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KELLER’S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
NOVEMBER 13, 2018
ST. LOUIS, MO.
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK
Announcers: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves
Tonight after WWE Smackdown, join me live with guest cohost Travis Bryant of the PWTorch East Coast Cast to break down the show with live callers, an on-site correspondent, and the mailbag.
•STREAM LIVE HERE STARTING WITHIN 5 MINUTE AFTER SMACKDOWN
•CALL: (347) 215-8558
•EMAIL COMMENTS/QUESTIONS: wadekellerpodcast@pwtorch.com
•SEARCH “WADE KELLER” TO DOWNLOAD THE SHOW A FEW HOURS AFTER RAW
[HOUR ONE]
-They panned the crowd as Phillips introduced the show and he noted they were in St. Louis. No upper deck shots. He said they wanted to back to go what happened at the end of Raw last night. They replayed a three minute video package on Becky Lynch’s invasion of Raw. Phillips said Becky suffered a “broken face and severe concussion” during the melee. They showed three camera angles of Nia Jax blasting Lynch in the face. They wondered who would replace Lynch on Sunday.
(Keller’s Analysis: That’s a big subtraction from the Survivor Series. Bummer for a lot of reasons. The one bright side is maybe it saves this match for a bigger stage after they get the characters sorted out and stop trying to frame Becky as a heel. It’ll be interesting to see who they put in Becky’s place on such short notice. I vote for Shane McMahon.)
-A.J. Styles made his ring entrance. He talked about being the work horse of WWE. He said he has defeated everyone with one exception – Brock Lesnar. He said he intends to not just survive, but defeat Lesnar. He suddenly noticed Paul Heyman in the time keeper’s area trying to wrest the mic from the ring announcer. Styles told him to let him talk. Heyman introduced himself. He said he comes from Raw, “the premiere show in WWE.” He said there is no one his client wants to fight more than him. Heyman listed great wrestlers such as Rick Steamboat, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, and A.J. Styles. He said they are all “this close” to being as good as Daniel Bryan. He said they all know they’re never going to get to see Lesnar vs. Bryan. He said Lesnar looks forward to stepping into the ring with the second-greatest performer in WWE history, A.J. Styles.
Styles said he gets that the “hype man” is just trying to get under his skin. He said he has the highest respect for Bryan. He said he didn’t just beat him, though, he also tapped him out. He said he lost, but he walked out with “my head hung high.” He said Lesnar, on the other hand, limped out. He said in the year since, Lesnar has become more vulnerable to being tapped out. He said Sunday’s match will be about the Face Who Runs the Place and the Champ Who Runs the Camp. Bryan’s music played. He walked out with a bit of serious look.
Bryan entered the ring and said he’s not sure why they’re talking about him. He thanked Styles for bringing up that he tapped out and he said he’s making no excuses. He said he’s been looking for a reason to punch Styles in the face and he meant that. He said if Styles mentions his name one more time without reason, he will punch him in the face. “Thank you very much, and good night,” said Bryan. He dropped the mic and began to leave.
Styles said Heyman brought up his name, not him. He said he thought they hugged it out and were good, but apparently not. He asked Bryan if he’s allowed to tell people Daniel Bryan is the best person he’s been in the ring with. Bryan popped him in the face. Graves said Styles meant what he said to be out of respect. Jamie Noble, Shane McMahon, and Adam Pearce along with several referees ran out and separated them.
(Keller’s Analysis: If they’re going to turn Bryan heel, this was a step toward that. If not, Bryan just came across bad. I thought Styles was respectful and Bryan totally unreasonable.) [c]
-They went backstage where where Bryan and Styles were shouting at each other and Shane was yelling for them to chill out as they were held apart by referees and agents again. He said the WWE Title is on the line tonight if that’s what they want. “You should know better than that!” he said.
