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MAYLE’S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
MAY 8, 2018
BALTIMORE, MD.
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK
Announcers: Corey Graves, Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton.
[HOUR ONE]
-Paige’s ring entrance opened the show as fans cheered and Tom Phillips welcomed everyone to the show. As she made her way, the announcers plugged a few Money in The Bank qualifying matches including Jeff Hardy vs. The Miz, Daniel Bryan vs. Rusev, and Charlotte Flair vs. Peyton Royce.
(Mayle’s Analysis: I’m a fan of Paige finally coming out to introduce the show and hype what’s in store for it. It feels official. I know Shane has done that in the past, and Kurt Angle, but it just works better with Paige since she truly knows how to work a crowd. She picks up on the tiniest ticks from the audience. She is the hype person you want introducing your show, or at least one of them.)
Paige stood in the ring and welcomed everyone to Smackdown Live. Fans cheered. She praised the first co-branded pay per view, the first singles victory of the returning Daniel Bryan, the first title retain of Women’s Champion Carmella, and mentioned the confusion between the A.J. Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura championship match which ended in a draw. She then began hyping the next pay per view, which is The Money on The Bank. She said we would see who the best is in these qualifying matches starting… right now. United States Champion, Jeff Hardy made his ring entrance. Then The Miz made his entrance. The announcers replayed highlights of The Miz winning the MITB in 2010 and then winning the WWE Championship months later.
(1) JEFF HARDY vs. THE MIZ – Money in the Bank qualifier
As Miz and Jeff went to work with locks and holds, Tom quoted The Miz in saying Miz wants to make the WWE title prestigious just as he did with the Intercontinental title. Jeff, outside the ring now with Miz, ran along the barricade to dive onto Miz. (c.)
Jeff held Miz in an arm bar in the ring. Miz soon regained control of the pace with a few knees and a kneckbreaker, slowing down that pace. Miz threw Hardy out of the ring, and, at ringside, he crotch-dropped Hardy on the barricade. Hardy soon pushed Miz away and jumped off the barricade onto Miz. Back in the ring, Jeff hit a groin leg drop and a low dropkick for a near fall. He rallied the fans for a Twist of Fate, but Miz reversed, trying for a roll-up. Jeff quickly reversed into a Twist of Fate. He then scaled the top rope for a Swanton, but Miz rolled to the ring apron. Hardy came over and Miz performed a kneckbreaker on the ropes. (c.)
Miz and Hardy traded punches in the ring. Hardy finally went for a pinning combination for a two-count. Jeff finally hit a Whisper in The Wind for a near fall as well. Miz went to the apron, but Jeff knocked his legs out and dropkicked him to ringside. Jeff then hit a rolling senton outside of the ring. He rolled Miz back in, took his shirt off, and went to the top for a Swanton, but Miz stopped him by fighting him on the top rope. Jeff flipped over his back and hit a sunset powerbomb for a near fall. Hardy kicked Miz to the corner and Jeff hit a dropkick. He then hit a second Twist of Fate and scaled the top rope. Finally, he hit a Swanton Bomb for a two-count, which Miz reversed into a quick rollup and got the three- count.
WINNERS: Miz in 20:00.
(Mayle’s Analysis: That was a nicely executed match. I was assuming they would have Miz win so they could build tension during the MITB match for his and Bryan’s rivalry match at a later pay per view. In the meantime, Hardy is the United States Champion, so he’s obviously going to be busy defending that, or at least he should be. I’d rather have my Jeff Hardy standing alone with his own feuds than mixed into some multi-man match.)
Sheamus was backstage eating out of a bag of Lucky Charms. Cesaro came in and asked what he was doing, to which Sheamus bitterly replied, “I’m eating Lucky Charms.” He said he’s coping after losing to Xavier Woods last week. Cesaro said that if it were he, he wouldn’t have lost that easily. They decided to have Cesaro challenge Woods tonight. They opened their gear bags and they were full of pancakes. They threw their bags angrily.
-The announcers plugged Bryan vs. Rusev and Charlotte vs. Peyton still to come. (c.)
-A video aired hyping Sanity’s Smackdown debut.
-The announcers recapped the Styles vs. Nakamura match from Backlash. Byron said that Styles had to give Shinsuke a taste of his own medicine.
-Renee Young was backstage by Nakamura’s door. Nakamura walked out, and Renee noted that he hasn’t been cleared for competition tonight before asking if his war with Styles was over. Shinsuke said, “No…speak English.” She said everyone knows he can speak English. Shinsuke said that he forgot how, “..so now, no speak English.” Then he winked. The fans laughed. Renee then asked if he has anything to say about Styles. He said, “A.J. Styles nuts, but so am I. We are not finished.” He went back into his locker room.
