WWE SmackDown Live REVIEW: Full Results, Grades & Highlights 9/1/18

Smackdown Live

INTRO: We rewatched Sami Zayn beating AJ Styles last week, as well as Daniel Bryan announcing his inscrutable decision to book Zayn and Kevin Owens against Styles in a handicap WWE championship match at the Royal Rumble. Amusing to watch Bryan try to rouse the audience with his “Yes!” chants after making this indefensible match.

OPENING SEGMENT: Styles joined Renee Young for an interview center-ring. Young asked if he thought Bryan’s booking decision was fair. Styles expressed regret for making the sarcastic, off-handed remark that triggered Bryan’s decision. There’s a chance he could lose his title, Styles conceded, but there’s also a chance he could beat the crap out of both men. He provided some exposition by stating that Zayn and Owens must tag each other – there can be only one member of their team in the ring at a time.

Young repeated her question as to whether Bryan’s decision was fair. The crowd chanting his name gave Styles a chance to consider this query. Eventually, he plainly said, “No. But neither is life.” Great response for a fighting champion. Styles seemed eager to wrestle both men, although he ventured far enough to say it wasn’t smart booking. Young pressed the issue by asking if Bryan played favorites with Zayn and Owens. Exasperated, Styles said he didn’t know Bryan’s deal or what he is thinking. He refused to point fingers or get further embroiled in the passive-aggressive Bryan/Shane McMahon feud.

As Styles vowed to beat Owens and Zayn, the two Canadians interrupted him. Zayn pranced out like Little Red Riding Hood. Owens snarkily directed the crowd to give it up for the regretful/remorseful AJ Styles. KO told AJ it would take a miracle for him to win their Royal Rumble match.

“And Heaven doesn’t give out miracles to people like you.” – Kevin Owens to AJ Styles

As Zayn “Yepped” by his side, Owens said his duo would become the first-ever Co-WWE champions. They degenerated into jumping around and yelling “Yep!” while the audience chanted “No!” over them. Shane thankfully stopped their shenanigans. He agreed with Styles that the Royal Rumble match is unfair. Furthermore, Shane said he is baffled that Bryan would grant the two “Yep Clowns” another opportunity to become WWE champion(s). With that said, Shane backed Bryan’s decision – for now.

Focusing on the theme of handicap matches, Shane booked one of his own for tonight’s show. Kevin and Sami would face Shinsuke Nakamura, Randy Orton, and Styles tonight in a three-on-two match. Shane played to the crowd, then departed the live arena. We went to the gorilla position to find Bryan staring cattily at a smirking Shane. Bryan eventually complimented the commissioner on booking a helluva main event.

Becky Lynch vs. Ruby Riott

In an inset interview that aired during her entrance, Becky Lynch announced that she’ll compete in the women’s Royal Rumble match. Charlotte Flair and Naomi made their full entrances in order to stand in Lynch’s corner. Lynch quickly threw Ruby Riott down thrice. She hooked a front-face-lock, sending Riott scrambling to the ropes. Lynch pulled her back to center ring, then bounded off the ropes. Sarah Logan tried to trip her up; Lynch confronted Logan, but retained the presence of mind to dump a charging Riott to the outside.

Riott gripped Lynch in a body scissors as we returned from break. Ruby maintained the hold and rolled Lynch over for a couple of two-counts. Lynch briefly broke the hold on her second kickout, then was locked up again. Lynch pushed back on Riott, freeing herself as she forced Riott to kick out of a pin attempt. She avoided Riott’s turnbuckle charge, then struck with a springboard kick to the chest. Lynch landed right hands to the midsection until Riott grabbed Becky by her hair and hurled her to the mat.

Riott buried knees into Lynch’s ribs, then locked in an abdominal stretch. Lynch fought through the pain to hip-toss Riott. She countered a suplex attempt with a small package, then fired away with numerous forearms and a European uppercut. Lynch connected on a spin-kick to Riott’s gut, then threw her opponent with a pump-handle suplex. Becky landed the Becksploder, but missed a follow-up kick. Riott hit a stiff kick to Lynch’s ribs, then tried to set up Lynch for her short-arm kick finisher. Instead, Lynch grabbed Riott’s left arm and maneuvered her to the mat for the Dis-Arm-Her and a tapout. Good showing for both women, as Riott quickly proved herself reliable upon her promotion to the main roster.