(Keller’s Analysis: So are they going to switch the WWE Title to Bryan, only to have him lose to Lesnar, as a way to have the match that never happened and, as Heyman said, many people are resigned to never happening, and also protect Styles or Lesnar from losing on Sunday? They have a chance to give Styles a career-boosting win against Lesnar and they’re going to cop out to “protect” Lesnar? Their priorities are so messed up. Fans are going to see this for what it is, if that happens, and see WWE disrespecting Styles and Bryan while coddling Lesnar, whom they’ve convinced them doesn’t even want to be there and might not be after a couple more matches. Or, on the bright side, they see their need for more roster depth on the babyface side after Roman Reigns’s departure and turning Dean Ambrose and Bobby Lashley, and they’re going to give Bryan a major career-boosting win over Lesnar to set up Bryan vs. Styles at Royal Rumble or WrestleMania. It could also save Styles vs. Lesnar for a different circumstance.)
(1) ANDRADE CIEN ALMAS (w/Zelina Vega) vs. JEFF HARDY
Graves confirmed Styles would defend against Bryan later. Almas dominated early and then rested in the ropes above Vega. Hardy kicked him to the floor. They went to a commercial break, but stayed with the action on split screen. [c]
Almas took over again and settled into an armbar. Hardy made a comeback after the break ended and landed a leg drop between Almas’s legs and scored a two count. Hardy went for a Twist of Fate, but Almas blocked it. Hardy hit the Twist of Fate a minute later and then landed a Swanton Bomb for the clean win.
WINNER: Hardy in 8:00.
-Backstage Miz asked Paige if Bryan is no longer on Team Smackdown on Survivor Series. Paige said he is the sole captain, so who is his pick to replace Bryan on his team. Miz said because Hardy looked impressive against Almas, his pick is Hardy. Rey Mysterio and Samoa Joe were standing next to them. Miz then tried to kick Rey off the team. He said he was Bryan’s pick and he wants the stench of Rey off his team. Miz then accused Joe of smelling of coconut oil. Paige said if he wants Rey off his team, he has to beat him. Rey said he’s okay with that because it’s a chance to beat Miz up. Paige said the match is next. Miz wasn’t happy.
(Keller’s Analysis: Why is Bryan off Team Smackdown? What if he loses later? If he wins, then wouldn’t it be logical for Styles to take his place on Team Smackdown? This show has the vibe of being written under the circumstances of Vince McMahon being unhappy and demanding they just put everything in a blender.)
-Dasha Fuentes interviewed Shinsuke Nakamura. He had earbuds in. He took them off and seemed inconvenienced. She asked him about facing Seth Rollins. He said last night Seth broke his heart when he said he wasn’t thinking of him. He showed Dasha that he was replaying Seth’s promo on his phone. He leaned in and told Dasha over and over that he’s thinking only about Seth, but Seth isn’t thinking about him. “He broke my heart, so at Survivor Series, I will break his face!” he said.
(2) THE MIZ vs. REY MYSTERIO – Rey wins or he’s booted off Team Smackdown
After some back and forth action, Rey sent Miz to the floor with a head scissors and then dropkicked him. He slid under the bottom rope toward Miz for a splash, but Miz lifted his knees. They cut to a break. [c]
Back from the break, Rey avoided a Skull Crushing Finale and rallied with a 619 and then a top rope splash, but Miz lifted his knees and scored a near fall. As Miz regrouped and coped with not scoring the three count, Rey leveraged his shoulders down with a magistral cradle for the win.
WINNER: Rey Mysterio in 8:00.
-As Rey celebrated, Randy Orton showed up and went after Rey. Rey ducked and gave him an enzuigiri. Orton settled for a RKO’ing Miz as Rey retreated up the ramp. Phillips said this is one of the craziest Smackdown Lives he can remember. Orton yelled at Rey as Rey’s music played. (Apparently Orton was prohibited from chasing after Rey?)
-They showed four security guards blocking the back entrance to the arena.
-They went to the announcers who plugged “Real Country” on USA Network.
