Women's Champion Nia Jax challenging Bayley and Naomi to a tag match. If either of them score a fall, they face Nia at Bad Blood, but if the team loses then whoever takes the fall leaves Smackdown. We cut to real time where Tiffany Stratton whines about her day and Nia slaps her shoulder hard and says "You go girl." Then says if Tiffany loses the fall then she should leave Smackdown.
We cut to a mini-preview of Cody and Roman face to face as we go to break. Back from commercial we get a graphic for Saturday Night's Main Event coming up this December complete with Animotion's Obsession. December 14 at Nassau Coliseum....damn that's old school and I love it. Carmelo Hayes shows up to laugh at Andrade and says he hasn't seen a choke like that since the Kings lost to the Lakers. He tells Andrade to put the fries in the bag because he's washed and Andrade pie faces him. They brawl in the back with the referees separating them. This feud is NOT over.
Back to Graves & Cole, they send us to the vignette style face to face encounter between Cody and Roman set to I Am The Storm by Titus O'Neil. Cody and Roman meet at Georgia Tech's football field where Roman used to play. They meet at the 50 yard line and Roman says everything around this stadium is his. He shed blood, sweat and tears on this field many times, its his field. If this is his field, its his stadium and its his city. Roman asks what he's done for his city. Cody says outside of the stadium down the street is Techwood Studios, Centerstage and not too far is the sight of the old Omni. Multiple generations of his family bled in this city and Roman played football, but went back to the beach. This may be Roman's field but its Cody's home. Roman "That's very good...it is your home. Let's cut to the chase. You signed yourself into a lose/lose situation. You have everything to lose and you're dealing with people who have nothing to lose. They took Jimmy from me, they took my Wiseman, they took my Bloodline and they took my ulafala. I got nothing to lose." Cody "You're telling me this like I'm supposed to be surprise. I told you before Wrestlemania 39 that you'd be a chief without a tribe. I raise you another situation, we already got a tribal chief and its not you. We have a WWE Champion and its not you. So if you can't even beat your own Bloodline, who's standing here right now? Its the guy they used to call Roman Reigns." Roman "What do you want?" Cody wants his word that Roman will have his back so Cody can have his. Roman says he's got Cody's back but when this is all over, he's coming after the WWE Championship. Cody goes to leave but says "Its not yours to take." Roman "You're in my way, in life." Roman walks off and that overblown, overshot promo literally could be summarized by Cody will team with Roman as long as Roman doesn't turn on him. Roman promises he won't, but he's coming after him eventually.
We cut to Kevin Owens looking at a monitor confused. Byron Saxton asks him what's up and Owens just walks off. That can't be good....on to commercial. Back from break, Owens is still downtrodden as we head to the next match.
Match 2
Apollo Crews vs Giovanni Vinci
This stems from 2 weeks ago when the re-invented Vinci made his Smackdown debut only to be humiliated by getting pinned in 5 seconds by Crews, which was absolutely hilarious. Corey Graves says what we're all thinking in Roman and Cody take ten minutes to get to the ring but Vinci couldn't even get his ring jacket off. This time there are no shenanigans as Vinci attacks at the bell. Vinci forearms him in the back as Graves says the "pencil neck" that reffed the last match went back to NXT while Cole points out referee Ryan Tran is a veteran. Vinci uppercuts Crews and chops him against the ropes. Vinci open handed chops him in the chest as Corey says Nick Aldis just fined him via text for making fun of the officials (hahahahahaha!). Cole says he's the best GM we've ever had. Vinci hits a big clothesline on Crews and punches away at Crews. Vinci scoop slams Crews against the ropes three times. Vinci goes for a powerbomb but Crews rolls through for a schoolboy 1.....2....3 to win the match. Corey "Nooooo! Are you kidding me?" Vinci again can't believe it as Crews laughs at him. Now THAT'S how you do comedy without looking stupid. Graves commentary added to it instead of taking away and the quick pin on a heel always is good for a laugh.
Time of match: 1:36
Winner: Crews by pinfall
Uh oh! Post-match Vinci attacks Crew in the aisle. Vinci throws Crews against the barricade and Cole calls him a sore loser. Vinci hits a brainbuster in the middle of the ring as the crowd boos. Good way to get some heat back. Cole "That's impressive and all but you have to win a match." Back to Kevin Owens and Saxton and Byron again asks what's up. Kevin says no offense but he'll do it in the ring. Cole "What a pest Byron is!" We get a vignette for Survivor Series coming up in Vancouver on November 30th. Back from break, Cole says the first WWE show on TV in Sacremento was a Saturday Night's Main Event back in 1988, Randy Savage vs Andre The Giant.
