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KELLER’S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
NOVEMBER 19, 2021
HARTFORD, CONN.
AIRED LIVE ON FOX
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee
[HOUR ONE]
-A video recap aired of last week’s main event between Roman Reigns and Xavier Woods.
-The Usos stood in the ring and proudly introduced Reigns. The ring had a throne and crown on a pedestal. Paul Heyman and Reigns walked out to the ring. Heyman began gushing about how this was a week in the making and nobody deserves to be honored as King of WWE more than him, especially Brock Lesnar. Eventually Reigns held out his hand for the mic as Heyman was in mid-sentence, gushing on and on. Heyman stopped and handed the mic to Reigns. Reigns looked upset and asked, “Who’s idea was this?” Heyman tried to read Reigns before assessing how he should answer. The Usos pointed at Heyman. Reigns said, “This must be a joke, right? You don’t really think I care about this stuff, do you? You don’t think I really need this stuff to be acknowledged, do you?” He asked Hartford to acknowledge him. He got some cheers and boos.
Xavier walked out and said all those material things Reigns has in the ring with him belong to him, but they do not make a king. He said what makes a king is knowing you are there to do good for the WWE Universe. He said what would make him a real king is coming out here this week, after what happened last week, and look him in the eye so they could settle things. He said that’s not his M.O., though. He said he wanted to face him one-on-one later, without the Usos at ringside, so he can show him what a real king is made of. Reigns asked Xavier if he’s trying to tell him that the king stuff means nothing to him. Jay rubbed his sweat on Xavier’s robe. Xavier looked like he was holding back his irritation. Xavier said, “Clothes don’t make the man.” Jey broke the scepter over his knee. Reigns asked, “Are you sure?” Jey then smashed his throne and threw it out of the ring. Reigns smiled and said Xavier sure doesn’t look happy. Xavier pointed at his heart. When Jey was about to smash the crown, Reigns stopped him and asked for it. Reigns asked Xavier if he is sure the crown doesn’t mean anything to him. He placed it on the mat, ready to stomp it. Xavier ran to the ring. The Usos attacked him and stomped away at him in the corner. Reigns taunted Xavier with the crown as the Usos held him. Reigns told Xavier he is the only king around there and he doesn’t need props because he is the only king. He stomped on it and tore it into pieces. They left Xavier lying and writhing in pain. Cole called it a humiliating moment for Xavier
(Keller’s Analysis: Reigns practically turned babyface by scoffing at the “king” stuff. Xavier was more grounded and relatable here than when he’s acting like the an actual king in a cartoonish over-the-top fashion, and if this means he done with the crown and robe, that’s a positive. It seems everything happening here is a result of booking backwards from whatever they have planned for the Reigns vs. Big E match at the PPV this Sunday. Heyman fawning over Reigns only to have Reigns run out of patience for him was a fun moment. Heyman continued to be tremendous in the suck-up role, and the Usos tattling on him was fun.)
-Cole and McAfee hyped the Fatal Four-way match to determine the final member of Team Smackdown.
-Sheamus made his ring entrance and is official post-draft return to Smackdown. [c]
-Kayla Braxton interviewed Xavier backstage. He was wincing and bent over, but said Reigns will accept his challenge. He said the Roman Empire wasn’t built in a day, but it will fall tonight.
(1) RICOCHET vs. CESARO vs. SHEAMUS vs. JINDER MAHAL – Fatal Four-way, winner gets on Team Smackdown
After everyone paired off and got in some offense briefly, Ricochet did a running springboard flip dive onto all three opponents at ringside. As he celebrated, they cut to an early break at 3:00. [c]
Back from the break, Sheamus superplexed Jinder off one turnbuckle and Ricochet sent Cesaro off another top turnbuckle with a huracanrana.Cesaro gave Jinder a Cesaro Swing and then applied a sharpshooter. Ricochet broke it up with roundkicks to Cesaro’s chest. Jinder then set up a Khalas, but Ricochet countered and drove Jinder’s face into his knee. He then leaped off the top rope with a 630, but Sheamus hit Ricochet with a Brogue Kick and made the cover on Jinder. Cesaro broke up the cover. “So much just happened!” said a breathless McAfee. Cesaro set up a Neutralizer, but Holland ran to ringside. He cheered Sheamus. Cesaro ducked a Brogue Kick and rolled up Sheamus for a two count. Holland stood on the ring apron and swung at Cesaro, but Cesaro ducked. Sheamus then hit a Brogue Kick for the win. Holland celebrated with Sheamus. Sheamus wrestled without his face mask for protection, by the way.
WINNER: Sheamus in 11:00 to earn a spot on Team Smackdown.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good action throughout.)
