SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
KELLER’S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
MAY 14, 2019
TAPED IN LONDON, ENGLAND AT THE O2 ARENA
AIRED ON SEVERAL HOUR TAPE DELAY ON USA NETWORK
Announcers: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton
Check out Brandon LeClair’s alt-perspective detailed report HERE.
[HOUR ONE]
-Phillips introduced the show as the camera panned the lower deck and floor of the arena. Roman Reigns came out to his entrance music. Phillips said Reigns instigated the Wildcard Rule and has employed liberal use of it in recent weeks. (If that means skipping his home show last week, yes.) Reigns slapped a couple hands as he marched to the ring with a determined look on his face. Reigns said he has unfinished business to take care of on Smackdown. He called out Miz. Miz came out and said it’s nice to be back on the blue brand and in London. He said in five days, he’ll get his retribution on Shane because what he’s done is unforgivable and unforgettable.
Shane McMahon walked out. Well, he danced out. He was joined by Elias. Shane said he decides who takes advantage of the Wildcard Rule, not Reigns, so he’s using his “executive privilege” (there’s a hot-button political timely reference) to ban Miz from Smackdown. Elias said he will show Reigns at MITB why Vince McMahon called him the greatest acquisition in Smackdown history. He said he’ll show Roman why WWE stands for “Walk With Elias.” Shane said since Roman and Miz aren’t leaving, he’ll make them leave. Daniel Bryan and Rowan came out and joined Shane and Elias. They surrounded the ring. Then when Shane ordered them, they attacked. The Usos ran out and evened the odds. Rowan clotheslined the Usos. Reigns then cleared the ring of the heels. Reigns music played.
-Saxton said Kofi Kingston will be on The Kevin Owens Show later.
-Randy Orton made his ring entrance. [c]
-Backstage, Shane chatted with Bryan, Rowan, and Elias. Shane said they’d all wrestle Reigns & The Usos tonight, and if Miz gets near the ring, the cage match against him on Sunday is cancelled.
-Orton standing mid-ring said on Sunday he will climb the ladder and become the MITB winner for a second time. Zelina Vega and Andrade walked out. Vega said people are so sensitive about spoilers these days such as “Game of Thrones.” She said when it comes to Andrade, they’re going to spoil Money in the Bank right now. She then shockingly revealed Andrade will win. Ali entered next. They replayed the Ali-Orton angle last week. Finn Balor began his ring entrance. They cut to a commercial, but stayed with start of the match on split-screen. [c]
(1) RANDY ORTON vs. FINN BALOR vs. ALI vs. ANDRADE (w/Zelina Vega) – Fatal Four-Way
Balor and Ali battled until Orton attacked Ali on the floor. Back live, Orton continued to beat down Ali. Eventually Andrade took control of Balor. Zelina encouraged Andrade to pull a ladder out from under the ring. He pulled out two. He slid one into the ring. Orton and Ali were down in the corner of the ring. Andrade hit Orton when he stood. Ali kicked the ladder out of his arms. Ali then sling-shot himself toward Andrade, but Andrade blocked him mid-air with the ladder. [c]
Back live, Ali climbed to the top rope and went for a 450, but Orton instead gave him an RKO. Andrade dropkicked Orton out of the ring a second later. Balor charged at Andrade, but Andrade nailed him with a spinning elbow. Balor small packaged Andrade for a two count. Next, he flip dove onto Ali and Orton on the floor. Andrade threw Balor into the ringside steps next. Back in the ring, Andrade delivered a hammerlock DDT for the win.
WINNER: Andrade in 13:00.
-After the match, Ricochet ran to the ring and climbed the ladder to meet Andrade at the top. They battled, and Ricochet knocked Andrade down. Ricochet then held up the briefcase and fans cheered. He took the briefcase with him. Phillips said the winner Sunday will have their life changed forever.
-A selfie promo aired with Carmella. She said the odds are in her favor on Sunday because she’s already won MITB twice. She said it’ll be a three-peat.
-Phillips hyped a video feature on The Man vs. The Queen Rivalry.
-Kofi Kingston was admiring his WWE Title belt backstage when Xavier Woods walked in. Kofi asked Xavier to hang back because he’s still recovering. He assured him he can handle business on his own with KO. Xavier agreed. [c]
-They aired a sponsored insurance commercial featuring Bobby “The Brain” Heenan.
-Charlotte made her ring entrance. She said this Sunday at MITB will be the culmination of her rivalry with Becky Lynch. She said she’ll become Smackdown Champion. Then they cut right to a five minute video package on the history between Charlotte and Becky dating back to NXT. They never went back to Charlotte, which was weird.
-Backstage Lacey Evans was admiring herself in a mirror. She turned to the camera and said she’s going to teach Becky Two Belts about her Woman’s Right. She said Becky will have a new nickname – Becky Black Eye. She said her new nickname will be “Lacey Evans Raw Women’s Champion.”
(Keller’s Analysis: Her delivery was better than the words alone read.)
