Smackdown
Date: September 6, 2024
Location: Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

We’re done with Bash In Berlin and that means it is time to get ready for Bad Blood, which is about a month away. Cody Rhodes is going to need a new challenger after beating Kevin Owens, which could open up a variety of options. Other than that, Bayley is back and wants the Women’s Title again so let’s get to it.

Here is Bash In Berlin if you need a recap.

We open with a long recap of Cody Rhodes retaining the Smackdown World Title over Kevin Owens at Bash In Berlin.

Here is Rhodes to get things going. After saying hello to the fans in the upper deck, Rhodes welcomes Michael Cole back to Smackdown. He knows he’s going to be interrupted any second so he just invites the Bloodline out here right now. Solo Sikoa says he had Rhodes beat at Summerslam but Roman Reigns interfered.

Rhodes thinks there should be a title defense on the season premiere of Smackdown and it should be the person who stepped out of Reigns’ shadow. Sikoa likes that idea…but Rhodes is talking about Jacob Fatu. That seems to work for Fatu, but Sikoa stares at him and Fatu bows. Rhodes says it was worth a shot and Sikoa is wearing the red lei meaning the Bloodline revolves around him.

The difference is Rhodes is wearing the WWE Title, meaning everything revolves around him. The title match seems to be on for next week but Sikoa wants to fight now. DIY and the Street Profits run in, with Nick Aldis popping in to say we’ll do this in the main event. Aldis says the title match is indeed on for next week….and we’ll do that in a steel cage. While there is a good chance Roman Reigns returns next week, this was both a way to set up a major title match and also further Sikoa controlling Fatu, which is not likely to end well.

Tiffany Stratton and Pretty Deadly are getting ready for next week when Nia Jax comes in to ask if Stratton was going to cash in on her last week. Stratton says of course not and blames Chelsea Green, with Jax offering to be in her corner tonight.

Bayley vs. Tiffany Stratton

Bayley goes after the arm to start and wraps it around the rope for a bit before a middle rope armdrag gets two on Stratton. They go to the apron with Bayley trying a sunset flip, earning herself a kick to the face as we take a break. Back with Stratton hitting a rather handspringy elbow in the corner for two, followed by a dropkick into the ropes.

They go outside where Bayley reverses her into the post, setting up a running knee to the head for two back inside. The top rope elbow gets two and now Nia Jax comes out. Stratton uses the distraction to hit the Alabama Slam for two, only to walk into a Bayley To Belly. Bayley dives onto Jax, which draws her up to the apron for a distraction, meaning the referee doesn’t see Stratton’s backslide for a good while. Not that it matters as Bayley gets up and hits the Rose Plant to finish Stratton at 10:13.

Rating: C+. Bayley needed a win after her loss at Summerslam and what would Stratton be if she didn’t lose a few matches while holding the briefcase? They’ve been teasing the cash in already and it wouldn’t surprise me to see them burn the thing off next week on the season premiere. I’m not sure if Stratton will get the title, but if she does, Bayley is right there as another challenger after getting the win here.

A-Town Down Under pesters Kevin Owens about his loss so he says they should have a triple threat tonight. And he steals their Edmonton Oilers belt because it’s too nice for them.

Legado del Fantasma wants more success.

Giovanni Vinci vs. Apollo Crews

Vinci is described as a High Performance Human….and Crews rolls him up for the pin at 7 seconds. I will absolutely take this after seeing Vinci doing pretty much the same character in NXT and being about as uninteresting as imaginable.

Chelsea Green and Piper Niven rant to Nick Aldis when Michin interrupts. Aldis makes Michin vs. Green for later.

Kevin Owens vs. Austin Theory vs. Grayson Waller

Owens knocks them to the floor to start and hits a cannonball off the apron. The villains get together and load up a table, only for Owens to powerbomb Waller through it as we take a break. Back with Owens hammering on Theory, who drops him with a running forearm to the face. The rolling Stunner is cut off with a DDT though and everyone is down. Owens drops the backsplash on Theory and hits the Cannonball in the corner.

The Swanton connects for two as Waller makes the save, allowing Theory to hit a rolling Blockbuster. Waller steals the near fall and that doesn’t sit well with Theory so the argument is on. Owens knocks the villains off the ropes and hits a super Regal Roll for two on Theory. The swinging superplex gets two on Waller, setting up the Stunner to give Owens the pin on Theory at 9:46.

Rating: C+. This was little more than target practice for Owens, who needed a win after his loss over the weekend. Waller and Theory are little more than jokes at the moment, which is amazing given how hard Theory was pushed for a bit. There is still more than enough time to see things turn around, but dang it’s going to take a big moment to make it happen.

Post match Waller and Theory lay Owens out.

Video on Carmelo Hayes vs. Andrade, which is now 2-2.

Commentary thanks FOX for five years and we look back at the show’s run on the network. That’s a nice thing to see.

Here is LA Knight for a chat. Knight is about thirty days into his title reign and he already has two successful title defenses. He knows everyone is coming for the title and here is Carmelo Hayes to interrupt. Hayes talks about stealing the show week after week while Knight is just running his mouth. He’s beaten Andrade twice in a row and that puts him in line for a US Title shot.

Knight points out that the two title defenses in a month are the same as the previous champion (oddly not named) had in ten months, which sounds like him getting in a point he forgot or didn’t get to say earlier. He’s not worried about having the match of the night because he cares about winning, which brings out Andrade, who brings up his two wins over Hayes. Knight cuts off the argument but Andrade speaks Spanish. That all goes over Knight’s head but he doesn’t like Andrade’s tone. The fight is on and Knight hits the BFT on both of them.

They didn’t say that the next Hayes vs. Andrade match would be for a title shot, but assuming that is the case, I would hope that they give it one winner rather than a draw to set up a triple threat. At the same time, that’s exactly what the series needed: a prize to fight over that both of them would want.

A-Town Down Under wants a tag match with Kevin Owens and anyone he can find next week.

Chelsea Green vs. Michin

Piper Niven is here with Green and Michin is banged up after last week. Michin snaps off some armdrags to start but gets kicked down as we hear about Green’s time in TNA. A hurricanrana out of the corner puts Green down but Michin comes up holding her ribs. Niven’s distraction lets Green get two off a rollup, only to have the I’m Prettier broken up. Another distraction lets Niven kick Michin in the face, followed by a backsplash. Back in and I’m Prettier finishes for Green at 3:58.

Rating: C. Michin was fighting through the injury here but Green is on the rise and needed a win here. At some point Green is going to be turned to the good side because the fans won’t be able to ignore her awesome charisma. If she can back it up in the ring, she could be a rather big star pretty quickly. This might not have been the big turning point, but it was a nice win.

DIY and the Street Profits want to take out the Bloodline.

Bloodline vs. DIY/Street Profits

It’s a brawl to start until a triple teaming knocks Fatu outside. We settle down to Dawkins hammering on Loa and suplexing Ford into a moonsault onto him for two. Loa is back up with a clothesline and Tama comes in, only to get caught with Gargano’s slingshot spear. Ciampa comes in as well but gets dropped over the top rope by Fatu. Sikoa sends Ciampa over the announcers’ table and we take a break.

Back with Fatu missing a charge into the post and Ciampa kicks Tama away before tagging…Dawkins and Gargano at the same time. Commentary and the referee are both confused, even as Dawkins neckbreakers Sikoa for two. It’s back to Ciampa as things get back to normal, including a Spinning Solo for two. Ciampa goes up top and superplexes Loa onto the pile at ringside. Back in and Ford hits a 450 on Loa but Fatu makes the save. Fatu cleans house, including the impaler DDT to Ford, setting up a pair of Samoa Spikes to give Sikoa the pin at 11:58.

Rating: B. Fun main event here with the Bloodline, and Sikoa in particular, getting to look strong on the way to next week’s title match. That’s a good way to go and the Profits/DIY are teams with enough value that beating them still means something. I’m not sure how much drama there was about the result, but at least the action was good on the way there.

Overall Rating: B-. This show was in a tough spot as it was the fallout show from Bash In Berlin, which didn’t have much from Smackdown, and serving as a preview to next week’s big premiere. There was enough to keep me interested throughout, but next week is where things happen and that didn’t leave much for this week to cover.

Results
Bayley b. Tiffany Stratton – Rose Plant
Apollo Crews b. Giovanni Vinci – Rollup
Kevin Owens b. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller – Stunner to Theory
Chelsea Green b. Michin – I’m Prettier
Bloodline b. DIY/Street Profits – Samoan Spike to Ford

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Smackdown
Date: August 23, 2024
Location: Capital One Arena, Washington DC
Commentators: Corey Graves, Wade Barrett

We are just over a week away from Bash In Berlin and the Smackdown side of things seems to be mostly ready. At the same time though, Roman Reigns was taken out by the Bloodline last week and that is not going to go well. I’m not sure if Reigns is going to be back tonight, but the Bloodline almost has to take a victory lap. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of the Bloodline taking out Roman Reigns last week, with Jacob Fatu doing most of the damage.

Here is A-Town Down Under with the Grayson Waller Effect to get things going. They start fast this week because their guest is none other than Cody Rhodes, who the fans seem to life. The villains cut off his entrance though, which is not exactly well received. Cody loads up his catchphrase, which Waller finishes for him to push another button. Waller says the idiot fans don’t know the real Cody, whose friends keep getting beaten up. Cody: “Are you done?”

Waller probably thinks that Kevin Owens getting a title shot is charity but Owens has not stopped fighting the Bloodline since before Cody came back. He has never used Owens, but can Waller and Theory say the same about each other? Waller is using Theory and the fans are waiting for Theory to do something about it. Waller shifts the focus back to a video on Owens, showing him attacking various friends and associates (including Chris Jericho in an all time segment with the Festival OF Friendship), including Sami Zayn and Sami Zayn (Again).

Cue Owens to interrupt, saying everyone he turned on in that video, save for Kofi Kingston, deserved it. Cue Nick Aldis, with Owens cutting him off to ask him to make the tag match. Aldis says it’s on, but Owens asks if he can punch Waller in the face. Aldis: “Make it quick.” The fight is on, but Owens is sent into Rhodes for the tension inducing moment.