[HOUR TWO]
-Paige announced from center-ring that she was going to call out the Smackdown Women’s Roster. Charlotte came out first and then the others. Finally, Becky Lynch walked out with a badly bruised left side her face. She didn’t look happy, understandably so (storyline and real-life). A loud “Becky!” chant rang out as she got ready to speak. She thanked the fans. “I’m angry as hell right now,” she said. “I took a good beating last night, but that’s never stopped me before.” She said the medical team won’t clear her to fight on Sunday. She said she’s been angrily knocking on doors, hoping someone will let her fight, but she’s run out of time. She said what she did to Ronda Rousey last night was just a taste of what she’d do to her at Survivor Series. She said even with a broken face and a severe concussion, she “could still kick Rondy’s ass.” She told Ronda, “You’re not the baddest bitch on the planet, you’re the luckiest.”
She said she now had to pick her replacement, someone she knows can get the job done. She walked past the IIconics, then Charlotte, then Naomi, Lana, and Asuka. Asuka said, “Pick me, I’m ready!” Fans cheered. Then she walked up to Mandy Rose and Carmella. Carmella spoke up. Becky walked back to Charlotte and told her to make Ronda tap out the way she was going to make her tap out. She shook Charlotte’s hand. Then they hugged. Byron said at one time they were best friends. Charlotte got emotional. The rest of the women, except for the IIconics, wished Charlotte luck. The IIconics half-heartedly clapped.
(Keller’s Analysis: If this means Becky gets Rousey at WrestleMania, if this concussion and “broken face” isn’t a worst case scenario that leaves her out of action longer than that, this could work out well for her. Giving away Charlotte vs. Rousey with no build-up is not ideal, but it’s the most logical move storyline-wise and given the lack of options. Asuka wouldn’t have been bad, though, booking-wise if they wanted to save Charlotte-Rousey. It’s crazy how the Reigns and now Becky situations have shaken up everything.)
-A commercial aired for NXT War Games. [c]
-Dasha interviewed Charlotte about Becky choosing her to replace her against Rousey. Charlotte said she’s spent half of her career fighting against Becky, last night she fought with Becky, and Sunday night she will fight for Becky. She said it will be her honor at Survivor Series “when this queen beats Ronda Rousey and proves Smackdown is the superior brand.” She let out a woo and walked off.
(Keller’s Analysis: Nice promo. Less robotic sing-song a little more human. It just feels like the Charlotte-Rousey match deserved better than one show to promote it with no Rousey segment as part of the hype.)
(3) THE BAR (Cesaro & Sheamus) & THE BIG SHOW vs. THE NEW DAY (Kofi Kingston & Big E & Xavier Woods)
Graves went after Saxton, asking if he’s moved out of his mom’s house yet, as New Day made their entrance and Saxton got a little too enthusiastic. A minute later he said Byron talked out of both sides of his mouth, but he wishes he talked out of no sides of his mouth. That’s a Jerry Lawler-esque line. They cut to a break a couple minutes in, but stayed with the action on split screen. The heels had Xavier isolated in their corner with frequent tags. [c]
Xavier eventually landed a dropkick on Sheamus. He then leaped to hot-tag Kofi just as Cesaro tagged in. Kofi took control against Cesaro including a crossbody for a two count. When Sheamus interfered, Big E entered, but Sheamus gave him a Brogue Kick off the ring apron. When Xavier entered, Big Show tripped him and threw him into the announce table. Kofi gave Sheamus a Trouble in Paradise kick, giving Cesaro a chance at a surprise small package for a near fall. Kofi followed immediately with an S.O.S. for a near fall. Kofi went for Trouble in Paradise again, but Cesaro blocked it. Big Show tagged in. He KO Punched Kofi out of mid-air to score the pin. Show had trouble standing after the pin. That didn’t look good.
WINNERS: The Bar & Big Show in 9:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: The usual good action with The Bar and New Day. Big Show didn’t do much of anything and seemed to be having issues moving around. His movements were reminiscent of Great Khali near the end of his run. Heck, for most of his run. He did almost nothing in the match.)
-They showed security again. Phillips said they are at every entry point in the arena.
-They went backstage to the Colons, Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson, and Sanity. (Call off the search party! They finally found them! Locked in a cellar somewhere!) The Usos walked in and handed them Smackdown t-shirts. The Usos addressed the camera briefly and said to get ready for the Uso Penitentiary.
