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WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
NOVEMBER 15, 2024
MILWAUKEE, WISC. AT FISERV FORUM
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK
Commentators: Corey Graves, Wade Barrett
Ring Announcer: Alicia Taylor
Attendance: WrestleTix reported earlier today 10,436 tickets had been distributed. The arena has a capacity of 18,000 spectators when configured for concerts.
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[HOUR ONE]
-Michael Cole introduced the show as they showed an aerial view of Milwaukee and then the scene outside of Fiserv Forum. They showed a split screen of Nia Jax and Naomi arriving separately. Then they showed the Motor City Machine Guns and The Street Profits arriving.
-They went to a wide shot of the arena and Cody Rhodes made his ring entrance. As Cody made his way to the ring, Cole plugged that Cody would be a celebrity guest picker on ESPN’s College Gameday with Pat McAfee. They showed a clip of the angle last week where Kevin Owens gave Randy Orton a piledriver and Orton was taken away on a stretcher.
Cody addressed KO by saying he crossed the line. He said he knows he’s out there and he asked him sternly to “please come out here right now.” Cody raised his voice and repeated himself. Instead, after a pause, Nick Aldis walked out. Fans booed. Aldis said he knows Cody was angry. He said there’s a lot on his mind after what Orton is going through. He noted he was out of action with severe cervical trauma after missing a year and a half of action after back fusion surgery.
Aldis entered the ring and told Cody there’s a reason that piledriver has been outlawed in WWE. “Because we don’t want this generation to end up in wheelchairs in 30 years,” he said. Aldis said no one knows more than he does what it takes to get to WWE. He said they do whatever it takes to get a payday and win championships, but they don’t cross that line. He said until they figure it out, he cannot have Owens there. Fans booed. Cody looked disappointed.
Cody told Aldis: “You are making a martyr of Kevin Owens. You’re giving him exactly what he wants. You’re hitting him in the wallet. This is a man who drives a Lamborghini. I don’t know if the message is going to land like you think. Let me handle this, Nick. Let me handle this.” He said Owens is self-righteous and indignant. Aldis interrupted him and said he was going to stop him before he said something he’d regret.
Aldis said if you give this roster an inch, they take a mile. “And the next thing you know, the inmates are running the asylum.” He said Owens can’t be at Smackdown until the situation is addressed internally. Cody told him to be real for him for a second. He said he knows he has to be dispassionate and objective, but he knows he’s “a former wrestler, you’re still a wrestler.” He asked him to imagine if he was in the back of the ambulance and had to be the one to inform his family. “Imagine when they ask the question why that you have to tell them that Kevin Owens is telling everyone under the sun that it’s me,” he said. Cody said WrestleMania 40 was the highlight of his life professionally and personally. He said he was on Orton’s shoulders and he dropped down and Orton turned to him and told him, “Code-man, I’m proud of you.” His voice quivered as he said, “As much as I loathe the nickname ‘Code-man,’ it’s a moment I will cherish forever because that is what Randy Orton means to me.”
Cody said Orton is on the shelf “and that’s because of me?” He said if he can’t handle his business in a WWE ring, what does he expect him to do. He asked if he expects him to go to his house and beat his ass in his front yard. “Is that what you expect me to do?” he asked Aldis. “I know that is not what you want from this company’s champion.” He told Aldis the ball is in his court and he won’t be waiting very long. He dropped the mic and left.
Cole said this situation has gone way behind Human Resources. “Something’s gotta be done about KO!” Cole exclaimed. Graves said it is deeply personal.
(Keller’s Analysis: Cody and Aldis were really good there with their delivery and facial expressions. Aldis and Adam Pearce are two of the best authority figures in pro wrestling that I’ve ever seen, just playing the role with the right earnest tones and clear desire to just keep order. That is a key foundation for the inevitable disorder and disarray to have maximum impact because then it feels like it’s not supposed to happen. Cody can verge on being a bit over-the-top in certain situations, but this walked right up to that line without crossing it.)
