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SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
AUGUST 9, 2024
ORLANDO, FLA. AT KIA CENTER
AIRED ON FOX
Commentators: Corey Graves, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Alicia Taylor
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorch’s Darrin Lillly to review Smackdown LIVE. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Smackdown. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
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[HOUR ONE]
-After the “Then, Now, Together, Forever” brand stamp narrated by Paul Levesque, they aired a three minute video package on the return of Roman Reigns at Summerslam and his appearance last week on Smackdown.
-Corey Graves introduced the show as they showed an aerial shot of Orlando, Fla. and noted they were near the WWE Performance Center. They cut to the arena as he touted a sellout crowd of 15,254.
-They went to the ring where Tiffany Stratton stood center-ring in a ring decorated for a party. Pretty Deadly stood in the background with balloon towers topped with inflatable unicorns.. Tiffany introduced Nia Jax. She was rolled to the ring on an elevated platform while sitting on a throne. Wade Barrett said the presentation and spectacle beats anything the royal family in Great Brittan have put on. Jax smiled as Tiffany handed her the mic. Fans booed. Nia told Tiffany she shouldn’t have. Tiffany said after all she did for her, she wanted to give back. Nia said, “It’s an awful lot of pink.” A worried Tiffany asked if she didn’t like it. Nia said Tiffany is so good to her, but it’s not really her style. She said her style is more destruction, which she proved when she destroyed Bayley at Summerslam.
She said everyone in the locker room better bow down to her. Pretty Deadly immediately kneeled. Nia said, “What better way to start than with you, Tiffy?” Tiffany asked if she wanted her to bow down. Nia said she did, “Right now!” Tiffany said Pretty Deadly are going to sing her a song and then bow down to her.
Pretty Deadly presented “Ode to the Queen.” They danced and then sang a song with a big band sound. Jax spanked them. Michin then attacked Tiffany, Pretty Deadly, and Jax with a kendo stick. She cleared the ring. Barrett was despondent over the celebration being cut short.
-They cut backstage to Naomi, Jade Cargill, and Bianca Belair giggling over what just happened in the ring. Naomi said their celebration will be very demure. Carmelo Hayes joined them and talked about his after party after he beats Andrade. Cargill said, “Good luck with that.”
(Keller’s Analysis: They ended it just in time before it went from amusing to belabored. Pretty Deadly were pitch perfect for this segment. Jax wasn’t so mean to Tiffany that it counts as a turn or break-up, but they signaled strongly that we’re headed toward Tiffany standing up to Jax.)
-Andrade made his entrance. [c]
-Graves plugged Fanatics Fest in New York including an appearance by Rey Mysterio.
-They aired a panel discussion with Tyrese Haliburton saying “never say never” regarding some day becoming a WWE wrestler.
(1) CARMELO HAYES vs. ANDRADE
The bell rang 20 minutes into the hour. Graves talked about Carmelo being disappointed that as a first round pick of Smackdown, he hadn’t had more success. Carmelo knocked Andrade off the top rope and went on the attack early. Andrade made a comeback and landed a moonsault press onto Carmelo at ringside. A minute later, Carmelo knocked Andrade off the top rope and he crashed onto the ring apron and then to the floor. They cut to a break at 3:00. [c]
Andrade landed a Spanish Fly off the top rope for a believable near fall at 7:00. Andrade played to the crowd long enough that Carmelo recovered and caught him with a superkick as he charged at him. (This is such a lame spot when babyfaces pause their attack to play for cheers and it backfires.) Andrade countered Carmelo with two suplexes, but then Carmelo countered a third suplex with a cutter for a two count. (That was a nice sequence.) They went into another sequence of moves. Andrade scored a convincing near fall after a spinning back elbow to a charging Carmelo. Both were down and slow to get up. Fans cheered and chanted, “This is awesome!” Andrade went for a moonsault, but Carmelo moved. Andrade went for a sunset flip, but Carmelo sat down on if for a three count.
Carmelo trash-talked Andrade afterward. Barrett said he was the least magnanimous victor. Carmelo kept gloating, so Andrade snapped and attacked him. Referees and officials ran out to separate them. Fans chanted, “Let them fight!”
WINNER: Carmelo in 10:00.
