The August 27th, 2019 episode of WWE SmackDown aired live from the Raising Cane’s River Center in Baton Rouge, LA. In addition to the takeaways below, Drake Maverick once again won the 24/7 Championship.
Here are 7 takeaways from this week’s show:
Randy Orton Took Out Kofi Kingston
WWE Champion Kofi Kingston launched a few pancakes into the crowd as he made his way down to the ring. Kingston will once again defend his title against Randy Orton at Clash of Champions.
Kingston stated that Orton likes to slither around this right while talking about him being stupid. Kofi boasted about knocking Randy out last week and that Orton has made this rivalry personal.
Kofi said that he just wanted to prove himself and that he deserves to be the champ but Orton didn’t want that and took it to a new level when he brought his family into it. Orton also made it personal when he tried to take out Xavier Woods alongside The Revival.
Kingston added that the last thing we saw last week was Orton running away with fear in his eyes. Kofi claimed that Orton was scared because he saw the look in his eyes and that he doesn’t play around when someone messes with his family.
Kofi vowed to prove that Orton was wrong about him at Clash of Champions and that he is ready for a fight at Clash of Champions. Orton interrupted from backstage and called Kofi stupid several times.
Randy stated that there is nothing he’d rather do than come to the ring and show the WWE Universe how stupid Kingston is but he will wait until Clash of Champions. Orton claimed that he got a letter sent to him in his hotel and he wanted to read it to Kofi.
The letter stated that Kofi is not stupid and that Randy is a mean man. Orton added that Kofi is not only his hero, but he is also his father. Orton pointed out that he is staying in the same hotel as Kofi’s family and said that he was going to go pay Kingston’s son a visit right now.
Kofi stormed out of the ring and ran backstage and started brawling with Orton. WWE officials tried to break it up but Kofi wouldn’t back down. Orton planted Kingston with a DDT and called Kofi stupid once again.
The Revival Helped Randy Orton Defeat Big E
Big E checked on Kingston and then was interviewed backstage. Big E ensured that Kingston will be ready for Clash of Champions but pointed out that he is facing Randy Orton later tonight and Orton might not be ready after their match.
Orton and Big E squared off in the second hour of this week’s SmackDown. Big E went right after Randy and sent him flying out of the ring. Big E followed him out there and slammed Orton into the steel steps. Big E started taunting Orton and launched him over the announce table.
Big E rolled into the ring to break up the count and then sent Orton over the barricade and into the crowd. Back in the ring, Big E went for the cover but Orton kicked out at two. Big E hit Orton with a few spanks and followed that up with an elbow to the face for another two count.
Orton raked Big E’s eyes and launched him into the ring post. Big E battled back and went for a Splash on the apron but Randy got out of the way. Big E crashed onto the apron and fell to the floor outside the ring. Orton slammed Big E on the announce table as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Big E returned the favor and slammed Orton on the announce table. Back in the ring, Randy hit a Dropkick for a near fall. Big E planted Orton with three Belly to Belly Suplexes in a row. The Revival came down to the ring for the distraction and Orton capitalized with the RKO for the pinfall victory. After the match, The Revival lifted Big E in the air and Orton hit him with another RKO.
Ali Advanced In The King Of The Ring Tournament
Ali squared off against Buddy Murphy in the first round of the King of the Ring Tournament. The two superstars shook hands before the match began. Murphy dominated early as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Ali connected with a knee to the face and then slingshotted Murphy into the turnbuckle. Ali hit a Dropkick that sent Murphy tumbling out of the ring.
Ali booted Murphy in the face as he tried to get back into the ring and followed it up with a Suicide Dive as Elias looked along from backstage. Murphy showed off his power and sent Ali flying out of the ring. Buddy then flipped onto Ali and brought him back in the ring as the crowd chanted “Buddy!”.
Murphy climbed to the top rope but missed with a Meteora. Ali hit a Superkick and then a Reverse Hurricanrana for a near fall. Murphy hit a Powerbomb and a Brainbuster but Ali was somehow able to kick out at two as the crowd chanted “this is awesome!”.
Ali battled back and booted Murphy in the face. Ali hit an unbelievable DDT on the apron and climbed to the top rope. Ali connected with the 450 Splash for the pinfall victory and will face Elias next week in the quarterfinals of the King of the Ring Tournament. After the match, Buddy shook Ali’s hand and raised his hand.
Ali and Murphy put on a hell of a match tonight and one can only hope that WWE has plans for both of them going forward. It would be infuriating to see talents like this not be featured weekly on television because WWE has no idea what to with them.
Bayley Picked Up Another Win As Charlotte Watched On
Ember Moon came up to SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley and congratulated Bayley on her victory at SummerSlam. Moon vowed to beat Bayley if they ever meet again in the ring. Moon said that no matter what Charlotte says, Bayley is the face of the women’s division.
Lacey Evans interrupted and stated that Flair was right about Bayley bringing the division and the title down. Evans claimed that she was the face of the division and Bayley and Moon cracked up. Lacey vowed to prove she was the face of the division tonight.
Bayley and Lacey Evans then battled later on the show. Bayley controlled the match early and locked in an Arm Bar. Bayley knocked Evans out of the ring and then leveled her with a Clothesline. Charlotte Flair came down to the entrance ramp as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Evans was in control and had Bayley in a Headlock. Bayley escaped as Charlotte made her way down the ramp. Evans focused her attack on Bayley’s arm for the next few minutes as Charlotte looked on from ringside.
