After a great Battleground PPV and a surprisingly good Raw last night, it’s now up to SmackDown to wrap this week up in exciting fashion. Going in, Shane McMahon alleges that he will name a new number one contender to the WWE Championship tonight. Other than that, I expect a show not too unlike last night’s Raw. Shane and Daniel Bryan will most likely lay down the ground rules for SmackDown Live and set the stage for SummerSlam and beyond tonight. I’m cautiously optimistic about SmackDown’s future. They seem to have stocked the roster with talents that were getting lost in the shuffle before. I’m hoping the split allows teams like Breezango and the Vaudevillains to reach their full potential. Talents like Becky Lynch, Bray Wyatt, and AJ Styles now have a chance to really shine and become top men and women in their own right. I was really down on the split when it was announced, but so far WWE has done a great job with it.
WWE SmackDown Live 07/26/16 Recap
WWE. Then. Now. Forever. Cold open with Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan backstage ready to “kick this thing off”. The cynic in me feels like they didn’t have time to get a new video open ready for SmackDown Live since they put all of their work into the Raw open. DB tells us that it’s not about Shane and him, it’s about giving the Superstars the opportunities they deserve. WWE gets a pass on Shane/Daniel & Stephanie/Mick opening the show this week. They do kind of need to set the ground rules for each show. If this kind of stuff keeps happening, then you can justifiably rage about it. Shane declares it being all about “you” (aka – the fans) and Daniel Bryan’s music plays as we focus on the ring filled with the SmackDown roster.
This sends us to the new SmackDown video open. It’s… decidedly a SmackDown theme song. The video reminds me way less of the NXT video so that’s a plus.
No pyro and we’re live from Buffalo. The SmackDown roster is now standing around the apron and Shane and Daniel Bryan are in the ring. Shane announces “SmackDown only” PPVs and confirms Backlash on 9/11. Guess I’m going to get to spend my birthday at No Mercy in October after all! Shane then announces they need to find a challenger for Ambrose at SummerSlam. Dean heads to the ring to a nice pop. Dean says he’s ready for a new challenge and announces he has the “SmackDown Live fever”. I think there’s a pill for that. Dean says he’s ready to accept any challenge and Daniel Bryan puts him over for that.
DB then declares we’re having a “six pack challenge” match to determine the number one contender. I’m assuming this is an elimination match of some sort, but it also sounds like something Stone Cold Steve Austin would excel at. Bryan and Shane then announce the competitors in the match – John Cena, Bray Wyatt, Dolph Ziggler, Baron Corbin, and AJ Styles. Wait, that’s only five guys? I’m really confused. DB then says the sixth spot is open to everyone. Up next will be a battle royal to name the final entrant in the six pack challenge.
So, of note. The announcer team is now JBL, David Otunga, and Mauro. I don’t remember Otunga saying anything in this opening segment and JBL talks over Mauro a bit – so slight edge to the Raw team already. As Raw now has red ropes, SmackDown now has blue ropes. Also, the announce team is still at ring side, not over by the entrance ramp like on Raw. Overall, I’m glad they didn’t change things up too much on SmackDown it now serves as a decent contrast from the Raw set.
Back from break, the announce team welcomes us to the show.
Match #1: Battle Royal to Determine Final Six Pack Challenge Entrant
As expected, the field is mostly tag teams. The outliers appear to be Kane, Kalisto, Apollo Crews, Erick Rowan, and Alberto del Rio. Gotch gets that “lost the backstage fight with Sin Cara” receipt as the first guy eliminated. JBL calls Kalisto “Sin Cara”, it’s just insanity. Okay, not really. It’s a pretty standard battle royal for the most part. The final four ends up being Kane, Kalisto, Crews, and Ryder. There’s an ugly spot towards the end where Kalisto hits Crews with the Salida del Sol and Ryder tries to follow up with an elbow of the top rope and slips. Ryder covers it decently though and magically didn’t blow out his knee on the landing. Kane then goes on a tear and eliminates Kalisto and Ryder. Kane then tries to chokeslam Crews, but he flips out of it. Apollo pulls down the top rope as Kane charges at him and Kane, effectively, eliminates himself. Crews goes to the six pack challenge match as the huge underdog since he just had to work that battle royal.
Verdict: Thumbs In The Middle – A decent battle royal and I liked the plausible way that Kane got eliminated. I want to like Apollo Crews, but he still is just “flippy guy who smiles and is strong” so… yeah.
Post-match, Apollo does a victory flip on the outside. Renee Young then appears to interview him. I guess this is a thing WWE is doing now since they did this on Raw too. Apollo declares himself “the happiest man alive”, but I’d argue the five other dudes that went directly to the six pack challenge without having a work a match first are probably happier. Crews then declares that he’s going to SummerSlam to face Dean.
Meanwhile, Becky Lynch and Natalya are in a split screen backstage… and they’re walking!
Back from break, we get a “black room promo” with Dolph Ziggler lamenting his career’s direction. He then says the opportunity is finally back in his hands and he’s going to SummerSlam.
Next, Becky Lynch makes her entrance. Otunga refers to her as “SmackDown’s first draft pick” which… yeah, she’s not Ambrose. Natalya is out next.
Match #2: Becky Lynch vs. Natalya
Well, Charlotte / Sasha this was not, but it was a solid match that got a little time to breathe. I’m already starting to get a little tired of this feud, but it was the obvious match to make for this show. I did like the finish sequence where Becky managed to counter a Sharpshooter into the Disarmher. Natalya taps out to give Becky the nod here.
Verdict: Thumbs Up – A solid match, no real stakes like last night’s women’s match – but a squash or Diva style match this was not.
