LECLAIR’S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 11/1: Alt perspective, detailed coverage of NXT invasion, Bayley vs. Cross, Brock Lesnar, more

LECLAIR’S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
NOVEMBER 1, 2019
BUFFALO, NY AT KEYBANK CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON FOX NETWORK

Announcers: Tom Phillips, Aiden English, Renee Young

-The show opened with Smackdown’s new themed video package and signature laser-filled pyro display. Tom Phillips welcomed the audience to the show over a sweeping shot of the crowd. The camera cut to the announcers desk, where Phillips was flanked by Renee Young and Aiden English, Smackdown’s makeshift commentary crew for the evening. Phillips welcomed English and Young to the table, announcing Michael Cole and Corey Graves’ absence.

-Brock Lesnar’s music played and he headed to the ring with Paul Heyman. Kayla Braxton, tonight’s ring announcer, introduced him. Phillips noted that most of the Smackdown roster would “most likely” not make it to the show.

Paul Heyman introduced himself to the crowd amid a chorus of boos. He gave Lesnar his signature introduction. Heyman asked for permission to shed his brilliance on the “darkness” of the crowd’s ignorance. He said Brock Lesnar is “really, really pissed off tonight.”

Heyman said Brock Lesnar conquered Cain Velasquez in the most significant moment in combat sports history. He then pointed to the tron. The Lesnar/Velasquez match from Crown Jewel was shown in full.

“There it is,” Heyman declared. He said after living with the scar on his face for years, Lesnar got retribution on Velasquez. He said it was the most “spiritually orgasmic” moment of Brock’s career. Heyman  again pointed to the tron. They proceeded to show Lesnar’s post match attack on Cain, followed by Rey Mysterio attacking Lesnar with a steel chair.

Back live, Lesnar paced around the ring in frustration. “We have a real problem going on around here,” Heyman stated. Heyman said he and Brock went to Vince McMahon. “If you don’t know who that is, google it, bitches.” He said they told Vince McMahon that Rey Mysterio should be served to them on a silver platter.

Heyman explained that Vince said that wouldn’t be possible, because Rey Mysterio is contracted to Raw and the USA Network, while Brock Lesnar is exclusive to Fox and Friday Night Smackdown. “If Rey Mysterio can’t come to Smackdown, then Brock Lesnar is going to come to Raw to look for Rey Mysterio. Heyman stated there’s no network or chairman that can stop Brock Lesnar. He said they could threaten them with litigation but, “my people invented and perfected litigation.”

Paul Heyman announced that Brock Lesnar quit Friday Night Smackdown, and would be going “Rey Mysterio hunting” this coming Monday on Raw. He delivered a line to Rey in Spanish, dropped the mic, and walked out with Lesnar at his side.

(LeClair’s Analysis: Well, there you have it. That’s how they swap the titles. Logistically, this is an interesting way to approach it, I suppose. In reality, though, what’s to stop anyone who wants to switch brands from just quitting as well? It’s better than a lot of the other ideas they could have come up with, but when you start to look at it critically, the idea falls apart pretty quickly. With that being said, Heyman was excellent. He brings an intensity and validity to his promos that few can match. This segment also gave us a pretty strong indication that they’ll be relying heavily on video packages tonight.)

-At the announcers desk, Phillips, English, and Young debated the ability of Lesnar to just up and quit. “Good riddance, just go,” Renee Young said.

-Backstage, Brock Lesnar was shown walking toward the exit. Heyman redirected him down another corridor. The camera pulled back, revealing Triple H peering down the area Lesnar and Heyman just walked through. Shawn Michaels was standing beside him.

-A graphic was shown for the Smackdown Women’s title match, coming up after the break.

-Bayley headed to the ring with Sasha Banks at her side when the show returned from commercial. Bayley wore the Women’s title draped around her neck like a messenger bag. Renee Young talked about her support for Bayley’s new attitude.

Nikki Cross headed to the ring. Tom Phillips recapped her path to earning a Women’s title shot against Bayley. Kayla Braxton provided customary championship match introductions.

