The September 24th, 2019 episode of WWE SmackDown aired live from the Chase Center in San Francisco, CA. Here are 5 takeaways from this week’s show:
Bryan & Reigns Challenged Harper & Rowan
Erick Rowan came down to the ring and told the crowd to refer to him as a “creator” and what he has created demands respect. Rowan scolded the crowd for belittling him and seeing him as less than human.
He claimed that Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan knows that he is right and that is why they are afraid. Daniel Bryan interrupted and challenged Rowan to a fight. Bryan and Rowan locked up to start off the match. Erick launched Bryan across the ring and followed it up with a massive Clothesline.
Rowan connected with an Elbow Drop and then a Splash. Rowan hurled Bryan out of the ring and leveled him with a Crossbody. Back in the ring, Bryan tried to battle back but Rowan leveled him with a boot to the face as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Rowan was still in control and Powerbombed Bryan into the ring post. Bryan got back into the ring at the last second and Rowan stomped him down in the corner.
Rowan connected with a Splash and went for another one but Bryan countered with a Dropkick to the knee. Daniel continued to focus on the knee and slammed it into the ring post a couple of times.
Erick planted Bryan with a Jackhammer for a near fall and then trapped Daniel in a Bear Hug in the middle of the ring. Bryan broke free but Rowan connected with a Powerbomb for another near fall.
Bryan knocked Rowan to the outside and went for a Suicide Dive but Erick caught him. Daniel escaped and shoved Rowan into the steel ring post. Back in the ring, Bryan connected with a Dropkick off the top rope that sent Rowan to the canvas.
The crowd chanted “yes!” as Bryan hit a series of Yes Kicks. Daniel went for the cover but Rowan kicked out at one. Bryan made his way back to the top rope and leaped but Rowan caught him.
Bryan countered into a Guillotine and transitioned into the LeBell Lock in the middle of the ring. Rowan was able to reach the ropes to break the hold as Harper came down to the ringside area.
Daniel hit Harper with a Suicide Dive but Rowan capitalized on the distraction and hit the Iron Claw. Bryan’s foot got caught in the ropes and Rowan continued to beat Bryan down. Rowan then hit another Iron Claw for the pinfall victory.
After the match, Harper and Rowan started clearing off the announce table but Reigns interrupted. Roman hit Harper with a Superman Punch and then the Drive-By. Rowan struck Roman from behind and brought him to the announce table.
Harper went for a Clothesline but Bryan dodged it and hit Luke with the Running Knee. Rowan went for another Iron Claw but Roman broke it up and leveled Erick with a Spear.
Bryan demanded a microphone and asked the crowd if they wanted to see him and Roman kick Harper and Rowan’s asses. The crowd chanted “yes!” to end the segment. It was later made official that Rowan & Harper will battle Reigns & Bryan at WWE Hell in a Cell 2019.
This was a great opening to tonight’s SmackDown. Rowan had a decent promo and followed it up with a very solid match with Bryan that was given plenty of time. I’m definitely looking forward to their tag match at WWE Hell in a Cell.
Elias Insulted Chad Gable
Chad Gable stated that his run in the King of the Ring Tournament was no joke and that he had Corbin beat last night and Baron took the low road.
Mike Kanellis interrupted and made a short joke before making his way to the ring. Kanellis added that he is out here to prove to his pregnant wife that size does matter.
Gable planted Kanellis with an Overhead Belly to Belly Suplex and applied the Ankle Lock for the quick submission victory.
Elias appeared on the jumbotron and referred to Gable as “shorty”. Elias performed a song that insulted Gable and claimed that women laugh at him because he has nothing to give.
Sasha Banks Sent A Message To Becky Lynch
Charlotte Flair & 24/7 Champion Carmella faced Bayley and Sasha Banks tonight on SmackDown. R-Truth accompanied Carmella and was ringside for the match.
Sasha and Carmella started the match off. Carmella dodged Banks and moonwalked across the ring before connecting with a kick to the face. Carmella followed it up with a Clothesline and went for the cover but Sasha kicked out at two.
Banks dropped Carmella with a right hand to the face and then threw her to the outside of the ring. Bayley tagged in and slammed Carmella’s face into the announce table.
Back in the ring, Bayley unloaded a few punches and bounced Carmella’s face off the top turnbuckle. Sasha tagged in and bounced off the ropes a couple of times before simply locking in a Sleeper Hold in an effort to taunt the crowd.
