Written by Matthew Widdis
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods come out and Kofi counts his blessings for the crowd. In turn, they let him know that they think he deserves it all. He tears ups as a video plays of his recent trip to Ghana. He goes on about the trip and he’s interrupted (without theme music or graphic) by Dolph Ziggler. Dolph asks “What about me?” A self-narrated video plays of Dolph’s accomplishments, including the champions he’s beaten. Kofi tells him that he knows how good he is, having come up on the losing end against Dolph for the Intercontinental and United States championships. Kofi has the production truck play another video: Dolph laying down the US title belt in 2017 and walking out. Kofi says that Dolph quits when he doesn’t get his way. Dolph plays one last video of his sneak attack Sonny Corleone impression from two weeks ago and says that, at Super Show Down, it will be him. He walks out and RAW wild card Kevin Owens with Sami Zayn walk in.
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn vs The New Day
Kofi and Xavier are in control for most of the early goings until KO and Sami manage to isolate Woods. Kofi gets the hot tag and gets lights out against Sami Zayn while Xavier thwarts Owens’ attempt at interference. Trouble in Paradise and it’s all over.
Your winners by pinfall… (your boys) The New Day!
As Kofi celebrates, he gets superkicked by Dolph Ziggler who dishes out another on Xavier Woods before walking off to chants of “Ziggler sucks!”
Shane McMahon says that people are speculating about his attack on Roman Reigns with Drew McIntyre and The Revival on RAW. He says it’s just proof that he’s the best in the world.
Wild card rule continues and it’s time for our Moment of Bliss with special guest, Bayley! Alexa gets in her digs on Smackdown before and after Bayley shows up. She even holds up the interview until her coffee situation is sorted out. She dismisses Bayley’s accomplishments and brings up her own championship past. When she cuts Bayley off to receive her newest coffee, Bayley shows some more of her newfound edge and slaps the cup out of her hand. Alexa says the title should go to someone more deserving than rude Bayley.This brings out Carmella and Charlotte Flair who has an announcement: Shane McMahon has declared a #1 contender’s match between Carmella, Alexa Bliss, and… Charlotte Flair!
Carmella is the back when R-Truth calls her over and tells her that her contender’s match is a big opportunity but a hassle, too. He’s been calling Shane (on Carmella’s phone) to complain about the stress. Shane calls back and lets him know that he has a true title match with actual rules… right now!
Elias vs R-Truth (WWE 24/7 Championship match)
It looks like one of the rules of the match is that it’s a lumberjack match! A menagerie of “on-the-outs” surrounds the ring, including Jack Gallagher, EC3, Mojo Rawley, and The B-Team. Truth is tossed outside right away, where he is stomped out and thrown back in for an easy pin.
Your winner by pinfall and NEW WWE 24/7 Champion… Elias!
As soon as the match is over, the lumberjacks get up on the apron and realization sets in for Elias. He gets gang tackled but, as they fight amongst themselves, he slips out. Elias army crawls out of the ring and along the floor until he meets up with also-escaping R-Truth! Elias tries to get away but Truth follows him under the ring. The referee follows the both and emerges to call for the bell?
Your winner and EVEN NEWER WWE 24/7 Champion… R-Truth!
Truth gets while the getting is good, narrowly avoiding a diving Drake Maverick and ashing out through the crowd.
Aleister Black says that no one has answered up his open challenge from last week. Is it cowardice or intelligence? After all, what he does “isn’t your daddy’s WWE.” The normally reserved Black gets infuriated that no WWE superstar will “be a man” and pick a fight with him.
Here comes the money! Shane McMahon comes out to the ring with The Revival. He has Greg Hamilton give his proper introduction, prompting praise from The Top Guys and the usual chant from the crowd. Shane has praise aplenty for The Revival, too, for their beatdown on the Usos on RAW. They play the video of Shane’s spear on a defenseless Roman Reigns after the attack. Shane compares it to training a rambunctious dog. He vows to “neuter” The Big Dog in [redacted] at Super Show Down. Shane sends in the troops and Roman drops Dawson & Dash. He stalks down to the ring but is blindsided by a Claymore from Drew McIntyre! Shane has Drew hold Roman up for another spear and mocks his “Hoo-ah!” before leaving the ring. Roman is already getting to his feet by the time Shane and McIntyre make it to the entranceway and Shane is not happy about that.
Carmella vs Alexa Bliss vs Charlotte Flair (#1 contender’s match for the Smackdown Women’s Title)
Stop me if you’ve heard this one. Three blondes walk into a wrestling match… you have? Fine.