-Jey Uso and Sami Zayn approached Jimmy Uso who was on the phone. Jey asked who he was talking to. Jimmy said it was “The OTC” Roman Reigns. He said he’d be there shortly and they were going to meet in the same room together and discuss the playbook for War Games. Jey said they still need a fifth man. Sami said he has someone else in mind he could ask. “It’s worth a shot,” Sami said. “I’ll catch you later.”
-Bayley made her ring entrance. [c]
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(1) BAYLEY vs. CANDICE LERAE vs. B-FAB – United States Women’s Title Tournament match
As B-Fab entered the ring, Graves said she has been “chomping at the bit” for an opportunity to show what she can do in the ring. Cole said the new champion will be crowned on Dec. 14 on Saturday Night’s Main Event live on NBC. Cole said B-Fab has been training with Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins. Graves said being a manager is helpful to being a successful wrestler, so it could benefit B-Fab she’s had that role with the Profits for a while. The bell rang 19 minutes into the hour. After B-Fab clotheslined both Bayley and LeRae, they cut to a double-box break at 2:00. [c/db]
Back from the break, Bayley was in control of B-Fab. After a flying elbow to the back of B-Fab, Bayley scored a two count, broken up by LeRae. All three collided and were slow to get up. Cole said never before on Raw or Smackdown has there been a women’s non-world title in play. Graves said it’s a reflection of how deep the women’s division is in WWE.
Bayley knocked LeRae off balance on the top rope and then set up a superplex. B-Fab intervened and sent them off the top rope with a powerbomb, but LeRae ended on landing on Bayley. B-Fab broke up the cover at 8:00. A minute later, B-Fab one-arm slammed Bayley. LeRae yanked B-Fab off of Bayley. B-Fab knocked LeRae to the floor. Bayley ducked a B-Fab kick and rolled her up for a three count. They showed the belt at ringside. Graves said Bayley is happy to have a new mountain to climb.
WINNER: Bayley in 10:00 to advance in the U.S. Title Tournament.
(Keller’s Analysis: The commentators did a nice job framing this as a big chance for B-Fab. Bayley tends to send a message that legacy stars in the division want this title, not just mid-card women.)
-They showed the brackets. Bayley will face the winner of Bianca Belair vs. Chelsea Green vs. Blair Davenport on the left bracket. The right bracket features Jade Cargill vs. Michin vs. Piper Niven and Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Elektra Lopez.
(Keller’s Analysis: It’s a little odd to have someone in a tournament for a secondary title also getting a World Title shot on this show.)
-They showed Sami chatting with L.A. Knight backstage. Cole said Knight has a U.S. Title Open Challenge next. [c]
-After showing an aerial shot of Fiserv Forum, they went to a clip of The Rock on “The Tonight Show” getting into a pillow fight with host Jimmy Fallon. They showed the cover of GQ with The Rock named “Entertainer of the Year.” They also plugged his new Christmas movie.
-They showed Ford and Dawkins consoling B-Fab, who looked like she took the loss hard. She told them it’s their time and do their thing. Niven and Green walked up to her and said it was so cute and sweet she thought she’d win the tournament. Green said when one of them won the title, they’d let her hold the belt. “Just kidding,” Green said. B-Fab caller Green “Trash Can Chelsea.” She asked what happened if they went to the finals. She said they have other things they ought to be worried about. Michin walked in with a kendo stick and said she doesn’t need a tournament as a reason to fight. Green said the problem is her.
(Keller’s Analysis: Green and Piper are so fun together as entertainingly obnoxious heels. It’s always a good idea to sprinkle in evidence of wrestlers taking losses hard to show that wins and losses matter.)
-As Knight made his entrance, they showed Knight at a Milwaukee Bucks game shooting t-shirts to the crowd. Fans chanted, “L.A. Knight!” Knight said, “Let me talk to ya’!” He said he has been around the world and everybody is looking for his title. He said he walked out of Crown Jewel as “still United States Champion.” He said that must’ve caught some eyes because now Sami wants him to join the Bloodline civil war. He said it’s not his fight and he wants no part of it. He said he’d be just fine if the entire Bloodline just destroyed each other. He said he has his own investment to worry about. He said this isn’t the Logan Paul Show where you defend the title a couple times a year. He encouraged the crowd to boo Logan Paul. He said it is the L.A. Knight U.S. Championship Open Challenge.
