WWE SMACKDOWN PRIMER 10/16: 1000th Episode, Returns of Evolution & Undertaker and others, World Cup qualifying matches

WWE SMACKDOWN PRIMER
OCTOBER 16, 2018
WASHINGTON, D.C. AT THE CAPITAL ONE ARENA
AIRS ON USA NETWORK 8:00 P.M. EDT
BY FRANK PETEANI, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR 

Arena / Brief Smackdown History / Returns Advertised

 In the late 1990s, WWE (then WWF) was in the midst of the Monday Night Wars with its rival WCW.  WWF’s Raw and WCW’s Nitro went head to head on a weekly basis from late 1995 until early 2001.  During that time, WCW debuted a second show known as Thunder.  WWE responded with a second show of its own.  This show would be named after a catchphrase coined by The Rock, who is arguably on the Mount Rushmore of wrestlers in the modern television & PPV era.  Without question I am referring to Smackdown, which debut on April 29, 1999.  After the local Washington Capitals recently hoisted the Stanley Cup for the first time in their history, we celebrate the 1000^th episode of Smackdown in the Capital One Arena tonight in Washington, D.C.

It is ironic that WWE eventually did what WCW had intended to do, and that was split its roster for the two shows.  It was rumored that Nitro was intended to be the “nWo show,” while Thunder would be the traditional WCW offering.  That never came to fruition.  Over the past 16 years, WWE has featured two iterations of roster splits for Raw and Smackdown (2002-2011 and 2016-present).

There are many wrestlers and general managers set to make their return this evening.  Batista and Ric Flair return to join storyline COO (and current DX member) Triple H and current Smackdown resident Randy Orton to reform Evolution.  Rey Mysterio returns, joins the active roster, and will compete for the right to be in the World Cup slated for Crown Jewel.

As of yesterday, here is a list of others to expect tonight based on local advertising and web reports…

-Torrie Wilson
-Michelle McCool
-Undertaker
-Kane
-James Ellsworth
-Edge
-Booker T
-Big Show
-Teddy Long (former G.M.)
-Vickie Guerrero (former G.M.)

There are two World Cup qualifying matches scheduled.  According to Wikipedia, WWE Champion A.J. Styles is scheduled to wrestle as well, but the opponent is TBD.  If James Ellsworth is set to return, how ironic would it be if he were A.J.’s opponent given their history a few years back?  (I’m trying not to think about it, but reality is reality folks.)

World Cup Qualifying Matches: Rey vs. Shinsuke, Rusev vs. Miz

Tonight, we will round out the World Cup tournament slated for Crown Jewel to take place in (where? WWE didn’t give the location last night on Raw.  I’m asking for a friend.)  My sarcasm aside, the last two participants will be determined.  Rusev will take on the Miz, and Rey Mysterio makes his return to WWE to take on U.S. Champion Shinsuke Nakamura.  As I said in last week’s primer, Mysterio joins the active roster as he has signed a two-year contract.  He supposedly can opt out in 18 months, which is around WrestleMania in 2020.

The World Cup, as we know, features four wrestlers from Raw and four from Smackdown.  Here’s who is in the tournament thus far:

Raw:

• Free Agent John Cena
• G.M. Kurt Angle
• Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins
• Raw Tag Team Championship Co-Holder Dolph Ziggler

Smackdown:

• Jeff Hardy
• Randy Orton

The brackets are to be determined.

Frank’s Analysis:  The six participants thus far for this “World Cup” are American born.  Tonight, we can potentially get at least one wrestler not born here in the “states” if not two with Rusev being born in Bulgaria and Shinsuke born in Japan.  I have no issue if a tournament in and of itself features all Americans, but don’t call it a World Cup.  Anyway, my complaints aside, the big takeaway for me here is the return of Rey Mysterio.  This is a HUGE return for this brand.  He has had matches with men of all size and except for an odd feud with the Undertaker back in 2010, he has always delivered.  He is well-liked by the fans, and he lengthens the roster by giving you a babyface you can put in matches with just about anyone.  This match tonight with Shinsuke is an EXCELLENT way of bringing him back.  A feud over the U.S. Championship could start from this for certain, and Rey could be the guy to take the title from Shinsuke.  As far as Miz and Rusev they haven’t had a storyline yet.  Both wrestlers are good enough to make you think they can have a great match/feud, but let’s see it to believe it.

Undertaker Returns

For a great many years, the Undertaker was a staple of Smackdown.  He had many great opponents including Randy Orton, Batista, Edge, Mark Henry, the Dudley Boyz, and his brother Kane.  Edge, Henry, and the Dudleys are all in the Hall of Fame.  Orton, Batista, and Kane are certain to follow at some point.

