Let’s layeth the smacketh down!
The Uso’s opened the show on the mic calling out Ziggler, The Miz, Morrison and Roode. The new day joined them in the ring and things were good until Big E reminded the Uso’s that the new day has one more tag title championship than they have, then things took a turn but it wasn’t long before the Miz and Morrison got in on the mix.
I will be honest, these opener promos are much more exciting than Barons Corbin’s that we had to deal with for what seemed like an eternity. Miz and Morrison brought some heat to the mix and did excellent mic work, and have guaranteed victory at super showdown. Shots fired! Morrison introduced Dolph as the man who had a great Valentine’s day, too soon Morrison! Too soon! And in a move everyone saw coming, the Uso’s said their 8-man tag match can happen right then and there.
8-man tag team match
The Uso’s and the new day vs the Miz, John Morrison, Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode. The new day started the match fast with frequent tags. Their double team game was unreal. Roode and Ziggler play all the classic heel cards better than just about anyone in this era of wrestling and that allowed their team to take control as Miz introduced his boot to Kofi’s face.
Team Morrison took control and kept Kofi in their corner, the tags were in and out, fast and smart. Kofi fought back and was a fingertip away from making the tag until Ziggler masterfully distracted the ref which gave Roode the chance to get the eye poke. Kofi finally fought back, laying out the entire corner of team Morrison but a kick to the face by Morrison as Kofi sat atop the rope killed that momentum.
The heel team continued to isolate Kofi and pick him apart. Kofi finally got a tag into Big E and the big man proceeded to take out the hot garbage and planted Miz three straight times. Morrison gained control and had a dramatic 2 count interrupted by Kofi. The match kept going one pinfall attempt after another, it was a great sequence which allowed Ziggler to get a taste of his own medicine with a super kick to the face by the Uso’s. The promised superkick party came to fruition and after Miz, Morrison, Ziggler and Roode were superkicked to the shadow realm, the match ended with a pinfall for the baby face team. Fun match, that’s some good work heading into Super Showdown for the tag team titles. I would assume the new day retains and the Uso’s will face them at Wrestlemania.
Daniel Bryan met with Drew Gulak in the back, or was interrupted by Gulak anyway with a proposed PowerPoint to go over what he’s doing wrong. For some reason, Heath Slater got involved, dude looked like a member of the production team, didn’t even know it was Heath. He requested a rematch with Bryan.
Valentine’s day fallout
This video package showed what lead to the Valentine’s day date between Otis and Mandy. The pain we all feel from this video package is immense, I think we should join hands across the country honestly. We cut to backstage and Tucker runs into Mandy and Sonya. Tucker accused Mandy of inviting Dolph, and his boy Otis was hurt more than he’s ever been. Mandy didn’t text Otis that she was running late! Oh Dolph, you total jerk. I like where this is going. Mandy thought Otis was late but she wasn’t. Sonya said Dolph Ziggler is more “Mandy Rose” type anyway. Mandy’s wheels are turning, I think there’s hope for the homie Otis!
Lacey Evans Interview
Renee Young cut an interview with Lacey Evans. Renee finally addressed Lacey calling us all “nasties” and this is an obvious way to address the elephant in the room (and I’m not talking about me...Ill stop) and Lacey acknowledged she was a bully too but this is change and progress, well done. This should help Lacey continue her baby face crusade. Lacey’s sites are set on the elimination chamber coming up real soon.
Symphony of Destruction Match
This match was a falls count anywhere with a plethora of instruments and was between Cesaro and Shinsuke vs. Elias and Braun. Elias sang a song, the crowd wanted to walk with Elias and Braun came out with a stand up bass. Elias and Shisuke started the match. Sidenote before discussing the great ring work between Elias and Shinsuke, I don’t think Elias could possibly wear tighter jeans, how does he move?
Elias brought the power, Shinsuke brought the strong style, great back and forth between those two. Shinsuke was tossed outside the ring and Elias went to get the bass drum. He was interrupted by Cesaro but Braun took the bass drum from Cesaro and pushed Cesaro through the drum. Braun then took a shot to the back by Sami’s ukulele which honestly didn’t even make a sound. Braun chased the mouthpiece (Sami Zayn) and was shut down by Shinsuke near the ring post.
The match ended up back in the ring with Cesaro and Elias the legal men. Great manager work holding up Elias’ foot allowed Shinsuke to kick Elias through a table. Braun about broke the arena with Cesaro’s body, that’s not a joke. The IC champ was fired up and bounced Shinsuke off the steel steps, he then caught Cesaro trying to hit him with a guitar then choke slammed him onto the ring apron. Before Braun could use the stand up bass, Sami hit him with a keyboard allowing his guys to get back in the driver’s seat and double suplex Braun through the stand up bass, the impact was satisfying and that stand up bass exploded.
Elias finally got involved again, and attacked Shinsuke who had a brief offense but Elias kicked him through the gong ring side and soon after that, the guitar Cesaro had been trying to use for the past five minutes was broken, on him, by Elias. Shinsuke tried to intercept Elias as he traversed the top rope but Braun was there to pull him off and power slammed Shinsuke into the piano allowing Braun to get the pinfall on Shinsuke. Elias landed a flying elbow from the top rope on Cesaro onto a table.