United States Title: LA Knight vs. Santos Escobar

Knight is defending and Escobar has the rest of Legado del Fantasma with him. Hold on though as the rest of Legado jumps Knight on the floor before the bell, which is at least worthy of a mass ejection. Knight says ring the bell and avoids an early charge to get two off a rollup.

We take an early break and come back with Knight in trouble as Escobar crushes him with a frog splash for two. An elbow drop misses though and Knight hits an atomic drop into a discus lariat for the double knockdown. Knight stomps away in the corner and gets two off a Side Effect as the fans are rather pleased. The BFT and the Phantom Driver are both broken up so Escobar takes him to the middle rope. That’s broken up for a middle rope LA Elbow, setting up the BFT to retain the title at 9:07.

Rating: C+. Knight gets attacked and injured before the match, fights from behind and retains the title over someone with some status. That’s as simple as it can get and it worked just fine here, with Knight getting his first successful title defense. It’s a case where they didn’t need to make this complicated and it went perfectly well.

We look at Carmelo Hayes beating Andrade last week.

Hayes says Andrade is never going to be as good as he is. Cue Andrade and they have to be held back, with another match being set up for next week.

Santos Escobar yells at the rest of Legado del Fantasma for costing him the match. Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews come in to laugh, with Escobar wanting to face Corbin next week.

Blair Davenport/Isla Dawn/Alba Fyre vs. Naomi/Jade Cargill/Bianca Belair

Dawn actually takes Naomi down to start, which doesn’t last long as Belair moonsaults over her and sends Dawn outside. The big dive takes Dawn out again and we take an early break. Back with Belair grabbing a slingshot rollup for two on Davenport, who stomps Belair in the back for two. The villains get in a triple choking pose on the ropes and some running knees get two more.

Fyre grabs a Black Widow but Dawn gets caught cheating, allowing Belair to backbreaker her way to freedom. The tag brings in Cargill to clean house but Davenport hits a quick superkick. Naomi comes in to pick the pace up again, with a hanging faceplant/DDT to Dawn and Fyre. Belair hits a big dive to the floor, taking out Cargill as well as some villains. That leaves Naomi to hit the split legged moonsault to finish Davenport at 9:33.

Rating: B-. This started slowly but the last two minutes or so went nuts with everyone getting a chance to shine. Belair and Cargill are already set for a Women’s Tag Team Title shot at Bash In Berlin, though it was nice to see them not get a pin over the champions here to set it up. If nothing else, Dawn and Fyre need to be kept strong, which isn’t always the case around here.

We look at WWE in Germany back in the mid 90s, with Natalya of all people narrating.

Here is the Bloodline for their Tag Team Title shot. Before the match, Solo Sikoa requests acknowledgment and says the OTC is DONE. Sikoa says he is next in line for a title shot after Bash In Berlin, but first there is something wrong with the Tag Team Titles. He tells Jacob Fatu to step up…and hand Sikoa his title. Actually, give it to Tonga Loa, because Fatu is Sikoa’s personal enforcer and not part of a tag team. Cue the Street Profits and B-Fab to mock the new version of the team before we get going.

LA Knight issues an open challenge for a US Title shot next week.

Tag Team Titles: Bloodline vs. Street Profits

The Bloodline is defending. Dawkins hammers Loa into the corner to start but it’s Tama coming in for two off a jumping neckbreaker. Ford comes in to drop Tama and a standing moonsault gets two. An assisted neckbreaker gets two on Ford, who is right back with a jumping enziguri. Dawkins comes back in with a double flapjack as everything breaks down, with Ford being LAUNCHED over the top and onto the steps.

We take a break and come back with Ford hitting a jumping DDT, allowing the diving tag off to Dawkins. Everything breaks down and the Silencer his Tama with Loa having to make a save. The fight goes outside, where Fatu hits some superkicks. That’s enough for Tama to hit a running Downward Spiral for the pin on Dawkins at 9:11.

Rating: B-. This was a good way to change things over to the other Bloodline, which is apparently something that can just be done around here. It makes things that much easier to do though and I’ll take that over some complicated situation. The match itself was a good, fast paced match, but the Bloodline isn’t about to lose the titles anytime soon.

Post match the beatdown continues until DIY makes the save. That doesn’t work either though as Fatu and company wreck the good guys.

Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens have a bit of a strained chat, with Owens bringing up turning on so many people. Cody seems to trust him though.

B-Fab says DIY and the Street Profits are fine, with Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell going into the trainer’s room to check on them.

Michin talks about overcoming negative expectations to get this far while breaking a lot of things.

Nia Jax glares at Pretty Deadly and Tiffany Stratton about fixing her crown. With the three of them gone, Chelsea Green and Piper Niven are overheard mocking Jax, who glares them away.

Cody Rhodes/Kevin Owens vs. A-Town Down Under

Rhodes works on Waller’s arm to start and it’s quickly off to Owens for a backsplash. A double back elbow gets two more on Waller but Theory offers a distraction, allowing Waller to get in a cheap shot. Owens gets punched down and we take an early break. Back with Owens fighting his way out of trouble and making the tag off to Rhodes. The Disaster Kick sends Waller outside, with Rhodes sending Theory over the announcers’ table.

Back in and Waller cuts Rhodes off, allowing Theory to get in some choking. The chinlock goes on so Owens plays cheerleader, which brings Rhodes and the fans right back up. The Cody Cutter drops Theory but Waller’s distraction draws Owens out to the floor. Rhodes sends both of them outside though and the diving tag brings in Owens, who drops outside to beat them up in a fresh location. The Cannonball hits Waller in the corner and the Swanton gets two, with Theory making the save. Not that it matters as the Pop Up Powerbomb gives Owens the pin on Waller at 11:38.

Rating: B-. This was more about whether or not Rhodes and Owens could get along and it went well enough, even as A-Town Down Under’s downward spiral continues. The team seems destined to fall apart sooner than later and it might be with Theory getting the needed boost as a result. They did what they needed to here though and I’ll take that for a main event.

Bash In Berlin rundown.

Back in the ring, Owens picks up the title and teases hitting Rhodes but hands him the title instead, leaving Rhodes looking rather relieved to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. There was only so much that could be added for this show and it wound up doing well enough with everything they had. The main matches are set for Bash In Berlin and there was only so much that could be done here. There is nothing wrong with spending a show advancing stories though and that is what they made work this week. You don’t really need to see this one, but it did accomplish a few things.

Results
LA Knight b. Santos Escobar – BFT
Naomi/Jade Cargill/Bianca Belair b. Blair Davenport/Isla Dawn/Alba Fyre – Split legged moonsault to Davenport
Bloodline b. Street Profits – Running Downward Spiral to Dawkins
Cody Rhodes/Kevin Owens b. A-Town Down Under – Pop Up Powerbomb to Waller

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Smackdown
Date: August 9, 2024
Location: BOK Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Commentators: Corey Graves, Wade Barrett

We’re done with Summerslam and that means we are in for the Smackdown return of Roman Reigns, who showed up at the end of the show and took out Solo Sikoa. That should be the start of the Bloodline Civil War and there is a good chance it will be the top story around here for a long time. Other than that, Bash In Berlin is just over three weeks away and we’re going to need a card. Let’s get to it.

Here is Summerslam if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of the Summerslam main event, with Cody Rhodes defeating Solo Sikoa with an assist from the returning Roman Reigns. That was an amazing reaction when Reigns showed up because you knew it was a huge deal.

Here is Rhodes to get things going. He gets straight to the point by saying he doesn’t want to dwell on the past because it’s all about the future. Rhodes has been thinking about who he wants to defend the title against at Bash In Berlin…and here is the Bloodline to interrupt (minus Jacob Fatu and with Tonga Loa’s eye patch on the opposite eye than last week for some reason). Sikoa blames Roman Reigns for the loss at Summerslam and wants another shot at the title.

Rhodes says Sikoa couldn’t get the job done and got Jacob Fatu hurt on top of that, so no chance is he getting another shot. Cue Kevin Owens with a pair of chairs to send the Bloodline running. Owens goes to leave but Rhodes wants to talk to him. Rhodes was going to give Owens the title shot, but Owens says he doesn’t have the win/loss record to warrant that shot. That doesn’t work for Rhodes, who is going to talk to Nick Aldis about the match because Owens deserves it. That’s fine enough for a one off World Title match.

The Street Profits want the Tag Team Titles back. And the smoke.

A-Town Down Under vs. Street Profits

This is a qualifying match for some kind of a #1 contenders match and B-Fab is here with the Profits. Dawkins gets jumped in the wrong corner to start and Waller sends Ford into the barricade on the floor. Back up and Dawkins unloads on Theory in the corner, only to get sent outside as well. Theory goes to yell at B-Fab and gets dropped by a flipping Ford dive as we take a break.

We come back with Theory hitting his rolling dropkick and not seeming pleased by Waller tagging himself in. That’s broken up and the diving tag brings in Ford to pick the pace way up. A flapjack gets two on Waller, who avoids a frog splash and clotheslines Ford into the corner. Ford superkicks Waller on the floor, setting up Dawkins’ Pounce over the barricade. Back in and the Doomsday Blockbuster finishes Theory at 7:13.

Rating: C+. It was a completely acceptable match and that’s all it needed to be, as the Profits could make for a good set of first victims for the Bloodline’s title reign. The Profits haven’t been doing as much lately but with Bobby Lashley gone, they might be able to get back to what made them work in the first place. The division still needs some fresh blood though, as it still feels like the same teams are always around.

Nick Aldis is with Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes, with Owens still not wanting the title shot. Aldis is going to talk to Roman Reigns about the title match, which doesn’t sit well with Owens. He goes on a rant about how Reigns doesn’t deserve it, which is enough for Aldis to give Owens the title shot.

We look at Nia Jax beating Bayley to win the Smackdown Women’s Title.

Tiffany Stratton is planning Jax’s championship celebration. Pretty Deadly comes in to ask if she can plan the celebration for when they win the Tag Team Titles. Stratton doesn’t have time for this but here are Chelsea Green and Piper Niven to interrupt her. Green doesn’t like Stratton’s outfit but Stratton says Green must have a ladder to fall off of. Outfit insults ensue.

We look at Blair Davenport costing Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill the Women’s Tag Team Titles last week.

Jade Cargill vs. Alba Fyre

Bianca Belair and Isla Dawn are here too. Fyre can’t get very far with a waistlock to start and a sunset flip attempt is easily blocked as well. A springboard tornado DDT works a bit better and Fyre grabs a Black Widow of all things. Cargill muscles her way out and Jaded finises Fyre at 2:02.

