Despite having the reputation of being more “show” than “tell” and more action over talk, SmackDown accelerated the narratives this week and gave us a taste of where they’re going after Hell in a Cell. Only two weeks away and the tensions build in the ring and on the microphones. The tag division thins the herd, rivalries continue to boil over, and unexpected alliances form as the plot thickens and occasionally twists in Detroit Rock City.
In-Ring w/Rene Young
Brie Bella and Daniel Bryan come down to the ring and Rene recaps their feud with Miz and Maryse thus far, including their beat down last week in Toronto. Daniel says that he’s had enough, that Detroit shouldn’t have to wait for Hell in a Cell, and that he’s calling out The It Couple right then and there. Rene lets him know that they aren’t in the building but were earlier and left a recording.
Up on the screen, we see Miz and Maryse standing in the middle of the ring in an empty arena calling out Daniel and Brie (who ostensibly had not yet arrived) and took the silence as a surrender. Back in the ring, Daniel decries the stunt as typical posturing of cowards. Out comes Zelina Vega who mocks Daniel and Brie for whining and Andrade “Cien” Almas says something that sort of sounds like, “It was fun to walk all over the great Daniel Bryan.” No Miz but D-Bry is ready to square up and so is El Idolo.
Daniel Bryan w/Brie Bella vs Andrade “Cien” Almas w/Zelina Vega
Mat wrestling to start as Daniel works the left arm with kicks and wristlocks to set up an early Yes Lock attempt. Almas escapes and goes for the running kick and turning it into the cracking back elbow for two. Daniel recovers on the apron only to be knocked off and into the barricade. A few chops and he’s back in the ring. Andrade goes for the running knee but, just like last week, ends up going upside-down and out to the floor. D-Bry goes for the running knee off the apron but gets caught with a flipping dropkick that would make Bob Holly stand up and take off his hat! Almas can’t get ahead when back in the ring, though, as Daniel dumps him back out with a suplex and follows up with a suicide dive. Back in the ring, they trade punches while on their knees and back up to their feet. A
lmas chops Bryan down and gives him a few stomps and that gets the Yes Man’s juices going. Corner dropkick. Kicks to the chest. Frankensteiner off the top but Andrade rolls through for two. As soon as Daniel kicks out, Almas goes for the reverse armbar and a body slam when he can’t get the submission. Almas climbs to the top for… a backflip, landing on his feet, into a standing moonsault! Whether that was a planned spot or an adjustment on the fly, it was pretty darned impressive. The two trade high kicks until Daniel kicks out Almas’ leg and hits the Yes Kicks.
El Idolo ducks the final headkick and schoolboys Daniel neck first across the bottom turnbuckle, following up with the running double knee. He brings Daniel to the middle of the ring for an attempt at a hammerlock DDT but Daniel shrugs out. Almas goes for another back elbow but Bryan has it scouted and kicks him in the back before a flying knee for the 1-2-3!
Winner via pinfall: Daniel Bryan
Brie kicks down Zelina Vega and hits a running knee as she’s held up by the bottom rope. Miz and maryse show up on the big screen and let the crowd know that they’re at Scarfone’s for a date… after kicking all of the Detroiters out. Their taunts work as Brie and Bryan pack their bags and head out to the parking garage, telling GM Paige that they’re going to Scarfone’s!
Side-by-Side video interview with SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch
Charlotte says that she won the title but lost her best friend. When she asks Becky if she expected her to lie down and let Becky win, Becky asks if it’s her turn or if Charlotte needs more time in Becky’s spotlight. Charlotte says that Becky is having a pity party and that she could have asked for a title match. Becky scoffs at “asking” and tell s her “screw you.” She’s through asking; she’s taking and last week she stood over Charlotte with the title in her hand.
Charlotte tells her it was cheap shot blind side and dares her to come head on. Becky says she will and doesn’t care how it will affect Charlotte because she did her time at the full time job of being Charlotte’s friend and catering to her insecurities. The Queen tells The Lass Kicker that there will be no excuses at Hell in a Cell. The crowd is still audibly behind Becky as, despite Charlotte being right in her arguments, it does seem like Becky got the short end of the stick after playing second fiddle.
Naomi vs Peyton Royce (w/ Billie Kaye)
The IIconics trash Naomi for her recent losses to them and Mrs Uso is fired up. She opens with a punch to Peyton’s jaw but peyton slaps her down and gets in some mounted punches. She chokes Naomi angst the bottom rope and Billie gets in a quick eye poke as the hold is broken. Peyton drags Naomi around and mocks her for not having a friend to watch her back. Naomi proves that she doesn’t need anyone to help as she kicks Peyton into the ropes, hits a baseball slide between her legs to take out Billie and sunsets flips back into the ring for pinfall win!
Winner: Naomi via pinfall
Billie is in the ring for a two-on-one beatdown… but Asuka’s music hits and she makes her way down to dismantle the Aussies and make the save.
We get a video package with Jeff Hardy explaining why Randy Orton resents him and his connection with the fans. He mentions that he’s looking forward to Hell in a Cell and that it could be the perfect environment for him to explore. In short, he’s selling the fact that he’s going to risk his life with a sick dive.