Result: Becky Lynch beat Ruby Riott by submission via the Dis-Arm-Her.

Grade: B

Lynch trash-talked Riott as her teammates pulled her out of the ring. In an odd transition, we watched a video of Sami Zayn approaching Lynch outside the arena while dressed as an old man fanboy. He removed his disguise and told her he wanted a partner for the Mixed Match Challenge. Lynch greeted this news with an ecstatic hug. That does look like something Zayn would’ve done off-camera anyway, though I’m not sure they needed to show a conniving main-event heel consorting with a heroic babyface.

The Ascension stood in-ring awaiting the Bludgeon Brothers. We saw Fashion Files footage of Breezango refusing to accompany their “best friends” to the ring tonight by citing their upcoming match against Rusev Day. Tyler Breeze halfheartedly wished Konnor and Viktor good luck as his team bailed.

The Ascension vs. The Bludgeon Brothers

The Ascension bum-rushed Harper as the bell rang, bouncing Rowan off the apron. He still barely sold that shot. Viktor chopped Harper with gusto against the turnbuckle. Harper pushed him away and landed a big boot that elicited a big bump. He returned the favor by kicking Konnor off the apron, and tagged his partner.

Harper quickly tagged back in, slapped Rowan, then launched his partner into Viktor, squashing him against the turnbuckles. The Bludgeon Brothers executed their double sit-out powerbomb for the win.

Result:
The Bludgeon Brothers beat The Ascension when Luke Harper pinned Viktor after a double sit-out powerbomb.

Grade: D+

After the match, Konnor stood on the arena floor and stared up at the Bludgeon Brothers, who appeared to invite him into the ring. He waited until they turned their attentions elsewhere to check on his partner. The Bludgeon Brothers summarily turned their aggressions on Konnor, planting him with their double cross-drop move.

We are told that Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin would “Demand Justice!” tonight for their aborted title reign last week. This announcement segued into Bobby Roode making a glorious entrance. He would provide guest commentary on a U.S. title tournament match between two erstwhile partners.

Zack Ryder vs. Mojo Rawley (U.S. Championship Tournament)

The two men tied up; Rawley threw Ryder into the turnbuckles. Ryder responded with a dropkick that netted a one-count. Mojo rolled out of the ring, then rolled back in to pick up Ryder and drive him into the corner. Rawley rammed shoulders into Ryder. Zack stifled two Rawley charges by lifting his knees into Rawley’s face, but Mojo grabbed his left leg and whipped him off the ropes onto his back.

Rawley aggressively back-mounted Ryder and beat on him for a two-count. He continued to trash-talk Ryder as he repeatedly threw him against the turnbuckles by his jaw. Rawley twisted Ryder’s neck, then quickly drove a knee into Ryder when Zack tried to fight back. Ryder finally stemmed the tide by countering a suplex with a neckbreaker. He knocked Rawley into the corner with strikes, and dropped Rawley with several forearms. When Ryder called out for the Broski boot, Mojo dipped outside the ring, but left himself open for a running boot that Ryder delivered from inside the ring.

Ryder brought Rawley back onto the canvas, getting a two-count. Ryder chopped Mojo and attempted to mount the ropes to rain down punches. Mojo seized Ryder and executed an inverted atomic drop. Rawley threw Ryder hard into the steel-post, then bashed him with a forearm to the back of Ryder’s neck. With Ryder woozy, Mojo landed his running forearm in the corner to advance in the U.S. title tournament.

Result: Mojo Rawley pinned Zack Ryder after a running forearm.

Grade: C+

Roode entered the ring after the match. He stood face-to-face with Rawley; they will square off in the tournament semifinals.

Standing backstage, Jinder Mahal said he defined 2017 through his lengthy WWE championship tenure. This year, he’s set his sights on a new title: the U.S. championship. Mahal deftly said he hoped that Xavier Woods knew how to play “Taps” on his trombone, as his semifinals opponent had already lost their match.