Here comes Kevin Owens for a conference. Kevin thanks the crowd for the ovation and says everyone wants to know what he thinks with Cody and Roman. Owens says he's gotta be honest.....and here comes the Tongans. Tama Tonga, Jacob Fatu and Tonga Loa walk out with Tama going "Yeahyeahyeahyeahyeah" repeatedly. Tama says let the right hand man speak. Tama says it was a big mistake to embarrass them and they're going to get what's coming to them at Bad Blood. But YOUUUUUUU Kevin Owens, Solo Sikoa says he's next. Kevin Owens says "Before you start talking again, I can guarantee you no one has ever wanted to hear anything you've had to say ever. We all know how this is going to end so just get up here so I can punch you in your stupid face." Here they come for the beatdown but here comes DIY to even the odds. DIY clears out the Tongans and here comes Nick Aldis to make a six man tag match. There's our main event.
Back to Naomi and Bayley who say they need to pin Nia and Tiffany to keep their jobs. Naomi and Bayley say they'll give the other a title shot once they win the match and then at Bad Blood. On to the next match.
Match 3
Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton vs Bayley and Naomi in a Tornado Tag Match
Bayley can't get her jacket off and has Naomi help get it off (hahahaha!) as the match begins. The faces bumrush Tiffany and Nia to start. Naomi is heaved into the corner and Nia shoulderblocks her. Bayley and Naomi do a do-si-do to forearm Tiffany and Nia. Naomi splashes Tiffany in the corner then Nia. Naomi hits a bulldog on Tiffany and a double bulldog into the buckle on Nia. Tiffany runs into a shoulderblock and a double clothesline puts Nia down. They pin at the same time for 1...2..no. Graves says if that worked, would referee Jessika Carr be the winner? Nia faceplants Naomi and Tiffany throws down Bayley. Nia and Tiffany do a samoan drop/blockbuster combo and Tiffany covers for a deuce as we go to break. Back from commercial the action spills outside where Naomi is thrown into the timekeeper's booth. Nia gets kicked in the head and Bayley clotheslines Tiffany down. Bayley throws Tiffany into the barricade and hits a suicide dive onto Nia. Naomi hits a crossbody on Nia and Tiffany rolls inside. Naomi dropkicks Tiffany into a Bayley back suplex. Bayley covers for 1...2...no, Naomi pulls her off. Nia clotheslines Naomi and throws Bayley into the corner. Naomi and Bayley hit a double backdrop on Nia but Bayley's charge eats elbow. Nia throws Naomi in the corner and goes for the Banzai Drop but Bayley stops her. Tiffany sends Bayley in the corner but the charge eats boot. Nia does a second rope legdrop while Bayley drops an elbow on Tiffany. Nia and Bayley cover for 1..2....no. Bayley rams Tiffany's head into the corner and set her up on the second rope. Nia headbutts Bayley and hits an X-Factor and covers but Tiffany swantons Nia by accident. Bayley and Naomi hit a 1D and Tiffany rolls to the outside. Nia hits a Samoan drop but Bayley turns it into a crucifix. Naomi runs over and hooks the leg for 1...2.....3 to win the match on a double pin. Bayley and Naomi are declared the winners so we still have no number 1 contender....or both of them are. I'm sure Nick Aldis will figure it out. Sloppy match but the design was for the ending.
Time of match: 11:06
Winners: Bayley and Naomi by pinfall
Cole hypes up our main event as we go to break. Back from break we get a graphic saying this is our 39th TV sellout and 58th sellout overall. We take a look at some fan signs to kill time as we go to a mini-vignette of Chelsea Green as a trash collector. This was her "training" to face Mia Yim in a dumpster match in two weeks on Smackdown on "Mia's home turf". I'd say that's stupid comedy, but that's Chelsea's thing. Cole goes nuts on commentary and gets excited that Chelsea's going in a dumpster. Next week Andrade faces Carmelo in a sixth match which telegraphs that Melo is going to win.
We cut to Nick Aldis with Bayley and Naomi in his office. He says there can be only one contender so next week they're going one on one, winner gets Nia. That's fair. Kevin Owens comes out to the ring but there's no DIY. Uh oh, looks like the Tongans attacked DIY and took them out before the match starts. Owens says the hell with it and attacks the trio to start. The numbers game catches up to owens and Fatu shoves him into the ring. Hang on a second, here comes the Street Profitz to even the odds. Owens jumps off the top and takes out all five others as we go to break.