-The announcers threw to a video package on the opening angle between Styles and Bryan. [c]
-The announcers previewed the Survivor Series line-up.
(4) A.J. STYLES vs. DANIEL BRYAN – WWE Championship match
Graves said when Bryan woke up, he didn’t expect to be in a WWE Title match tonight. Bryan looked off his usual mood during ring introductions. Styles was his usual self. Graves said history could repeat itself as it was a year ago that Styles beat Jinder Mahal to take his place against Brock Lesnar as the WWE Champion at Survivor Series. Styles backdropped a charging Bryan over the top rope to the floor seconds into the match. Styles then hit Bryan with a flying forearm. They cut to a break. [c]
Back live Styles was working over Bryan’s leg. Bryan surprised Styles with an enzuigiri. Styles tried to fire back with a springboard, but Bryan knocked him off balance. Styles fell to the floor. Bryan smiled and then went after Styles, throwing him arm-first into the ringpost. Saxton said Bryan must be so motivated at this opportunity. They cut to another break after they collided mid-ring. [c]
Back live, Styles knocked Bryan off balance on the top rope. Bryan landed a basement dropkick on Styles hanging upside in the corner, then belly-to-back suplexed him hard to the mat for a two count. Styles set up a Styles Clash, but Bryan kicked free. Graves wondered if Heyman’s plan was to weaken whomever Lesnar faces on Sunday. Styles scored a two count with a victory roll. Styles hit a Pelé kick and then went for a springboard 450. Bryan lifted his knees and then applied a Yes Lock. Styles reached for the bottom rope and eventually grabbed it to force a break. Bryan signaled for his running knee after leading the crowd in “Yes!” chants, but Styles dropkicked Bryan’s knee.
They dramatically countered each other’s submission attempts with a Calf Crusher, then a Yes Lock, and then Styles launched Bryan into the corner turnbuckles. Bryan side-stepped a Phenomenal Forearm and Styles knocked the ref down. Bryan then gave Styles a low-kick, but seemed surprised at his actions. The fans booed. “What the hell was that about?” gasped Graves. He said Bryan has a crazed look in his eyes. Bryan then hit the running knee for the pin. Phillips said this is something no one expected.
WINNER: Bryan in 19:00 to capture the WWE Title.
-After the match. Bryan attacked Styles. He stomped away at his head. He sat in the corner and looked demonic. He then stomped away at Styles’s head again. Graves said something has snapped in Bryan. Saxton said he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Bryan picked up the WWE Title belt and admired it, brushing his hair back, and staring down at it. Fans booed as the show ended.
(Keller’s Analysis: So Bryan vs. Lesnar is finally going to happen, and it’s at a time when fans don’t care either way about Lesnar and when Bryan is positioned as a heel?!?)
Tonight after WWE Smackdown, join me live with guest cohost Travis Bryant of the PWTorch East Coast Cast to break down the show with live callers, an on-site correspondent, and the mailbag.
•STREAM LIVE HERE STARTING WITHIN 5 MINUTE AFTER SMACKDOWN
•CALL: (347) 215-8558
•EMAIL COMMENTS/QUESTIONS: wadekellerpodcast@pwtorch.com
•SEARCH “WADE KELLER” TO DOWNLOAD THE SHOW A FEW HOURS AFTER RAW
I have said in the past that Nia Jax is flat out dangerous in the ring. This proves my point.
Machine Gun & Gallows sighting (honestly forgot they worked there), Sanity sighting, why is Hardy beating Cien? Rey is back so I guess Vince has lost interest in Cien. Only one Mexican spot available. So a heel vs heel match where the people in attendence (why?) will be setting on their hands. Cool. What truly blows besides Becky’s injury is that this concept COULD be cool, but they only care about it for two weeks all year. Kayfabe…if they only care 2 weeks out of the year, why should I care at all? It was already a one match show, and I guess it still is. Only buzz WWE will get out if this is if the women main event, but thats already happened with Charlotte/Sasha HIAC. Is this show going to be December to Dismember bad? Thank goodness there is a TakeOver this weekend.