Symphony of destruction was a perfect name for this match, Shinsuke got seriously hurt by the piano, Braun jacked himself up a little bit too but Shinsuke was much worse off, blood was drawn for sure. That match was fun as hell and the area near the ring looked like a freight train rolled through. Shinsuke’s head on the piano seriously looked bad and he was getting medical attention ring side after the match, but I could also be a total mark.
King Corbin Interview
Kayla Braxton interviewed Baron Corbin in the back. Baron obviously suffers from short term memory loss as he stated Reigns has never beat him in a one on one match, wow. According to the King, the entire WWE universe will bow down to him after his cage match with Reigns at Super Showdown.
A Moment of Bliss
The Bella twins were guests but the segment started with Alexa introducing the 2020 hall of fame class which for some reason includes the Bella twins. The crowd liked it, Smackdown did take place in their hometown.
Daniel Bryan came out with their daughter and Yes’d his way to the ring for his match against Heath Slater.
Daniel Bryan vs. Heath Slater
Gulak joined the broadcast team, and gave some play by play, he believes in his heart Daniel can do better. This match was a throwaway match, it was over soon after the commercial break.
Backstage with Mandy Rose
Dolph Ziggler sees Mandy in the back, she’s waiting for her ride he offers her a ride in his car. Otis comes out from behind some boxes. This sucks because thinking about the huge influence a romance between those two would bring is exciting! I’m invested!
Naomi vs. Carmella for the number one contender
Feel the glow! Naomi danced the hell out of her entrance to the ring and the crowd was all over it. PAUSE FOR SHEAMUS PROMO.
Sheamus called out Shorty G and Apollo Crews, he’s not a happy camper and wants to take them down once and for all, again, as he’s ready for bigger prey. He declared his entrance into the elimination chamber.
Shorty G and Crews cut a backstage promo and have different ideals about handling the fella.
Back to the match
Bayley joins the announce team, Carmella danced her way to the ring and the match was on. Starting fast, Naomi and her epic hair were in control. The match was a good example of chain wrestling, Carmella has come a long way in the ring and Naomi always brings it. The momentum shifted multiple times early and the two get back to wrestling, not a lot of strikes thrown.
The match was back and forth, Naomi went for a couple quick pinfalls but didn’t get more than a 1 count. The match stayed technical in the center of the ring, Naomi went for the first top rope moves landing a cross body from the apron and getting a dramatic 2 count, Naomi looked to increase the pace but Bayley distracted Naomi allowing Carmella to strike and take control. Bayley was sent back to the locker room due to her distractions and Carmella took advantage with a suicide dive on Naomi.
Carmella owned the match during the commercial break, (thanks Cole), but Naomi took over when the cameras came back. Naomi landed a series of kicks, a nice block by Carmella and dropping the glow, Carmella went for a pin attempt and got a 2 count. The match keeps going back and forth, when one would take control the other would reverse. Naomi had a nice block and tossed Carmella but she reversed, dropping Naomi on her back and went for a pinfall, Naomi kicked out.
Naomi in control, she landed a corkscrew dive over the top rope onto the ground, tossed Carmella back into the ring and got a 2 count. This burst ended soon after as Carmella reversed and landed a high risk move of her own, a cross body from the top rope and that was the closest 2 count of the match.
Naomi took control, landed a sunset flip for another pinfall attempt, this was like watching a tennis match, the back and forth was fierce topped off with the pinfall attempts. Carmella reverses and landed a submission in the middle of the ring, the crowd started to wake up at this point as Naomi made her way to the ring, and landed a front kick, Carmella bounced off the ropes for a rear view, and another near fall!
Carmella reversed again and delivered a kick to the face, Naomi sold that hard and almost lost by pinfall. Naomi took control again and went high risk, it paid off and landed a top rope split leg moonsault and won with the 3 count. Naomi and Bayley will make history as the first women to compete for a title in Saudi Arabia. What a cool moment that will be! I can see Naomi winning this match however, I feel a turn in the future with Sasha actually taking the title from Bayley but we shall see. After the match, Carmella clapped for her friend and walked out. This match was really good, the back and forth was super cool as nobody was clearly in control and it flowed really well that way. Carmella’s in ring ability has increased dramatically and she should be in the title picture for quite some time, well done by those two.
Goldberg and The Fiend
So, even after the catastrophe that was Goldberg vs the Undertaker WWE is like, “Hey, let’s bring Goldberg back again and have him go for a title against our hottest star, brilliant!” I’ll stop.
Goldberg was quickly interrupted by a Firefly Funhouse segment. Goldberg says he’s taking the universal championship. Bray wasn’t having that and introduced Goldberg to his funhouse friends, a kind gesture indeed that almost saw ramblin’ rabbit get killed again. The arena went dark, Goldberg stood tall and the fiend joined him in the ring. Goldberg speared the fiend as they charged each other, Goldberg lined up for another one but the arena went dark again as the fiend disappeared. A remarkably sweaty Goldberg got a standing ovation and the show ended.
Okay, this Smackdown had strong matches and weak promos and that’s okay. The Dolph storyline with Mandy Rose could get interesting, Shorty G and Crews have differences of opinion with the handling of the fella, Naomi is taking on Bayley and so much more.