Post match Blair Davenport comes in for the 3-2 beatdown but Naomi makes the save.

We look back at LA Knight winning the US Title at Summerslam.

Here is Knight, with new music, for a chat. The fans are rather pleased to see him and Knight seems rather pleased with their pleasure. Knight has been asked if it felt sweet to beat Logan Paul in his hometown, which gives him a YOU DESERVE IT chant. Beating Paul in his hometown didn’t matter, but you can call him champ, YEAH. He can’t stop being the US Champion but here is Santos Escobar, with Legado del Fantasma, to cut him off.

Fans: “YOU SUCK!” Escobar: “No you suck. And you suck sir.” Escobar doesn’t buy him as a champion and it is just an opening act to Escobar’s reign with that title. Knight says he didn’t hear a word of that because everyone in Tulsa was telling Escobar that he sucks. Escobar getting a shot is fine, but he has to win this (scheduled) #1 contenders match first.

Giovanni Vinci is coming to Smackdown and looks to be the version he was back on NXT (living the rich life etc).

Santos Escobar vs. Andrade

For a future US Title shot and Legado del Fantasma is here with Escobar. We’re joined in progress with Andrade flipping over him and hitting a clothesline. Legado gets in a cheap shot though, allowing Escobar to nail a jumping knee for two. Cue Apollo Crews and Baron Corbin to cut Legado off though, with Escobar taking Andrade outside and sending him into the post. Back in and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker sets up an armbar on Andrade. They go up top and fight over a superplex until Andrade settles for a sunset bomb to send us to a break.

Back with Andrade hitting a running forearm to put Escobar down. A moonsault to the floor takes Escobar down again and a high crossbody gives Andrade two. Three Amigos give Andrade two more and they go up top for a slugout. Escobar’s super poisonrana gets two but Escobar knocks him down and hits the double moonsault for the same. Cue Carmelo Hayes for a distraction, though Andrade hits the spinning elbow for two anyway. Back up and Hayes pulls Escobar out of the corner to avoid the double knees, allowing Escobar to roll him up with tights for the pin at 11:48.

Rating: B-. I was getting into this and they did a nice job by having the first false finish with Hayes getting involved. Escobar getting the title shot makes sense as he has a history with Knight, but it’s nice to see him having to win a match instead of just having it handed to him. That being said, Andrade had been getting some momentum in recent weeks and the loss here kills a good bit of that off.

We look at the Bloodline beating DIY to win the Tag Team Titles.

DIY is ready to become #1 contenders to get their titles back.

Tribute video to Kevin Sullivan.

A-Town Down Under yell at Nick Aldis and get Waller a match against Kevin Owens next week.

DIY vs. Pretty Deadly

#1 contenders qualifying match. Wilson takes Gargano into the corner to start and it’s already time for a standoff. DIY sends them outside but the dives are cut off. The posing is broken up though and we take an early break. Back with Gargano avoiding a charge in the corner, allowing the tag off to Ciampa. A double powerbomb gets two on Prince but the Shatter Machine is broken up as everything breaks down. Wilson elbows Ciampa in the face but Gargano’s slingshot spear cuts off Spilled Milk. The Shatter Machine into Meet In The Middle finishes Prince at 7:10.

Rating: C+. Again there is only so much that can be done when you have a break in the middle of a seven minute match, but at least the right team won. DIY should still be in the title picture as the former champions, though I’m not sure I see the need for them to get another title shot after the beating they took. At the same time, DIY could use a win of any kind sooner than later. If nothing else, the musical needs the attention.

Solo Sikoa is told someone isn’t here.

Here is the Bloodline for a chat. Solo Sikoa requests acknowledgments and reminds us that he is the Tribal Chief now. If Roman Reigns wants the leis back, come get them. Cue Reigns, who wastes no time in taking out Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa. Reigns gets in the ring for the showdown with Sikoa and the brawl is on with the Superman Punch dropping Sikoa. Reigns retrieves the leis but the Tongans jump him, only to have Reigns fight back. Sikoa gets away with the leis before Reigns spears Tama through the barricade and chairs Loa down to end the show.

Reigns being around makes anything feel important but this beatdown showed that Jacob Fatu is really necessary. With Reigns running through the Tonga’s in short order, Sikoa is going to need his big monster to give Reigns a real problem on the way to the showdown with Reigns.

Overall Rating: B-. This show was in a weird spot as it had to deal with the fallout from Summerslam while also starting the build towards Bash In Berlin in the span of two hours. The wrestling was mostly in the middle, but they set some things up for the future and gave us a big moment at the end. It really isn’t a show you need to see, but it did what it needed to do.

Results
Street Profits b. A-Town Down Under – Doomsday Blockbuster to Theory
Jade Cargill b. Alba Fyre – Jaded
Santos Escobar b. Andrade – Rollup with tights
DIY b. Pretty Deadly – Meet In The Middle to Prince

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Smackdown
Date: August 2, 2024
Location: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Cleveland, Ohio
Commentators: Corey Graves, Wade Barrett

It’s the last show before Summerslam tomorrow and that means it is time for a pretty big match on the way. In this case that means we have the Tag Team Titles on the line as DIY defends against the Bloodline in what might be a massacre. Other than that, it’s time for the big push towards Summerslam so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Here is Cody Rhodes for a chat. He asks what we want to talk about but thinks WHO we want to talk about might be a better question. Cue Solo Sikoa, on his own for once, to tell the crowd to acknowledge him. The fans aren’t pleased, but Rhodes talks about how they are both younger brothers. Sikoa is all about the Bloodline’s theatrics but tomorrow the bell is going to ring.

Rhodes gets serious, until Sikoa asks if he is done yet. Rhodes says Sikoa is the self proclaimed Tribal Chief but Rhodes is the WWE Champion. He sits on a throne and can do so because of what people like people like Randy Orton and Kevin Owens did. Rhodes mentions beating Roman Reigns in a Bloodline Rules match, but Sikoa says Reigns was weak. Sikoa is dangerous though and tomorrow, he’ll show Rhodes how dangerous he can be. He wants Rhodes to put his money where his mouth is, but cue the Bloodline through the crowd.

Rhodes realizes Sikoa wants it to be a Bloodline Rules match tomorrow (despite Sikoa never saying it) and calls out the Bloodline. He isn’t scared of any of them and the Bloodline Rules match is on. Sikoa threatens Rhodes with the Bloodline but Rhodes says all he has to do is beat the Tribal Chief. Since the Tribal Chief isn’t here, he’ll settle for the wannabe. They got to the point here, but Sikoa wasn’t able to keep up with Rhodes on the mic and it didn’t make for the best segment.

Carmelo Hayes goes to the barber shop and talks about his breakout performance against Andrade. It’ll be different the next time they face off.

Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes

Feeling out process to start with Hayes being cocky as usual. Andrade isn’t having that this time and takes over but the threat of the Message sends Hayes bailing to the floor. We take a break and come back with Hayes sending him knees first into the steps, setting up a superkick for two. Andrade fights up and takes over, only to miss the running knees in the corner. Hayes misses the Fade Away but something like a springboard hanging suplex puts Andrade down. Hayes goes up top until Andrade catches him for a superplex as we take another break.

Back again with Andrade sending him out to the floor, setting up a middle rope moonsault. They get back in and Hayes hits a spinning faceplant, only to walk into the spinning elbow for a close two. Andrade’s double jump moonsault gets two so he grabs the Figure Four. That’s broken up so Andrade tries the Message, which is reversed into a rollup, which is reversed into a rollup to give Andrade the pin at 16:06.

Rating: B. I’m a bit surprised at the result, but at the end of the day it is nice to see Andrade getting a chance like this. He is getting some momentum together and it would be cool to see that turned into something. Hayes loses again, but at least it wasn’t in a way that left him looking weak. Good match here, as these two work well together.

Santos Escobar says he’s going to take out Apollo Crews tonight and yells at Berto and Angel for losing in the gauntlet match last week.

Apollo Crews vs. Santos Escobar

Baron Corbin and the rest of Legado del Fantasma are here too. Escobar starts fast and knocks him into the corner, setting up a slingshot hilo. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker gives Escobar two and we hit the waistlock. That’s broken up and Crews comes back with an overhead belly to belly. Angel tries to offer a distraction but gets decked by Corbin. Crews’ standing moonsault gets two but…someone grabs Corbin’s leg from underneath the ring. The distraction lets Escobar hit the Phantom Driver for the pin at 3:28.

Rating: C. This was more about the shenanigans outside, as there is little reason to believe that Crews was going to be a serious threat to someone who was a much bigger star. In theory this should be one of the last matches in the feud, but there is always the chance that things could be stretched out even further. At least Corbin didn’t lose, which is not something I was expecting to say anytime ever.

It seemed to have been a member of Legado grabbing Corbin’s leg rather than a surprise.

Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair are ready to get their Women’s Tag Team Titles back.

Here is Nick Aldis, with some unnamed yet totally legitimate “Cleveland dignitaries” to welcome hometown star Logan Paul. This brings out Paul, who immediately goes into mocking LA Knight, who is desperate to take the US Title. Paul sees Knight’s appeal to the fans, as he’s a guy who never made it, just like everyone here. Paul can’t relate to everyone here because he’s great and he made it.

That’s why we’re here, including these dignitaries. Aldis says he couldn’t find anything about these dignitaries on Google, but Paul insists they’re legit. We have a banner to unveil, but instead it says YEAH over Paul’s face. Cue Knight to say the sunglasses are making it hard for him to read the banner, so maybe the people can tell him what it says. Fans: “YEAH!” Paul: “CONGRATS! YOU PEOPLE CAN READ!”

Knight points out that Paul is from the suburbs before going to the back to find another banner for Paul. We follow Knight to the back, where he finds Pretty Deadly, who are practicing for their musical. That won’t work, but no one has a banner for him. Instead, Knight goes to the back to Paul’s Prime truck so Paul charges after him, with Knight stealing the truck. Paul: “THAT’S A CRIME!” Knight getting under Paul’s skin is a good way to go, but he has to win that title.

Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre are ready for Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill.