Bayley finally battled back and hit her with a Dropkick for a near fall. Lacey booted Bayley in the face and then bounced her head off the canvas. Bayley slammed Evans’ face off the top turnbuckle and unloaded a flurry of punches.
Bayley hit a Clothesline and then a knee to the face. Bayley applied a submission hold right in front of Charlotte but Evans was able to reach the bottom rope to break it up. Evans knocked Bayley to the mat and followed it up with a Moonsault off the top rope for a two count. Bayley connected with a Suplex to Evans on the floor outside the ring as the referee started counting.
Evans and Bayley made it back into the ring at the last second. Evans went for a roll-up but Bayley kicked out at two. Bayley hit a knee to the head and hit the Bayley to Belly but Lacey got her hand on the bottom rope to break up the pinfall.
Charlotte grinned as Evans connected with a Neckbreaker. Bayley hit another Bayley to Belly and then made her way to the top rope. Bayley connected with the Elbow Drop for the pinfall victory.
Charlotte simply walking around the ring and saying that she is going to become the 10-time champion doesn’t get me excited for the title match at Clash of Champions. I know Bayley and Charlotte can put on a great match at the PPV but I’d still like some effort put into the storyline. I’d rather see Bayley continue to give opportunities to superstars like Ember Moon than Charlotte once again in the title picture.
The Miz Challenged Shinsuke Nakamura To A Title Match
The Miz cut a promo on Sami Zayn becoming Shinsuke Nakamura’s spokesperson. Miz stated that Sami Zayn couldn’t hack in the ring so he teamed up with Nakamura. The Miz boasted about making the Intercontinental Championship the most prestigious title in WWE and challenged Shinsuke Nakamura to a title match at Clash of Champions.
Sami Zayn interrupted and was greeted by a chorus of boos from the crowd. Zayn referred to himself as a “liberator” and that Nakamura feels stronger than he has in years. Sami shouted that Shinsuke Nakamura is your Intercontinental Champion and that he is an artist, a poet, and the king of strong style.
Zayn said that The Miz was the king of soft style and that it was about time that Miz had some respect beaten into him. The Miz challenged Sami to get into the ring and beat some respect into him but Sami declined. The Miz got out of the ring and started walking towards Zayn.
Shinsuke Nakamura attacked Miz from behind and slammed him into the barricade as Sami did his best Lio Rush impression. Zayn shouted “go on my champion!” and Nakamura hit Miz with the Kinshasa. Nakamura hit another Kinshasa and then Sami raised his hand to end the segment.
I want to see Sami Zayn wrestle. I don’t understand why he has been relegated to a manager role when he is a better wrestler than 90% of the roster.
Chad Gable Advanced In The King Of The Ring Tournament
Shelton Benjamin battled Chad Gable in the final first-round match in the King of the Ring Tournament. Benjamin started off the match with a Spinebuster and went for the cover but Gable kicked out at two.
Benjamin taunted Gable about his height and launched him into the turnbuckle. Andrade and Zelina Vega were shown backstage watching the match as Benjamin continued to taunt Gable.
Chad responded with a slap to the face and a series of uppercuts. Gable connected with a Swinging Neckbreaker and then a German Suplex. Benjamin connected with a Clothesline and then applied an Ankle Lock in the middle of the ring.
Gable escaped and knocked Benjamin to the outside. Shelton hurled Gable into the barricade and the action returned to the ring. Benjamin perched Gable on the top rope but Gable hit him with a headbutt. Gable went for a Moonsault but Benjamin got out of the way.
Shelton hit a knee to the face and went for a Powerbomb but Gable countered into a roll-up for the pinfall victory. Gable will face Andrade next week on SmackDown in the quarterfinals of the King of the Ring Tournament.
Roman Reigns Speared Daniel Bryan
Roman Reigns was interviewed backstage at the beginning of the show. Reigns said that he has something to say to Bryan and Rowan but wanted to say it in the ring. Bryan and Rowan were later interviewed and said that they were expecting an apology from Reigns.
Roman Reigns came down to the ring at the conclusion of this week’s episode of SmackDown. Bryan and Rowan immediately interrupted from backstage and told Reigns to say that he was sorry.
Reigns asked the crowd if he should apologize and the crowd chanted “no!”. Roman rolled a video of the attack that seemed to show that Rowan was responsible. Bryan flipped out and started smacking Rowan in the face.
Daniel Bryan then marched to the entrance ramp and said that he didn’t know anything. Bryan claimed that Rowan betrayed him and that he didn’t tell Rowan to do this. Roman leveled Bryan with a Spear as the crowd chanted “yes!” to close the show.
This storyline is cartoonish as hell and is progressing at a snail’s pace but at least there is something to tune in for every week. Most of the time there isn’t anything interesting going on during RAW or SmackDown. There is more effort being put into this storyline than most of the title matches for the PPV in a few weeks.
Overall, this week’s episode of SmackDown was an alright show. I enjoyed the match between Ali and Buddy Murphy, although I wish it was given a lot more time. Big E and Randy Orton also had an entertaining match tonight. Orton remains an excellent heel and his promo tonight at the beginning of the show was great. I hated the finish to the WWE Championship match at SummerSlam but still am looking forward to the rematch at Clash of Champions.