Alexa is a damn foot shorter than Charlotte and it’s a good visual throughout. The Queen gives a lot early on, eating a sunset flip bomb from Bliss but powering out of The Code of Silence from Carmella. When Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville come down to ringside, it raises their eyebrows but they continue on unbothered. Carmella hits a Stratus-Fear on Charlotte and moonwalks on Alexa. Alexa hits Twisted Bliss on Charlotte while the Figure Eight is locked in on Carmella. A well-timed ankle grab on Carmella by Fire & Desire allows Alexa to nail her with a DDT and the win.
Your winner by pinfall… Alexa Bliss!
Alexa will face Bayley at the next PPV after Super Show Down: Stomping Grounds.
As a result of Baron Corbin’s attack on Seth Rollins and Brock Lesnar’s subsequent mugging of the Universal Champion, Seth now has to face Corbin at Super Show Down while Brock has vowed to cash in that same night (or day, depending on your hemisphere.) Because that makes complete sense.
Kayla Braxton announces her guest… Lars Sullivan. He comes out to chants of “Bo-ring!” that turn to “Gold-berg!” Kayla asks him why he does the things that he does. He goes on a Heidenreich-esque soliloquy about being like a lion. It’s actually not a bad promo for the character but the crowd is having none of it and makes it rain “What?” throughout.
Apollo Crews vs Andrade (w/ Zelina Vega)
Andrade rushes Apollo as soon as he steps through the ropes and lays him out in seconds with the hammerlock DDT. The match never actually manages to get underway.
Your result for this match… No Contest!
Finn Balor’s music hits and he rushes Andrade. He gets in a double stomp and a Sling Blade but Zelina grabs the ankle and Andrade take advantage with knee strikes and a hammerlock DDT.
Goldberg is out to address The Undertaker’s comments on RAW. He says that ‘Taker says that he doesn’t want to face the family man retiree Goldberg. He wants the ass-kicker. Goldberg got thinking that he was right and the machine that went 173-0 is the one he’s bringing to Super Show Down. The one everyone’s been wondering about how he’s stack up against The Undertaker for 20 years. He tells ‘Taker that he’s next and the bell tolls! The lights go out and, when they come back on, you know ho is right behind him. Goldberg doesn’t flinch and the lights go out for The Dead Man’s exit. Goldberg laughs it off and tells him to cinch up his jock strap because it’s going to be a ride.
Final thoughts:
Dolph Ziggler challenging Kofi Kingston for the WWE title is a killer program. The highs that Kofi is on. The… uniqueness… of Dolph’s position in the company. The history between them on-screen. The perfect timing for Dolph’s return and (likely) some method acting in the promos. It’s said that one of the hardest things in Shakespeare is to play Shylock without making him sympathetic.
So… they’re moving forward with Lars Sullivan, huh? Not all that thrilled before his past comments caught up with him. Constantly pairing him on screen with a tiny woman of color is either an ridiculously oblivious or a very bold choice. Or possibly both. Finding out which is intriguing me more than his program with Lucha House Party.
Goldberg and The Undertaker have managed some pretty decent hype promos for their “dream match” at Super Show Down. 20 years in the making… and 106 years of combined age. 50 is the supposed to be the new 40 but, in wrestling, it’s not the years; it’s the miles.
Those who remember Bayley’s RAW title run will remember that her dethroning (that started her slide down the card) was at the hands of Alexa Bliss. I hope that we get a call back to that. I pray we don’t get another “This is your life, Bayley” segment.
Announcing The Demon ahead of the time is like inviting someone to their own surprise party. Doing it without any context is like planning it in the wrong month.
According to rumor, the 24/7 title was not the product of WWE creative. If so, the likely lack of investment by certain parties explains why it’s running so smoothly. Fans were ready to dump all over it but it’s been a blessing in disguise. An ugly, ugly green pleather disguise.
I’ve always been an advocate for Roman Reigns. I’ve always been entertained by Shane McMahon. That said, I’m surprised this angle is getting the heat and the pops that it has. Eventually, the market comes around, I guess.
The upcoming Super Show Down is controversial among wrestling fans and the general public. Even without it, we’re still far too many PPVs heavy. Imagine the Kofi/Dolph program with six weeks to build or the card without HHH/Randy Orton or Taker vs Goldberg. Dialing back would do the product some good. Maybe the talent wouldn’t get as many PPV paychecks but I’d imagine having the time they need to do their jobs better might go along way.