Logan Paul wants to know what Nick Aldis is going to do about this. Aldis will take it up with the dignitaries.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Isla Dawn/Alba Fyre vs. Jade Cargill/Bianca Belair

Cargill and Belair are challenging and jump the champs before the bell. The champs say they can go so it’s Cargill splashing Dawn in the corner. Belair comes in to stomp away and stereo gorilla press drops have the champions in trouble as we take a break. Back with Cargill kicking Fyre away but Dawn pulls Belair down off the apron.

A Backstabber/Swanton combination gets two on Cargill, who suplexes both of them down at once for a needed breather. Belair comes back in with a double high crossbody as it’s time to clean house. Belair hammers away in the corner on both champions until Fyre slips out and grabs the hair. The handspring moonsault gets two on Fyre with Dawn making the save. Cargill pulls Dawn to the floor for a superkick…and here is Blair Davenport to jump Cargill for the DQ at 7:23.

Rating: C. The ending isn’t the biggest surprise as there was almost no reason to believe that Dawn and Fyre were going to be able to survive against the ream team of Belair and Cargill. Having Davenport get involved isn’t the worst idea, but hopefully she can live up to the spot they are putting her in. It hasn’t exactly worked so far, but maybe that changes this time.

Post match destruction ensues, with Cargill being sent over the announcers’ table.

Summerslam rundown.

Video on Nia Jax vs. Bayley.

Jax gives Tiffany Stratton a custom Money In The Bank briefcase, with Stratton being VERY excited. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven come in o mock the briefcase

DIY is fired up to face the Bloodline, with Johnny Gargano talking about how this is his hometown and there are over 10,000 members of his family waiting for the Bloodline.

Tag Team Titles: Bloodline vs. DIY

The Bloodline, with Tonga Loa and Solo Sikoa, is challenging. Tama powers Ciampa into the corner to start and runs him over as we take a break with the champions in early trouble. Back with Fatu’s running splash only hitting the post, allowing Gargano to come back in. Everything breaks down and Fatu is taken down by a flip dive off the apron. A super Air Raid Crash gives Ciampa two but Fatu is back in to take over. The running hip attack hits Ciampa, setting up Tama’s top rope splash for two with Gargano making the save.

Fatu’s running hip attack on the floor only hits steps, leaving Ciampa to roll Tama up for two. A Shatter Machine hits Tama but Loa offers a distraction, allowing Sikoa to Samoan Spike Ciampa. Tama’s spinning reverse DDT gets two on Gargano but he superkicks his way out of trouble. There’s the suicide dive to Tama and a poisonrana to Fatu…which just wakes him up. The pop up Samoan drop sets up the triple jump moonsault. The implant DDT gives Fatu the pin and the titles at 9:10.

Rating: B. Yeah they had to. There was pretty much no reason to have DIY retain here as they have gotten their big win and special moment. The Bloodline is by far the bigger deal right now and giving Fatu a spotlight is that much better. It was even a fast paced match with DIY giving it everything they could before falling to the monsters.

Overall Rating: B. With most of Summerslam set, there wasn’t much here that needed to be changed, save for the Bloodline Rules stipulation being added. Other than that, it was a pretty good night of action with the Tag Team Title switch in the end being rather noteworthy. All that matters is tomorrow though, and there is every chance they could have a smash with the show. The show before it did well enough, though this one didn’t have quite the same pressure.

Results
Andrade b. Carmelo Hayes – Rollup
Santos Escobar b. Apollo Crews – Phantom Driver
Bianca Belair/Jade Cargill b. Isla Dawn/Alba Fyre via DQ when Blair Davenport interfered
Bloodline b. DIY – Implant DDT to Gargano

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Smackdown
Date: July 19, 2024
Location: CHI Health Arena, Omaha, Nebraska
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Corey Graves

We are just over two weeks to go before Summerslam and last week saw what seemed to be two title matches all but set for the show. Cody Rhodes is likely to defend the WWE Title against Solo Sikoa and Logan Paul is likely to defend the US Title against Kevin Owens, but the matches still need to be made official. That is what we might be seeing again here so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Cody Rhodes agreeing to face Solo Sikoa for the title at Summerslam and the ensuing beatdown at the hands of the Bloodline. Randy Orton ran in for the save but got beaten down as well.

Here is Rhodes (minus the suit for a change) to get things going. After acknowledging boxing champion Terrance Crawford (in the front row and just happening to have an upcoming title fight) and having the title match against Sikoa confirmed for Summerslam, Rhodes talks about Orton being attacked last week. Rhodes was laid out and could be injured again, which hurt Rhodes because he sees Orton as family.

As for Sikoa, Rhodes once told him that he wasn’t ready…and here is A-Town Down Under to interrupt. They yell at Rhodes for causing their issues last week and the brawl is on, with Rhodes being sent outside. Crawford hands Rhodes his chair though and Rhodes gets to clear the villains out. This was more a way to have Rhodes rubbing elbows with another sports champion and that was fine.

Carmelo Hayes is ready for Andrade and says he won’t miss.

Cody Rhodes asks Nick Aldis for a match with A-Town Down Under, but he has to find a partner.

Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes

Hayes flips over him to start but Andrade flips out of a headscissors for an early standoff. They trade kicks to the face until Hayes ties her in the ropes for the Fade Away as we take a break. Back with Hayes working on the arm but Andrade uses the other arm for a hard clothesline.

Some dragon screw legwhips take Hayes down and the running knees in the corner give Andrade two. Hayes grabs a spinning faceplant for two but Andrade knocks him off the top for the double moonsault. Andrade’s spinning back elbow gets two more, only to dive into the First 48 for two more. Not that it matters as Andrade is right back with the Message or the pin at 9:50.

Rating: B. This was a match that felt like it should have been just another match but they wound up rolling to a good one. That’s more than I would have expected and I was wondering which way they were going. Neither of them needed to lose but I can go with Andrade getting a win to boost him up for a bit, though it would be nice to have it actually get a follow up.

We look back at Nia Jax scaring Tiffany Stratton out of cashing in Money In The Bank/

We get a split screen sitdown interview with Jax and Bayley. Jax promises to put Bayley out of her misery, which has Bayley rolling her eyes. Bayley says Jax hasn’t changed since they met and brings up Jax injuring her years ago. Jax is clumsy and reckless (Jax DID NOT like that) but Bayley is leaving Summerslam as champion. Jax: “Is this done yet?” And she storms off.

Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair argue with Chelsea Green and Piper Niven over who gets to talk to Nick Aldis first. A match is made.

Bianca Belair vs. Chelsea Green

Jade Cargill and Piper Niven are here too. A German suplex drops Green early but she slips out of the KOD. Green rolls her up but Belair reverses into one of her own for the win at 57 seconds. Well that was quick.

Post match Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre pop up on screen to say they’ll see about giving Belair and Cargill a rematch.

Nick Aldis is in the ring for the contract signing between LA Knight and Logan Paul. Knight and Paul come to the ring, with the latter wondering why he should give Knight a title shot. Knight says that might be true, but every time they have been face to face, Knight has owned and cooked him. Paul has come a long way by winning the US Title but the Knight broke into Paul’s house and even pinned him. Paul: “Listen to yourself SHAUN!” (Knight’s real first name).

Knight is the only one who needs this match, because his entire existence is built in this ring. Paul lists off everything else he has done and says Knight wants Paul’s accolades without being him. He calls Knight a fraud, which Knight finds interesting because Paul is a champion who won’t fight. That’s enough for Paul to sign but he can’t take anything from Knight because Knight doesn’t have anything. Paul bails but then charges back in, only to have to bail from the threat of the BFT. Good stuff here, though Knight almost has to win. I’m just not sure that he will.

Video on Tiffany Stratton.

LA Knight runs into Santos Escobar, who says he would beat Knight one on one. Knight says if Escobar wants in, ask his mom fr Knight’s number. A match seems likely.

Tiffany Stratton vs. Michin

Nia Jax is here with Stratton. Michin starts fast by dropkicking her into the corner and a Cannonball gets two. A Jax distraction on the floor lets Stratton hit a hard Alabama Slam as we take a break. Back with Stratton knocking her down for two more but a second Alabama Slam is blocked. A running neckbreaker puts Stratton down and a tornado DDT gets two. Stratton is back up with a running hip attack and a running dropkick for two of her own.

Michin’s middle rope dropkick puts Stratton on the floor but she’s back in with a Regal Roll. The Prettiest Moonsault Ever is loaded up but cue Bayley for a distraction. Bayley hits Jax in the head with the briefcase and proceeds to destroy it, with the distraction letting Michin get the rollup pin at 8:07.

Rating: C+. This felt like it was teasing a mixture of both a new briefcase and Stratton cashing in sooner than later. Maybe they let her wait a long time like others, but it would not shock me to see her get the title fairly soon. Jax is almost destined to get it first, but Stratton almost has to, as it just suits her so well.

Solo Sikoa talks about how hard it is being the Tribal Chief but wonders who is going to step up and team with Cody Rhodes. Whoever that is will be disrespecting the Bloodline, because he is the Tribal Chief and you will acknowledge him.

We look at DIY beating A-Town Down Under in back to back weeks, though Jacob Fatu wrecked them last week.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Cody Rhodes has found a partner.

Cody Rhodes/Kevin Owens vs. A-Town Down Under

Rhodes knees Theory in the ribs to start and hands it off to Owens to knock him out to the floor. Back in and a quick cheap shot takes over on Rhodes as the fans are all over Waller. Owens comes back in and slugs away without much trouble, including an enziguri and Cannonball to Waller. Theory offers a distraction though, allowing Waller to block the Swanton.

We take a break and come back with Waller holding Owens in a cravate and adding some knees to the face. Owens breaks up a superplex (commentary pointed out how you can’t superplex him) and hits the Swanton, allowing the tag off to Rhodes for the house cleaning. Waller comes in off a blind tag though and hits a quick faceplant for two. Waller’s knee almost hits Theory again but the distraction lets Owens get in a quick Stunner. Cross Rhodes finishes Theory at 11:52.

Rating: B-. Perfectly watchable main event here as the question was more about whether the Bloodline would interfere before or after the pin. A-Town Down Under continues its downward spiral and that does not seem likely to change anytime soon. The action was fine enough, but this was more about getting Rhodes in the ring, which is often a good idea.

Post match the Bloodline comes in and, just like last week, makes Rhodes watch as one of his friends is wrecked. Rhodes is TripleBombed through the announcers’ table to end the show. Is Rhodes going to be the one to bring back Roman Reigns to help him in the fight? That could work.