We see a backstage video of Natalya learning that she’ll team with Nakamura in the Mixed Match Challenge. Barring the Zayn/Lynch pairing, both brands are doing a reasonable job of promoting this competition without letting it infringe on the storylines leading up to the Royal Rumble.

Benjamin and Gable walked to the ring to demand justice. We reviewed last week’s title match against the Usos, which saw the illegal man pin the other illegal man to not quite win the SmackDown tag team championship. Wearing a “#FreeTheTagTitles” tank-top, Gable repeatedly asked if anyone in Birmingham, Alabama knew what it took to be a winner. Benjamin referenced Alabama’s football team winning the national championship Monday night. He clarified that their fans didn’t contribute anything to that win, then stated that Georgia was robbed due to poor officiating. For our European readers, disrespecting a state’s college football team is a high crime in the American deep south.

On that note, Benjamin claimed his team was robbed due to the referee blowing a call. Gable painted a picture of feeling ecstasy pulse through his veins when he believed his team had become champions. The crowd loudly chanted “Roll tide!” Yeah, that’s an American football chant. Gable repeatedly asked why the second official got involved with their match. Benjamin said that referee was jealous and didn’t know what it took to be a winner. Gable said the referee was a thief, tattletale, rat, and snitch. Gable lustily proclaimed that a crime was committed last week, and Benjamin demanded justice.

Gable requested that “Generic Referee #2” visit the ring and relinquish the tag team title. Instead, Bryan made his way to the ring. A hearty response for Bryan even after his puzzling WWE title match booking. He sympathized with the claims made by Gable and Benjamin, but told them the referee’s decision is final. At Benjamin’s behest, Gable shared all his feelings; they boiled down to his team doing everything it needed to do and still not being champions. He angrily asked if they really needed to beat the Usos twice in one night. Bryan got a twinkle in his eye, and booked a two-out-of-three falls match between the Usos and Benjamin/Gable for the Royal Rumble.

Backstage, Orton donned his ring-gear. Styles asked if he wanted to talk strategy; Orton agreed to a strategy of RKO’ing everything that moved. He promised Styles they’d be on the same page tonight, but he planned to win the Royal Rumble and then claim the WWE championship at WrestleMania. “Not so fast”, Nakamura warned, as he too-sweeted Styles’ title belt.

Standing in the ring with Rusev, Aiden English crooned that Rusev Day would enter the Royal Rumble. He sang that they would win the Rumble; after Rusev whispered in his ear, he clarified that they’d win the Rusev Rumble match.

Breezango vs. Rusev Day

Breeze strutted to the ring sans selfie stick. English started the match for his team by headlocking Fandango and shoulder-tackling him to the mat. Fandango fought back with a hiptoss, then dropped English gut-first over the top rope. Breezango hit a double-team kick to both sides of English’s face, sending him tumbling to the arena floor as we went to break.

When we returned, English clutched Breeze in a reverse chinlock. Breeze threw several punches to break English’s grip and make the tag, but English sent him back down with a side-kick to the stomach. English climbed to the top turnbuckle. He jumped over Breeze as Tyler avoided his top-rope move, then landed on the apron when Breeze back-dropped him over the top. English front-flipped over Breeze again, somersaulted, then missed a wild right, allowing Breeze to tag out.

Fandango chopped away at English, then whipped him into the turnbuckle for a back-body-drop. English fought off a second back-body-drop with a kick, then ran into a Fandango dropkick. Rusev made the blind tag during this sequence, however, and leveled Fandango with a clothesline. Rusev struck with two roundhouse kicks. He body-blocked Fandango in the corner, then knocked him down with a spinning heel-kick. Rusev yelled out for the Accolade before tossing an interfering Breeze to ringside.

Rusev caught Fandango during a cross-body-block attempt, but Breeze resurfaced to dropkick his partner onto Rusev for a two-count. Breeze ate a roundhouse kick, giving Fandango an opening to schoolboy Rusev for the win.

Result: Breezango beat Rusev Day when Fandango schoolboyed Rusev.