-Braxton interviewed Jeff Hardy backstage in the ring set. Hardy talked about his history of tag partners, but said he’s never tagged with people like his teammates at Survivor Series. He talked about each of them. In walked, Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss. Madcap told a joke: “How does Jeff Hardy decide what facepaint to use? He asks what goes well with a redneck.” Adam Pearce walked in and said he wants to see better camaraderie with Team Smackdown. He said he’ll see if Madcap is still laughing after he faces Hardy later. Hardy then laughed in Madcap’s face.
-Cole hyped the Charlotte-Becky Lynch match at Survivor Series. [c]
-Backstage, Megan Morant interviewed Sheamus and Holland backstage. Sheamus was thrilled that Holland looked up to him. Holland said if not for Sheamus, he’d still be broke and beating up bums on the streets of Dublin. He said he’s got his back.
-They went to Cole and McAfee on camera at ringside. Cole talked about how the media is talking everywhere about what’s going on between Charlotte and Becky. A video package aired with snippets of their recent promos.
-Aliyah made her ring entrance followed by Naomi. [c]
(2) ALIYAH & NAOMI vs. SHAYNA BASZLER & NATALYA
Shortly into the match, Natalya blind tagged in and then gave Baszler a Rear View. Baszler yanked Naomi to the mat and then Natalya made the cover. The ref made a super-fast three count. Naomi and Aliyah protested. Cole said it “seemed like a fast count.” Uh, it didn’t seem like it was fast, it was fast. McAfee said it was the fastest count he’s ever seen in his life and asked what is going on.
WINNERS: Baszler & Natalya in 2:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: So the announcers aren’t allowed to speculate on the obvious and say Sonya Deville put the referee up to it due to her mysterious gripe with her.)
-Cole and McAfee threw to a video package on Bruno Sammartino. They showed Vince McMahon, Hulk Hogan, and John Cena talking about him. Then they hyped three new Bruno shirts that will be sold exclusively at Barclays Center this Sunday at Survivor Series.
-Jeff Hardy made his ring entrance. [c]
-Cole commented on a replay of the quick count. He said Naomi has been losing under strange circumstances lately.
-Sami was fretting to Deville about losing his spot. She said that was Adam, not her. She said she had an idea. She said because it’s the 25th Anniversary of Rock’s debut at Survivor Series, she is having a 25 man battle royal, and if Sami wins, he can have his name associated with The Rock and The Millions. Sami liked that. In walked the referee who fast-counted Naomi’s shoulders down. “So, did I do a good job?” she asked. Deville asked who she is and wondered if she was an NXT ref trying to get onto the main roster. The ref said, “But you said…” Sonya cut her off and told her she doesn’t associate with crooked referees, “so get the hell out of my face.”
-McAfee called it a sham that Sonya is abusing her power by conspiring with an official and trying to cover it up publicly.
(3) JEFF HARDY (w/Drew McIntyre) vs. MADCAP MOSS (w/Happy Corbin)
Jeff told Madcap before the match that if he’s going to have Corbin his corner, he’s going to have someone in his corner. Out came Drew McIntyre. Cole said Drew will lead Team Smackdown on Sunday. When Hardy set up a Swanton Bomb, Corbin stepped onto the ring apron. Drew yanked him down. Madcap knocked a distracted Hardy off the top rope. Hardy countered Madcap’s suplex attempt and then small packaged him for the three count. Drew entered the ring and celebrated with Hardy. He then fended off Corbin charging at him with a Claymore. Hardy then landed a Swanton on Madcap to cheers from fans.
WINNER: Hardy in 2:00.
-They replayed clips of the Xavier-Reigns angle from earlier.
-As Heyman walked down the hallway talking on the phone, Braxton startled him. She asked if he’s heard Xavier’s challenge. Heyman said he’s tired of the narrative that Reigns needs people by his side. He said Reigns loves the Usos and Reigns loves him, but he doesn’t need them. “The same way you love me, Kayla,” he said. He then said Reigns will smash Big E on Sunday, but first he’ll smash Xavier. He accepted Xavier’s challenge.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good thing, because otherwise what would WWE do to fill out the last segment of this live nationally televised show on Fox!)
-Rick Boogs introduced himself to the crowd and said he came to rock with the Intercontinental Champion. He then introduced Shinsuke Nakamura. McAfee, as usual, could barely contain his excitement. [c]
(4) SHINSUKE NAKAMURA (w/Rick Boogs) vs. ANGEL GARZA (w/Humberto Carrillo)
Cole said Garza and Carrillo felt they should have been named the Sexiest Men Alive by People Magazine. They showed a photoshopped image of them on the cover, supposedly created by Garza. Humberto held onto Nakamura’s leg, but Boogs grabbed him and tossed him aside. Nakamura then landed a Kinshasa kick on Garza for the win.