(1) BAYLEY (c, w/ Sasha Banks) vs. NIKKI CROSS – Smackdown Women’s Title match

Bayley and Nikki Cross locked up as bell rang. Bayley backed Cross into the corner. Cross shoved her away. Nikki caught Bayley with a quick roll up for a two count. Bayley popped up, but Cross took her down with an arm drag into a crucifix pin. Bayley kicked out at one.

Bayley caught Nikki with a knee to the midsection. She tossed her off the ropes, but Nikki countered and shoved Bayley to the outside. Nikki hopped to the floor to meet her. She connected with a tornado DDT off the apron, then slid Bayley back in the ring and covered her for a two count. Phillips sent the show to commercial break.

Bayley had Nikki on the mat in a headlock when the show returned from break. Nikki fought her way to her feet and rolled Bayley up for a quick two count. Both women returned to their feet and Bayley took Nikki down for a quick two count of her own.

Nikki delivered a trio of punches to the head, sending Bayley to the outside. She again went to the floor to meet Bayley, who tossed Cross into the steel steps. Sasha Banks gloated about Bayley to the crowd. Bayley tossed Cross back in the ring and backed her into the corner. She hit a series of shoulders to the gut of Cross.

Cross battled out and the two traded punches in the center of the ring. Nikki hit a running cross body and regained her composure. She dropped Bayley with a trio of clotheslines, then hit a running bulldog out of the corner. Cross headed to the top rope. She caught Bayley with a diving cross body for a near fall.

Nikki Cross scooped up Bayley and planted her feet on the top rope, looking for an assisted spinning neck breaker. Sasha Banks ran interference on the apron. Cross let Bayley go and elbowed Banks to the floor.This allowed Bayley to catch Cross with a knee to the face.

Bayley ascended to the top rope and connected with an elbow drop on Cross for a believable near fall. Bayley grabbed Cross by the rear and dragged her to her feet. She shoved her into the corner and lifted her up onto the top turnbuckle. Bayley tried to continue her attack, but Cross fought her off and attempted her second tornado DDT of the match. Bayley tossed her away at the last second.

Nikki retreated to the outside. Bayley attempted a sliding dropkick through the bottom rope, but Cross caught her up between the apron. Nikki began firing away at the champion. Sasha Banks tried to attack Cross, but Nikki took her down again.

Cross rolled Bayley back into the ring and climbed to the top rope. Sasha recovered and shoved Nikki off the turnbuckle, sending her crashing to the mat below. The referee, tending to Bayley, missed the interference. Bayley hit a new maneuver, a modified reverse Russian leg sweep, for the three count retain the Women’s title.

WINNER: Bayley in 9:00, still Smackdown Women’s Champion

Bayley celebrated briefly, but the camera cut to the outside as NXT’s Shayna Baszler jumped Sasha Banks from behind. She quickly slid in the ring and hit Bayley with a jumping knee kick. She kicked Cross out of the ring, then tossed Bayley into the ring post. The crowd erupted in a loud “NXT” chant.

Shayna hit Bayley with a modified, sit-out gut wrench slam, then hit a second running knee strike as Bayley rose to a knee. Shayna grabbed her NXT Women’s title and looked around at the crowd triumphantly before leaving through the crowd.

(LeClair’s Analysis: Decent match. I would’ve expected them to go a bit longer, given the bare bones crew working the show, but alas, it appears as though this is all they felt was warranted. I liked Nikki Cross as Bayley’s first challenger and I don’t like that they burned through the matchup already, but circumstances dictated some hot shot booking tonight. Shayna’s appearance was a welcomed surprise, and she looked like a legitimate bad ass right out of the gate. I dislike the involvement of NXT at Survivor Series on principle because I’d prefer their top end talent simply not be exposed to the weak main roster booking philosophies of Vince McMahon, but operating under the pretense of knowing that they’re going to do it no matter what I say, this was about as good a first appearance as one could have.)

-After the break, they recapped Shayna Baszler’s surprise appearance, taking out Bayley, Nikki Cross, and Sasha Banks

-At the announcers desk, Tom Phillips welcomed Pat McAfee to the commentary team. Apparently, Aiden English was a “guest” announcer. McAfee said he got a call from Triple H himself asking him to come to Buffalo to help out. Phillips threw to Cathy Kelly, standing by backstage.