Post-match, Renee gets in the ring to interview Becky. I guess they’re doing this after every match now? I could see this after a big match, but after an otherwise random match… I dunno, man. Becky says to call her “Becky Balboa, baby” which causes Alexa Bliss’ music to hit. Well, I’m 100% on board with a Becky Lynch / Alexa Bliss feud. Alexa declares herself “SmackDown’s new hottest star” and calls out Becky. This causes Naomi’s music to hit. Also, okay with this. Naomi calls out Alexa for running her mouth when she’s never even set foot in the ring. This brings out Carmella. Nicely done, WWE. Make all of these people seem important at once. I’m digging this. Carmella starts to cut her standard promo, when she’s interrupted by Eva Marie’s music and the most boos you’re going to hear on SmackDown.
Eva Marie is introduced by a voice that sounds like the guy who narrates movie trailers. This is incredible, they found a way to somehow get her even more heat. Well done, WWE. Well done. Everyone looks disgusted at the posing Eva Marie to end the segment.
Meanwhile, The Miz and Maryse are backstage… and they’re… walking!
Back from break, we get a promo from Corbin explaining that he’s going to win the six pack challenge for him – the only person that counts.
Meanwhile back in the ring, it’s Miz TV. Maryse gets on the mic and puts over The Miz, who in turn welcomes us to Miz TV. Miz then announces he’s his own guest tonight on the show. Miz uses this platform to put himself and Maryse over. Miz goes in to kiss Maryse when “I hear voices in my head” interrupts. Orton comes out to continue working the talk show circuit to promote his match with Lesnar. Orton may wear pants for the Highlight Reel, but not for Miz TV. Orton thought Miz was talking about him, so he decided to come out. He then says Miz is an expert at “playing with yourself”. Miz brings up the match with Lesnar and Orton says he made his career in the WWE killing legends. Orton then claims it only takes one RKO to send Lesnar to “Viperville”. Orton then announces he’d like to have his first match back tonight. He then issues a challenge to Miz for later tonight. Miz’s response? “How about no.” Orton then makes a “who pitches and who catches in the relationship” joke at Miz which causes Maryse to accept the match.
Back from break, a SummerSlam promo airs. We’re then sent to the ring where the Orton / Miz match is about to begin.
Match #3: Randy Orton vs. The Miz (w/ Maryse)
What a weird match. Miz starts out doing the obligatory “work the injury” spots on Randy’s shoulder. Then Orton hits a RKO “out of nowhere” as Miz is getting back in the ring. Orton then literally burns up two minutes of TV time sitting on the canvas while Miz sells the RKO like he’s been shot. Orton then gives Miz a second RKO and pins him. A really, really odd choice. The match puts over the RKO as unstoppable, but it also made their IC champ look like a complete chump in the process. The only offense Orton really hits in this match are two RKOs. He seems way, way too overpowered.
Verdict: Thumbs In The Middle – I get (at least I think I get) what they’re trying to do here, but doing it at the expense of the IC champion seems like a strange move.
Back from break, we get a promo hyping up American Alpha. Despite the smaller roster, we don’t get their debut until next week.
Meanwhile, back in the ring, some random guy who absolutely was not drafted is getting ready to get destroyed by someone. A wild Heath Slater appears in street clothes and kicks the crap out of him. Slater then starts cutting a promo about not being drafted. Slater wants in the main event and calls it a Magnificent Seven Pack match. Slater gets a “sign Heath Slater” chant going. Shane comes out and says Heath should send him a resume. Heath then puts over the WWE Network and suggests searching for him on the Network. Slater then lists off all of his accomplishments and asks Shane for an opportunity. Meanwhile, a wild Rhyno appears from under the ring. Heath then eats a gore from Rhyno.
Next, we get a hype video from AJ Styles and he explains that he doesn’t know what Shane and Daniel have against him. He’s upset because the Club went to Raw and now he has to work a qualifier match when he should automatically be number one contender.
Back from break, the Wyatt Family stinger hits. Bray is backstage and cuts a promo saying he’s the “eater of worlds” and that it all “revolves around him”. This then transitions into his entrance – notably solo now without Rowan. I guess it’s main event time already. This show has really flown by. Apollo Crews is out next, followed by Corbin. Ziggler is out after that, then AJ, and finally Cena.
Match #4: Bray Wyatt vs. Baron Corbin vs. Apollo Crews vs. AJ Styles vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. John Cena (Six Pack Challenge for the Number One Contender Spot)
Well, you get a little bit of everything here. Corbin doesn’t look like a disaster. Apollo Crews gets a three count on Corbin but Wyatt yanks the ref out. Ziggler then gets a three count while the ref is out. Cena goes berserker and starts giving everyone AAs. Ziggler then kicks AJ Styles’ head off to win the match out of nowhere. I’m not super into Ziggler vs. Ambrose at SummerSlam, but that as an unexpected and pretty exciting finish.
Verdict: Thumbs Up – A solid match, maybe not on par with last night’s Fatal Four Way matches, but a decent way to use the top-level stars that SmackDown has right now.
Post-match, Ziggler celebrates with the crowd. Ambrose then comes out and stares down Ziggler. Daniel Bryan and Shane come out and raise both guys’ hands and Dean stares down Ziggler again to end the show.
Well, not as crazy as Raw was, but really, I don’t think anyone honestly expected it to be. We didn’t really suffer any squash matches so big bonus points there. The Orton match was bizarre, but the women’s match was solid. The main event was definitely more exciting than any of the recent taped main events as well. I like that SmackDown appears to be getting the rumored returns of veterans like Shelton Benjamin and Rhyno. That was a wise, wise move. The hard work now begins as WWE has to sell us on a face vs. face SmackDown main event at Summerslam.
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