WINNER: Nakamura in 2:00.
-Deville told Sasha and Shotzi backstage they should get along for the sake of Team Smackdown. They exchanged some insults. Sasha told Shotzi nobody would know who she is if not for her. Deville said they should get their aggression out on each other tonight, but after that she expects them to shake hands.
-Sasha made her ring entrance. [c]
(5) SASHA BANKS vs. SHOTZI
Sasha landed a meteora off the ring apron a few minutes in. They cut to a break as Sasha grabbed her arm in pain. [c]
Shotzi landed a senton off the top rope. Sasha rolled to the floor to avoid the cover. Shotzi yelled in frustration. Sasha countered Shotzi seconds later in the ring into a Bank Statement variation for the win. Cole said that’s why Sasha is one of the best ever, switching up her finisher because of her injured arm.
WINNER: Sasha Banks in 11:00.
-Afterward, Deville stood on the stage and expected a handshake. Shotzi shook, but wasn’t happy. Sasha then yanked Shotzi around and landed a back stabber. Cole called that “vintage Sasha Banks” and said that’s why she’s captain of Team Smackdown at Survivor Series. Sasha then told Deville she shook her hand. Deville shook her head.
-Backstage, Reigns stared down in concentration. Heyman sat behind him with the Universal Title belt. Reigns asked “Wise Man” Heyman if it was time. Heyman said yes. Reigns stood. The Usos stood. Reigns said he could handle this by himself. [c]
-Kayla interviewed Toni Storm backstage in the ring set. Storm said two years ago she got to experience Survivor Series on Team NXT, but this year she’s so excited to be representing the Blue Brand. They replayed her exchange with Charlotte last week. Storm said when Charlotte loses to Becky on Sunday, her ego won’t be able to handle it and she’ll come at her guns a blazing. She said what she wants is her championship match. In walked Charlotte. She said after she proves her superiority against Becky on Sunday, Toni will be next. She said she’ll do to her what she will do to Becky this Sunday, beat the living crap out of her. Charlotte flung her hair and left. Toni smiled and said, “Just what I thought.” [c]
-Xavier Woods stood mid-ring with mic in hand. He said he was in Hartford, Conn. to find out if Reigns is a man. He said last week’s match turned into a no contest. (Shouldn’t that be a DQ win for Xavier since the Usos interfered, based on decades of history of how DQs are determined?). Xavier said that showed him Reigns can’t beat him on his own. Xavier called Reigns out. After a long pause, Reigns walked out with Heyman. Suddenly an Uso was tossed onto the stage. Xavier laughed, knowingly. The other Uso was then tossed onto the stage. Xavier made a “guilty as charged” face. Then Big E’s music played. Xavier rubbed his hands together as Big E walked out.
Big E and Reigns charged at each other in the aisle. Big E threw Reigns into the ringside steps and then into the ring. Xavier stomped on Reigns. Cole said, “This has got to feel good for Woods!” Big E and Xavier stomped away at Reigns in the ring. The Usos ran in for the save, but Big E and Xavier easily took them out. Xavier landed a running flip dive onto both Usos at ringside. Reigns, though, caught Big E with a Superman Punch. McAfee said for a second he thought Big E outsmarted Reigns, “but I was dumb for a minute.” He said Reigns saw it all coming. Then Big E surprised Reigns and set up a Big Ending, but Reigns slipped free and bailed out to the ramp. Cole closed the show by plugging Big E vs. Reigns at Survivor Series as Big E held up his WWE Title belt and said, “I can’t wait!” Toni Storm ended up surprising Vega with her finisher and getting the pin.
ELIMINATION: Zelina via Storm.
Storm and Morgan battled next. Baszler broke up a cover by Morgan on Storm. Morgan tossed Baszler out of the ring, then delivered a face plant on Storm for the pin.
ELIMINATION: Storm via Morgan.
Shotzi tagged herself in and landed on Morgan off the top rope. Sasha tagged herself in and landed a frog splash for the pin.
ELIMINATION: Morgan via Sasha.
It was down to Ripley & Belair vs. Sasha & Shotzi & Natalya & Baszler. Ripley landed a missile dropkick on Sasha. Shotzi tagged in. Sasha hit a Back Stabber before rolling out of the ring. Shotzi and Baszler douible-teamed Ripley. Shotzi landed awkwardly. Baszler then entered and pinned Ripley.
ELIMINATION: Ripley via Baszler.
Belair rolled up Natalya seconds later for a two count.
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