WWE Smackdown Live – Nov 20th 2018: Results & Review
Welcome to this weeks Smackdown Live review, right here on Nerdly. Here’s hoping its more of a success that Monday’s Raw – which shouldn’t be that hard right? Right?
Match #1: Charlotte Flair def. Billie Kay
The following is courtesy of WWE.com:
With her request of a match being granted, Charlotte Flair was not in the business of messing around as she took on Billie Kay in one-on-one action. Despite Peyton Royce getting involved from the outside and giving Billie the advantage, Charlotte Flair totally overpowered Kay, making relatively quick work of The IIconic and defeating her decisively with Natural Selection. That wouldn’t be enough for The Queen, though. After the win, Charlotte grabbed the microphone and said she wanted Peyton Royce in a match … oh, and she wanted it now.
Match #2: Charlotte Flair def. Peyton Royce via DQ
The following is courtesy of WWE.com:
Charlotte Flair continued her dominant streak, bettering Peyton Royce at every corner. Before Flair could seal the deal, however, Billie Kay ran in and attacked Flair, causing a disqualification and prompting a 2-on-1 assault of The Queen. But even those odds would not be enough, as Flair went into full-on attack mode and proceeded to beat the bejesus out of both IIconics. Flair bounced them face-first off the announce table, hurled them into the barricade and the steel steps, and used everything at ringside to her advantage, downing Kay & Royce with the same intensity and chaos that Rousey experienced this past Sunday.
My Take: Charlotte Flair continues her nasty streak demolishing Billie Kay; loved the way she then called out Peyton Royce and continued to look like a badass. It seems facing Ronda Rousey has done wonders for Flair… She’s as over with the crowd as Lynch was after taking her on! Sadly the IIconics seem destined to stuck on the womens mid-card, jobbing to the rest of the roster. Mainly because the US crowds don’t seem to get their accents or their humour.
Match #3: Local Jobbers “The Bryant Brothers” def. Shane McMahon and The Miz
The following is courtesy of WWE.com:
After Raw swept SmackDown LIVE at Survivor Series this past Sunday, SmackDown LIVE Commissioner Shane McMahon joined “Miz TV.” The Miz first heaped praise upon Shane McMahon, calling himself a “Shane Stan” after his transcendent performance this past Sunday in the Men’s Traditional Survivor Series contest. Shane-O-Mac wasn’t exactly won over by The A-Lister’s support, however, and the interaction quickly took an interesting turn when Miz asked Shane to team up with him tonight! Shane at first seemed hesitant, but Miz was really pushing for it, revealing that he had already asked Paige for the match earlier in the night.
Just like that, two local competitors arrived to take on the first-time-ever tag team of Miz and Shane, the co-Best in the World. Miz beat down one of the local competitors, clearly trying to impress Shane. Finally, after the damage appeared to be done, Miz requested to tag in Shane so that he could finish the job. Shane-O-Mac opted against it, wanting Miz to finish the match. This moment of deliberation provided just enough time to recover for the local competitor, Dane, and when Miz strolled back over to him, Dane rolled up Miz for a shocking upset victory. Miz was in shock, and Shane seemed almost amused. But hey, the only way to go is up.
My Take: WTF. Seriously WTF. I’m guessing now The Miz’s film is out he no longer needs to look strong on TV? Losing to a jobber. A new low for The Miz… AND Smackdown TV.
Match #4: The New Day def. The Bar & Big Show in a Thanksgiving Feast Fight
The following is courtesy of WWE.com:
With everything around the ring decked out with Thanksgiving-themed dishes for the first-ever Thanksgiving Feast Fight, Kofi Kingston, Big E and Xavier Woods did not shy away from attempting to rile up The Bar & Big Show prior to the contest, reminding them that they, and not Sheamus & Cesaro (or anyone else on Team Blue), were successful at Survivor Series, leaving their opponents fuming.
Mashed potatoes, gravy and punches were thrown in equal measure as the two sides battled with vigor just two nights before one of the most joyous holidays of the year. In the height of the action, Big E sent Big Show crashing through a table of Thanksgiving treats, Kofi smashed Sheamus through a table with the assist from a turkey, and Big E finished off The Celtic Warrior with a running turkey punch … and yes, you read that correctly.
Even after the bell rang, the fight continued … the food fight, that is! The New Day got the edge again, blasting Cesaro with a seemingly an endless array of Thanksgiving delights to stand tall in this first-ever classic.
My Take: WTF. Seriously WTF. Again. I bloody HATE these “seasonal” slices of stupidty the WWE seem so keen to put The New Day (and whomever is their current feud) through. If you hate the pancake stuff, you’ll REALLY hate this match! I did.
Match #5: Asuka & Naomi def. Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville
The following is courtesy of WWE.com:
Asuka & Naomi took on Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville in a hard-hitting tag team bout between four Superstars that all teamed up on Sunday. When Deville was the legal competitor, Rose attempted to strike Asuka, but The Empress of Tomorrow dodged the haymaker, leading to a major miscommunication that resulted in Asuka trapping Deville in the dreaded Asuka Lock, leaving her with no choice but to tap.
My Take: Asuka booked to win a match? Coloured me shocked! Any chance this means she’ll be back at the top of the card soon? I doubt it. Looks like the WWE have her sticking firmly at the side of her new “best friend” Naomi. Yet more wasted talent and they’re still planning on calling up more NXT wrestlers – the roster can’t handle who they have now, never mind adding more talent.
Match #6: Randy Orton def. Rey Mysterio
The following is courtesy of WWE.com:
With Rey Mysterio clearly labeled as Randy Orton’s newest target, the two faced off in one-on-one competition on the blue brand. Orton, resentful of Mysterio’s connection with the WWE Universe, attempted to bring his usual methodical attack to The Biggest Little Man in the SmackDown LIVE main event. Orton relentlessly attempted to wear down Rey-Rey with several stinging strikes and attempted to rip off Mysterio’s legendary mask, but Mysterio fired back with his signature heart and dynamic offense. In the pivotal moment, The Apex Predator struck with an unbelievable RKO on the outside when Rey was attempting his signature head-first slide. Orton then dragged Rey’s lifeless body into the ring and connected with another RKO to pick up the win. Clearly not satisfied with merely claiming the victory, The Viper grabbed a steel chair, placed it around Rey’s neck and ran his foe into the ring post. Standing over his prey, Orton stole Rey’s mask and held it in the air as medical personnel tended to the clearly hurt Mysterio.
My Take: You know what? I can’t watch Randy Orton matches anymore. Seriously. He’s always looks like he’s only doing it for the paycheck; and he probably is. He also looks like he’s forgotten how to do anything other than RKO people. Poor Rey Mysterio, back in the WWE and back to this feud. He certainly deserves better.
News of the Night:
- Charlotte Flair was “fined” $100,000 for attacked five WWE officials at Survivor Series.
- Daniel Bryan pronounced The “Yes!” Movement dead.
Final Verdict: 2/5
So was this better than Raw? Technically yes, but it was still one of the worst episodes of Smackdown this year. I have to wonder if the WWE have run out of ideas – they seem to be treading water with storylines and feuds. Complacency leads to laziness… and that’s whats happening to the WWE’s two main shows right now. Or maybe they’re still scrambling to re-right (or re-write) the course post-Reigns announcement?