-Greg Hamilton gave Shane an enthusiastic introduction. Phillips said Shane is making a rare in-ring appearance on Smackdown in a four-on-three match. [c]
-An Aleister Black vignette aired. He said there are differences between ambition and a manner in how one pursues their goals. He said in the end, we are left with our own truth. He said for his opponents to try to get inside his head, he guarantees they will not like the place they are trying to venture into. He said he clothes his naked villainy in old odd ends. He then lost me before closing with “fade to black.”
[HOUR TWO]
(2) ROMAN REIGNS & THE USOS vs. ROWAN & DANIEL BRYAN & SHANE MCMAHON & ELIAS
Reigns made his ring entrance and joined the Usos who were already at ringside. Shane was already in the ring with his teammates. The heels took early control against Jey, including Shane doing some mat work on Uso’s leg. Bryan shoved Jey off the top rope and they cut to a break at 5:00. [c]
Shane tagged in again after the break and danced around and then delivered some punches which Uso sold well. Uso kicked Shane and leaped to hot-tag Reigns. He went to work on Bryan who took bumps off of clotheslines from Reigns. Reigns took shots at Rowan and Elias on the ring apron. Reigns set up a Superman Punch, but fended off interference from Elias. Bryan then made a comeback and tagged in Rowan. Elias tagged in and delivered a high-knee to Reigns and scored a two count. They replayed a side-view in slo-mo to show the impact. It looks stuff. Rowan went to work on Reigns and scored a two count. They cut to a break, but stayed with the action on split screen. [c]
Bryan landed Yes Kicks on Reigns. Eventually Roman gave Jey a hot tag. Rapid-fire spots ensued with everyone. Rowan headbutted Reigns and clotheslined him to the floor. Then he went after him at ringside, but Reigns met him with a Superman Punch off the ringside steps. Elias threw Reigns head-first into the ringside steps. Shane then delivered a Coast to Coast on Jey for the pin.
WINNERS: Shane & Elias & Bryan & Rowan in 18:00.
-Afterward, Miz ran out and helped clear the ring of the heels who were celebrating their beatdown of the faces. The heels fled.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good match, especially the second half once the long-term heel domination of Jey ended. It’d have been better if Shane’s pin seemed more opportunistic and less legit, but whatever, those are the Special McMahon Rules and they’re not going anywhere.)
-The Firefly Funhouse aired, the same one as last night on Raw. Back live, Byron Saxton said he didn’t enjoy that very much.
-Asuka & Kairi Sane with Paige made their ring entrance. [c]
-Soundbites aired with MITB competitors Ember Moon and Bayley. Moon said it’s her responsibility to manifest her own greatness. Bayley said it’s her chance to step out of the shadows and show the world what she’s been capable of all along. She said she’s not just a hugger or a weak link because this Sunday she’ll prove to be a winner.
-They went to the announcers on camera who hyped the MITB line-up.
-The IIconics joined the announcers at ringside. Graves flirted with them and said he is blessed. Back in the ring, Paige said Asuka & Sane are the future of the tag team division and christened them The Kabuki Warriors. Rose said Paige should take things down a notch. She broke the news to Paige that the Kabuki Warriors aren’t the next tag champions, nor is it the IIconics, but rather it’s Fire & Desire.
(3) MANDY ROSE & SONYA DEVILLA vs. ASUKA & KAIRI SANE (w/Paige)
Early in the match Asuka and Kairi sent Deville rolling to the floor after some double-team moves. Sane then hit Mandy at ringside with a flying punch. Asuka then hip-attacked Deville, knocking her off the ring apron. [c]
Rose scored a two count on Sane after the break. The IIconics wondered how strong the bond was between Rose and Deville. Graves said the IIconics are a true team who would never break up. They said they’ve never had a fight in 15 years of friendship. In the end, Rose asked to tag in to score the pin after Deville hit a spinebuster. That gave Asuka time to recover and then leverage Rose’s shoulders down for three. The IIconics laughed uproariously. Saxton said Rose’s ego just cost her.
WINNERS: Asuka & Sane.
-A vignette aired on Lars Sullivan.
-Backstage Kayla Braxton was intimidated as she tried to ask Lars a question. She stammered and then left before asking. Lars stared her down.
-Kevin Owens talked about interviewing Kofi next. He said he’s not facing New Day at MITB, Kofi is, so now it’s time for him to answer whether he can stand on his own. He said he knows he can’t, and on Sunday the entire WWE Universe will know the answer also. He said he’ll break his back, or maybe his leg, or pop a shoulder out. New Day’s music interrupted him and he was mad.
-Kofi made his ring entrance, tossing pancakes to fans on his way. [c]
-Kofi leaned back in a reclining desk chair in the ring. He told Owens he has arrived for The Kevin Owens Show. Kofi invited him to the ring, but Owens didn’t join him. Then Owens appeared on the big screen. He narrated highlights of some of his bigger moments including turning on Chris Jericho. Kofi called KO to the ring. KO walked out and teased entering, then leaving, then returning to the ring. Graves said KO is playing mind games. Kofi chased after KO. They fought. Sami Zayn joined in, attacking Kofi from behind. They double-teamed him for a couple minutes until Xavier ran out for the save. Graves said Xavier isn’t near 100 percent. KO and Sami continued to beat on him until Kofi made a comeback and landed a Trouble in Paradise on Sami. Sami and KO retreated. Kofi yelled at him as the show ended.
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