Carmella broke free but Bayley quickly tagged in and isolated Carmella in the corner. Charlotte finally tagged in and hit Bayley with a Clothesline before booting Banks off the apron. Charlotte unloaded a series of chops to Bayley and followed it up with a Belly to Back Suplex.
Flair connected with a Backbreaker and then dropped Bayley with a big boot. Charlotte applied the Figure Four but Banks broke it up with the Meteora. Banks tagged in and went for the Backstabber but Flair blocked it.
Carmella tagged in and hit a Crossbody off the top rope and then a Superkick to Sasha’s face. Carmella hit another Superkick and went for the cover but Bayley broke it up at two.
Carmella booted Bayley to the outside and then rolled up Sasha for a two count. Sasha quickly locked in the Bank Statement in the middle of the ring and Carmella had no choice but to tap out. After the match, the women’s locker room chased 24/7 Champion through the crowd as Bayley and Banks attacked Charlotte.
RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch made the save and slammed Bayley to the canvas. Becky connected with an Exploder Suplex on both Bayley and Banks. Lynch applied the Dis-Arm-Her on Banks before Bayley dragged her out of the ring.
At the very end of the show, Becky Lynch was interviewed backstage by Kayla Braxton. Sasha Banks snuck up behind Lynch and attacked her from behind. Banks slammed Becky into a steel cage several times as SmackDown went off the air.
The Kabuki Warriors Picked Up A Win
Asuka and Kairi Sane actually made an appearance on this week’s episode of SmackDown and faced Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose in a tag team match. Before the match, Mandy Rose was handing out copies of her Maxim Magazine to random people backstage. Otis took a selfie with Rose and celebrated with Tucker as they looked at Mandy’s photos in the magazine.
Asuka and Deville started off the match as Mandy Rose gave Corey Graves a signed magazine. Asuka leveled Deville with a shoulder tackle and tagged in Kairi Sane. Kairi connected with a kick to the face for a near fall. Sonya battled back and launched Sane out of the ring.
Mandy Rose tagged in and paraded around with her magazine while shouting at Kairi that she will never look like her. Sane kicked the magazine out of Mandy’s hand and brought her back into the ring.
Kairi stomped across the ring and hit a sliding elbow on Rose in the corner. Mandy battled back with a right hand to the face for a two count. Asuka tagged in and leveled Mandy with a Dropkick. Asuka followed it up with a knee to the face and then the Hip Attack in the corner of the ring.
Asuka connected with a Bulldog and a kick to the face. Kairi knocked Deville out of the ring and then tagged in. Asuka hit a Jawbreaker as Sane climbed to the top rope. Kairi hit the Insane Elbow on Rose for the pinfall victory.
Kevin Owens & Shane McMahon Will Have A Ladder Match To Determine Who Gets Fired
Shane McMahon and his team of lawyers came down to the ring at the end of this week’s SmackDown. McMahon asked Owens to come down to the ring and demanded that his theme music be played.
Owens’ music hit but Kevin made his way to the ring through the crowd. Kevin grabbed a microphone as Shane introduced Owens to his legal team. Shane warned Owens that if he went through with the wrongful termination lawsuit he will keep in court for years.
Shane suggested that Kevin Owens drop the lawsuit and he will reinstate him immediately. McMahon added that he will waive his $100,000 fine and said that he wanted to start with a clean slate.
McMahon extended his hand but Owens declined and called Shane an idiot. Owens stated that lawyers make him sick, but the only thing that makes him sicker is Shane being in the locker room because he doesn’t belong there.
Owens stated that all he really wants that is to see is Shane fired. Kevin suggested that they have a Ladder Match to determine the fate of their careers. Shane accepted but for some reason, his microphone was cut off as Owens’ music blared through the speakers.
The storyline between Owens and Shane has dragged out for far too long. They are capable of having an awesome Ladder Match but I’ve been bored with this feud for some time now. It wasn’t announced when this match will take place. I’m assuming at Hell in a Cell but the SmackDown premiere on Fox next week is also possible. The promo was cut short because WWE had to air Sasha attacking Becky from behind to close the show. Overall, this week’s episode of SmackDown was an entertaining show. There are several matches on Hell in a Cell’s card that I am really looking forward to.