The It Couple is backstage with GM Paige, saying that Scarfone’s is terrible like the rest of Detroit and that they returned to take on Daniel and Brie. Paige tells Miz that they’ve left but that he has an open match later on. When he suggests that he should be allowed to leave, Paige tells him he is allowed to leave… but, if he does, he shouldn’t bother coming back. Bump to commercial lets us know that the second Mae Young Classic is available to watch on WWE network starting September 5th.
R-Truth is looking for Carmella and finds her… or so he thinks. Apparently, all blondes look alike as he’s mistaken Maryse for Carmella. She insists that she’s nothing like “that Staten Island trash.” Miz asks Truth how long it had been since they tagged together and Truth tells him it’s been seven years. Miz says that it was the last time R-Truth was relevant and that he had forgotten that he even worked in WWE. Truth tells Miz that he doesn’t know what Carmella sees in him and walks off.
In-ring segment w/Samoa Joe
Joe opens with his new catchphrase of “Oh Weeendy!” He tells Mrs AJ Styles and the family that he is glad to help them out and keep Daddy at home this week but, at Hell in a Cell, Daddy is going night-night. AJ shows up on the big screen to tell Joe he crossed the line… and then walks out to the ring! He’s here! The two start brawling and AJ is thrown into the steel steps but catches Joe with a Phenomenal Forearm before he can use a chair on the champ. AJ picks up the chair for a swing and a miss. Joe makes his retreat but AJ springboards for a plancha, knocking down Joe and a few referees. Paige and more referees come out and restore order.
Backstage, Tye Dillinger and R-Truth find Carmella… who Truth asks if she has seen “Carmella.” Tye and Carmella tell him that she is Carmella. Truth asks her if she’d be willing to corner him in a match since “the other Carmella” called her “Staten Island trash.” Infuriated, Carmella agrees and storms off. Tye Dillinger asks R-Truth what he’s doing. Truth tells him that he’s teaching him how to get booked in the main event on SmackDown and smiles! He’s crazy like a fox and the whole thing was ruse from the beginning. Some of R-Truth’s dialogue seemed a little forced but that made sense once he revealed the twist. Great job on this bit.
Randy Orton’s video package is next. He tells us that he’s a bad man and always has been as we see footage of The Legend Killer, The Viper, The Apex Predator, and The Burner Down of Sister Abigail’s Shack. He knows Hell in a Cell and will put it to good use when he breaks Jeff Hardy.
The Usos vs SAnitY vs Rusev Day (winner will face The Bar for #1 contender spot)
Aiden English half raps his intro before a solid triple threat tag match with The Usos and Eric Young directing much of the traffic. The weekly audience gets a good look at Killian Dain who is showcased towards the middle of the match. The end sequence sees Rusev tease a tope suicida before he’s hit coming through the ropes, saved from a pin by Aiden English, and hits a Machka Kick on Eric Young for the pin.
Winner: Rusev Day
The Miz vs R-Truth
Miz and Maryse take time before the match to go over their feud with Bryan/Bella and Carmella does backup for her soon-to-be Mixed Match Challenge partner on the “What’s up!”
R-Truth is up early, hitting a leg drop so Carmella to moonwalk on the apron in celebration. Miz charges but Truth hits the splits to duck and catches him for a spinebuster on the return. A knee to the gut turns thing around and Miz follows up with the backbreaker/neckbreaker combo. He mocks ‘Mella with what he probably thinks is moonwalking before hitting an Awesome Clothesline before a double axe handle from the top. He goes for the It Kicks but, just like Daniel Bryan earlier in the night, he gets schoolboyed for two. He hits the short DDT for two, then charges right into a twisting leg lariat. Truth picks him up but Miz back flips out and hits a chop block. Figure Four attempt reversed into a pin attempt for two.
Miz hits a big boot but “Ride of the Valkyries” blares out of the speakers and Daniel Bryan comes out. R-Truth rolls a distracted Miz up for the pin and gets a win in the main event!
Winner: R-Truth by pinfall (What’s up!)
Daniel and Brie come down to the ring. Yes Lock on Miz! Brie sets Maryse up for the knee but Vega and Almas make the save. Birdie’s Mom and Dad pull Almas and Vega into side-by-side Yes Locks and hold them as they stare down Miz and Maryse. The It Couple charges the ring but stop dead in their tracks as Daniel and Brie release the holds and pop up to their feet. They lead the crowd in the “Yes!” chant as the show ends.
Good pacing tonight as the out-of-ring and video segments didn’t frustrate and the in-ring action told good stories and set up future matches. It looks like Andrade Almas and Zelina Vega are going to be a recurring nightmare for Daniel Bryan and the two have great matches together. Carmella and R-Truth have some shine on them going into Mixed Match Challenge. The Bar vs Rusev Day should be good and either will work well with New Day. Naomi got her groove back and got a new friend. And Becky/Charlotte and Hardy/Orton stayed on our radar. Solid set up for the go home show, Hell in a Cell, and beyond.
Rating: 7.5/10
-Matthew Widdis