(Mayle’s Analysis: It’s just so nice to see Nakamura acting and being treated the way he should be. He’s a big deal and deserves the championship limelight.)
-The announcers said they would hear from Styles later. Then, they discussed the result of the Women’s Championship match at Backlash between Charlotte and Carmella as freeze-frames aired.
-A selfie video aired of Carmella boasting about her big win. She said she would celebrate her win next week in London after bad-mouthing Baltimore. She mentioned it would be bigger than the Royal Wedding and that Prince Harry needs to stop blowing up her phone because he and the rest of the Royal Family aren’t invited. She also said that Ric Flair isn’t invited either.
(Mayle’s Analysis: Carmella really is a true heel. She’s slightly different than other heels though because of the childlike aspect of her character, but I enjoy seeing diversity in heel champions. She’s honestly adding more hype to the championship scene than Charlotte has in the past. At this point, I like Charlotte more as a hungry challenger to the championship than being a babyface champion. I really want her to go heel once she finally wins it back.)
-Charlotte made her ring entrance. (c.)
-Selfie videos aired of Tye Dillinger making a MITB promo as well as Naomi doing the same.
-The Iconics made their ring entrance but stopped on the stage to cut a promo on Charlotte. Kay said they were sorry for her loss. However, she is still an inspiration. They explained that when their stuttering uncle saw her loss at Backlash, he was laughing hysterically and it cured his stutter. So, they thanked Charlotte for that. They said they wanted to bottle her losing face and sell it as a fragrance called “Disappointment”. They said the heartbreak is going to continue because that Money in the Bank contract belongs to the future, and the future is iconic.
(2) CHARLOTTE FLAIR vs. PEYTON ROYCE – MITB Qualifier
Charlotte picked up offense on Royce and they cut to an early break. (c.)
[HOUR TWO]
Peyton kept Flair in holds and slowed down the pace. Fans rallied around Charlotte and finally Charlotte was able to whip Peyton by her head to the mat. She picked up more offense with Fialr chops. Peyton rolled to ringside. Charlotte vaulted over the rope to Billie Kay as Peyton avoided the move. Peyton then performed a kneckbreaker to Charlotte on the floor. She put her back in the ring and, as Charlotte was distracted by Billie Kay, Royce hit a spinning leg kick to Charlotte for a near fall. Charlotte soon hit her with a big boot and scaled the ropes for a moonsault, which Peyton lifted her knees to deflect. Soon, Charlotte was able to hit a spear for a near fall. Finally, Charlotte got her in the Figure 8 for the win.
WINNER: Charlotte in 10:00.
-The announcers recapped Daniel Bryan’s win at Backlash against Big Cass and how Cass booted him after the match.
-Backstage, Dasha Fuentes asked Bryan if he’s recovered from Sunday. Bryan said he would fight through it. He said that just as he cashed in his MITB contract against the Big Show in Baltimore years ago, he would defy expectations once again. He said he would continue to prove that the bigger they are, the faster they tap.
-a selfie video aired of Shelton Benjamin declaring he would take the MITB opportunity that no one is going to give him. Then Asuka, in a classic promo video that also included words on the screen, declared that no one is ready for Asuka for the MITB.
(3) XAVIER WOODS (w/Kofi Kingston, Big E) vs. CESARO (w/Sheamus)
The crowd chanted, “We want pancakes!” to Cesaro’s chagrin. Big E threw out pancakes to the crowd. In the ring, Cesaro and Woods traded offense. Cesaro soon pushed Woods towards the ref, which he avoided, but was ultimately taken down back a clotheline. (c.)
Woods regained some offense with kicks and knees. He hit a wheelbarrow into a facebuster for a near fall. Woods climbed to the top rope and Sheamus stood on the apron. Big E threw pancakes at him and Kofi dove on him. Woods climbed the top rope and jumped for Cesaro, but Cesaro hit a European uppercut for the win.
WINNER: Cesaro in 8:00.
-Renee interviewed Styles backstage. She noted that he also is not cleared for competition tonight. She told him that Shinsuke said he is still not done with him, and that people were actually quite disturbed at the intensity of the match. A.J. stopped her and said that he knew the match was not in good taste. He said that he doesn’t want to fight like that, but he will if he has to, especially when the championship is still on the line. He said that he doesn’t care when, why, or where, but if Shunsuke wants to challenge him again, he will show him that this is the house that A.J. Styles built.
-Becky Lynch and Mandy Rose with Sonya Deville were shown walking backstage on split-screen. (c.)