Out walked Legado del Fantasma (Angel Garza, Humberto Carillo, Santos Escobar, Elektra Lopez). Graves said there could be two U.S. champions in Legado del Fantasma since Lopez is in the women’s tournament. Escobar asked Knight why he can’t saying something interesting that has a ring to it. He told the fans to be quiet. He made fun of them being called “Milwaukeeans” and said it sounds like they’re from another planet. He said it’s time for someone to shut up Knight. Humberto looked especially intensely at Knight as Escobar talked. Knight interrupted him and said he appreciates his ambition and appreciates everything he was saying. He said he could feel Humberto staring a hole in him like he’s covered in BBQ sauce. “Maybe you’re hungry, I’m not sure,” he said. He told Escobar that they’ve “been there, done that, beat you.” He said he’ll beat him like his daddy. He said he shouldn’t get excited because the only person who can call him daddy is Elektra. Humberto jumped Knight as Escobar was jawing at him. They cut to a break as the ref restored order. [c]
(2) L.A. KNIGHT vs. HUMBERTO CARILLO – U.S. Title match
They joined the match in progress with Humberto in control. Cole said this is Humberto’s first opportunity at a singles championship on either Raw or Smackdown. Knight made a comeback at ringside and rammed Humberto’s head into the announce desk. Back in the ring, he landed a quick DDT for a near fall. Humberto rolled up Knight for a two count and then connected with a springboard roundkick to Knight’s face. Cole said he asked Escobar during the break if Humberto would be the leader of the group if he won the U.S. Title and Escobar just stared him down. Knight rallied, but Humberto missed an elbow drop. Knight leaped off the second rope onto the top rope and then landed a springboard elbow. He followed with the BFT for the win.
WINNER: Knight in around 5 minutes to retain the U.S. Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: What aired was really solid. It’s always a nail-biter when Knight tries to springboard on the ropes, but he landed it this time. The build to the match before the match was well done.)
-Shinsuke Nakamura attacked Knight as he was celebrating. Graves said they hadn’t seen him in months. Nakamura stared down at Knight, then walked to the back. His hair was covering most of his face.
-Sami walked up to Jey and Jimmy and said it’s not looking good as far as the fifth member goes. He asked where Roman was. Jimmy said to meet him in his locker room. They entered a room with a “Roman Reigns” sign on it. [c]
-After a commercial for Royal Rumble tickets, they went to an aerial view of Downtown Milwaukee. Then Graves and Cole hyped the two title matches scheduled for the second hour.
-Inside Roman’s locker room, Sami said it’s not looking good. Reigns then walked into the scene and sat down and struck his pensive expression. Sami said, “So who’s going to tell him.” Sami told him they’ve asked around and there’s nobody who wants to work with them. “We don’t have a fifth guy,” he said. Jey told Roman, “Did you make the call? We’ve got to make the call, Uce.” The TV screen in the room showed The New Bloodline heading to the ring.
[HOUR TWO]
-Solo Sikoa led Jacob Fatu, Tama Tanga, and Tonga Loa to the ring. Cole said he still can’t believe that Solo pinned Roman in a tag team match just a couple of weeks ago. Graves said Reigns isn’t over it. Graves said Solo has possession of the Ula Fala “and possession is nine-tenths of the law.” Solo said, “Milwaukee, acknowledge me.” Fans booed. The OG Bloodline then made their entrance. Pryo blasted. Cole said, “I think it’s all about to come to a head right now!” He said it’s a civil war that’s been brewing for weeks and weeks. The OG Bloodline entered and brawled with the New Bloodline. Jimmy leaped onto Loa and Tama at ringside. Fatu went after Reigns from behind as Reigns had Solo down in the corner. He superkicked Jey and Jimmy at ringside next. Solo then set up Sami for a Samoan Spike, but Reigns speared Solo to save Sami. Sami stood and nodded at Reigns and Reigns nodded back as they had a moment of healing and bonding. Sami leaped onto the New Bloodline at ringside.
