Friday Night Smackdown – June 10th 2022: Results & Review
Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Friday Night Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. We’ve had a rollercoaster of shows over the past few weeks, some good, some bad, and some very bad, so let’s see what happens with this episode!
Match #1: Money in the Bank Qualifying Match – Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus (No Contest)
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
In a highly physical contest, Drew McIntyre and Sheamus battled like the brutes and warriors they are, with each performing the other’s signature moves. Sheamus hit McIntyre with a vintage Future Shock DDT, and The SmackDown Warrior followed up with a spine-tingling White Noise from the top rope. The animosity was palpable, and the two nemeses battled so viciously that they both went for steel chairs, blasting each other and leading to a double disqualification. It took WWE Officials to separate the two as they brawled all over the arena, busting announce tables and each other, even after the match had ended. With the double disqualification, the Money in the Bank Ladder Match’s first entrant remains up in the air.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Money in the Bank Qualifying Match – Lacey Evans def. Xia Li
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Making her heroic return to the blue brand, Lacey Evans has a new mantra: Wake Up, Work, Win. And her first order of business was qualifying for the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match. The former protector turned self-interested Xia Li stood in her way however, with the two engaging in a back-and-forth affair to see who would be the first woman to punch their ticket to the match. Evans picked up the W with a Woman’s Right, giving her a winning SmackDown return and a slot in the coveted Ladder Match.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Ronda Rousey def. Shotzi
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
After Shotzi interrupted SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey, The Baddest Woman on the Planet accepted an impromptu Championship Contenders Match challenge from the brazen Superstar. Shotzi put up a valiant effort, even executing a sickening Tornado DDT to the outside, but she was no match for the technical tenacity of Rousey, who performed a Piper’s Pit and snapped in an Armbar to get the submission victory. After the match, Rousey’s WWE Money in the Bank opponent, Natalya, slid in and locked in the painful Sharpshooter, sending a message to the fallen SmackDown Women’s Champion.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #4: Intercontinental Championship Match – Gunther def. Ricochet
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Ricochet’s Intercontinental Championship defense started with a bang against The Ring General. The bang specifically being the chilling chop Gunther delivered against The One and Only, stunning the crowd into silence. Ricochet threw everything he had at Gunther, but Gunther seemed to have an answer for everything, taking control of the match with a colossal clothesline before locking on a sleeper hold. Ricochet battled back, flying like a bee and hitting Gunther with a moonsault. The Ring General’s power was too much, as Gunther hit a sacred Powerbomb, crashing Ricochet back down to Earth and picking up the prestigious Intercontinental Championship.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: Riddle def. Sami Zayn
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The stakes were enormously high coming into this contest. If Sami Zayn won, Riddle would be barred from competing on SmackDown, and if Riddle won, he would earn a WWE Undisputed Universal Championship clash the following week. Early on, Riddle hit Zayn with an exploder suplex and a hellacious running knee smash. Zayn, however, took control by sending Riddle from the top rope to the floor, then connecting with a bombastic brainbuster. After Zayn hit a turbulent Blue Thunder Bomb, Paul Heyman encouraged Zayn to keep on Riddle from the commentary desk. Zayn connected with an exploder suplex into the turnbuckle, setting up a Helluva Kick that would likely end Riddle’s SmackDown career. The Original Bro dug down deep, however, and hit The Master Strategist with an RKO, winning what was arguably the biggest match in his career and setting up a colossal championship showdown with The Tribal Chief next week on SmackDown. After the match, The Usos made their presence felt, attacking Riddle. Riddle had other ideas, fighting back with a Kendo stick to send Reigns’ cousins fleeing. As a final sign, Riddle threw up his finger, taunting The Bloodline and stating he is “the one.”
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
Well this was a surprise, a handful of good matches on one episode of Smackdown! This still felt like there wasn’t enough wrestling on this show but what we did get, apart from a couple of the matches was a decent amount of wrestling on a wrestling show. Still, compared to some of the WWE’s output, this week’s Smackdown was a step-up.