Overall Rating: B. This was another show where they covered a good bit of stuff (two matches set for Summerslam, Bayley setting her sights on Tiffany Stratton, the tease of Cody Rhodes needing a savior) and had a pretty sweet opener as a bonus. They are getting ready for the big show in just over two weeks and this is the kind of show that they needed. Good stuff here and they are getting closer to the really big stuff in the next few weeks.

Results
Andrade b. Carmelo Hayes – Message
Bianca Belair b. Chelsea Green – Rollup
Michin b. Tiffany Stratton – Rollup
Cody Rhodes/Kevin Owens b. A-Town Down Under – Cross Rhodes to Theory

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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AND

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Smackdown
Date: July 12, 2024
Location: DCU Center, Worcester, Massachusetts
Commentators: Corey Graves, Wade Barrett

We are done with Money In The Bank and the main Smackdown stories are Tiffany Stratton winning the women’s briefcase and Solo Sikoa pinning Cody Rhodes in the main event. The latter seems likely to be the setup for the Smackdown World Title match at Summerslam but we have a few weeks to get there. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of the Bloodline defeating Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton and Kevin Owens at Money In The Bank.

Here is Tiffany Stratton to get things going. Stratton says it is officially Tiffy Time as she has won the briefcase and Trish Stratus isn’t here to ruin her moment again. The fans are REALLY into this as Stratton threatens all three Women’s Champions but here is Bayley to interrupt. She is impressed with Stratton living up to the expectations and reminds us that she won the briefcase in 2019. Stratton says that was a million years ago and brags about her rapid success.

Bayley threatens her against cashing in but here is Nia Jax to remind us that she is getting the title shot at Summerslam. Bayley says she isn’t a hugger anymore because she is the Royal Rumble winner and Women’s Champion so Jax isn’t going to beat her. However, just in case she does, Stratton might be there to cash in. Jax shrugs that off and says Bayley is going to be the victim at Summerslam. Stratton cuts off Bayley but Michin runs in with a kendo stick for the save. That’s a nice tease of Stratton cashing in on Jax later on, though we have to get to Summerslam before that can happen.

Chelsea Green, in a neck brace, with Piper Niven, is waiting to yell at Nick Aldis.

Michin vs. Nia Jax

Tiffany Stratton and Bayley are here too. Michin strikes away to start but a tornado DDT is easily blocked. The running hip attack in the corner hits Michin and we hit the cobra clutch. Jax sends her flying and hits a running splash in the corner before dropping Michin face first onto the apron.

We take a break and come back with Jax powering out of a guillotine choke to leave both of them down. Back up and a middle rope hurricanrana drops Jax but Stratton and Bayley get into it on the floor. The distraction lets Jax grabs the kendo stick but Michin reverses into a tornado DDT. Not that it matters as Jax hits the Annihilator for the pin at 9:25.

Rating: C+. This was Jax getting to wreck someone else before her title match in a few weeks. That is something that works well most of the time and Jax is as much of a monster as you’re going to have these days. Michin is someone else who can be heated up for something like this without being used in a bit spot, which is a valuable asset to have around.

Post match Bayley goes after Jax but Stratton gets in a briefcase shot to cut her off. Jax drops the big leg on Bayley and goes to leave….so Stratton teases cashing in. That’s cut off by a quick glare from Jax, who isn’t happy.

The Bloodline is fine with their recent violence, even if it didn’t need to be that way. Tonight, everyone will acknowledge Solo Sikoa.

Earlier today, Andrade was having a sitdown interview about his performance in the Money In The Bank when Carmelo Hayes interrupted. Hayes wondered why he wasn’t getting more attention, so Andrade said he was next.

Angel/Berto vs. Baron Corbin/Apollo Crews

The rest of Legado del Fantasma is here as Corbin launches Crews onto everyone else to start fast. Corbin clotheslines Berto and hands it off to Crews, who gets stomped down in the corner. Everything breaks down and the villains are sent outside as we take a break. Back with the Garza Special not quite connecting so Berto comes in for a springboard spinning kick to the head.

Corbin Death Valley Drivers his way out of trouble though and it’s off to Crews vs. Angel. Everything breaks down and Corbin has to drop an interfering Santos Escobar. The referee yells at Corbin and the distraction lets Escobar knee Crews in the face. Garza grab the Wing Clipper for the pin at 8:01.

Rating: C. Not much to this one as the makeshift team loses to the established one, even with some interference. I’m not sure how much of a point there is to this story, but the interesting thing is Corbin. After turning things around in NXT, he has barely been a thing on the main roster, again making me wonder why he was brought back in the first place.

Pretty Deadly interrupts Chelsea Green and Piper Niven, as they need to talk to Nick Aldis about Pretty Deadly: The Musical! They literally get in line behind Green and Niven when LA Knight comes out of the office, carrying a contract.

Randy Orton is in the back with Cody Rhodes and talks about how he has Rhodes’ back tonight, even if Kevin Owens isn’t here tonight. Orton seems to hint that he is coming for the title when the Bloodline stuff is over.

Here is LA Knight for a chat. He isn’t Mr. Money In The Bank, but we do see him pinning US Champion Logan Paul to qualify for the ladder match in the first place. That brings him to the contract in his hands, which is for a US Title shot at Summerslam. Both he and Nick Aldis have signed it but Paul hasn’t, because he isn’t here. Again. No worries though because Knight will get him to sign and then take that belt (yes belt) at Summerslam.

Video on Blair Davenport.

Naomi vs. Blair Davenport

Davenport shoulders her down to start but Naomi slides underneath a clothesline and grabs a headlock. Naomi sends her into the corner for a running dropkick and the splits splash gets two. Back up and Davenport gets in a stomp to Naomi’s bad shoulder, which is posted hard as we take a break. We come back with Davenport twisting the arm around again and hitting a low superkick for two. Naomi fights back and gets two off a hurricanrana driver. They trade rollups for some near falls until Naomi hits a Bubba Bomb for the pin at 7:26.

Rating: C. Davenport hasn’t done much for me either in NXT or on the main roster and that was the case again here. She’s just kind of a generic villain who attacks the heroes before being dispatched. I need a bit more than that, especially with the amount of depth that the division has right now.

We look at DIY winning the Tag Team Titles last week.

Naomi runs into Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair. They walk down the hall, where Cargill says Nick Aldis isn’t here tonight. Everyone standing outside his office (Why does he have one if he isn’t here?) overhears and storm off. Blair Davenport comes in and shakes Naomi’s hand. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven come in to rant, allowing Davenport to jump Naomi from behind.

Tag Team Titles: DIY vs. A-Town Down Under

A-Town Down Under is challenging in a rematch from last week. Ciampa chases Waller outside to start and they all get inside, where the champs hit stereo dropkicks. Waller shoves Theory out of the way though and takes over on Ciampa as we take a break. Back with Waller hammering Ciampa down and handing it back to Theory, who gets dropkicked out of the air.

The tag brings Gargano in to clean house, including the slingshot spear for two on Theory. Everything breaks down and Ciampa rolls Theory up, with Waller making the save off a Downward Spiral. Ciampa ducks Meet In The Middle and Waller knees Theory by mistake. The Shatter Machine and Meet In The Middle finishes Waller to retain at 7:15.

Rating: C+. This felt like a way to wrap things up between these teams for good and that’s all it needed to be. DIY still feel like a pair of underdogs so giving them a win like this, even with the villains messing up, is a good thing. They’ll need some fresh challengers, while the villains seem like they could be on their way to splitting up.

Post match Jacob Fatu runs in to wreck DIY, including a pair of awesome moonsaults. Cue the rest of the Bloodline and, post break, Solo Sikoa wants to be acknowledged. The fans want Roman but Sikoa talks about the people who have refused to acknowledge him. Jimmy Uso, Paul Heyman and Roman Reigns refused, but Reigns will if he wants to come back. Now it is Cody Rhodes’ turn, so here is Cody to interrupt.

Cody says he’ll have to speak to Nick Aldis, but you can more or less guarantee the title match is on against Sikoa at Summerslam. Cody is ready to fight tonight so the Bloodline surrounds him, meaning the fight is on. Randy Orton runs in for the save but the numbers game gets the better of him. Cody gets tied in the ropes and Orton is TripleBombed through the announcers’ table. The Bloodline poses to end the show. Cody vs. Sikoa felt all but set and now it more or less is all but set, so….progress?

Overall Rating: C. With just a few weeks to go before Summerslam, this was the kind of show that they needed to have, even if it wasn’t that great. While the matches aren’t officially set, they’re all but guaranteed and that is good enough. That being said, it’s a show you absolutely did not need to watch, which is going to happen occasionally.

Results
Nia Jax b. Michin – Annihilator
Angel/Berto b. Apollo Crews/Baron Corbin – Wing Clipper to Crews
Naomi b. Blair Davenport – Bubba Bomb
DIY b. A-Town Down Under – Meet In The Middle to Waller

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Smackdown
Date: July 5, 2024
Location: Scotia Bank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Corey Graves, Wade Barrett

We are a day away from Money In The Bank and that means it is time to get the final push towards the show. The ladder matches are officially set and now we are probably going to be seeing people sitting on ladders and talking to each other. Other than that, the Bloodline has gotten rid of Paul Heyman and now we are going to be seeing the start of the fallout. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Here is Jey Uso to get things going. He wants to win Money In The Bank but here is LA Knight to interrupt. Knight was the favorite last year and look what happened to him. Tomorrow, the people will be saying YEAH, not YEET. They get into a catchphrase off until Carmelo Hayes interrupts, saying no one wants to hear that.

Chad Gable cuts them off to say he’s been going through all kinds of problems in the last few weeks. Andrade interrupts and doesn’t say much before Drew McIntyre interrupts to brag about having CM Punk’s bracelet. McIntyre mocks most of the other people, including asking how Jey got across the border. The fight is on with Knight and Uso knocking McIntyre to the floor and standing tall. This was as paint by the numbers as you can get.

Bayley is in the back when Chelsea Green interrupts, threatening to cash in on Bayley soon. Piper Niven jumps Bayley, with Green saying that’s how she can cash in.

Post break, Bayley has gotten a match with Niven tonight.

