The June 25, 2019 episode WWE SmackDown aired live from the Moda Center in Portland, OR. In addition to the takeaways below, Shinsuke Nakamura interrupted a backstage interview with Intercontinental Champion Finn Balor during tonight’s show.
Here are 5 takeaways from this week’s show:
Dolph Ziggler Still Thinks It Should Have Been Him
SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon kicked off the show with a backstage. Shane said that he isn’t afraid of The Undertaker and boasted about already defeating Roman Reigns. Shane warned the rest of the SmackDown locker room to not get on his bad side because he is pissed.
New Day came down to the ring and WWE Champion Kofi Kingston grabbed the microphone. Kingston stated that since becoming WWE Champion, he has had some of the greatest moments of his life. However, he has also experienced some of the most painful experiences as well.
Kingston showed footage of Samoa Joe attacking him last night on RAW and compared the Coquina Clutch to the jaws of a great white shark. Continuing with the goofy shark analogies, Kingston stated that Joe is a shark that has found his prey but he will damned if he is eaten alive.
Dolph Ziggler interrupted and whined about Xavier Woods helping Kingston at Super ShowDown. Ziggler claimed that Kingston took the coward’s way out by leaping out of the cage and that everyone knows he should be WWE Champion right now.
Dolph then announced that if he defeats Kofi Kingston, he will be added to the WWE Championship match at Extreme Rules. He added that tonight’s match will be 2 out of 3 Falls to avoid Kofi taking the coward’s way out again.
Kofi’s promo tonight was overly written and forced. It was as if the writing team was watching Jaws in the background when they came up with this promo. His words sounded completely unnatural and I’m not sure if any superstar could have made that work. Dolph Ziggler versus Kofi Kingston AGAIN is ridiculous, and making it 2 out of 3 Falls to account for Vince’s new commercial break obsession is comical. I’ll just let you know now that this wasn’t the only 2 out of 3 Falls Match tonight.
The SmackDown Tag Team Champions Can’t Buy A Win
SmackDown Tag Team Champions Daniel Bryan and Erick Rowan were pinned last night during a pointless Tag Team Elimination Match. Tonight on SmackDown, the SmackDown Tag Team Champions were pinned in a throwaway match against New Day. Daniel Bryan fell victim to the Midnight Hour and was pinned for the second night in a row.
After the match, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn attacked Big E and Xavier Woods. Heavy Machinery (seemingly the only team the SmackDown Tag Team Champions are capable of beating) joined the party and saved New Day.
Predictably, this led to an 8-man Tag Team Match. Heavy Machinery wound up picking up the win for their team after hitting Sami Zayn with the Compactor. Kevin Owens left Sami Zayn behind during this match and walked backstage.
WWE’s tag team division has a ton of talent, but this was absolute garbage. It is the same thing every week and nothing is ever accomplished. The only positive I can take from this segment is that the crowd is behind Otis of Heavy Machinery. I’m sick of seeing champions pinned in meaningless matches on television every week and I have zero interest in another storyline between Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
I’m hoping this means that they are just going to not be a part of the wildcard rule for a bit and just move on to new things on their respective brands. I’m not sure what the point was of having Owens and Zayn defeat New Day at a PPV, only to have them not get along two days later.
Shane McMahon Got The Better Of The Miz Again
The Miz tried to confront Shane McMahon backstage but Elias got in his way. The Miz wanted another match against Shane but McMahon had an idea. Shane stated that if Miz can beat Elias in a 2 out of 3 Falls Match, he will face him tonight.
Shane distracted The Miz and Elias connected with the Drift Away to score the first pinfall. This activated a commercial break and everyone in the arena stood for a few minutes until it was over. When SmackDown returned, the second fall began. Elias controlled the match early as Shane McMahon was shown ringside every few seconds.
The Miz battled back as Corey Graves and Byron Saxton argued with each other and barely paid attention to the action in the ring. Miz connected with a DDT for a two count. Shane hopped on the ring apron for another distraction but The Miz avoided Elias and hit him with Skull Crushing Finale.
Shane broke up the pinfall and attacked The Miz. Elias and Miz then beat the hell out of Miz after he was awarded the 2nd fall by DQ. Shane and Elias threw Miz over the announce table and continue to beat him down. The crowd chanted “no more Shane!” as McMahon sent a message to Roman Reigns and hit a Spear. Shane got out of the ring and demanded that the referee start the 3rd fall. Elias climbed to the top rope and hit an Elbow Drop for the victory.
