WWE Smackdown Reaction (10/18)

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This week’s episode of Smackdown opened up with James Ellsworth taping up backstage. Dean Ambrose gave Ellsworth a pep talk backstage. Ellsworth now has a shirt you can buy through WWE shop.

Randy Orton came down to the ring to cut a promo. Orton stated that he felt like he was losing his mind due to Bray Wyatt. Orton went on to say that he is coming for Bray Wyatt. Bray then appeared on screen in a casket surrounded by people in sheep masks. Wyatt stated that Randy doesn’t have to come find him because he is coming for him. Bray said that he was having so much fun driving Orton insane.

Randy Orton vs Luke Harper

Harper went to dive onto Orton outside the ring but Randy caught him with a right hand. The crowd started chanting “RKO!” as Orton punched Harper in the corner. Orton hit Harper with a Superplex off of the top rope. Bray’s music hit and the lights went out. Bray was then dragged out in the casket and Smackdown went to a commercial break.

When Smackdown returned, Bray Wyatt was hovering over Orton outside the ring. Harper was able to gain momentum in the match due to the distraction by Wyatt. The casket was set up right next to the ring. Orton hit Harper with a couple of Clotheslines then followed it up with a Powerslam. Bray Wyatt attacked Orton from behind and Harper was disqualified.

Wyatt and Harper then beatdown Randy Orton. Bray went to open up the casket but Kane was inside of it. Kane then hit Harper and Wyatt with a few punches. Kane and Orton were setting up for a Chokeslam and an RKO but the lights went out. When the lights came back on, both Harper and Wyatt were gone.

Winner via DQ: Randy Orton

AJ Styles was interviewed backstage. Styles called James Ellsworth a “fat-skinny turd” and thought it was a joke he had to defend his title against him. Styles was worried that Ambrose would get involved in the match. Styles threatened that he will tear Ambrose apart if he gets involved in the WWE World Championship match later in the show.

Reaction: Kane finally has something to do on Smackdown and the Wyatt family is relevant again. Smackdown has a lot of time to kill until their next PPV so I expect this feud to go on for awhile.

Alexa Bliss vs Naomi

Bliss tried hiding behind the referee several times but Naomi kept catching her. Naomi controlled the first few minutes of the match. Alexa Bliss rolled out of the ring and Smackdown went to a commercial break.

When Smackdown returned, Naomi was still in control of the match. Naomi hit a Jawbreaker on Bliss and followed it up with a Moonsault. Naomi went for the cover but Alexa Bliss kicked out at two. Alexa Bliss then regained momentum and hit the Twisted Bliss for the victory. After the match, Renee Young interviewed Alexa Bliss. She stated that in three weeks she will defeat Becky Lynch for the Smackdown Women’s Championship.

Reaction: This was an alright match. I’m glad Alexa Bliss won because they need to build her back up so she can be seen as a viable contender for the Smackdown Women’s Championship. It didn’t make sense to me that Naomi defeated Alexa so easily at No Mercy.

Winner: Alexa Bliss

Curt Hawkins vs Apollo Crews

Hawkins cut a goofy promo before the match. He stated that after tonight’s match he is going to have to change his name to “Apollo Lose”. Crews punched Hawkins in the face and that was the match. Curt Hawkins walked backstage and refused to compete.

Reaction: Curt Hawkins is essentially the male version Eva Marie now. His entrance is almost the same and he refuses to wrestle. Apollo Crews is just completely lost. I’ve already pretty much forgotten that he was on the Smackdown roster. His in-ring talent is superb but he is just not connecting with the crowd. Having said that, the WWE barely gave him an oppurtunity on the main roster. Hopefully the WWE can come up with some kind of character for him in the near future. The “smiley wrestler guy” shtick isn’t going to work. If things stay like this, Crews will be stuck on WWE Superstars and stupid segments like this until the WWE ultimately decides they don’t need him anymore.

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Carmella came down to the ring to cut a promo but Nikki Bella interrupted immediately. Carmella claimed that Nikki Bella can get away with everything because her boyfriend is John Cena. Nikki then said it was embarrassing that Carmella would try to take away all of her accomplishments because she is with John Cena. Carmella then called Nikka a gold digger.  A video was shown of clips from Total Divas of Nikki Bella being needy with John Cena.

Nikki Bella congratulated Carmella on her ability to edit video. Carmella then accused Nikki of using her looks to get her foot in the door. Carmella went on to claim that Nikki used her sister to get into the ring and John Cena to become a celebrity.

Renee Young interviewed James Ellsworth backstage. Ellsworth became emotional when he said that he is going to be able to tell his grandchildren that he wrestled for the WWE World Championship on Smackdown Live. JBL then mocked Ellsworth for crying and Smackdown went to a commercial.

