The May 7th, 2019 episode of WWE SmackDown aired live from the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, KY. Here are 4 takeaways from this week’s show:
Kofi Kingston Challenged Sami Zayn & AJ Styles
AJ Styles returned to SmackDown under the new wild card rule. Styles stated that SmackDown is still the house that AJ Styles built. Sami Zayn interrupted and told the crowd that he would rather be anywhere than here on his day off. Zayn claimed that AJ’s “toxic ego” has spiraled out of control.
Styles said that Sami smells like a foot because Strowman threw him in a dumpster. Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods joined the party and came down to the entrance ramp. Kingston told Styles that he does not live on SmackDown anymore and asked why he was here.
AJ pointed out that Kofi was on RAW last night and got in his face. Sami Zayn interrupted and told Kingston not to offer AJ Styles a WWE Championship match. Zayn claimed that the fans aren’t actually happy for Kofi and shouted that he is the one who deserves a title match. Kofi said either one of them could get a title match tonight and the three superstars argued to end the segment. It was later announced that Kingston will defend the title against Zayn and Styles in a Triple Threat match.
Daniel Bryan & Rowan Captured The SmackDown Tag Team Championships
SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon came down to the ring and blasted The Miz for attacking him last night on RAW. Shane vowed to emerge from their Steel Cage match victorious and turned his attention to the SmackDown tag team division.
Shane noted that The Hardy Boyz had to vacate the titles because Lars Sullivan injured Jeff Hardy. He then announced that Daniel Bryan and Erick Rowan are the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions.
The Usos interrupted and Shane quickly asked why they returned to SmackDown. Jimmy and Jey said that they worked too damn hard to put the tag team division on the map and that the titles should be earned. Shane made the match official and The Usos battled Rowan and Bryan for the vacant tag team titles.
Bryan and Rowan controlled the match early and isolated Jimmy in the ring. Rowan connected with a Splash and went for the cover but Jimmy kicked out at two. Jimmy battled Bryan with a Superkick for a near fall. Jimmy then went for a Splash off the top rope but Bryan caught him and applied the LeBell Lock. Jimmy countered into a roll-up for a two count and followed it up with another Superkick.
Jey and Rowan tagged in. Jey went for a Crossbody but Rowan caught him. Jey escaped and tagged Jimmy back in. The Usos connected with double Superkicks on Rowan. Jey hit Bryan with a Suicide Dive as Jimmy hit Rowan with a Splash for another near fall.
Jey hit Bryan with a Superkick and then sent Rowan out of the ring. The Usos went for double Suicide Dives but Rowan caught them. Back in the ring, Rowan planted Jey with the Iron Claw for the pinfall victory. Daniel Bryan and Erick Rowan are the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions.
Bryan and Rowan stumbled upon Heavy Machinery backstage. Otis and Tucker stared at the new champs as Bryan shook his head in disapproval.
Bryan and Rowan are a great choice to be the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions. The division is as depleted as it has ever been with Jeff Hardy out with an injury. Hopefully, Bryan and Rowan get a solid title reign and help build up some new teams in the process.
Shane McMahon Got The Better Of The Miz
Shane McMahon made an announcement about Money in the Bank tonight on SmackDown. He said that any superstar that grabs the briefcase is almost guaranteed to win the title.
The Miz showed ran through the crowd and attacked Shane from behind. Shane tried to retreat backstage but The Miz caught him on the entrance ramp. The B-Team made the save and attacked The Miz as Shane retreated backstage.
Miz shoved Bo and Axel off the entrance ramp as Shane came running from backstage. Shane blasted Miz in the back with a steel chair a couple of times and then stood over him to conclude the segment.
Kofi Kingston Retained The WWE Champaionship
Kofi Kingston defended the WWE Championship against Sami Zayn and AJ Styles in a Triple Threat match in the main event of this week’s SmackDown. Styles booted Kofi in the face to start off the match. Kofi battled back with a Dropkick for a one count.
Sami charged at Kingston and wound up running into a Dropkick. Zayn rolled out of the ring as Styles planted Kingston with a Backbreaker. Zayn got back into the ring and walked right into a flurry of punches from Styles. AJ hit Sami with a chop and Zayn once again rolled to the outside.
Kofi hit Styles with a Splash across his back and AJ landed with all of his weight on his right knee. Kofi and AJ then leveled Sami with a Clothesline. Sami battled back and slammed AJ on the ring apron as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Sami hit Kofi with a Superkick and went for the cover but the champion was able to kick out at the last second. Styles got back in the action and sent Sami flying across the ring with a Hurricanrana.
AJ hit Kofi with a Pele Kick and both superstars fell to the canvas. AJ was the first up and charged at Kingston in the corner. Styles went for the Phenomenal Forearm but Kofi tripped him up. Kingston hit AJ with Trouble in Paradise and sent Styles to the floor.
Kevin Owens ran down the ramp and attacked Woods from behind. Sami capitalized on the distraction and hit the Blue Thunder Bomb on Kingston for a near fall. Sami hit another Blue Thunder Bomb and Kofi once again kicked out at two. Zayn then hit a third Blue Thunder Bomb and went for the cover but Kofi somehow kicked out again.
Sami geared up in the corner as Kofi stumbled to his feet. Zayn went for the Helluva Kick but Kofi countered with the Trouble in Paradise for the pinfall victory. Kofi Kingston successfully defended his WWE Championship for the second night in a row and will be battle Kevin Owens at WWE Money in the Bank 2019. After the match, Kofi stated that there is going to be hell to pay for Kevin Owens at the PPV.
This week’s episode of SmackDown was solid and was far more entertaining than last night’s horrific episode of RAW. The two title matches were great, despite it being quite obvious that the SmackDown superstars were going to win. I don’t find the wild card rule to be intriguing, especially so soon after the Superstar Shake-Up. WWE hasn’t developed enough stars for the wild card rule to be interesting on a weekly basis.
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