-Cathy Kelly welcomed Sami Zayn. She asked Sami for his take on the night’s events thus far. “Pretty weird night, huh,” Sami said. Sami said he’s seeing a pattern, NXT, NXT, NXT. “Maybe NXT is here and they’re trying to take advantage,” Sami concluded. He said NXT needs to watch where they stick their nose. He said it’d be pretty bad news if one of them steps up to him. He looked off screen.

The camera panned over, revealing Matt Riddle and Keith Lee. Sami changed his tone, paying compliments to Lee and Riddle. He said he was a big fan of both of them, and the NXT brand. “They used to call me the heart and soul of NXT,” Zayn said. He unzipped his jacket, purportedly to reveal an NXT shirt. It was a plain, black tee.

Zayn said he forgot he took off the shirt earlier when he was eating a salad with a very “oil based dressing.” He said he was going to go to his car to grab the shirt. Zayn walked away, but Riddle and Lee followed him. He kept trying to get them to to stop. Eventually he took off quickly in another direction. Riddle and Lee gave chase.

Back in the arena, Sami Zayn burst through the curtain onto the stage and run fearfully down the ramp. Riddle and Lee followed shortly behind. Riddle caught Zayn just as he was about to hip the crowd barrier.

Riddle tossed Zayn into the ring, where Lee was waiting. Riddle kicked off his flip flops. Zayn pleaded with the NXT stars. He picked up one of Riddle’s flip flops and offered it to Riddle. Zayn shrugged and threw a punch at Riddle, but Riddle blocked it. and hit Zayn with the ripcord knee. Riddle followed up with a cradle tombstone piledriver.

Riddle stepped aside to allow Keith Lee to take over. Lee climbed to the middle rope and hit Zayn with a moonsault. He and Riddle fist bumped as Lee’s music played. The music switched over to Riddle’s as the crowd chanted “Bro” loudly.

(LeClair’s Analysis: Well, like I said after the previous segment, if NXT has to be involved in the Survivor Series shenanigans, this is the best way to go about it. Both Riddle and Lee came off as stars, particularly Matt Riddle, who very quickly made a case for himself to be a big name on the main roster.)

-Back at the announcers desk, Tom Phillips threw to tonight’s Progressive “Match Flo”, a recap of the Braun Strowman vs. Tyson Fury match from Crown Jewel.

-The Miz marched out onto the stage when the show returned from commercial. Kayla Braxton introduced him as Renee Young wondered why Miz couldn’t find anyone else to interview, instead opting to interview himself.

The Miz welcomed the audience to MizTV, sporting a “Buffalo is Awesome” t-shirt and full ring gear. He said Bray Wyatt was supposed to be his guest on MizTV, and threw to a video packages highlighting the Fiend vs. Seth Rollins from Crown Jewel.

Miz announced that Bray Wyatt couldn’t be at the show, and turned his focus to NXT. He recapped the appearances by Shayna Baszler, Matt Riddle, and Keith Lee. He said he “kind of liked” what Riddle and Lee did to Zayn. Miz was interrupted by Tommaso Ciampa’s music.

Ciampa stepped in the ring and took the microphone from the guest chair. The crowd broke into a loud “NXT” chant. “This is supposed to be must see TV?” Ciampa asked. “You are supposed to be the most must see superstar in all of WWE?” Ciampa introduced himself, and called himself the greatest sports entertainer of all time.

Ciampa said Miz acts like the whole world revolves around him. He said it’s time someone gives him a reality check. Tommaso said Miz is everything that is wrong with Raw and Smackdown. He said Miz plays actor and talk show host while he literally breaks his next in NXT. “While you play the part, boy, Tommaso Ciampa IS the part.”

Miz said he’s heard the same thing for a long time. He told Ciampa that he knows exactly who he is. “When people talk about NXT, they talk about you,” Miz said. He said he always hears that people want to Ciampa and Miz battle it out on the microphone. Miz said he’d hoped Ciampa came up with something more original.

Miz told Ciampa that if he’d only been acting for the last fifteen years, then he deserves an Oscar for his performance. Miz told Ciampa that if he’s here to make a statement, he should make a statement. “Those sound like fighting words to me,” Ciampa said. “You, me, right now,” Miz replied. The show quickly went to commercial.