-A vignette aired of The Bludgeon Brothers. There were toys horridly disfigured, and then the camera panned to Harper and Rowan in their masks. They took of the masks and said they have their own set of toys they play with. They threw their mallets over their shoulders and said, “Come play with us. We’re waiting.” They then destroyed the camera with their mallets.
-Mandy and Sonya were talking backstage about how they can both be in the MITB ladder match. Paige walked up and reminded them that Absolution is dead. They said that they will never abandon each other. Paige then banned Sonya from ringside.
-Mandy came out to her own entrance music and video graphics.
(4) BECKY LYNCH vs. MANDY ROSE – Money in the Bank qualifier
Rose was able to hit a knee and get a one-count. She then held Becky in a headlock, which Becky was able to rally out of. Rose then slapped Becky, but Becky threw multiple punches and went for a Disarm-her, which Rose avoided. Mandy went for a quick rollup for the win.
WINNER: Rose in 3:00.
(Mayle’s Analysis: Well, hopefully this sets up some sort of small feud between Becky and Mandy. It was an upset win that I would be happy to see a payoff for. Becky really deserves more than just a quick job to a newer talent.)
-A video aired recapping Bryan winning the MITB and cashing it in from 2011.
-Bryan made his ring entrance to the astounding cheers of fans. (c.)
-Tom plugged a qualifying match between The New Day and the Bar next week, making the winning team choose which member will enter the MITB ladder match. They also hyped the Royal Mellabration next week in London, and hyped Andrade “Cien” Almas’ debut next week.
-Aiden English came out and did his lame rap to introduce Rusev and belittle Baltimore and Daniel Bryan. Rusev made his entrance.
(5) DANIEL BRYAN vs. RUSEV (w/Aiden English)
They performed a test of strength, which Bryan reversed into a hammer lock. Rusev threw him into the ropes and Bryan was able to take Rusev down. He hit some kicks, but Rusev soon slammed Bryan down. Rusev ran at Bryan, but Bryan avoided it and sent Rusev flying over the ropes to ringside. Bryan dove out of the ring to Rusev, but Rusev caught him and threw him into the announce table. (c.)
Rusev suplexed Bryan onto the mat in the ring. Bryan soled as Rusev toyed with him. Rusev threw him into the corner, but Bryan caught himself and was able to hit goat kicks to Rusev in the corner. Bryan lifted Rusev to the top rope and performed a frankensteiner. Bryan rallied the fans and performed the YES Kicks. Rusev ducked the final kick and superkicked Bryan for a near fall. The crowd chanted a combination of “Daniel Bryan”, and “Rusev Day”. Rusev finally went for a Camel Clutch, but Bryan reverse it into a YES lock. Rusev quickly grabbed the bottom rope to break the hold. Bryan hit more kicks, but Rusev landed a hard gut kick and flipped Bryan over his head, which Bryan landed on his feet for a head kick. Rusev rolled out of the ring. Bryan did a baseball slide out of the ring on both Rusev and English. He rolled Rusev back in the ring and hit a top rope dropkick on Rusev. He rallied for a knee, but Rusev reversed and hit a Machka Kick for the pinfall.
WINNER: Rusev in 12:00.
As Rusev and English celebrated on the ramp, the music faded out while Bryan sat on the ring apron looking profusely depressed. The fans chanted for him.
(Mayle’s Analysis: Naturally, I was rooting for Bryan to win this one so he could go onto MITB and progress a feud with Miz during the match, but they must have something different planned for now. For them to cut the music and hold that moment of Bryan’s disappointment means there is going to be more to his story in the coming weeks. Maybe those won’t be such a disappointment at all. Maybe it will be along the lines of a Johnny Gargano’s comeback after losing so much. I think they could play up the ring rust angle with Bryan and have him fight back to get on top. That would be a great payoff. I suppose you don’t want to thrust Bryan back on top right out of the gate. There may even be newer eyes on the product who don’t know so much about Bryan, so it would be a good idea to give them a glimpse of that true underdog that he is.)
Final Thought: I’m happy to see more wrestling on this show. All the matches were actually well done. I like the style that’s reminiscent of an NXT show on steroids in that the focus was really on the other big star this week in Daniel Bryan as oppose to throwing heavy segments and matches featuring every single star the show has. It’s a welcomed change. Showing the champions in quick video promos and such are sometimes a great thing so other talent can shine, and I think that’s what happened tonight. It was a good wrestling show.)
NOW CHECK OUT WADE KELLER’S REPORT: 5/8 WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS: Keller’s report on Money in the Bank season kicking off with qualifying matches including Bryan-Rusev, Hardy-Miz, Charlotte-Royce
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