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HITS
Miz and Mrs Open: Never a bad promo, and Miz continued that again Tuesday night. Miz teased “retirement” until specifying the retirement is from ever facing Daniel Bryan again. Bryan came out calling Miz a coward. The two traded verbal blows until Maryse called Bryan “Daniel Bella.” This brought out the returning Brie Bella who sprinted into the ring and started walloping the Miz with flying fists. This led to Daniel Bryan announcing that both he and his wife will team up to take on MS and his wife at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view next month. So, it seems Bryan has in fact signed a new deal with WWE.
Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton: For a guy who supposedly has a banged-up back, Hardy continues to take unnecessary bumps. Fresh off the missed Swanton bomb on the apron against Shinsuke Nakamura, Hardy took another rough bump on the announce table off an Orton back suplex. The two new arrivals had a good one-on-one contest ending with Hardy getting disqualified for a low blow on Orton. This led to an even better bra that extended them into the crowd we’re Hardy laid in some stiff chair shots to Orton’s back. Then the maniac followed that up with a Swanton bomb off electrical equipment driving Orton through a table. Phenomenal opening matchup that surely will culminate inside Hell in a Cell.
Becky Lynch Promo: Wow. Where has the microphone been all this time for her? She cut a riveting heel promo about how deserving she is to be women’s champion instead of Charlotte Flair. There were points she ripped the fans yet they still cheered her. That’s how over Lynch is. Charlotte came out, sprinted to the ring, and the two women brawled inside and outside the ring until the rest of the Smackdown Women’s Division came out to separate the two.
A.J. Styles and Samoa Joe altercation: Thankfully this rivalry will continue into Hell in a Cell, thanks in large part to Samoa Joe attacking Styles during his promo on the ramp. Styles talked about promising his family he wouldn’t cross the line however if Joe brought up his family again he would proceed to rip his heart out. Then out of nowhere Joe attacked styles and choked him out with his submission. Then told Wendy Styles into the camera that her husband and their kids Daddy just went night night. I thought that was good.
New Day vs. Bludgeon Brothers: With news that Erick Rowan was allegedly headed for surgery after injuring himself at SummerSlam, most assumed New Day were going to capture the Smackdown Live Tag Team titles for the fifth time. The New Day procured the tag titles after and exciting Non-Stop back and forth no disqualification match. Harper and Rowan were tremendous and Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods bumped all over the place for the big men. The biggest highlight of the match came when Harper and Rowan chokeslammed Kingston on top of a ladder that was laying on two chairs. Great spot, great bump. The Brooklyn crowd went bonkers for the title change and capped off a great episode of SmackDown Live. Congratulations to the new champions.
MISSES
Peyton Royce vs. Naomi: Just not a good match. Slow moving and quick not much to write home about. Naomi had a couple high spot kicks but to no avail Royce hit Naomi with a fisherman suplex for the win.
Lana & Rusev vs. Zelina Vega & Andrade Cien Almas: I thought the ladies actually performed quite well being that they are two of the weakest performers of the women’s division, and I don’t mean any disrespect there. Both women are tremendous managers. So kudos to them for good performance. However, Rusev and Almas were off. There were a couple spots where the timing of both of them was off, including Almas decking Rusev with a turn around punched to the head. I thought for sure Rusev was knocked out for a second, obviously he was okay. Lana and Rusev obtained the victory after help from Aiden English.
NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S COLUMN: WWE SMACKDOWN HITS & MISSES 8/14: Styles and Samoa Joe closing segment, Hardy vs. Shelton, Bryan-Miz video packages, Carmella-Charlotte-Becky, New Day vs. Sanity
Becky Lynch was really outstanding in her promo. She surprised me to an extent. I didn’t expect her to be bad as a heel, but nowhere as good as that. The problem the WWE is going to have though is she’s not saying anything that isn’t true about Charlotte. I don’t know that they have a babyface on the SD roster that’s going to garner cheers against Becky, but it’s certainly not Charlotte.
In this time of PC insanity, I’m surprised no one has a problem with Brie Bella walloping The Miz when he can’t retaliate. Sure, we’d all love to see her smack her back right in the head.