(2) THE MIZ vs. TOMMASO CIAMPA

The bell rang as the second hour of the show began. The Miz and Tommaso Ciampa circled the ring and then locked up. Miz took Ciampa down with an arm drag, then threw his arms up in celebration. Ciampa returned to his feet and the two locked up again.

Miz slapped on a side headlock as the crowd broke into dueling chants. Ciampa reversed into a headlock of his own, tossed Miz off the ropes, and dropped him with a shoulder tackle. Miz returned to his feet, Ciampa tossed him to the apron. Miz caught Ciampa with an elbow and rolled him up for a quick two count.

Miz tossed Ciampa to the outside, then went for a sliding clothesline through the ropes. Tommaso moved, then tossed Miz into the ringside barrier, followed by the stair steps. Ciampa patted himself on the back, then tossed Miz back in the ring.

Back inside, Ciampa applied a headlock. Miz shot to his feet, but Ciampa wrestled him back to the mat. Ciampa applied his weight as he wrenched the hold. Miz fought slowly back to his feet and broke the hold with elbows to the gut. Miz and Ciampa traded punches.

Miz caught Ciampa with a running knee to the midsection. He hit a backbreaker-neckbreaker combination for a two count. Miz backed Ciampa into the corner and delivered the “it” kicks. He a pair of running knees in the corner and went for a third. Ciampa popped out and dropped Miz with a big clothesline.

Miz retreated to the corner. Ciampa hit him with a running knee for a two count. Ciampa set up Miz in the pedigree position, but Miz fought out. Ciampa went for a backdrop, but Miz flipped through it. Miz dropped Ciampa with a shot to the back of the knee. He grabbed at Ciampa’s leg, but Tommaso kicked him away.

Ciampa set up for a power bomb, but Miz fought out and hit him with a DDT for a two count. Miz locked in the Figure Four. Ciampa screamed in the middle of the ring. He dragged himself slowly toward the ropes. He nearly got there, but instead rolled Miz over to reverse the pressure.

Miz tried to roll through back to control, but it launched Ciampa into the bottom rope, breaking the hold. Miz continued to work on Ciampa’s leg. He tried for the Figure Four again, but Ciampa rolled through into a cover for a near fall. Ciampa rolled Miz into a single leg Boston crab. Miz fought through it into a small package. Ciampa kicked out at two.

Both men rose to their knees and traded chops. Ciampa and Miz fought to their feet. Ciampa dove at Miz, but Miz ducked and sent him crashing into the turnbuckle. He followed up with a clothesline in the corner. Ciampa dropped to the mat. Miz ascended to the top rope and dove off at Ciampa, but Tommaso caught him in mid air with a knee to the face. He followed it up with the Fairytale Ending for the three count.

WINNER: Tommaso Ciampa in 8:00

Tom Phillips exclaimed that an NXT Superstar just beat  Smackdown Superstar on Smackdown. Ciampa celebrated with a smile as the announcers continued to tout the implications of Ciampa’s victory.

(LeClair’s Analysis: Very little to dislike here. The Miz was a great foil for Ciampa, and defended himself against Ciampa’s verbal attack quite well. Ciampa came off like a star, both in the promo and later during the match. Solid match, though not particularly up to Tommaso’s NXT standards. Still, an impressive appearance, and a good, clean, deserved win.)

-Daniel Bryan was shown walking down a hallway backstage. He happened upon Triple H and Shawn Michaels. Bryan asked what they were doing on Smackdown. Triple H said he felt like they got called out by the Survivor Series advertising yesterday on Crown Jewel.

Bryan said that’s interesting, because he’s also looking for a fight. He challenged Triple H to a match right now. Triple H got in Bryan’s face. He backed away, “I didn’t bring my gear,” Triple H said. Shawn Michaels removed his jacket. The crowd began to roar. “Oh, it’s cold in here,” Michaels said. He put the jacket back on.

“It’s not him,” Triple H said. He called for the champ. Adam Cole walked into frame. Bryan agreed, but sought to raise the stakes by making it an NXT title match. Triple H and Adam Cole agreed. “Boom,” Cole said, pointing to himself. The show went to commercial.

(LeClair’s Analysis: What a way to handle this. They got the crowd excited about a Daniel Bryan vs. Triple H match, only to tease an even bigger one, Daniel Bryan vs. Shawn Michaels. Then, when it became clear that neither would happen, they still delivered with a huge, fresh, main event caliber announcement. Top notch.)