-Tama Tonga presented Solo Sikoa with the red Ulafala necklace. Tama told Solo that when Roman arrived, he’d rip him limb from limb. Solo said he is the Tribal Chief, but if Roman takes the necklace back from him, Roman will become the Tribal Chief again. He said if that happens, they both will acknowledge him. “That is if he can take it back from me,” he said. He then kissed the necklace.
-Naomi made her entrance.
-Another Giovani Vinci vignette aired with Italian music playing as he said he is living the dream and his next goal is to conquer Smackdown. It showed him in Las Vegas with a woman and a sports car. He took off his sunglasses and smiled.
(2) NAOMI vs. BLAIR DAVENPORT
Davenport’s ring entrance took place. They showed Roxanne Perez in the front row with her NXT title belt. Graves hyped C.M. Punk and Randy Orton’s special appearances on the first two episodes of NXT on The CW in Chicago, Ill. and St. Louis, Mo. respectively. The bell rang 42 minutes into the hour. They cut to an early break at 2:00 with Naomi in control. [c]
Davenport was in control after the break. They showed a double-stomp that turned into an unintended senton combo by Davenport during the break. Davenport eventually won with a stomp and a knee to the chin.
WINNER: Davenport in 7:00.
-Backstage, Grayson Waller was complaining to Austin Theory that he threw him under the bus. Theory disagreed and said it was a great opportunity. Waller then took issue with Owens getting a WWE Title match since all he’s done is lose to the Bloodline. He said Cody Rhodes saw it as an easy win. He said he gets handed things time after time. Owens walked up behind Waller and put his hand on his shoulder. He said he is totally right. He said he might’ve even lost to Waller. “I’m not sure, but it doesn’t get much worse than that,” he said. He said Waller thinks he’ll easily beat him, “so let’s go out there and prove you right.” He said, “I’m a loser, I’m a moron!” He slapped Waller’s chest and headed to the ring.
-Graves threw to a video package on the death of Afa the Wild Samoan. He said he was preceded in death by his brother Sika. The video included soundbites with Mick Foley, Batista, Rikishi, and Paul Heyman. [c]
-Graves hyped Bad Blood travel packages. He then hyped their 36th television sellout of the year and said there’s no sign of slowing down.
-Owens made his ring entrance.
[HOUR TWO]
(3) KEVIN OWENS vs. GRAYSON WALLER (w/Austin Theory)
Waller’s ring entrance took place. Theory accompanied him. They showed Ethan Page holding up his NXT title belt at ringside. Graves said he’s surprised they could fit his ego in the arena. Barrett said he wasted no time grabbing the NXT Title shortly after he arrived. The bell rang 2 minutes into the hour. Owens went on a flurry at the start and crotch-chopped Theory. Waller bailed out to ringside to regroup. Owens went right after him and threw him into the ringside barricade. Theory distracted Owens at ringside, giving Waller a chance to knock Owens down. Waller celebrated by sitting in a chair at ringside. Owens grabbed him from behind and yanked him back to ringside. Owens threw Theory into the time keeper’s area. Waller gave Owens a DDT and then a springboard elbow drop for a two count at 2:30. Owens rallied and hit a Stunner and then a Pop-up Powerbomb for the win.
WINNER: Owens in 4:00.
-Owens attacked Waller at ringside after the match. Theory saved Waller and then grabbed a chair. As Waller and Theory approached Owens, Cody Rhodes ran out to his music for the save. The heel duo fled. Cody turned and eyed Owens. Owens thanked him. Cody went to pick up his belt from the mat, but Owens picked it up first and looked at it. Then he placed it against Cody’s chest and handed it over before leaving the ring.
(Keller’s Analysis: With Owens getting a title shot, he needed to win decisively here and he did. The post-match angle with Cody made Cody seem like a stand-up guy but also created a visual of Owens coveting the belt. Solid basic stuff.)
-Solo told Tama that Roman needs to acknowledge him tonight. [c]
-They showed Titus O’Neal in the crowd. Graves plugged his book coming out in September.
-A segment aired with Legado del Fantasma at a nice restaurant with Santos Escobar saying next week he will take the U.S. Title from L.A. Knight. “They’ve forgotten the taste of fear,” he said. “Let’s show him.” He told his cohorts to focus and send Knight back to the trailer park where he came from.
-Knight made his way onto the stage. “Let me talk to ya’!” he said. He mocked the dinner segment that just aired. He said Escobar is trying to be like him. He said he’s going to knock him into the dirt with a BFT next week. He said he doesn’t have time to worried about some cross-eyed half-wit calling him trash. He said he’ll own that. “I might be a little bit of trash mixed with a little bit of flash,” he said. “This trash will put you on your ass.”
