SEScoops

6 Takeaways From WWE SmackDown (5/29)

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Written by

Robert Lentini

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The May 29th, 2018 episode of WWE SmackDown aired live in Raleigh, NC. The final participant in the men’s MITB Ladder Match was decided in the main event.

Announced for next week:

  • Jimmy Uso & Naomi vs. Aiden English & Lana
  • Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair

Here are 6 takeaways from this week’s show:

Big Cass Attacked Samoa Joe & Daniel Bryan

Photo Credit: @WWE on Twitter

Samoa Joe came down to the ring to start off this week’s episode of SmackDown. Joe grabbed a ladder and set it up in the middle of the ring. Joe climbed the ladder and grabbed the briefcase that was suspended above the ring. He held up the briefcase and stated that after MITB, he will be smiling because he has secured his championship oppurtunity.

Joe vowed to release a campaign of anxiety and fear on SmackDown after he wins the MITB Ladder Match. Joe added that he will prove to Daniel Bryan that there are things that are far worse than forced retirement. He suggested that Bryan call Brie to tell their daughter that their father will be home for Money in the Bank, but he won’t be the same man.

Daniel Bryan interrupted and told Joe that there are certain lines you don’t cross. Bryan threatened to break Joe’s leg if he mentions his wife or daughter again. Daniel said that they don’t have to wait for the main event, they can fight right now. Big Cass’ music hit and he came down to the entrance ramp in a suit. Cass had a smile on his face as he hobbled down the ramp with a crutch.

Cass asked if Joe and Bryan were children on the playground. He then called Bryan and Joe “the shrimp and the blimp”. Big Cass bitched about Bryan getting another opportunity to qualify for the MITB Ladder Match. Cass added that he spoke to SmackDown GM Paige and claimed that she told him that match will not happen. Cass said that he will face Samoa Joe to qualify for the Ladder Match when he is cleared to compete.

Big Cass then said that he was already cleared and swung his crutch at Bryan. Daniel ducked and Cass hit Samoa Joe. Cass launched Bryan into the ladder and bashed Joe in the face with the MITB briefcase. Cass then paraded around the ring with briefcase as his theme hit.

Paige announced backstage that the qualifying match will now be Big Cass vs. Samoa Joe vs. Daniel Bryan.

Carmella Confronted Asuka

Photo Credit: @WWE on Twitter

Paige was confronted by Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville. Rose and Deville said that Paige was making a lot of mistakes and giving people opportunities that didn’t deserve it. They didn’t believe that Asuka deserved a title shot because she hasn’t accomplished anything on SmackDown. Paige then made a match between Asuka and Mandy Rose later tonight.

SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella joined commentary for the match. As Asuka was making her entrance, Sonya Deville attacked Mandy Rose from behind. Asuka still wanted to have the match after the attack. Rose took advantage and dominated the first couple of minutes of the match.

Carmella boasted about defeating Charlotte Flair twice and how that makes her better then Asuka. Rose connected with a knee to the face for a two count as SmackDown went to a commercial break. When SmackDown returned, Asuka battled back with a series of kicks and then a knee to the face.

Asuka followed it up with a kick to the face that knocked Mandy to the corner. Asuka climbed to the top rope and hit a Dropkick for a two count. Asuka then applied the Asuka Lock for the pinfall victory. After the match, Carmella got in the ring and raised the SmackDown Women’s Championship in Asuka’s face.

Shinsuke Nakamura Sent A Message To AJ Styles 

Shinsuke Nakamura was shown walking backstage with pieces of paper that had the numbers 1-10 on them. Nakamura will battle AJ Styles for the WWE Championship at Money in the Bank in a Last Man Standing Match. Once Nakamura reached #10, he ripped up the paper and made his way to the ring for a match versus Tye Dillinger.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1001618267360972800

Dillinger shoved Nakamura to start off the match. Tye connected with a chop to the chest and then delivered another one in the corner. Dillinger then hit a series of punches in the corner and Nakamura escaped out of the ring. Tye followed him and Nakamura connected with a few knees to the ribs.

Tye battled back with a Dropkick that knocked Shinsuke to the barricade. Dillinger went for a Suicide Dive, but wound up diving into a knee to the face from Nakamura as SmackDown went to a commercial break.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1001620477243215872

When SmackDown returned, Nakamura was in control of the match and started counting to ten. Dillinger got back up, but Nakamura dropped him right back to the canvas with a kick to the back of the head. Shinsuke started counting once again, but Tye got up at 7. Shinsuke connected with a few knees in the corner and then draped Dillinger across the top rope. Nakamura hit a running knee to the ribs and Tye crashed to the mat.

Nakamura began his count once again, but Dillinger got up at 9. Tye did the perfect ten pose and then mocked Shinsuke’s “come on!” taunt. Tye then decked Nakamura with a Clothesline and followed it up with a knee to the face. Shinsuke quickly battled back with a knee to the face of his own and then the Kinshasa for the pinfall victory. After the match, Nakamura hit another Kinshasa to the back of Tye’s head and then finally was able to count to ten.

WWE Champion AJ Styles was then immediately interviewed backstage. Styles stated that somewhere down the line, Nakamura snapped and he is more dangerous than he has ever been. AJ said that he fights harder than anyone else and that he is the last man to back down from a challenge. He then guaranteed that he will be the last man standing at WWE Money in the Bank.