Street Profits vs. Pretty Deadly

B-Fab is here with the Profits. Ford wrestles Wilson to the mat to start as Barrett is swooning over Pretty Deadly’s attire. Prince comes in and gets double hiptossed in short order, only to have Wilson hammer Dawkins down in the corner. We take a break and come back with Dawkins getting two off a sunset flip but getting knocked back into the corner. That doesn’t last long either though as Dawkins gets over to Ford for the house cleaning. Ford gets caught on top but Dawkins makes a blind tag and makes a save. Dawkins knocks Prince off the apron and hits a big dive. Ford’s frog splash pins Prince at 9:45.

Rating: C+. The Profits continue to get built back up, which shows that they might have been better off not being associated with Lashley in the first place. It’s a bit weird to have Pretty Deadly come back and lose, but at least one of the teams is getting a nice boost. For now, they had an ok match, but it’s nothing that is going to have an impact for any time.

A-Town Down Under is ready to retain the Tag Team Titles, with Grayson Waller giving Austin Theory a big pep talk.

We look back at the Bloodline wrecking Paul Heyman last week.

Indi Hartwell/Candice LeRae vs. Jade Cargill/Bianca Belair

Joined in progress with Cargill kicking Hartwell in the face but some double teaming brings Cargill down. Cargill fights up and it’s a double knockdown, allowing the tag off to Belair so the pace can pick up. Belair kicks LeRae down and brings Cargill back in for stereo Jaded/KOD and the pin on LeRae at 4:12.

Rating: C. I’m surprised this wasn’t more of a squash, as Cargill and Belair are still the most dominant team in the division. Odds are they’ll get a title shot in the near future and we’ll see where things go from there, but for now they’re still wrecking teams like Hartwell and LeRae. The division could still use more fresh blood, but at least there are some regular teams.

Post match Belair and Cargill say they’re coming to get the Women’s Tag Team Titles back.

Video on DIY vs. A-Town Down Under.

Here are Kevin Owens, Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes for a chat. Rhodes says they have heard enough from the Bloodline so they are ready for a fight. Orton is ready to end that fight with an RKO but it’s off to Owens, with the fans approving. Owens would rather talk about the last four days rather than the last four years, because he got a call from his dad.

Apparently his mom was rushed to the hospital, where he and his family have watched his mom fight for a few days. His mom is still in the hospital and won’t be at Money In The Bank, but that would be a problem for his mother. She did everything to make Owens’ dream come true, and she would be furious if he missed a show because of her. Excellent stuff here from Owens, which tends to be the case when you have a great talker with something important to talk about.

We get a video on the history of the Tag Team Titles, with even Demolition getting a mention.

Bayley vs. Piper Niven

Non-title and Naomi/Chelsea Green are here too while Iyo Sky is watching from the crowd. Niven runs her over to start and they head outside. Bayley is sent into the steps and we take an early break. Back with the Rose Plant being blocked and Bayley grabbing a sleeper, only to get planted down.

Bayley gets in a knockdown of her own as Naomi and Green get in a brawl on the floor. Naomi gets the better of things so Sky jumps the barricade and decks her. Cue Lyra Valkyria, Zoey Stark and Tiffany Stratton to brawl at ringside, with Stratton moonsaulting onto them. Bayley avoids Niven’s moonsault and hits the Rose Plant for the pin at 7:40.

Rating: C+. As you might have been able to tell, this was much more about the insanity going on outside rather than the match itself. They had to do something to give the women’s match a final push but it only worked so well. Not exactly a great match, but they could only do so much with so much else going on.

Post match Nia Jax runs in to lay Bayley out but Michin runs in to make the save with a kendo stick.

Money In The Bank rundown, complete with Trish Stratus being announced as the official host.

DIY talks about their history in this building.

Tag Team Titles: DIY vs. A-Town Down Under

A-Town Down Under is defending and jump them to start, only to get knocked outside for stereo slingshot dives. We take an early break and come back with Gargano in trouble but managing a twisting Canadian Destroyer to plant Waller on the floor. Theory is right there to cut him off though and Gargano gets dropped for two back inside.

We take another break (we aren’t even eight minutes into the match) and come back again with Ciampa hitting Willow’s Bell so Gargano can superkick Waller for two. Waller hits Theory by mistake and gets rolled up for two more. The Shatter Machine hits Waller for a very near fall and you can feel some energy go out of the place on the kickout.

Theory saves Waller from getting taken out but it’s Project Ciampa to drop Waller again. Meet In The Middle gets two, with Theory putting the foot on the rope. Waller’s rollup with trunks gets two but Gargano pulls him into the Gargano Escape. Theory’s save is cut off with a Sicilian Stretch and the double submission gives us new champions at 14:15.

Rating: B. This took some time to get going but they nailed the big ending, which was all that mattered. DIY getting the titles gives them by far their biggest moment on the main roster, which they’ve been needing for a long time. Other than that, it likely brings an end to A-Town Down Under, which seemed to have reached their peak, at least for the time being.

Solo Sikoa holds the lei in his hands and says it makes him the Tribal Chief. This isn’t what he wanted but it’s what had to happen. Roman Reigns was not man enough to defend the title from Cody Rhodes so Sikoa is going to take it back himself. Then if Reigns still wants it, he can come take it from Sikoa.

Overall Rating: C+. The ending helped but this was a show where they were stuck in a tough spot. Other than the main event, there was very little here that mattered as it was mainly about filling in time on a show that had to take place before the big event tomorrow. That rarely makes for a good show but they did well in the end and gave us a nice moment. There’s nothing worth seeing besides that, but it did end on a high note.

Results
Street Profits b. Pretty Deadly – Frog splash to Prince
Jade Cargill/Bianca Belair b. Indi Hartwell/Candice LeRae – Jaded to LeRae
Bayley b. Piper Niven – Rose Plant
DIY b. A-Town Down Under – Double submission

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Clash At The Castle 2024
Date: June 15, 2024
Location: OVO Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Wade Barrett

It’s time to go international again as we have another of the five match card specials. The big focus this time is on the home country star Drew McIntyre, who is getting his rematch with Damian Priest for the World Heavyweight Championship. Other than that, Sami Zayn defends the Intercontinental Title against Chad Gable (again) and Cody Rhodes defends the WWE Championship against AJ Styles (again) in an I Quit match (not again). Let’s get to it.

The opening video looks at Scotland, with Drew McIntyre talking about how a fight is coming here. McIntyre says they’re known for their tempers so you can bring the crazy and they’ll bring the fight.

Smackdown World Title: AJ Styles vs. Cody Rhodes

Rhodes is defending (ignore his graphic saying “TALENT NAME” and the chyron saying “Women’s Tag Team Champion”) in an I Quit match. Rhodes starts fast with a running shoulder into a snap powerslam. The Disaster Kick is countered though and Styles chops away in the corner. Back up and the Flip Flop and Fly sets up a dropkick to send Styles outside, meaning it’s table time.

Instead of loading it up, Rhodes sends Styles knees first into the steps and then the barricade as the fight heads into the crowd. They fight into the back and the production area, where Styles gets in some choking. Rhodes shrugs that off and they go back into the arena. We’ll make that back into the ring, with Rhodes grabbing a Figure Four. Styles makes the rope and Rhodes lets go for some reason (the referee didn’t make him, as he wasn’t supposed to) and they’re both a bit slow to get up.

A suplex over the top leaves them both crashing to the floor, where Styles throws him onto the announcers’ table. The brainbuster onto the table rocks Rhodes again but he’s not giving up. Rhodes is busted open and Styles stops to yell at Rhodes’ mother, who is rather fired up. Back in and Styles hits the fireman’s carry backbreaker but it’s still too early for Rhodes to give up.

They head outside with Styles loading up the Styles Clash on the steps, only to be backdropped down. Back in and the Disaster Kick connects for Rhodes as the fans keep singing for him. Styles counters the Cross Rhodes into a DDT and it’s time for a chair. Said chair is sent into the throat, followed by some kendo stick shots. No Rhodes still won’t quit so it’s time for a belt whipping. Styles grabs a Bank Statement but Rhodes still won’t quit.

That makes Styles tie him up with handcuffs, but instead he goes to yell at Mama Rhodes. That earns him some slaps to the face so Styles threatens her with a chair (GEEZ MAN!). Back in and Styles chairs him down before wrapping a chain around his own arm. The Phenomenal Forearm is loaded up but Rhodes pelts a chair at his head, sending Styles through the table.

Rhodes finds the key to unlock the cuffs, which he uses to bust Styles open. The Cody Cutter and three Cross Rhodes (the third onto a chair) have Styles in more trouble but Rhodes won’t let the referee ask him. Rhodes cuffs him to the ropes instead and unloads with a chair, but Styles isn’t quitting either. The steps are brought in and the threat of that kind of pain makes Styles quit at 27:39.

Rating: B. It was good, but they had a huge mountain to climb after their first match. This wasn’t a match with a ton of drama about the results so it was more about the violence, which only got so good. They probably would have been better off with a street fight or Last Man Standing, but it was a good way to give Rhodes another strong title defense before he starts getting ready for whatever is next at Summerslam or so.

Post match Rhodes looks down at his mom and then hits Styles with the steps anyway. Rhodes goes to leave but runs into Solo Sikoa. The rest of the Bloodline comes in to beat Rhodes down. Cue Randy Orton and Kevin Owens for the save, with Orton glancing at the title.

Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre are home and ready to win the Women’s Tag Team Titles.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Isla Dawn/Alba Fyre vs. Shayna Baszler/Zoey Stark vs. Bianca Belair/Jade Cargill

Belair and Cargill are defending and you can only tag your own partner. Belair hammers on Baszler to start but has to flip over an invading Dawn. A suplex puts Baszler down and the handspring moonsault gives Belair two. Fyre (the fans approve), Stark and Cargill come in, with Cargill having to power out of a double top wristlock. A fall away slam/Samoan drop combination puts Fyre and Stark down as the fans are rather impressed.

Belair comes back in to to slam Dawn and the champs hit stereo delayed suplexes. The four challengers have a huddle on the floor and then go after Belair. A double suplex on the floor drops Cargill and a running boot to the face drops Belair back inside. Stark puts Dawn down and hits a slingshot corkscrew elbow. Baszler comes in to take over on Dawn, with Stark’s springboard dropkick getting two. It’s back to Fyre to pick up the pace, including a top rope flip dive onto Baszler and Stark.