-When the show returned from commercial, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville were already in the ring, awaiting opponents. Carmella’s music played and the camera focused on the entrance way, but Carmella was nowhere to be found.

The camera cut to backstage, where Carmella was slumped over next to a production crate. Bianca Belair was beating down Dana Brooke nearby. Bianca slammed Brooke’s face off a crate, then turned her attention to Carmella. She military pressed Carmella over her head and threw her over the crates, off camera. The camera panned down to Dana Brooke, writhing in pain on the floor.

Back in the ring, Rose and Deville looked on. Suddenly, Rhea Ripley’s music hit. She walked out onto the stage with Tegan Knox. Kayla Braxton introduced them as Rose and Deville’s replacement opponents.Ripley had a microphone, she said it looked like Rose and Deville don’t have opponents anymore. “You do now,” she said.

(3) MANDY ROSE & SONYA DEVILLE vs. RHEA RIPLEY & TEGAN KNOX

Rhea Ripley and Tegan Knox pounced on Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville as soon as the bell rang. Knox and Deville spilled to the outside while Ripley and Rose began the match as the legal women. Ripley bullied Rose into the corner and then shoved her into the ropes.

Rose tried to elbow her way out, but Ripley dropped her with a big dropkick. On the outside, Tegan Knox tossed Sonya Deville over the announcers desk. Deville’s boot caught Renee Young right in the face. “That almost took me out!” exclaimed McAfee. Renee said she thought she had a bloody nose.

In the ring, Rhea Ripley hoisted Mandy Rose into the air with her modified standing cloverleaf. Rose tapped for the quick victory.

WINNERS: Rhea Ripley & Tegan Knox in 2:00

(LeClair’s Analysis: Not much to the match itself. Ripley and Knox were presented as rough and tumble powerhouses that made quick and easy work of both Deville and Rose. I question this type of booking against talent that has to appear on Smackdown on a weekly basis, but hey, there’s no sense in damaging new talent to give a modicum of credibility to an act that’s been defined down, I suppose.) 

-The announcers previewed the NXT Championship match between Daniel Bryan and Adam Cole, and said the match would happen after the break.

-Triple H and Shawn Michaels were making their way to ringside when the show returned from commercial. They were slapping hands with fans in the front row as Michaels’ music played. Stephanie McMahon’s music interrupted them. She walked out onto the stage.

Stephanie waved and blew a kiss to her husband. She said the WWE Universe never gets enough credit for starting the Women’s Evolution. She touted the women’s division accomplishments, highlighting the first women’s match in Saudi Arabia. The crowd gave a muted applause. Stephanie threw to a video package covering the match, set to sappy, inspirational music.

(LeClair’s Analysis: What an awkward place to shoehorn this into the show. The timing of Steph’s entrance made it seem like she was coming out to represent WWE and Daniel Bryan against NXT and Adam Cole. Instead, she launched into this self-aggrandizing fluff piece that went over about as poorly as you might expect. I don’t want to dive into the politics of the Saudi Arabia deal, because my sentiments have been more thoughtfully articulated by countless others both on PWTorch and elsewhere, but this came off as ridiculously tone deaf and self-serving.)

Back in the arena, the announcers stood, clapping and talking up the accomplishment. Triple H clapped from his chair at ringside. Shawn Michaels sat aloof. Daniel Bryan’s music played and he headed to the ring.

Bryan returned to his side shuffle down the ramp, sans “yes” chant, instead just leaving his arms raised. The announcers contemplated whether or not Bryan would move to NXT should he win the title tonight.

Adam Cole entered next with Roderick Strong at his side. He told Strong he’s got it, slapped his hand, and sent the North American Champion to the back. The crowd chanted along with Cole’s patented introduction. Kayla Braxton introduced the match. Phillips sent the show to commercial.

(4) DANIEL BRYAN vs. ADAM COLE (c) – NXT Championship match

The crowd opened up a dueling chant as the show returned from break and the bell rang. Bryan and Cole locked up. Bryan dropped Cole with a headlock takeover. Cole wrestled back to his feet. Cole applied a side headlock on Bryan. Bryan fought out of it quickly. They circled the ring slowly.