The Miz & Spirit Squad vs Dolph Ziggler, Rhyno & Heath Slater

Rhyno started off the match by dominating both members of the Spirit Squad. The match went back in forth for a few minutes. Ziggler was trapped in the ring and was getting beatdown by the Spirit Squad. The Miz was then tagged in and attacked Ziggler before he could tag himself out. Eventually, Ziggler was able to tag in Slater. Heath took out both members of the Spirit Squad. Rhyno hit a Gore on Mikey but was tossed out of the ring by Kenny. Slater went for a roll-up but Kenny kicked out. The Miz then punched Slater in the face and Kenny rolled him up for the victory.

Winners: The Miz & Spirit Squad

Winners: The Miz & Spirit Squad

Natalya had a conversation with Daniel Bryan backstage. She wanted to be the first to join the women’s team for the Survivor Series match against Raw. Daniel Bryan said he would consider it. During this promo, Natalya quoted Whitney Houston twice and then showed Daniel Bryan her cat’s instagram profile. Does Natalya now have a crazy cat lady gimmick?

Baron Corbin vs Jack Swagger

This match lasted a minute. Corbin hit the End of Days for the victory.

Winner: Baron Corbin

Dean Ambrose wanted to be the special referee for the WWE World Championship match. Daniel Bryan informed him that he wouldn’t be but could do anything else. Daniel Bryan suggested that Ambrose be the ring announcer, time keeper or join commentary for the match.

WWE World Championship Match: AJ Styles (c) vs James Ellsworth

The crowd broke out in an “Ellsworth!” chant before the match started. Dean Ambrose was the ring announcer and introduced James Ellsworth and the crowd gave him a big ovation. Ambrose then introduced AJ Styles as the master of taking the easy way out. Dean Ambrose then exited the ring and rang the bell about a thousand times.

The match finally started and Styles put Ellsworth in the Abdominal Stetch. Ambrose then got on the microphone and shouted that the match needed to stop because Smackdown needed to take a commercial break. When Smackdown returned, Styles had Ellsworth grounded.

Dean Ambrose directed everyone’s attention to the titantron where Ellsworth’s shirt was displayed. Ambrose announced that it was available for purchase at WWE Shop and the concession stands in the arena. The crowd stated chanting “soccer mom!” at AJ Styles.

Styles continued to beatdown Ellsworth and only took a break to shout at Ambrose. Styles was going for a Superplex but Ambrose distracted him by getting on the microphone again. Ambrose stated that someone’s headlights were on and that tonight’s WWE program was brought to you by Verizon.

Styles knocked Ellsworth out of the ring and Ambrose threw him back into the ring. This happened several times in a row and the crowd became restless. Styles got on the top turnbuckle and started shouting at Ambrose. Ellsworth grabbed the foot of Styles and AJ hit his head of the top turnbuckle. Ellsworth then hit a majestic Sweet Chin Music on Styles but AJ kicked out at two. Ellsworth went for another one but Styles countered and hit a Spinebuster.

Styles then trapped Ellsworth in the corner and beat the hell out of him. Ambrose once again grabbed the microphone and began to taunt AJ. This angered Styles and AJ punched Ellsworth over and over again and the referee disqualified Styles.

Ambrose got into the ring to announce that Ellsworth had won the match by disqualification. Styles ran at Ambrose but Dean caught him and hit the Dirty Deeds. Ambrose then announced that Ellsworth now has more wins over Styles than John Cena.

Winner via DQ: James Ellsworth

Reaction: For the second week in a row, James Ellsworth defeated AJ Styles. I didn’t find it all that entertaining this week. The match itself was annoying. Ambrose shouting into the microphone got old quick. This entire episode felt like a throwaway episode. There were some entertaining moments but this was the first episode of Smackdown in some time that I found boring.

I thought Carmella and Nikki Bella had a solid promo. The opening match was decent and so was the six man tag match. Baron Corbin and Jack Swagger just had two pretty good matches recently. All of the sudden, Swagger is jobbing to Corbin in an under a minute. JBL and David Otunga were screaming at the top of their lungs about how amazing the victory by Corbin was.

Jack Swagger has spent a substantial amount of time being booked as an irrelevant talent. He shows up on Smackdown a couple of weeks ago and confronts Corbin. How exactly does a quick victory over Jack Swagger make Corbin dominant? I understand that the WWE wants the WWE Universe to think of Corbin as unstoppable. I just don’t that this match in the middle of an episode of Smackdown will make everyone a Baron Corbin fan all of the sudden.

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

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