Undertaker is currently involved in a storyline teaming with his brother Kane on Raw and will take on Shawn Michaels and Triple H (D-Generation X) at Crown Jewel set to take place in (where?  WWE didn’t say….oh never mind we know where it is).  Tonight, he makes his return to the brand he dominated from 2002-2011.  Undertaker was initially drafted to Raw by then “owner” Ric Flair, but moved to Smackdown in August of 2002.  He remained on Smackdown until the first roster spilt ended in 2011.

Frank’s Analysis:  You can’t have a landmark episode of Smackdown without the Undertaker.  I always felt he fit Raw better, but I believe he was on Smackdown in an attempt to keep people watching the show.  If Wrestlinginc.com is accurate and Kane is there as well, it’ll be interesting to see if any mention is made of their current feud with DX.  Bear in mind, Evolution will be on the show and that stable features Triple H of DX.  Evolution, whom I’ll get into next, features wrestlers all of which Undertaker has worked with through the years.  Also look to see how Undertaker (& Kane) are framed as they are currently the heels in their storyline on Raw with DX.  Undertaker was a babyface for his entire Smackdown tenure.

Evolution Returns

From 2003-2005, a stable known as Evolution made their mark on the Raw brand.  You could almost look back on them as the “Four Horsemen of the 2000s.”  It featured Triple H, Ric Flair, and two up-and-comers at the time.  Those up-and-comers were Randy Orton and Batista.  While the stable dominated Raw, Orton and Batista would eventually find success on the Smackdown brand through the years as both men would win multiple championships.  Triple H would have a championship run on Smackdown as well towards the end of the first roster spilt.  Ric Flair ended his wrestling days with WWE on Smackdown.  He would have a legendary match with Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania in 2008 to end his WWE wrestling career.

Randy Orton still resides on Smackdown as a top heel.  Triple H is the storyline COO of WWE.  Tonight, Ric Flair and Batista make their returns to join Orton and Triple H and reform Evolution.

Frank’s Analysis:  It’s still odd to see Evolution reform on a brand in which never performed, even though individually all men had tenures on Smackdown.  I get the sense since this has a lot to do with Batista’s schedule, as he was not at Raw 25 earlier this year.  That show would have made much more sense to feature Evolution.  As I talked about earlier with Triple H and Undertaker currently featured in a storyline on Raw, and with Undertaker appearing tonight, it will be interesting to see if there’s any “cross-over.”  Undertaker never had dealings with Evolution as a stable, but he did have WrestleMania matches with every member although not while they were part of the stable.  Batista, according to monstersandcritics.com, is interested in a short-term WWE return.  The article claims he’s interested in working Survivor Series, Royal Rumble, and WrestleMania.  He returned to WWE in 2014, won the Royal Rumble, and unsuccessfully challenged for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania.  Evolution then reformed briefly and would feud with the Shield.  He then left citing he was unhappy overall with his return.  Tonight’s return could lay the groundwork for another run.  With Orton being the sadistic heel, it’ll be interesting to see how he fits back in with the stable that essentially gave him his start.

Other Items from Smackdown Last Week

• Aiden English’s “One Night in Milwaukee” with Lana turned out to be a video showing Lana rejecting Aiden’s sexual advances.  Aiden failed in his attempt to blackmail Rusev into reforming Rusev Day.  Remember, Aiden attacked Rusev many weeks ago after a U.S. Championship match with Shinsuke Nakamura.
• Smackdown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair fought to a double count out in their championship match.  A Last Woman Standing match for the title was announced for Evolution (not to be confused with the returning stable) set to go Oct. 28.
• Daniel Bryan and WWE Champion A.J. Styles were on MizTV to discuss their upcoming championship match at Crown Jewel on Nov. 2 in (you know where…sorry can’t help myself).  There was quite a verbal exchange between all three men that including Miz pointing out how A.J. Styles has never main evented a PPV defending the WWE Championship.  A.J. would later defeat Shelton Benjamin, who had beaten Daniel Bryan a week earlier.

Start Time & Matches Advertised

The arena website shows a start time of 7:30 p.m. local time with doors opening at 6:00 p.m.  They advertise these matches:

• A.J. Styles & Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz & Samoa Joe.
• Six-women tag: Smackdown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch & The IIconics vs. Charlotte Flair & Asuka & Naomi.

They show the returns of Evolution, Rey Mysterio, Undertaker, Michelle McCool, Teddy Long, Vickie Guerrero, and Torrie Wilson.  For current wrestlers they advertise Smackdown Tag Team Champions New Day and U.S. Champion Shinsuke Nakamura.

They don’t show James Ellsworth, Kane, Edge, Booker T, or Big Show.    

Follow me on Twitter @FrankPeteani and ask any questions you may have.  Thank you for reading!

NOW CATCH UP ON LAST WEEK’S SMACKDOWN REPORT: 10/9 WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT: Keller’s report on fallout from Super Show-down, Becky vs. Charlotte rematch, World Cup matches including return of Big Show