-Chelsea Green thanked Michin for breaking up the Nia Jax celebration earlier. She said they were going to do what she did, but it was just too fun to watch the car crash of a segment. Michin said it’s a good thing she went because now she has a title match scheduled with Jax. Chelsea and Piper Niven were upset and turned to barge into Nick Aldis’s office. Jax attacked Michin. Aldis stormed out of his office and insisted Jax retreat. Jax said Michin ruined her celebration, but then left as she muttered, “Whatever!”
-The Street Profits made their ring entrance with B-Fab. [c]
(4) THE STREET PROFITS (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins w/B-Fab) vs. DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tomasso Ciampa) – Winner Earns Tag Team Title match
DIY’s entrance aired. They showed Trick Williams in the front row. The bell rang 26 minutes into the hour. Dawkins charged around ringside and checked Ciampa hard into the ringside stairs. As the Profits celebrated, they cut to a break at 2:00. [c]
Gargano rallied at 6:00 and slingshot-speared Ford for a two count. Gargano went for One Final Beat on Dawkins, but Dawkins blocked it. Four-way action broke out. Gargano and Ford slingshot themselves on opposite sides of the ring onto their opponents on the floor. They returned to the ring and went at it. Ford landed a high roundkick. Gargano fired back with a sidekick and scored a two count at 8:00. They cut to another break. [c]
Ciampa lifted his knees on a 450 splash by Ford for a two count. DIY hit Shatter Machine seconds later. Dawkins broke up the cover. DIY set up a Meet in the Middle, but Dawkins pulled Gargano out of the ring. Ford caught Ciampa with a leaping knee. The Profits then hit Ciampa with a double-team move for a near fall, with Gargano breaking up the cover.
Gargano crawled into the ring as fans chanted “This is awesome!” Gargano kicked Dawkins as he dove into the corner. Gargano backdropped a charging Ford. Gargano then superkicked Dawkins as Ciampa gave Dawkins a Fairytale Ending. Dawkins kicked out. Graves and Barrett were astounded at the kickout. Gargano speared Dawkins, but Dawkins caught him and landed a neckbreaker. Ford then gave Gargano a Super Blockbuster off of Dawkins’ shoulders for the win.
WINNERS: The Profits in 15:00.
-They plugged that the Profits would challenge Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga next week on Smackdown. They showed Fatu in the graphic, so that seems to indicate he will return then. Also, next week Naomi & Belair & Cargill vs. Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn & Blair Davenport and Knight vs. Santos Escobar for the U.S. Title.
-Solo Sikoa made his way to the ring with Tama Tonga. Graves said The Bloodline appears thinner tonight than usual. [c]
-Solo asked the crowd to acknowledge him. He said Roman needs to acknowledge him. “Bring your ass out here,” he said, challenging Reigns to take the Tribal Chief necklace from him if he wants it. Reigns’s music played. He came out. Solo pointed Tonga to leave the ring. Reigns and Solo then broke into a slugfest. Reigns took Solo down. Tonga attacked Reigns. Reigns chokeslammed Tonga. Reigns cleared the announce desk. Fans chanted, “OTC! OTC!” Reigns set up Tonga for a powerbomb on the table, but Solo intervened. Solo rolled Reigns into the ring, but Reigns caught Solo with a Superman Punch. He signaled for the spear and then delivered it, taking Solo down hard.
Reigns took a deep breath and then leaned down and picked up the red Tribal Chief necklace. He put it over his head and fans cheered. His music played and he exhaled. Jacob Fatu then attacked Reigns just as it seemed the show was about to end. Fatu threw Reigns shoulder-first into the ringpost in the ring, then landed a running hip attack. Fans booed as Fatu stalked Reigns. He threw Reigns out of the ring at the feet of Solo. They triple powerbombed Reigns onto the announce desk. Fatu threw Reigns back into the ring and then Solo, Tonga, and Fatu stood over Reigns while Solo put the necklace back on.
(Keller’s Analysis: Fatu was wearing a protective boot, but moved well.)
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorch’s Darrin Lillly to review Smackdown LIVE. We’ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Smackdown. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
LIVE ON YOUTUBE RIGHT AFTER WWE SMACKDOWN TONIGHT: CLICK HERE
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