SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE SMACKDOWN PRIMER
JULY 24, 2018
EVANSVILLE, IND. AT THE FORD CENTER
AIRS ON USA NETWORK 8:00PM EDT
BY FRANK PETEANI, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Arena/Opening Thoughts
WWE’s signature blue brand Smackdown returns to The Ford Center in Evansville, Ind. for the first time since May of 2015. The Ford Center opened for business in 2011 and hosts Smackdown for the third time in its short history. It’s crazy to think how much changes in three years. Of the current champions on the Smackdown side, only the Bludgeon Brothers were on the main roster. WWE Champion A.J. Styles and U.S. Champion Shinsuke Nakamura were not even employed by WWE. Women’s Champion Carmella was in NXT managing Enzo Amore and Big Cass.
SummerSlam continued to take shape on Raw last night and the same is expected for tonight. G.M. Paige has already told us about the Tag Team Championship picture via her twitter account. Last week she told us of a possibility with the women’s championship. We had a U.S. Championship match take a bizarre detour. Let’s look at what WWE has in store according to their website.
WWE Champion A.J. Styles’s SummerSlam Opponent Revealed
We learned last week that tonight, Paige will reveal A.J. Styles’ opponent at SummerSlam for the WWE Championship. A.J. Styles defeated Andrade “Cien” Almas in an unannounced non-title match last week.
There’s are no indications as to whom it may be or how the decision will be made. Samoa Joe did send out this tweet just prior to last week’s Smackdown which I found interesting:
How many more must pay before you give me what I want? You keep denying, I keep collecting.
— Samoa Joe (@SamoaJoe) July 18, 2018
Thoughts: For a SummerSlam match I would think Samoa Joe would be the direction in which they go. Almas had a decent showing in last week’s match with Styles, but I don’t see him as a possibility just yet. Joe made quick work of Tye Dillinger in a match that was supposed to take place two weeks ago. Don’t be surprised to see Rusev interject himself into the situation, leading to a match between Joe and Rusev with the winner getting the shot at the title. This is pure speculation on my part, but we have four Smackdowns until SummerSlam and a possible issue between Rusev and Aiden English. They could tie this into championship picture. Rusev was the last #1 contender and probably feels he was short-changed at Extreme Rules.
Non-Title Match: Smackdown Women’s Champion Carmella vs. Becky Lynch
Last week Becky Lynch continued her string of compiling victories as she defeated Mandy Rose, accompanied by Sonya Deville. Following the match, she cut a promo telling Carmella she was coming for her and the Smackdown Women’s Championship.
Later in the show Carmella told Paige she wanted another ‘Mellabration following her second defeat of Asuka in their championship match at Extreme Rules. Paige agreed so long as she defeated Becky next week (tonight) in a non-title match. If Becky wins, she gets a championship match with Carmella at SummerSlam.
Thoughts: I will personally be thrilled to see Becky Lynch get a championship opportunity at SummerSlam. It feels like somewhat of a letdown facing Carmella, no disrespect to her. I would prefer to see Becky defeat an opponent with more credibility, such as Asuka or Charlotte. On the other side, it may be easier to start a title run defeating someone like Carmella as fans would be thrilled to see that. Either way, Becky is certainly getting a push and being featured as a big deal. I’ll take it.
Tag Team Championship Tournament: New Day vs. Sanity
Paige announced via her twitter account that four teams will compete in a tournament to determine the #1 contenders for the Smackdown Tag Team Championship currently held by The Bludgeon Brothers, Harper and Rowan. The championship match will take place at SummerSlam. Round one starts tonight with the New Day taking on Sanity. Next week we get The Usos vs. The Bar. Here are Paige’s tweets, which were sent sporadically this past weekend into Monday:
Finished dog mom responsibilities and got an idea for the tag team division of #SDLive. That’s right, I’m always working for you! pic.twitter.com/4OejvimYkJ
— PAIGE (@RealPaigeWWE) July 21, 2018
Your fave GM here.. Such a beautiful Sunday and you are all so inquisitive… you want the teams for this #SDLive Tag team tournament, well here they are! And I’ll cheers to that. pic.twitter.com/YmiFMzfIHP
— PAIGE (@RealPaigeWWE) July 22, 2018
At the airport and on my way to #SDLive! What’s the first tag-team tournament match you ask? pic.twitter.com/xhhKdrCQBz
— PAIGE (@RealPaigeWWE) July 23, 2018
Thoughts: It’s a small tournament but nonetheless a meaningful structure to determine a true #1 contender for a championship. As a G.M. Paige has been framed as sure of herself and firmly in charge of Smackdown. There is no interference from above nor any constables to cause distractions. With that said, I’m not 100% sure but I would go with Sanity tonight. Sanity vs. The Bludgeon Brothers at SummerSlam is an intriguing possibility.