Bryan and Cole locked up again. Bryan twisted Cole’s arm, but Cole quickly rolled through it. Bryan backed Cole into the corner. The referee forced a break. Bryan slapped Adam Cole in the face twice. Cole flew out of the corner with a flurry of punches, but Bryan dropped him with a kick to the chest.

Bryan sent Cole to the corner and hit him with a pair of chops. Cole countered out and punched Bryan. Bryan caught a headlock takeover, but Cole fought out of it and dropped him with a shoulder tackle. Bryan leapfrogged a running attack from Cole and caught him with a swift kick to the chest. Bryan began manipulating Cole’s arm, then his legs. He applied a surfboard stretch. Bryan wrenched at Cole’s neck, staring at Triple H sitting at ringside.

Bryan let go of the hold and dropped a knee on Cole’s face. He hit a big uppercut that sent Cole reeling into the ropes. Bryan shot off the ropes, but Cole caught him with a pump ick for a two count. Cole attempted a suplex, but Bryan back stepped toward the ropes. He lifted Cole up and suplexed him over the top rope to the floor, but went tumbling over the top rope with him. Phillips sent the show to commercial.

Bryan and Cole were deadlocked in a crucifix attempt when the show returned from commercial. Cole broke free and hit Bryan with a jumping neck breaker for a two count. Cole gave Bryan a falling elbow, then a jumping knee for another two count. Cole applied the figure four headlock on Bryan. Bryan rolled it over and got his foot on the bottom rope. Cole broke the hold at the referee’s count of three.

Cole placed Bryan in the corner and punched at his midsection. Bryan fought out and dropped Cole with an uppercut. Cole shot Bryan toward the turnbuckle, but DB hopped up and flipped over the NXT champion. He caught Cole with a running clothesline then began feeding off the crowd’s “yes” chant. Cole caught Bryan with a quick kick to the shoulder. He charged at Bryan, but Bryan dumped him over the top rope to the floor.

Bryan headed to the outside. He caught Cole with a big knee to the face. Bryan tossed Adam Cole back into the ring and climbed to the top rope. He hit a diving missile dropkick. Cole retreated to the corner. Bryan hit a running kick to the head.

Bryan placed Cole on the top turnbuckle. He climbed up  and went for a hurricanrana, but Cole rolled through it in mid air into a sunset flip pin. Bryan kicked out at two. Bryan rolled to his feet and caught Cole with three uppercuts. He charged for a knee, but Cole caught him with a bicycle kick to the face. He covered Bryan for a near fall.

Cole scooped up Bryan, but Bryan rolled down the back. He shoved Cole to the outside. Triple H and Shawn Michaels vacated their position in front of the announcers desk. Bryan dove through the ropes, onto Cole, landing among Triple H and Michaels’ chairs. Bryan slid back in the ring and went for a second dive, but Adam Cole cut him off with a big kick to the head. Bryan fell through the ropes to the floor. Phillips send the show to break.

Daniel Bryan was climbing to the top rope when the show returned from commercial. Adam Cole steadied himself and dove at the ropes, dropping Bryan into a seated position. Cole climbed to the top and set up for a superplex. Bryan blocked it. He slid to the mat and crotched Cole on the top turnbuckle.

Bryan climbed back to the top and hit a German suplex off the top. Bryan caught himself and remained hooked in the ropes. He pulled himself back to a seated position, stood up, then went for the diving headbutt. Adam Cole moved out of the way. Cole scooped up Bryan and hit the brain buster to the knee for a near fall.

Cole struggled to his feet. He pulled down his kneepad. Cole went for the Last Shot, but Bryan caught Cole’s leg and rolled through into a single leg crab. Cole drugged himself toward the rope, but Bryan dragged him back to center and laid into a toe hook. Cole screamed in agony. He rolled far enough to reach the bottom rope and break the hold.

Bryan pleaded with Cole to get up. He kicked at Cole’s legs. Cole fired punches in retaliation. Bryan lifted Cole into fireman’s carry position. Cole spun out of it into a modified back cracker. He hooked Bryan’s leg, but Bryan slid out of the attempt at two and transitioned into the Labell lock. Bryan hooked the hold in the center of the ring. Cole broke out of it, but Bryan held onto Cole’s wrists, returned to his feet and began stomping at the champion’s chest and neck. He dropped back down into the Labell lock again.

