The June 5th edition of WWE SmackDown aired from the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross defended their Women’s Tag Team Championships against Bayley & Sasha Banks in the main event.
SmackDown Results (6/5)
- Otis def. King Corbin
- Lacey Evans def. Sonya Deville
- Drew Gulak def. AJ Styles
- New Day & Shorty G def. Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura, Mojo Rawley
- Sasha Banks & Bayley def. Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross to capture the Women’s Tag Team Championships
Here are 5 takeaways from the show:
Sheamus Beat Jeff Hardy Down
Jeff Hardy came down to the ring as Michael Cole stated that Elias could miss months due to injuries sustained in the hit & run angle last week.
Hardy said he pulled up to the Performance Center and right when he got out of his car someone hit him on the head. When he woke up he was in handcuffs and smelled of alcohol.
Jeff wondered how he could have let his wife and daughters down again and how many more times could he beg for forgiveness. He said that he knew deep down that he did not slip last Friday and passed all his sobriety tests.
Hardy added that there were eye witnesses at the police station that saw a man with red hair and a red beard leave the scene of the crime. Sheamus interrupted and claimed that Jeff was just blaming other people for his problems.
Sheamus said that Jeff always has an excuse for his actions and that his fans were enablers. He told Hardy to be a man for once in his life and admit what he did. Sheamus called Hardy a junkie and his family is used to it.
Jeff Hardy sprinted up the entrance ramp and tackled Sheamus. Sheamus quickly fought back and leveled Hardy with a Brogue Kick. He then slammed Hardy into the plexiglass several times as the PC trainees chanted “you suck!”.
Opinion: I thought this promo was great and I’m really enjoying this storyline. The use of Jeff Hardy’s troubled past has made the rivalry personal. Sheamus trying to frame Jeff Hardy for running Elias over while intoxicated is an act that shouldn’t be settled in a traditional wrestling match. It was announced that they will face each other at Backlash but I hope a stipulation is added to the match next week.
Mandy Rose Cost Sonya Deville Her Match Against Lacey Evans
Lacey Evans faced Sonya Deville tonight on SmackDown. Before the match, Sonya attacked Evans from behind and shoved her into the ring post.
Match Recap: Evans battled back when the bell rang and hit Sonya with an Arm Drag. Lacey followed it up with an elbow to the face and went for the cover but Deville was able to kick out at only a one count.
Deville hit Lacey with a boot to the face and targeted her knees and midsection with a series of kicks. Evans went for a roll-up and wound up sending Sonya into the referee. The ref grabbed his knee in pain and called for help as SmackDown went to a break.
When SmackDown returned, Deville was in control as another referee was in the ring. Sonya knocked Lacey out of the ring and slammed her on the ring apron. Back in the ring, Lacey hit Sonya with Clothesline and both superstars fell to the canvas.
Evans leveled Deville with a running knee and followed it up with a Bronco Buster in the corner of the ring. Lacey connected with an impressive Moonsault for a near fall. Mandy Rose showed up on the jumbotron and called Sonya failure. Lacey capitalized and hit the Woman’s Right for the pinfall victory.
Opinion: She took the loss tonight but Sonya Deville has really shined on SmackDown as of late. Her aggression in the ring was awesome tonight and her promos have been excellent throughout this entire storyline. I honestly didn’t see this coming at all and hopefully this feud leads to her being built up a strong heel on SmackDown.
Daniel Bryan Wants To Defend The IC Title Every Week
Renee Young moderated Face to Face between AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan tonight on SmackDown. Bryan and Styles will clash to determine the new Intercontinental Champion next week.
Styles claimed that if Jeff Hardy not got involved in his match he would be facing Sheamus for the Intercontinental Championship. Daniel Bryan called AJ a coward for taking a bye into the finals.
AJ referred to himself as the greatest champion WWE has ever seen and Daniel Bryan is all heart. Bryan called Bryan stupid for not taking a bye as well. Daniel told AJ that he wasn’t going to get under his skin and they apparently have two different visions of what it means to be an Intercontinental Champion.
Bryan stated that AJ’s vision was sparingly defending the title while Daniel wants to the defend the title on SmackDown every single week. AJ said that he doesn’t believe in handouts, he believes in earning an opportunity. Styles added that Gulak doesn’t belong in WWE and challenged him to come down to the ring to get his ass kicked.
Drew rushed the ring and tackled AJ Styles as SmackDown went to a break. AJ Styles dominated most of the action and set up for the Styles Clash. Styles took his time and started at Daniel Bryan ringside. Gulak countered into a rollup for the pinfall victory. Bryan and Styles will battle next week in the finals of the Intercontinental Championship Tournament.
Braun Strowman Tipped Over A Van
The Miz and John Morrison spent the entire show pulling pranks on Universal Champion Braun Strowman. They tried to slime him but wound up getting Kayla Braxton instead.
They then smashed Strowman’s car up with a baseball bat. Strowman got pissed off and found them in the van they were hiding in. The Miz and Morrison locked the doors but Strowman wound up flipping the van over.
Opinion: I would much rather Strowman have a legitimate opponent at Backlash instead of this feud. I wouldn’t hate the goofy prank segments if it wasn’t for the Universal Championship.
Bayley & Sasha Banks Are The New Women’s Tag Team Champions
Nikki Cross & Alexa Bliss defended the Women’s Tag Team Championships against Sasha Banks & Bayley in the main event.
Match Recap: Bliss and Cross controlled the action early and isolated Bayley in the corner. Nikki connected with a Bulldog and went for the cover but Bayley kicked out at two. Nikki sent Sasha into the ring post and then delivered a Crossbody on Bayley outside the ring. Sasha tagged in and hit Nikki Cross with a Meteora as SmackDown went to a break.
When SmackDown returned, Cross was trapped in the corner as Banks and Bayley took turns beating her down. Nikki crawled across the ring but Bayley prevented her from making a tag. Cross booted Bayley away and tagged in Alexa Bliss.
Bliss leveled Bayley with a Clothesline and followed it up with a Dropkick to Banks. Alexa made her way to the top rope and booted Banks to the ring apron. Bayley capitalized on the distraction and caught Alexa with a right hand.
Baley hit Bliss with the Bayley to Belly off the second rope and tagged Sasha in. Banks connected with a knee to the face for a near fall. Nikki planted Bayley with a Tornado DDT outside the ring as Bliss hit a Sunset Flip Powerbomb on Banks for a near fall.
Nikki tagged in and hit Sasha with a Crossbody for a two count. Sasha hit the Backstabber and locked in the Bank Statement but Bayley had tagged herself in. Sasha tagged back in and locked in the Bank Statement in the middle of the ring. Alexa tried to break it up but Bayley prevented her from getting in the ring. Nikki countered into a roll-up but Sasha countered into a cover of her own for the victory. Bayley and Sasha Banks are the new Women’s Tag Team Champions.
Opinion: This was the right call and hopefully Bayley & Banks can breathe some life into the women’s tag team division. I’m not sure if that is even possible with so few viable teams in the division. Overall, this week’s episode of SmackDown was a good show despite the Universal Championship storyline.