Match 4
The Street Profitz (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) and Kevin Owens vs Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa and Jacob Fatu
Back from break Owens is stomping a mudhole in Tonga Loa in the corner. Ford tags in to kick at Loa when Dawkins tags in. Ford slinghshot hilo on top of Loa and Dawkins sends Tonga off the rope into a shoulderblock. Dawkins covers for 1..2...no. Owens tags in to clothesline and sentons Loa for 1...2...no. Cole says Owens has never pinned ANY of the Bloodline in his career as Ford tags in to stomp Loa in the corner. Loa counters with a clothesline out of the corner and sends him into his own. Jacob Fatu tags in and he uppercuts Ford into the corner. Fatu kicks away at Ford and sends him into the corner. Fatu tags in Tama Tonga for the suplex, slingshot hilo combo. Tama taunts the irate crowd and punches away at Ford. Tama clotheslines Ford down as Cole says Tama is a seven time IWGP Tag Team Champion. Fatu tags in for a huge dropkick. Fatu misses the ass bump in the corner and Dawkins tags in. Angelo hits a flying elbow on Fatu and faceplants Tama. He knocks Tonga Loa off the apron but runs right into a superkick. Fatu hits a top rope moonsault as Graves says its not fair. We go to break with a highlight of the moonsault. Back from commercial its the Tongans double teaming Dawkins. Tama covers for 1...2...no. Graves iterates that its not fair that Fatu is THAT athletic at his size. Tama pounds away on Dawkins then locks in a chinlock. Tama tags in Fatu who hits a standing senton and whips Angelo into the corner. Fatu headbutts Dawkins in the corner but runs into a dropkick. Fatu charges again but eats ringpost. Dawkins tags in Ford who Pele kicks Tama who tagged in. Ford hits a crossbody then knocks Loa off the apron. Ford hits a big lariat on Tama and kicks him in the ribs. Ford does a standing flip into a heel kick then the standing moonsault gets two. Ford hits an enziguiri then tags in Owens. Kevin outside the ring clotheslines Fatu and Loa down. He does a DX chop then frog splashes Loa off the apron. Kevin in the ring cannonballs into Tama in the corner. Kevin climbs upstairs and hits the swanton for 1...2....nooo, Fatu broke up the count. Dawkins clotheslines himself and Fatu out of the ring and Owens goes for another swanton, but Tama stops him. KO hits a fisherman's buster off the second rope and covers for 1..2....no, Loa pulls Owens off. Kevin calls for a stunner as the crowd chants "this is awesome." Owens hits the stunner but Tonga pulls him out. Tonga throws Owens into the steel steps for the DQ. That was a great match but once again we have a schmozz for an ending. Fatu is out of this world, his solo run eventually is going to be epic.
Time of match: 14:47
Winners: Profitz and Owens by DQ
Post-match its a pier sixer outside. Everyone is down as Ford wipes out Fatu and is last man standing. Fatu recovers to throws Dawkins into the timekeeper's booth. Ford rams Tonga against the apron but Fatu headbutts him. Tonga sets up the announce table but Owens tries to fight out of it. Tama throws Owens into the table as inside the ring, Tonga scoop slams Ford. Fatu hits the top rope splash like his uncle Rikishi as the crowd boos. Tama says now its time to take out Owens. The numbers game is too much but here comes DIY for the save. Tomasso and Gargano run out to save Owens but they get taken out too. Owens heaves Loa into the steps but Fatu backs him against the apron. Loa shoves Owens into the ring and all three heels decimate him. Inexplicably we go to commercial just as Cody Rhodes hits the ring with a chair....nice timing, dopes. Back from break, Cody cleans out the Tongans with a chair to set up Fatu one on one. Cody hits the Cody cutter to chase him off as KO grabs a chair. KO looks like he's going to hit Cody but at the last second throws the chair down. Cody extends his hand and KO shakes it. Guess things are okay with them as we sign off.
But but....we ain't done yet. Apparently we had an entire damn show afterwards of dark matches following the TV broadcast. Let's get to them.
Dark Match 2
Lyra Valkyria vs Liv Morgan for the World Women's Championship
Yes, believe it or not this was AFTER the show on Smackdown. Morgan retains with a victory.
Winner: Morgan (still World Women's Champion)
Dark Match 3
Jey Uso vs Drew McIntyre
Well this is weird. Two Raw guys on a Smackdown dark match. Around this time, HHH says they were cutting back on house shows so it made sense to cram as many matches on one show as possible. Uso wins it.
Winner: Jey Uso
Dark Match 4
Carmelo Hayes vs Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship in a steel cage match
Believe it or not, the live crowd in Sacremento got a world championship cage match after Smackdown went off the air. Rhodes wins it to retain.
Winner: Rhodes (still WWE Champion)
That was a good show for the most part. Only four matches was kind of meh but at least they were good ones. The pow-wow between Cody and Roman established a one night only unholy alliance to dispatch the Bloodline. Bayley takes on Naomi next week to decide who faces Nia Jax at Bad Blood and in two weeks we got a dumpster match. LA Knight is still the US Champ while Andrade battles it out with Carmelo Hayes next week as well. At least we got stuff to look forward to. This Monday's Raw will update us on the Raw side of things as we inch closer to Bad Blood. I'll see you there!
No comments:
Post a Comment