There Was A Dance Off & Then A Brawl

Photo Credit: @UsosSourceCom on Twitter

Lana competed with Naomi in dance off tonight on SmackDown. Rusev and Aiden English accompanied Lana to the ring. The Usos accompanied Naomi to the ring. The winner of the dance off was decided the audience applause. Lana went first and got a good reaction. Naomia went second and also got a good reaction.

Naomi and Lana then danced together and posed in the ring. Lana then dropped Naomi with a Neckbreaker and started punching her. Lana slapped Jimmy Uso in the face and that allowed Naomi to get back up. Naomi dropped Lana with the Rear View as The Usos Superkicked Rusev and Aiden English out of the ring.

Lana & English will face Jimmy & Naomi in a Mixed Tag Team Match next week on SmackDown.

New Day Defeated The Bar & The Miz

Photo Credit: @WWE on Twitter

New Day faced The Bar & The Miz tonight on SmackDown. Big E planted Cesaro with a Belly to Belly Suplex to start off the match. Kofi tagged and connected with a Splash for a two count. Cesaro trapped Kingston in the corner and Miz tossed him to the floor outside the ring as SmackDown went to a commercial break.

When SmackDown returned, Kofi was trapped in the corner as Cesaro decked him with an uppercut. Sheamus tagged in and knocked Woods off the ring apron. Cesaro tagged back in and hit an Elbow Drop for a two count. Kofi battled back and knocked Cesaro out of the ring.

The Miz and Sheamus then grabbed Big E from the ring apron and threw him into the barricade outside the ring. The Miz tagged in and went for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Kofi countered into an SOS. Kofi then dove across the ring and tagged in Woods. Sheamus tagged in and Xavier greeted him with a knee to the face.

Woods booted Miz out of the ring and then used Sheamus’ back as a springboard to jump onto Cesaro outside the ring. Woods then planted Sheamus with a DDT for a two count. The Miz distracted Woods and Sheamus crotched him on the top turnbuckle. Cesaro took out Kofi ringside and then tagged back into the match.

Big E tagged himself in and then slammed Cesaro’s back into Woods’ knees for a two count. The crowd chanted “this is awesome!” as Big E circled Cesaro and waited for him to get up. Cesaro escaped the Big Ending and The Miz tagged in. Miz planted Big E and went for the cover but Kofi broke it up. Woods knocked Sheamus out of the ring and went for a Crossbody. The Bar caught Woods and launched him into the barricade. Kofi then leaped off the top of the barricade and took out The Bar. Big E then connected with the Big Ending to The Miz for the pinfall victory.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1001630519271088128

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1001631480811016193

Samoa Joe Qualified For The Men’s MITB Ladder Match

Photo Credit: @WWE on Twitter

Big Cass, Samoa Joe and Daniel Bryan battled in a Triple Threat Match in the main event of this week’s SmackDown. The winner of the match will qualify for the men’s MITB Ladder Match.

Cass was knocked out of the ring right away and Joe beatdown Bryan in the corner. Bryan battled back for a moment and hit Big Cass with a Dropkick through the ropes. Joe leveled Bryan with a Clothesline and then connected with a Suicide Dive onto Big Cass outside the ring. Bryan climbed to the top rope and took them both out with a Crossbody as SmackDown went to a break.

When SmackDown returned, Big Cass and Joe were in the ring. Joe connected with a boot to Cass’ head and went for to lock in the Coquina Clutch. Bryan got back into the ring and Joe knocked him to the canvas. Joe followed it up with a Senton and went for the cover but Cass broke it up.

Cass threw Bryan to the outside and then tossed him over the announce table. Big Cass got back into the ring as Samoa Joe was on the second rope. Bryan hit Joe with a Dropkick and knocked Cass out of the ring. Daniel sent Joe flying across the ring with a Hurricanrana and followed it up with a couple of Dropkicks in the corner. Bryan went for a third, but Cass got back into the ring and turned Bryan inside out with a Clothesline for a two count.

Big Cass dropped an elbow on Bryan and then unloaded a few right hands to his face. Bryan tried to fight back, but Cass halted his momentum with a knee to the ribs as SmackDown went to a break. SmackDown returned as Cass hit Joe with the Empire Elbow. Bryan broke out up the cover, but was planted with the East River Crossing by Big Cass.

Bryan took down Cass and Joe and hit them both a series of Yes Kicks. Joe charged at Bryan, but Daniel ducked and Joe went flying out of the ring. Daniel then applied the Yes Lock to Cass, but Joe dragged Bryan out of the ring. Bryan hopped up on the apron and connected with a knee to Joe’s face and both Superstars fell to the floor outside the ring.

Back in the ring, Bryan connected with a knee to the face to Big Cass and went for the cover. Joe grabbed Bryan from behind and locked in the Coquina Clutch in the middle of the ring. Bryan passed out and Joe won the match. After the match, Big Cass got back into the ring and waited for Bryan to get up. Cass knocked him back down with a big boot to the face and then raised his first in the air as SmackDown went off the air.

Opinion: I thought tonight’s episode of SmackDown was decent. The match of the night was New Day versus The Bar & The Miz. Samoa Joe’s promo was great to start off the show and the main event was entertaining. Joe is not only one of my favorite wrestlers in WWE, but his promos are excellent. He is one of the only Superstars on the roster that actually seems genuine when he speaks. I buy everything he is saying and I don’t feel like I am listening to someone that is trying to remember their lines.I have no issues with Bryan coming up short and going through adversity now that he is back in the ring. Bryan’s character is at his best when he has to overcome obstacles and battle his way back to the top. I just wish his first feud back wasn’t with Big Cass.

What did you think of this week’s episode of SmackDown? Let us know in the comments below.

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