WWE SmackDown Live review with Oli Davis: “I couldn’t stop looking at AJ’s hair…”

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Big Cass Returns. Yay.

Samoa Joe opened SmackDown with a Kane-like promo, including phrases like ‘salvation’ and ‘campaign of fear’. The difference between Joe’s delivery to Kane’s, though, is that when Joe says stuff like this, it’s legitimately terrifying.

But bringing up Brie Bella and Birdie was too much, and Daniel Bryan came out to break Joe’s leg. Speaking of broken legs!

An injured Big Cass then appeared to reveal we won’t be getting the much-anticipated Joe vs Bryan main event, because Paige has said Cass will be facing Joe instead once he’s cleared. Which is right now. A scuffle ensued, with Cass standing tall with the briefcase.

As much as I was looking forward to Joe vs Bryan – and I really, really was – this is smart long term booking. Joe vs Bryan is a big time match, and deserves more of a feud and story around it. Paige later revealed it would be a triple threat between all three men to get the last Money in the Bank match place.

Shinsuke Nakamura beat Tye Dillinger

How do you build up a Last Man Standing match? Fight someone who’s whole gimmick is counting the number 10. Which means… Tye Dillinger’s still employed everyone!

This was a very effective filler match to build to AJ Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura in three weeks’ time, with Nakamura pinning Tye after a Kinshasa, and then knocking him out after the match for the ten count.

It would’ve been significantly more effective, though, if Nakamura won the actual match that way instead of a simple pin.

AJ Styles put over Shinsuke’s striking game to Generic WWE Interviewer No. 3 afterwards, and then said something about Nakamura about underestimating hi-I wasn’t really paying attention. I couldn’t stop looking at AJ’s hair.

Lana vs Naomi (Dance Off)

Now that Lana’s in the Money in the Bank match, how do you get around her not being a very good wrestler? Dance offs, of course! Rusev and Aiden English accompanied Lana down to the ring, so The Usos joined Naomi because they’re not doing anything else right now.

Lana busted out a half spinarooni and some robot based offence, while Naomi did this thing with her butt. They then both danced together and hugged – which was horrible for a moment – until Lana gave Naomi a neckbreaker and started a brawl! This wasn’t terrible.

New Day beat Miz & The Bar

Possibly the best thing on the episode, though, was the very fun and frantic New Day vs Miz and Bar six man tag. Xavier Woods leaping over the top rope by using Sheamus as a step, Kofi jumping off the ring post to the outside! It was a great match, which Big E won with a Big Ending on Miz  – possibly hinting that he’ll be getting the New Day’s Money in the Bank place, especially with his singles victory over The Miz last week.

Karl Anderson Has Abs

In a new addition to his character, Karl Anderson now talks about his abs. Just when the Good Brothers were about to call their Money in the Bank opponents ‘Nerds’, though, the Bludgeon Brothers appeared on a nearby TV screen to threaten about liquefying bodies.

Asuka beat Mandy Rose

Before Asuka’s match with The Stunning Mandy Rose, the Best Friend And Room Mate Of the Stunning Mandy Rose Sonya Deville attacked her on the ramp. This allowed The Stunning Mandy Rose to somewhat believably get the upper hand, before eventually tapping to the Asuka lock.

Charlotte and Becky Lynch bantered about Money in the Bank backstage, so Paige booked a match for them next week.

Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas Has No Time For Luchadors

Stand down, Rey Mysterio-led Latino faction in WWE. When Sin Cara tried to embrace Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas backstage for also being Latino, Zelina Vega told him to get lost.

Samoa Joe beat Daniel Bryan & Big Cass

The main event was a really good, fast-paced triple threat, with each man getting their chance to shine. As ever, though, Bryan was once again the standout – never content with playing the beaten down babyface Roman Reigns-style, he was constantly fighting both men].

It’s a fascinating dynamic considering his smaller size to Roman. Despite appearing to be the underdog, Bryan is mostly booked to take at least half the match. Roman, however, gets beaten for 80% of the match, despite being physically larger, and just snatches at the end.

Having the match won against Big Cass, Bryan was then caught from behind in Joe’s Coquina Clutch and passed out. Which is a noble way to lose, but it does beg the question… why didn’t Reigns lose his Backlash match against Joe when he visibly passed out in the hold?

Cass beat up Bryan afterwards with the Big Boot. Yay, that feud is continuing.

This was a very watchable episode, with all the feuds being furthered and two really good matches. This week’s SmackDown is SmackTastic.

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• Naomi
• The Bar
• Rusev
• paige
• The Usos
• aiden english
• AJ Styles
• andrade cien almas
• sonya deville
• karl anderson
• brie bella
• luke gallows
• The Miz
• tye dillinger
• the new day
• Samoa Joe
• the bludgeon brothers
• Lana
• Shinsuke Nakamura
• Becky Lynch
• Big Cass
• Daniel Bryan
• Asuka
• Charlotte Flair
• mandy rose
• Sin Cara

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