After the match, Elias dragged The Miz to the corner of the ring. Shane climbed to the top rope and hit the Coast to Coast Dropkick. Shane got in Miz’s face and told him to never come at him again.
I was actually glad that The Miz lost because it meant we weren’t going to be subjected to more Shane McMahon in this segment. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen the WWE product this atrocious in my lifetime. Their roster has never been better in terms of in-ring talent, yet the 49-year-old Shane McMahon is the focal point of seemingly every show.
Nikki Cross Earned Another Title Shot For Alexa Bliss
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley faced RAW superstar Nikki Cross on this week’s episode of SmackDown. If Nikki Cross won the match, RAW superstar Alexa Bliss will once again get a shot at the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
Cross tackled Bayley to the mat and unloaded several strikes to Bayley’s face to start off the match. Bayley battled back with a Clothesline and went for the cover but Cross kicked out at two. Bayley bounced Nikki’s face off the turnbuckle and then sent her to the apron. Bayley connected with a Neckbreaker on the ropes for a near fall.
Nikki hit a boot to the midsection and followed it up with a Crossbody off the top rope for a two count. Bayley bounced Nikki’s face off the top turnbuckle again and then tied her up on the ropes. Bayley connected with a springboard Elbow Drop for a near fall as SmackDown went to a commercial break during the match.
When SmackDown returned, Nikki connected with a Bulldog and then a Neckbreaker for a two count. Bayley sent Cross to the outside and went for a Suicide Dive but Nikki got out of the way. Bayley crashed to the floor and Nikki quickly brought her back into the ring. Cross hit another Neckbreaker and went for the cover but Bayley kicked out at the last moment.
Bayley battled back with a Belly to Back Suplex for a two count. Bayley went for a Crossbody off the top rope but once again Cross got out of the way. Bayley went for a roll-up but Cross reversed it and picked up the win. Alexa Bliss will face Bayley for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at Extreme Rules.
I feel like Mugatu from Zoolander right now and am wondering if everyone at WWE is taking crazy pills. It is the same damn thing every week and every PPV. Bliss and Bayley had an interesting little storyline and it should have concluded at Stomping Grounds. Alexa Bliss is technically a RAW superstar, so it is nonsensical that this feud is continuing for another PPV. To make matters even worse, another champion lost a match on WWE television.
Ember Moon lost to Sonya Deville on SmackDown tonight, I’d be interested in either of them challenging Bayley. Hell, if it is now a requirement for a blonde to challenge for the title, Mandy Rose, Charlotte Flair, and Liv Morgan are on the SmackDown roster as well. I am dumbfounded as to why this match needs to happen again.
Dolph Ziggler Failed To Get Another Shot At The Title
Dolph Ziggler faced Kofi Kingston in a 2 out of 3 Falls Match in the main event of this week’s SmackDown. If Ziggler won the match, he will be added to the WWE Championship Match between Kofi Kingston (c) and Samoa Joe at Extreme Rules.
Kofi Kingston picked up the first fall with a roll-up. Ziggler hit Kofi with a cheap shot and then slammed Kofi into the barricade and followed it up with a Zig Zag. SmackDown went to a break in order to reset for the 2nd fall.
When SmackDown returned, Dolph Ziggler quickly hit Kingston with a Superkick to win the 2nd fall. Ziggler connected with a Neckbreaker and went for the cover but Kofi powered out at two. Dolph slowed things down and applied a Headlock in the middle of the ring.
Kofi broke free but Ziggler connected with an elbow to the ribs for a two count. Dolph followed that up with a DDT for another near fall. Kofi hit Dolph with a Clothesline off the top rope for a two count. Ziggler went for the Fameasser but Kingston countered into a Powerbomb for another near fall.
Kingston went for Trouble in Paradise but Ziggler blocked it and slammed Kofi into the ring post. Ziggler planted Kingston with the Zig Zag and went for the cover but the WWE Champion somehow kicked out at two. Kingston ducked under a Superkick and leveled Ziggler with the Trouble in Paradise to win the match. The WWE Championship match is now officially Kingston versus Samoa Joe at Extreme Rules.
It was hard to be invested in this match since we have seen it over and over again recently. In the end, the WWE Championship match at Extreme Rules remained the same and the match didn’t mean anything. SmackDown has essentially become a shorter version of RAW and it is very difficult to find anything positive to say about the current WWE product.
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