Smackdown Live in Baton Rouge begins with a recap of Roman Reigns vs The Phantom of Smackdown plays, culminating in the revelation of… some guy… as the suspected saboteur. Cut to Roman walking in the back. Kayla Braxton asks him about the confusion and accusations but Roman says he should save his feelings for later in the ring.
WWE Champion, Kofi Kingston, comes down to the ring as his current program with Randy Orton is recapped and a match between the two is announced for Clash of Champions. He says that Randy likes to sneak around but asks who got their ass knocked out last week… outta nowhere? Orton has made it personal with Kofi’s family and injuring Xavier Woods. But Kofi took out Randy Orton & The Revival (which totally sounds like a southern rock band name) and it feels so good to be champ. Randy interrupts with a thousand “stupids.” He then reads a letter from a little boy that admonishes Randy Orton for being “bad man that makes his hero, Kofi Kingston, cry” and reveals the author to be Kofi’s son, Kai. Randy says that he’d apologize but he can do that in person since he’s staying at the same hotel as Kofi’s family. Kofi storms back to gorilla position to start brawling with Orton. Producers go to break it up but Orton manages to pull off his signature draping DDT using a table before walking away from a motionless champ.
Advertisements play for the RAW & Smackdown at Madison Square Garden in September. These dates are two weeks away at the super-convenient (for those using mass transit) and nostalgic MSG. Steve Austin & The Undertaker have been announced for these shows, respectively. They aren’t sold out. This is the reddest and flaggiest red flags and WWE should be taking note.
Outside of the trainer’s office, we see Big E come out after checking on Kofi. Kayla mentions his upcoming match with Randy Orton. Big E says Kofi will be fine but, after tonight, Randy will not.
Ali vs Buddy Murphy
The former 205 Live rivals meet to compete for a spot in the semi-finals for King of the Ring. Both men are quick but Ali has to water dance because the bigger, badder, no-longer-205 Murphy is leveling him with one shot when he connects with lariats and high knees. A tope suicida is by Ali is watched by WWE 24/7 Champion, Elias, on the monitors backstage. Ali tries to follow up with his rolling X-Factor but he’s caught, lifted overhead a la Patrick Swayze, and dumped out to the floor. Murphy then proves that weight class ain’t nuthin’ but a number and performs a pretty swanton tope of his own. Murphy’s Meteora misses but Ali’s superkick cracks him sideways. Murphy channels prime Dean Malenko with some chain wrestling: superkick to an inverted Ali, sit out power bomb, knee strike, and a brainbuster, never breaking contact. Ali is resilient, though, and the crowd goes into a “This! Is! Awe! Some!” chant after a two count. Ali tries to brawl his way out but it’s an upside-down rope-assisted tornado DDT through the ropes that works the best for him. Buddy lands in perfect position for the 450 and Ali makes it happen. Murphy raises Ali’s hand after the three count.
Your winner by pinfall… Ali!
Reaction: I really thought Buddy was taking this based if his recent exposure. In fact, I probably lost points in a prediction league somewhere. I will say that it was a warranted choice. Ali is always a privilege to watch and, in this match? That funky DDT? I’ve been watching wrestling for over 30 years and never seen anyone pull that one out of their ass before.
Bayley is in the locker room with recent rival, Ember Moon, talking about their SummerSlam match and Charlotte Flair. Lacey Evans has to interject herself and remind them that she (in her mind) is the face of the Smackdown women’s division and she’ll prove it in her match with Bayley later tonight.
Last week, the elusive Nakamura crackalacked Miz in the back of the head after his spokesperson, Sami Zayn, distracted the Must See Superstar. This week, Miz is in the ring and calls Sami a Stage 5 Clinger who is a parasite on Shinsuke’s back because he couldn’t hack it in ring. Nakamura may be The King of Strong Style but Miz is the man who made the Intercontinental Championship relevant after years of mediocrity. He challenges Nakamura for the IC title at Clash of Champions. Sami Zayn comes out to rebut but refuses to get in the ring, calling Miz the “King of Soft Style.” Miz comes after him but Nakamura comes in hard at his six. Sami taunts throughout as Miz is beaten about the ringside area. They bring him back into the ring for more “poetry” in the form of a Kinshasa.
Reaction: Glad to see Nakamura (and the belt he carries) being used prominently. I want good things for both but, if faced with Sophie’s choice, I want better for the belt of Santana, Perfect, Rude, Hart, Michaels, and more. A Miz win would likely give him the three weeks he needs to surpass Pedro Morales and his ninth reign would tie Chris Jericho. The argument for GOAT IC champ gets more narrow should that happen.
Elias strums his guitar on the couch in Shane McMahon’s office when Kevin Owens walks in ito talk to Shane about the shenanigan-compromised match last week when Elias defeated him to advance in King of the Ring. However, the heir apparent is unfortunately out.