Back in and Fyre’s missile dropkick gets two on Baszler and the Tower Of Doom sends a bunch of people down. Dawn seems to have hurt her elbow on the landing as Cargill is back in…by slipping on a springboard and crashing badly. House is quickly cleaned but Baszler grabs the Kirifuda Clutch….with Cargill looking like she’s tapping. Belair makes a save with a 450, with her knees landing on Baszler’s back for a nasty visual. The assisted German suplex hits Baszler but Dawn is back in with a German suplex to Cargill. Dawn steals the pin and the titles at 12:15.

Rating: C. This was a bit of a mess at times (Cargill falling and then tapping and Belair’s 450 were rather terrible) but they managed to turn what should have been a nothing match into something worthwhile. I was thinking this was going to be just another match for the champs and I was rather wrong about the result. Not a terrible match, but the rough parts brought it way down.

Post match Fyre and Dawn get bouquets of flowers in a nice moment.

We recap Sami Zayn defending the Intercontinental Title against Chad Gable. Zayn is tired of Gable being horrible to both himself and the Alpha Academy so it’s time for the big final showdown.

Intercontinental Title: Chad Gable vs. Sami Zayn

Gable, with the Academy, is challenging and the fans sing about Zayn to start. Gable’s headlock keeps things slow to start so Zayn sends him outside for a meeting with the Academy. Back in and Zayn is sent shoulder first into the buckle, with Gable starting in on the arm. Gable cranks on said arm but Zayn fights up with one arm for a breather. Zayn manages to clothesline him out to the floor and there’s the springboard moonsault to take Gable out again.

Back in and Gable gets in a shot of his own but charges into a Michinoku river for two. Gable is right back with a powerbomb into a top rope headbutt for two and they’re both down again. The rolling German suplexes have Zayn in trouble but he reverses into some suplexes of his own. A half and half suplex gives Zayn two but Gable pulls him into a crossface. Zayn reverses into his own crossface, which is reversed into an ankle lock. That’s reversed into a rollup so gable goes outside to grab the title.

Gable hands it to Maxxine Dupri, who can’t bring herself to hit Zayn. Gable yells at her, with Zayn’s attempted Helluva Kick nearly hitting Dupri. The distraction lets Gable grab rolling Chaos Theory for two so he goes to yell at Dupri, with Otis getting in between then. Zayn’s big dive hits Otis, allowing Gable to go up and moonsault onto both of them.

Back in and Gable misses the moonsault, allowing Zayn to suplex him into the corner. The Helluva Kick doesn’t work as Gable rolls outside, where he ankle locks Zayn over the barricade. Zayn escapes to send Gable into Dupri, which does not sit well with Otis. Gable skedaddles back inside but instead of going after Zayn, Otis picks up Dupri to carry her to the back. The Helluva Kick retains the title at 21:59.

Rating: B+. This was a great mixture of action and storytelling, with Otis and Dupri not wanting to turn on Gable but eventually being pushed too far. At the same time, you had Gable and Zayn beating the heck out of each other, with Zayn being able to hold his own against Gable’s incredible athleticism. Good stuff here and the best mach of the show by far.

Post match Gable looks crushed.

Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre are thrilled with their win and had all of Scotland behind them.

We recap Bayley defending the Smackdown Women’s Title against Piper Niven. Bayley is fighting against anyone and Niven is a home country monster, meaning the ans are going to be rather interesting here.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Bayley vs. Piper Niven

Bayley is defending and Chelsea Green is here with Niven. A hard shoulder puts Bayley down to start and Niven stays on her outside. Back in and Niven misses the running seated crossbody, allowing Bayley to stomp on the annoying Green’s fingers. Green yells enough that she gets ejected so Bayley grabs a rollup for a quick two.

Niven is fine enough to send her back outside and there’s a flip dive off the apron. Back in and Niven nails a headbutt before suplexing Bayley onto her tailbone for two. Bayley fights up and sends her to the floor for a suicide dive, only to be driven hard into the apron. They go back inside with Niven being draped over the middle rope, setting up a top rope elbow. A top rope Swanton to Niven’s back just wakes her up, as she slams Bayley out of the corner.

Niven’s running backsplash gets two but Bayley grabs the Bayley TO Belly. Cue a masked woman (who looks like and is dressed like Green) for a distraction so Niven can get out at two. Bayley goes after Green but the Rose Plant is countered into the Piper Driver (with a scary landing) for two. The Vader Bomb hits raised knees so they head outside, with Niven grabbing a swinging Boss Man Slam. Back in and Niven misses a backsplash, allowing Bayley to hit a crucifix river to retain at 13:28.

Rating: C+. Chelsea Green carried this thing on her back, with the run-in being hilarious. The match itself was a bit plodding and the fans didn’t seem as interested as I was expecting, but it did pick up at the end. Bayley seems destined for the showdown with Nia Jax at Summerslam, which is where the winning streak likely comes to an end. For now, not a great match, but it did get better as they went.

We recap Drew McIntyre challenging Damian Priest for the Raw World Title. McIntyre won the title at Wrestlemania but Priest cashed in Money In The Bank to win the title about five minutes later. Now McIntyre is at home and getting his title shot.

Raw World Title: Drew McIntyre vs. Damian Priest

Judgment Day is barred from ringside, McIntyre is challenging and is played to the ring by a pipe and drum band. As you might expect, McIntyre gets the huge hero’s welcome and the fans get so loud that we get a decibel meter on the screen. McIntyre starts fast and knocks him to the floor, with the big flip dive connecting. Priest gets in a few shots of his own and poses a bit, allowing him to hammer away back inside.

A lifting Downward Spiral plants McIntyre and there’s the running elbow in the corner. The Broken Arrow gives Priest two but McIntyre is back with a Michinoku Driver for the same. Back up and Priest knocks him to the floor, meaning it’s time for the step up dive….but Priest slips and gets tied in the ropes for a landing that could have been much worse. With Priest’s ankle tied in the ropes, McIntyre stomps away, much to the fans’ delight. Back up and Priest manages a kick but walks into the Future Shock for two.

Priest is back up with a few more shots and catches McIntyre on top, with the Razor’s Edge giving Priest two of his own. Back up and McIntyre hits a Glasgow Kiss but Priest is back with the spinning kick to the head. Another one misses though and McIntyre grabs a neckbreaker. McIntyre nips up and they go outside, where the Claymore sends Priest through the barricade.

Back in and the Claymore is countered into South Of Heaven for two and they’re both needing a breather. Priest takes him up top or a super hurricanrana but walks into a Claymore for a rather near fall. Back up and the referee has to dive to the floor to avoid a shot from Priest. Said referee is then knocked into the barricade, leaving Priest to counter a Claymore into a powerbomb. Back up and another Claymore gets a VERY delayed two…..because it’s CM Punk in a referee shirt (the camera was behind him so it was a great reveal). Punk kicks McIntyre low and the South Of Heaven retains the title at 20:14.

Rating: B. This took some time to get going but they got me with the Punk run-in as that camera work was great. At the same time, it gives priest a good win to boost his status a bit, though the bigger story is Punk vs. McIntyre. Those two are going to have a huge match at some point and the heat is going to be off the charts. The match itself was a heck of a hoss fight and I’m curious to see where things go from here, so well done on a main event.

Overall Rating: B+. This was a rather awesome show with the closest thing to bad being a completely watchable women’s triple threat tag match. Other than that, you had a bunch of people working hard and having good matches, including the pretty great Gable vs. Zayn match. In addition to that though, they built up stuff for the future, which helps bridge the gap to Money In The Bank and beyond. As has been the case, the best thing I can say about these shows is it feels like they have a plan, but then they actually execute that plan. Pretty sweet show here, as WWE’s roll continues.

Results
Cody Rhodes b. AJ Styles when Styles quit
Alba Fyre/Isla Dawn b. Bianca Belair/Jade Cargill and Shayna Baszler/Zoey Stark – Assisted German suplex to Baszler
Sami Zayn b. Chad Gable – Helluva Kick
Bayley b. Piper Niven – Crucifix driver
Damian Priest b. Drew McIntyre – South Of Heaven

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It’s time for another overseas shows as these things are becoming a regular deal around here. In this case it’s back to Scotland for the second ever Clash At The Castle (castle not included). WWE has gone above and beyond with the amount of Scottish wrestlers on the show and that should make for a rather stacked event. The main events certainly look strong so let’s get to it.

Intercontinental Title: Sami Zayn(c) vs. Chad Gable

This is a feud that has been going on for a good while now and that means it is reaching something of a critical point. After so many months of Gable chasing Zayn and the title, he pretty much has to win the thing one way or another. His previous attempts haven’t felt like the right time more often than not, but that might not be the case after everything else that has happened.

While there is always the chance that Otis will grow a spine here and cost Gable the match again, I think they have to give Gable the title and do it here. At the end o the day, he needs to win something, even if it isn’t for a long time. Gable has more than proven himself in recent months so let him have the title and get his big moment. If WWE needs to get the title back on Zayn they can do it whenever, but Gable really needs to win it here, and we’ll say he does.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Bianca Belair/Jade Cargill(c) vs. Shayna Baszler/Zoey Stark vs. Alba Fyre/Isla Dawn

Here we have one of the more interesting matches, as Belair and Cargill look unstoppable, Baszler and Stark need to win something, and Fyre/Dawn are the hometown stars. In something I would not have seen coming, WWE has managed to make this feel like an important match and that is quite the bonus all things considered. That doesn’t mean a surprise is coming though.

For the life of me I cannot imagine the monster superhero team losing the titles so soon, despite the match being set up as an easy way to change the titles. While I could go for seeing Fyre and Dawn actually be treated seriously, it doesn’t seem to likely be coming here. The champs retain, even if it might not be the best idea, because it isn’t their time just yet.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Bayley(c) vs. Piper Niven

We have another Scottish challenger here as Niven gets to try to crush Bayley. I’ve been digging Niven more lately as she is starting to get the idea of how to be a monster, which could take her a very long way. What matters here is giving the fans a big hope spot of a title change, though unfortunately for the two of them, that could be a lot more easily said than done.

Much like the Women’s Tag Team Titles, I just can’t picture WWE pulling the trigger on a new champion here. Niven feels like the monster the champion slays and that’s all I can go with here. It wouldn’t completely stun me to see Niven win the title, but I don’t think that’s where they’ll go. Bayley is already a huge star and I don’t think she gets knocked down a peg just over two months after her title win at Wrestlemania.