Cole climbed to his knees to try to break the hold. Cole reached out for the ropes, but Bryan leg go of his head and pulled his arm back deep. Bryan wrenched at Cole’s wrist. Cole reached his leg out and caught the bottom rope, forcing Bryan to reset and break the hold.

Cole struggled to his knees. Bryan dropped Cole repeatedly with the “yes” kicks. He went for the final one, but Cole ducked it. Cole forced Bryan toward the ropes and rolled him into a cover. Bryan rolled through into one of his own. The two men traded roll throughs. Finally, they separated.

On the backside of the final roll through, Bryan caught Cole in the head with the final “yes” kick. He pounded the mat. The crowd rose to their feet. Bryan charged for the running knee, but Cole caught him out of nowhere with a super kick. Cole hopped onto the turnbuckle and waited for Bryan to rise. He connected with Panama Sunrise. Bryan rose to his knees, dazed. Cole shot off the ropes and connected with the Last Shot for the three count.

WINNER: Adam Cole in 21:00 to retain the NXT Championship

Roderick Strong rushed to the ring to celebrate with Adam Cole. Behind him, the rest of the NXT roster present in Buffalo joined the party. Pat McAfee left the announcers desk to join them. Triple H stood in front with a microphone. ‘You want the thunder, you got it,” Triple H said. Triple H said that Raw and Smackdown want a fight, and he’s going to need to build an army.

Triple H said when you need to build an army, you look to your blood and your family. “Know what you’re getting into,” he declared, “we have fired the first shot.” Triple H told everyone to remember one thing, “we are NXT.”

The NXT theme music played as the crew celebrated in the ring. Tom Phillips said it was a hostile takeover for NXT as the show faded to black.

(LeClair’s Analysis: Wow. What a match. You could tell how much Bryan was in his element here. I haven’t seen him enjoy himself this much in the ring in a very, very long time. He took some risks I would’ve preferred he avoided, but they were calculated and he appeared to have taken them as safely as he could. Cole was masterful in his presentation. Commentary sold him as a legitimate superstar, he looked like it in the ring, and the crowd treated him like it, too. This was the best television match WWE has had in quite some time and very much worth going out of your way to see. 

The show closing celebration with the entire available NXT roster and Triple H played into an aspect of this brand warfare thing that I truly dislike. Adam Cole and Tommaso Ciampa shouldn’t be in the ring together celebrating a like cause. This is the kind of dim-witted logic that NXT has been able to avoid, but now must be subjected to because of their involvement in a main roster event. This is the downside to them to participating in Survivor Series, and, from my perspective, it’s a pretty significant downside.)

FINAL THOUGHTS: This was the most fascinating, compelling episode of Smackdown during my tenure of covering the show for PWTorch. I came in expecting a bit of a deserved train wreck, but this wound up being an incredibly fun show that painted the picture of why NXT is such a superior product. Not only was it exciting to see new faces on Smackdown, it was demonstrative of the vast differences in the culture of presentation of wrestlers. WWE’s talent, with the sole exception of Daniel Bryan, felt weak, downtrodden, systematically damaged and diminutive to NXT’s fresh, boisterous, supremely confident roster of wrestlers who have been afforded the luxury of a thriving creative environment that doesn’t stifle creativity or halt natural momentum. Despite largely only performing in a studio setting, most of these characters felt immensely well fleshed out and primed for the big stage without the burden of knowing their immediate future is in the hands of Vince McMahon.

As I said previously, I genuinely dislike the brand warfare concept for Survivor Series and, as a whole, I’m not terribly keen on NXT’s involvement, as I prefer their roster be kept far away from Vince McMahon. With that being said, WWE lucked into a happy accident tonight. NXT’s invasion made sense given their involvement at Survivor Series, and taking advantage of a short-handed locker room looked smart and savvy on the part of Triple H. I have little doubt that the show we saw tonight was vastly better than anything that had been written on the plane on yesterday’s private flight back from Saudi Arabia. This was one of my favorite episodes of WWE television this year, and it’s no surprise that it was dominated by talent from what I feel is the best overall product in pro wrestling today.