Grade: C+

McMahon approached Bryan backstage. Bryan touted their brand’s tag-team division, and credited Shane for booking tonight’s main event. McMahon ignored the praise, criticizing Bryan’s “impetuous” and “irrational” decision-making. He took issue with the tag-team championship match booked for the Royal Rumble, stating that the Usos already beat Gable and Benjamin. He asked Bryan pointblank if he was ok. Both men accused the other of being unstable. Bryan told McMahon he’d probably make more reckless decisions in the future – especially given his gene pool. McMahon defused the argument by walking away.

WWE Champion AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn

This is a three-on-two handicap match. Orton took the fight to Owens, hammering him into a corner. He Irish-whipped Owens into the opposite corner, but absorbed a boot when he charged. Owens missed a right hand, then nearly got RKO’ed in the first minute. He rolled to ringside, where Orton followed with a running forearm to the neck. Orton smashed Owens’ face twice in the barricade, then brought him back inside the ring. A pained Owens fired back on Orton with fists, knocking him into the heel corner and making the tag.

Zayn pelted Orton with right hands and kicks, then whipped Orton into the ropes. Orton put on the brakes and threw Zayn to the mat by his hair. Graves creatively explained the Zayn and Owens “co-champions” premise by comparing such a title reign to the Fabulous Freebirds’ strategy of defending a tag-team championship. Meanwhile, Orton twisted Zayn’s arm and tagged in Nakamura. Shinsuke snapmared Zayn and dropped a big knee. Nakamura missed a roundhouse kick, but connected with a wheel kick. He used Zayn as a heavy bag, throwing big kicks to Zayn’s chest before downing him with a sudden right-leg strike. Nakamura stepped into Good Vibrations in the corner.

Nakamura tagged Styles, who failed to suplex Zayn and was shoved back into Sami’s corner. Owens made the tag and clubbed Styles with rights. Owens tripped AJ, who used his agility to snare Owens in a head-scissors and take him down. Styles blocked an Owens punch and unleashed his flurry of strikes, culminating in a big clothesline. AJ clouted a seated Owens with a running forearm. When the champion went for the Styles Clash, Zayn pulled Owens to ringside, and the duo walked back toward the locker room.

As the referee counted to five, McMahon’s music hit. He stipulated that this match could not end via countout. Orton and Styles marked this news by running up the aisle and laying into their opponents as we took our final break.

Zayn wrenched his hands across Styles’ mug in a chinlock as we returned, then shifted to a headlock. Styles threw out his arm toward his corner, but Zayn took him over and maintained his hold on the mat. Owens tagged in and measured Styles for an elbow to the face. He punished Styles with punches and stomps, then delivered a short-arm clothesline for a two-count. Owens took us to Chinlock City. Styles finally made it to his feet and broke the hold. When Owens bounded off the ropes to stay on the offensive, Styles executed ushigoroshi, leaving both men hurt on the mat.

Zayn and Orton tagged into the match, and the Viper laid into Zayn with two clotheslines and a powerslam. Zayn crawled desperately to the ring apron, where Orton snatched him and scored with a rope-drape DDT. Randy pounded the mat in preparation for an RKO. As he grabbed Zayn, Owens thrust a steel chair into Orton’s gut, prompting a disqualification. Owens similarly attacked Nakamura and Styles with the chair before smashing it across Orton’s back.

Once again, Shane-o-Mac’s music interrupted Zayn and Owens as they retreated. McMahon now ruled that the match could not end on a disqualification, and would be contested under “Anything Goes” rules. Styles utilized these new (redundant) stipulations by clobbering Zayn and Owens with a chair on the entrance ramp. He pursued Owens into the backstage area. Back at ringside, Zayn found himself trapped between Nakamura and Orton. He dove into the ring, slid out of it, and tried to vault the barricade. It almost worked. But Orton and Nakamura hunted Zayn down and threw him into the ringpost.

Nakamura fed Zayn into a steel-stair shot from Orton. Both men hurled Zayn over the announce table. Orton lifted Zayn for a back suplex, dropping him mercilessly onto the announce table. He flung Zayn into the ring to allow Nakamura to nail his Kinshasa. Orton lifted a beaten Zayn for an RKO and pinned him.

Result: AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Randy Orton beat Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn when Orton pinned Zayn following an RKO.

Grade:
B+

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