Smackdown Women’s Champion, Bayley vs Lacey Evans
Lacey goes for a distraction early but Bayley is wise to her. The Hugger’s technical acumen is on point as she pretzels the former US Marine but Lacey turns it around with pure power and strength. Bayley has her wits about her enough to regain control but has a new distraction to deal with: Charlotte Flair comes out to keep an eye on this match. That works for Lacey as she takes Bayley to the apron with a gator roll and begins working over the left arm. The Southern Belle is more forceful than fancy and more cruel than kind, grinding away at the champ’s shoulder. Bayley makes use of her superior ring savvy by taking advantage of the ropes, turnbuckles, and Lacey’s own aggressiveness to stay in it. She kicks out after Lacey’s Over-the-Mooonsaut and gives her the business outside the ring. Bayley-to-Belly but Lacey gets her hand on the ropes. A second one puts Evans in elbow drop range and Bayley gets up to get down, doing the Macho Man proud.
Your winner by pinfall… Bayley!
Kayla Braxton is backstage with Daniel Bryan & (Erick) Rowan. The Planet’s Tag Team insist that they’re not leaving the arena until they hear Roman Reigns apologize for the smear on Rowan’s good name.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11FyqdOrTbA
Randy Orton vs Big E
These two commence to brawling immediately and Big E is dead set on waffling The Viper every chance he gets with avalanches and clotheslines. Once outside, Randy is able to turn the tables (literally) by repeatedly dropping Big E’s back across the announce table. The powerhouse of the New Day battles back inside the ring with a suplex trifecta but that’s The Revival’s cue. A little misdirection and a double dose of Carolina forearm shots and E is easy pickings for an RKO. The 3D variation with a Revival assist, leaves another notch on the belt of Randy Orton & The Revival (Which sounds like a really good name for a southern rock band.)
Reaction: A good outing for Big E and reinforces that The New Day is three top shelf talents working as a stable rather than a tag team splitting to do singles work. A lot of give by Randy in this one with Big E even getting off his signature “Spank & Stretch.”
Over the weekend, WWE Superstars were a part of the FOX Sports Founders Day festivities. This included 24/7 Champion, Elias, preparing for an acoustic set only to be harassed by Drake Maverick. But, as always, R-Truth seized the opportunity to take back his title and skedaddle forthwith. Only thing was, he ran into the FOX Sports college football analysts and Rob Stone shot his shot! Stone held the belt for several glorious seconds before Elias caught up to the camera and managed to schoolboy him, adding another reign to his record.
In the here and now, Elias sits on the King of the Ring throne to pontificate about his prospects. Turns out, Kevin Owens still doesn’t like him. KO drags him down to the ring for a stunner and leaves him in a heap for R-Truth to pick the bones. Drake Maverick has other plans, though. He drahgs Truth out of the ring and pins Elias himself! He celebrates wildly, hopefully in anticipation of finally consummating his nuptials.
Your winner by pinfall and new 24/7 Champion… Drake Maverick!
Shelton Benjamin vs Chad Gable
Again, this week, Shelton Benjamin has attempted to unnerve his former tag team partner. He’s even gone so far as to interrupt an interview with Sarah Schreiber to dismiss him.
Throughout the match, we see Andrade and Zelina Vega watching on the monitor in amusement at next week’s prospective opponents beating each other up. Shelton comes out using his size and power advantage with the prettiest spinebuster this side of Arn Anderson. Everytime Gable is able to get two steps ahead, Shelton plants him to the mat. Shelton rolls out of the way when Gable attempts a moonsault. The former Olympian manages to land on his feet but gets taken right off them by a cannon-like clothesline. Gable’s low eight works to his advantage though. Shelton picks him up for a power bomb but Chad goes up, over, and down, hitting a snap sunset flip on Shelton. The underdog gets to sniff the next round.
Your winner by pinfall… Chad Gable!
Reaction: I didn’t like the short jokes as they’re cheap and can backfire depending on future plans. The upside is that they booked the comeuppance here and, though I had Shelton pegged for the next round, I think this adds a “Cinderella” to the mix for KotR.
Roman Reigns makes his way down to the ring but, before he can even speak, Daniel Bryan and Rowan appear on the big screen. Daniel insists that Roman immediately say “those two words.” Roman asks the crowd if he should apologize and gets a resounding “No!” Instead he plays video from a new angle of the first attack. It clearly shows Rowan (or yet another Rowan-like individual) shoving over the scaffolding before ambling away in a stride similar to the Patterson-Gimlin footage. Daniel is incensed and, as Rowan starts to explain, begins slapping him and calling him a liar. He banishes Rowan from his sight and comes down to the ring to proclaim his own innocence. Two steps into the ring and The Big Dog spears the hummus out of him.
Reaction: Still no conclusive evidence but one week closer to Clash of Champions and (more likely) the next PPV for Roman and Rowan… or whoever.