Orton-Hardy Fallout
Jeff Hardy exercised his rematch clause and challenged Shinsuke Nakamura for the U.S. Championship last week following his loss to Shinsuke at Extreme Rules. Hardy would win via DQ when Randy Orton stopped the referee’s pin count following Hardy hitting a Swanton on Shinsuke.
Randy would continue his attack and in a cringeworthy moment, tugged on Hardy’s pierced ear. It was certainly not for the squeamish of hearts. You could hear Randy yell at Hardy saying “You want to know why I’m doing this? You’ll have to wait and find out!” Tonight, WWE says they will follow up on this situation.
Thoughts: With the shortage of babyfaces on Smackdown, it is odd to be turning Randy Orton heel even though he is better suited for that role. It does also feel random to be having a heated rivalry between Hardy and Orton. Orton did recently unsuccessfully challenge Hardy when he was U.S. Champion at Backlash this past May. The only other thing I could find as a possible issue was a video from Raw in 2008 when Hardy hit a fairly crazy Swanton by the entrance when Orton was WWE Champion. Here’s the link:
Daniel Bryan-Miz Follow-up
Last week The Miz hosted a MizTv where he had a “eulogy” for Team Hell No following their unsuccessful challenge to the Bludgeon Brothers Tag Team Championship at Extreme Rules. After several moments Daniel Bryan’s music would play and Bryan surprised Miz from behind in the ring, attacking him and going after the pallbearers as well as the funeral pictures and easels. WWE advertises they will follow up on this tonight.
Thoughts: Miz certainly did define down Bryan quite a bit last week. He said his return has “been a bust” and his days headlining WrestleMania are over. If you’re a VIP member listen to Sunday’s Bruce Mitchell audio show if you haven’t done so at the moment. Bruce alludes to the fact that it’s possible Miz could have been speaking for WWE management, frustrated Bryan has not signed a new contract. Now since then he could have signed a new deal, but I can’t be 100% sure. One thing is for certain and that Daniel Bryan’s future will be a hot topic of conversation as we continue our journey to SummerSlam and beyond.
Other Items
Aiden English pleaded with Lana to talk to Rusev on his behalf to apologize for costing him the WWE Championship at Extreme Rules. He claimed he always had Rusev’s back and his best interests at heart. She said she’d take it under advisement but also questioned if he’s best for Rusev overall….in her English accent.
WWE pushed the fact that Miz and Mrs. will debut following Smackdown tonight.
Wrestlers Advertised, Dark Matches, and 205 Live
I could just “copy and paste” because the arena’s website is advertising the same double main event as the previous two Smackdowns. They show a six-man tag featuring WWE Champion A.J. Styles, Jeff Hardy, and Daniel Bryan vs. U.S. Champion Shinsuke Nakamura, The Miz, and Samoa Joe. It’s confusing because they say it’s “for the WWE Championship.” They also show Asuka vs. Carmella again. It doesn’t indicate if this is a title match. In addition, they advertise Randy Orton, Charlotte Flair, New Day, and “many more.” The website is not updated as Flair is still recovering from surgery.
The “Talent Is Subject to Change.”
205 Live will follow Smackdown. There will be a fatal four-way to determine the #1 contender for the Cruiserweight Championship, still held by Cedric Alexander. The participants are TJP, Drew Gulak, Hideo Itami, and Mustafa Ali. TJP and Gulak won their respective matches last week. Ali recently defeated Buddy Murphy in a no DQ match that could be a candidate for match of the year. Itami recently came up short in a championship match against Alexander but is getting another opportunity tonight.
Follow me on Twitter @FrankPeteani. Thank you for reading!
NOW CATCH UP ON LAST WEEK’S SMACKDOWN REPORT: 7/17 ELDER’S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT: Alt-perspective report on Extreme Rules fallout, Jeff Hardy vs. Shinsuke Nakamura title rematch, A.J. vs. Almas, and The Miz hosts a eulogy for Team Hell No
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