Reigns turned and faced off with Fatu. Fans chanted “OTC! OTC!” Bronson Reed attacked Reigns from behind. Cole asked, “What the hell is Big Bronson Reed doing here?!” Reed then stared at Fatu, then splashed Reigns in the corner. Fatu landed a hip attack on Reigns. Graves asked Cole if he’s thinking what he’s thinking. The Usos and Sami returned to the ring as did Tama and Loa. Graves asked, “Is Reed number five?!”
Reed landed a top rope splash on Jimmy. At ringside, Reigns reverse-whipped Tama into the ringpost, but them Loa attacked Reigns. Reigns avoided a Reed corner splash and hit a Superman Punch on Reed and then Fatu. Solo, though, caught Reigns with a Samoan Spike. Fatu then landed a moonsault on Reigns. Reed then landed a Tsunami on Reigns. Security ran out to try to stop the carnage. Cole said Reed wanted to be a main eventer and was looking for opportunities. Cole said the OG Bloodline is screwed if Reed is with the New Bloodline. Solo yelled some celebratory words as he left the ring. Cole said they are looking to exterminate and eradicate any trace of the OTC and the original Bloodline.
They camera lingered as Reigns, Sami, and the Usos struggling to regain their senses as they cut to a break.
(Keller’s Analysis: A hell of an angle start to finish. Reed has looked impressive enough lately and especially tonight that this feels like a good fit to elevate him and add some menace to the New Bloodline. The sense of chaos and destruction was really effective here.) [c]
-After clips aired of the brawl before the break, they went to Cole and Graves. Graves said it’s not about calling anyone if you’re the OG Bloodline, but dropping to your knees. Cole said Kevin Owens has just posted a video to social media.
-Owens said he showed up at the arena in Milwaukee earlier and was turned away. He said he had to leave because of what he did to Orton last week. He said all he did was his job. He said Orton called him to the ring and he showed up and now he’s in trouble because he put Orton on the shelf. He said it’s absolute nonsense and not fair. He said he just got a call to be at Smackdown next Friday in Salt Lake City. He mockingly yelled it’s because “the golden boy Cody Rhodes” wants it. He said he’ll show up not for Cody or Aldis “because they hardly deserve me at this point.” He said he’ll show up for himself, and when he shows up next Friday, “I’m just doing what you all want me to do; I’m just doing my job.”
(Keller’s Analysis: Owens is just great in this role.)
(3) MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. THE STREET PROFITS (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford w/B-Fab) – WWE Tag Team Title match
Cole said the Profits haven’t held tag titles in nearly four years and they have said they really need to get to that level again. They had a more intense demeanor than usual. The champs came out second. The bell rang 21 minutes into the hour. Cole said: “Ford said we were conned. We joined another person and he left the company to do his own thing, so no more smiling and acting like all is good. It is time that we buckle up and settle down. No more talking. It’s win or bust tonight.” (That’s a reference to Bobby Lashley, of course.) Graves said the Profits have been near the top of the tag division, but not at the top for years. Graves said frustration can be a great motivator. Shelley and Sabin showed off some of their “seamless” double-team moves, as Graves called them. Ford made a comeback with a hard lariat to Shelley. Dawkins went after Shelley at ringside and knocked him over the announce desk. They cut to a break as Ford and Dawkins celebrated at ringside.
Shelley hot-tagged in Sabin right after the break. Shelley scored a near fall on Ford after a dropkick/flatliner tandem move. With Ford on the top rope, Tommaso Ciampa knocked him off. The ref called for the bell.
WINNERS: No contest in 9:00 so the Guns retained the WWE Tag Team Titles.
-Graves said Ciampa is ticked off because he believes the Profits cut in line. Cole said he’s also upset with the success of the Guns as soon as they arrived in WWE. Johnny Gargano ran to the ring and stepped between Ciampa and Shelley. Ciampa shoved Gargano. Ciampa stormed off and yelled, “We talked about the titles! I want the titles!” Graves said there’s something wrong with Ciampa disrupting a title match. The Guns helped the Profits stand. Dawkins punched Shelley. Sabin checked on Shelley and looked up in confusion and anger at the Profits. Graves said they have every right to be ticked off.