Smackdown World Title: Cody Rhodes(c) vs. AJ Styles

This is an I Quit match, but the question here is can they find a way around a rather obvious result. It is hard to fathom that Rhodes will lose here, no matter how much the match has been hyped up. That isn’t a bad thing though, as occasionally the match isn’t so much about the drama but rather how you get there. It seems we are seeing that again and that should make things interesting.

It worked last month and it should work again here, so we’ll go with Rhodes retaining in what is probably the most obvious result on the entire card. These guys are going to beat the living daylights out of each other and have a heck of a violent match. No matter what happens here though, there is no reason for Rhodes to lose, though he’ll do it after one heck of a way.

Raw World Title: Damian Priest(c) vs. Drew McIntyre

I’m really not sure which way they’re going here, but this is all about CM Punk. Outside of Punk interfering, I cannot imagine him McIntyre losing here, as it has happened too many times lately and putting it in front of these fans would make it even worse. Punk hasn’t been seen in recent weeks and now we get to see what happens when these two go at it on their own. In theory.

I’ll go with the happy ending (for now) and say McIntyre wins. Priest has already gotten a lot out of being the champion, but there are certain things that are set up too perfectly to not go there. McIntyre getting his moment in front of his family to end the show is one of them and that seems to be where we are going. At least we should be, though the heat on Punk would be hard to fathom if he managed to cut McIntyre off again. This feels like McIntyre’s day though so I’ll say a new champion.

Overall Thoughts

This show is following the short and to the point format, with only five matches on the card. WWE has been running tighter shows like this in recent months and they have worked well. Nothing on the show looks bad and we should be in for a good one. Those fans being there to make it all the better and it should work out well. Just give McIntyre his moment (ok his latest moment) already.

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Smackdown
Date: June 14, 2024
Location: OVO Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland
Commentators: Corey Graves, Wade Barrett

We’re in Scotland for the first time and we are less than a day away from Clash At The Castle. As usual, the show is mostly set but there is always the chance that something else could be added. The big story on the blue side is AJ Styles vs. Cody Rhodes in an I Quit match and odds are we’ll be hearing more about it this week. And of course the Bloodline, so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Naomi vs. Chelsea Green

Bayley is here with Naomi and Piper Niven is here with Green. Before the match, Green brags about how the two of them will be Women’s Champion tomorrow but the fans would rather ask if Bayley will be their girl. Naomi loads up a running shot to the face but stops for a slap instead, which granted is the same thing but a bit less impactful. A running dropkick in the corner works a bit better but Green gets in a shot of her own and we take a break.

Back with Naomi fighting out of a chinlock but getting her knee dropkicked out for her efforts. Naomi fights up again and hits a springboard spinning kick to the head, followed by a high crossbody for two. Back up and Green pulls her off the top, setting up a missile dropkick for two of her own. Green tries a rollup with feet on the ropes so Bayley shoves them off, which isn’t cool with Niven. Not that it matters as Naomi uses the distraction to grab a rollup for the pin at 9:26.

Rating: C+. You don’t get to see Green with this kind of offense very often and it was cool for a change. She’s better in the ring than she is given credit for but when you can play a character that well, it can often be overlooked. Naomi gets a win to boost her up a bit and we could be in for something else from her after Clash is over.

We look at Apollo Crews being attacked last week.

Baron Corbin is in Nick Aldis’ office and is thankful for a chance, but Legado del Fantasma comes in. Corbin leaves and Aldis isn’t happy with Legado for attacking Crews last week. The team is being fined, but Santos Escobar will just beat up Crews tonight anyway.

Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair are ready for their two challengers at Clash.

It’s time for the Grayson Waller Effect (following the latest QR codes), with Austin Theory right next to him of course. Theory wants to know where the plants are but apparently Scotland is too depressing for them. We get right to the guests this week, with DIY joining the show. They waste no time in clearing out a bunch of the set (including the one chair for the two guests) and DIY accuses Theory of being Waller’s secretary.

Waller insists that they’re friends and he would take a bullet for him, but we see a clip of Waller pulling Theory in the way of a dive. DIY wants a title shot, but that’s not going to happen right now. Instead Gargano talks to Theory, saying he’s know Theory for a long time and he can’t stand what he’s seeing. Gargano blames Waller and the fight is on, with DIY clearing the ring.

We look at the Bloodline wrecking the Street Profits and Kevin Owens last week.

The Profits tell Owens that they have his back tonight.

Bayley and Naomi run into Blair Davenport in the back but nothing comes of it. Bayley thanks Naomi for being there when Chelsea Green comes in. The distraction lets Piper Niven come in to wreck both of them.

Santos Escobar vs. Apollo Crews

The rest of Legado del Fantasma is here with Escobar. Crews starts fast with a belly to belly but gets sent to the apron, where Legado offers a distraction. Escobar dropkicks him to the floor but here is Baron Corbin to chase off Legado (minus Elektra Lopez). Crews grabs a gorilla press into a standing moonsault for two as we take a break.

Back with Escobar hitting a slingshot hilo for two of his own and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for the same. Crews makes a comeback with a clothesline into a nip up, only to get kneed out of the air. A quick Death Valley Driver gives Crews two but cue Legado for a distraction. Corbin goes to deal with them, allowing Lopez to offer a distraction. Escobar gets the rollup pin at 9:01.

Rating: C+. Every time I see Crews out there, it astounds me more and more that he isn’t a bigger star. His lack of charisma isn’t helping him, but my goodness that kind of look and athleticism should have some kind of a role. For now though, Escobar gets a win to keep himself around, though Legado needs something else to do. Like feuding with….Corbin?

Long recap of Cody Rhodes vs. AJ Styles.

Here is Cody Rhodes for a chat. A few weeks ago, he thought AJ Styles was actually going to retire. No one wants to be THAT guy, as in the one who sticks around too long and is trying to have one more match. Unfortunately, that is exactly what Styles is starting to look like. We pause for some singing fans before Rhodes won’t say the words I Quit. Cue Styles, with the OC, to say Rhodes gets worked up pretty easily.

Rhodes says Styles can get a lot closer, while leaving Horace and Jasper (there’s a reference I didn’t expect tonight) behind. The fans sing about Rhodes again and we get a graphic showing the sound level in one of those cool little things you would never get in the old days. Styles talks about how hard it was to get to WWE, while Rhodes quit when things got hard around here. Just like he quit New Japan and Ring Of Honor! Then he started a company (the fans gasp) and quit that too!

Rhodes talks about making some big decisions in his career, including walking away from a bunch of companies (there’s one he won’t say). He gambled on himself and this title shows you that he won. Styles quit when he pretended to be Mark Henry for a night to get a title shot. Rhodes will make him quit, with Styles saying it was so easy to make Rhodes say it. Styles: “I can’t quit being phenomenal.” He’s ready to do whatever it takes to beat Rhodes. This was an intense exchange and it’s the kind of match where the result being fairly clear shouldn’t hurt things.

The Bloodline jumps the Street Profits but are cleared out before Kevin Owens can get there.

Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark are ready to win the Women’s Tag Team Titles.

Nia Jax vs. Michin

Tiffany Stratton is on commentary. Michin strikes away before the bell and does it again after the bell, with Eat Defeat sending Jax outside. Stratton offers a distraction but gets beaten up, allowing Jax to run Michin over. The Annihilator finishes for Jax at 1:23. Anything involving more Stratton, even Jax, is a good thing.

Kevin Owens says the Street Profits won’t be able to be there tonight.

Logan Paul was at the Classic Tetris World Championships and lost to a bunch of 14 year olds.

Paul returns home…and finds LA Knight chilling in his pool. Paul tells him to get out, with Knight getting up, picking up his clothes, and saying he’ll see Paul next week in Chicago. As expected, Paul wonders how Knight got through the security.

Carmelo Hayes isn’t sure what he just watched but knows that Knight’s line was lame. He’s ready to be Mr. Money In The Bank and he’ll qualify next week.

Nick Aldis bars the Tonga’s from ringside for the main event. Paul Heyman tells Solo Sikoa that if he loses, he loses his leadership. Sikoa says that if he loses, he’s coming after Heyman. Panicking ensues.

Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn get quite the reception and promise to win the Women’s Tag Team Titles.

Clash At The Castle rundown.

Solo Sikoa vs. Kevin Owens

Paul Heyman is here with Sikoa. It’s a big brawl to start with Owens knocking him to the floor and taking out the Prime stand. Owens hits a running clothesline and the frog splash off the apron as we take a break. Back with Sikoa bailing to the floor to avoid the Cannonball. Sikoa takes over with a shot to the face and the running hip attack in the corner.

Owens grabs a quick DDT though and some rapid fire stomping has Sikoa in trouble. Sikoa catches him on top but makes the mistake of trying a superplex, allowing Owens to fight out and hit a tornado DDT. An exchange of superkicks goes to Owens, who hits a Cannonball into a Swanton for two. They fight to the apron, where Sikoa hits a backdrop and we take a break.

Back again with Owens knocking Sikoa off the top and hitting the frog splash for two. Some Spinning Solos give Sikoa two each but Owens grabs a quick Stunner. Heyman puts the foot on the rope for the save and Owens is immediately out there to attempt to kill him. That’s broken up with a Samoan Spike, followed by another to finish Owens at 16:40.

Rating: B. You know what you’re going to get in a match like this and it worked out rather well. Owens is at his best when he is fighting from underneath and has to get in his shots where he can. We got exactly that here, with Heyman out there fearing for his life, which he does as well as anyone. Good stuff here, with Sikoa getting a nice win to show he can still do it.

Post match the Tongas run in for the beatdown but Randy Orton returns for the save. A bunch of RKO’s end the show. Yeah that works.

Overall Rating: B-. WWE has figured out how they want to do things and how to put whatever people and stories they have going on into the formula. There was very little here that felt new or different but it was still a rather solid two hours. Clash is the big show of course, but this was a good way to get things primed up without wasting two hours.

Results
Naomi b. Chelsea Green – Rollup
Santos Escobar b. Apollo Crews – Rollup
Nia Jax b. Michin – Annihilator
Solo Sikoa b. Kevin Owens – Samoan Spike

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