(Keller’s Analysis: This is another one of those unsatisfying non-finishes that WWE does too often these days, but it’s not the worse kind where it feels purely an attempt to avoid one team beating the other. Although that was a factor, since they want to extend the idea of the Profits having a new drive to become champs without defining them down with a setback clean loss, they also are mostly focused on this Ciampa situation and building to DIY being in the tag title mix.)
-Cole plugged the WWE Women’s Title match was up next. [c]
-Bayley told Naomi backstage that she’s so excited for her to win the title tonight. She told Naomi to watch out for Iyo Sky. In walked Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. Belair put her arm around Naomi. Jade said they’ve got it and they have her back. Bayley walked away, but seemed leery. “Trust us,” said Belair.
-Graves and Cole agreed that was awkward. They shifted to plugging the Green vs. Davenport vs. Belair match on Smackdown next week, plus KO face-to-face with Cody.
-Naomi made her ring entrance. [c]
-A commercial for Raw focused on Seth Rollins vs. Reed and Bron Breakker vs. Sheamus for the Intercontinental Title.
(4) NIA JAX (w/Tiffany Stratton) vs. NAOMI – WWE Women’s Title match
Jax’s ring entrance aired. She was accompanied by Tiffany Stratton. After formal ring introductions, the bell rang 46 minutes into the hour. Graves said Naomi better have planned for a very angry Nia Jax after she came up short at Crown Jewel. They showed Belair and Jade watching backstage. Then they showed Tiffany also watching backstage. Cole said Naomi is a two-time world champion, but it’s been almost seven years and also around three-and-a-half years since she was a tag champ.
Jax took early control and scored a two count at 1:00. She settled into a chinlock center-ring. Jax tossed Naomi into the air and headbutted her. Naomi recovered quickly and took advantage of Jax showboating and knocked her to the floor. She followed with a dive through the ropes. She pounded away at Jax as they cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Jax took over again during the break. Graves said she was gaining confidence as the match continued to progress. Jax applied a half-crab center-ring. Naomi made a comeback and scored a near fall after a sunset bomb. She landed a high kick and a crossbody off the second rope followed by a springboard roundkick to Jax’s head. She then hit the Rear View for a two count at 7:00. Graves said Naomi didn’t have the right leverage on her cover.
Jax caught Naomi with a sudden pop-up Samoan Drop. She dragged Naomi to the corner and set up an Annihilator. Naomi recovered and shoved her to the floor and then landed a top rope crossbody on the floor. Cole said Naomi had to get Jax into the ring. They cut to Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez attacking Belair and Jade at ringside. Meanwhile, Naomi threw Jax back into the ring. Tiffany hit Naomi from behind as the ref’s back was turned. Jax then landed a legdrop. She then dragged Naomi to the corner and set up the Annihilator. Naomi stood, though, and kicked Jax. She went for a top rope move, but Jax countered into a powerslam attempt. Naomi turned in mid-air and landed on Jax. “I’m not entirely sure what the hell I just saw,” Graves exclaimed. “That was nuts.” Naomi turned to yell at Tiffany at ringside. Bayley ran to ringside and threw Tiffany into the barricade. Jax rolled up Naomi for a two count. Naomi got up and threw Jax into the ringpost and then landed a springboard legdrop for a two count at 11:00.
Naomi sat up and looked disappointed. Graves said he could see in Naomi’s eyes that was a heartbreaker. Candice LeRae shoved Bayley into the ringpost. Jax then caught a distracted Naomi on the top rope and delivered a Samoan Drop and an Annihilator for the win. Jax celebrated with LeRae and Tiffany afterward.
WINNER: Jax in 12:00 to retain the WWE Women’s Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Really effective main event and one of the better matches that either Jax and Naomi have had. They fit a lot into that 12 minutes, and certainly there were bell and whistles throughout, but the crowd ate it up and really seemed deflated when Jax lost.)
-They cut to Roman Reigns who still seemed out of it. He picked up his phone and said, “Please call The Wiseman.” He smiled. Fans cheered. A recorded woman’s voice said the number was not in order. He dropped the phone and looked stunned.
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 Chris Adamsto 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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