The October 18th, 2019 episode of WWE SmackDown aired live from the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Here are 5 takeaways from the show:
King Corbin Interfered In The IC Title Match & Attacked Roman Reigns
Shinsuke Nakamura defended the Intercontinental Championship against Roman Reigns to start the show. Sami Zayn accompanied Nakamura down to the ring and joined commentary for the match.
Reigns dominated early and bounced Shinsuke’s face off the top turnbuckle. Roman followed it up with a Samoan Drop and went for the cover but Shinsuke kicked out at two. Sami Zayn said “he needs me” into the microphone and checked on Nakamura ringside. Reigns went for the Drive-By but Sami pulled Nakamura out of the way and Shinsuke connected with a kick to the face as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Nakamura had Reigns in a Headlock and Sami was back on commentary. Reigns escaped but Nakamura quickly applied an Arm Bar in the middle of the ring. Roman countered into a Powerbomb and went for the cover but Shinsuke kicked out at two.
Sami Zayn hopped on the apron for a distraction and Shinsuke capitalized with a German Suplex. Shinsuke geared up for the Kinshasa but Reigns countered with a Superman Punch for a two count. Reigns took control and was about to hit the Spear but King Corbin struck Roman from behind with the sceptre.
Corbin planted Reigns with the Deep Six but Daniel Bryan rushed the ring for the save. Bryan knocked Corbin to the outside and then hit Nakamura with a Dropkick. Zayn held up Bryan on the ropes for what felt like an eternity before Shinsuke Nakamura finally realized and hit Bryan with a knee to the face to end the segment.
New Day & Heavy Machinery Picked Up A Win
Heavy Machinery (Otis & Tucker) and New Day faced The Revival and Roode & Ziggler. The action spilled outside the ring and Roode & Ziggler planted Xavier Woods with a Zig Zag/Spinebuster combo as Friday Night SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, The Revival had Woods isolated in the ring and connected with a Leg Drop for a two count. Dolph Ziggler tagged in and perched Xavier up on the top turnbuckle.
Woods connected with a headbutt that knocked Ziggler to the mat. Xavier followed that up with a Dropkick off the top rope and then tagged Otis in. Otis hit Roode with a shoulder tackle and then planted Ziggler with a Body Slam.
Otis jiggled his belly around before hitting Robert Roode with a headbutt. Dawson went for a Crossbody but Otis caught him. Dawson battled back and went for a Suplex but Otis blocked it. Big E tagged in and lifted Dawson up on to his shoulders. Woods tagged in and hit Midnight Hour for the victory.
The Revival are the current SmackDown Tag Team Champions, yet were the team that took the pinfall in this match that meant nothing. I simply do not understand why WWE routinely makes heel champions look weak.
Bayley Called The SmackDown Women’s Division Lazy
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley was a guest on Miz TV tonight. Bayley won the title from Charlotte last week after debuting a new look and attitude.
Sasha Banks came down to the ring with Bayley for the segment. The Miz stated that he wasn’t aware that Sasha was going to be here and Banks stated that she was just here to support her friend. Banks added that Bayley is the first-ever women’s Grand Slam Champion.
The Miz asked why Bayley insulted the crowd last week and Bayley sat in silence for a bit. Bayley claimed that she doesn’t owe The Miz or anyone an explanation. Miz joked that Bayley must be Brock Lesnar now because she is a champion that doesn’t talk and asked if Banks was her Paul Heyman.
The Miz added that Bayley will always be playing second fiddle to Sasha Banks. Sasha mocked The Miz for being drafted in the 5th round. Bayley stated that she slashed the Bayley Buddies because that has defined her entire career. Bayley claimed that all the crowd did was take from her and that she was heartbroken after she lost the title at Hell in a Cell.
Bayley stated that she has put herself 2nd her entire career to be a role model for children but nobody was there for her when she lost the title. She then called the SmackDown women’s division lazy. Bayley added that she has outgrown the division and the fans that cheered her. She then offered “life sucks and then you die” as inspiration for the crowd.
Nikki Cross interrupted and said that the time for talking is done and the time for action is now. Dana Brooke joined the party and said that nothing has fueled her passion more than being underutilized and overlooked. Brooke claimed that tonight marks a new beginning and said that the “flex appeal” is here on SmackDown.
Nikki Cross Earned A Shot At The SmackDown Women’s Championship
Sonya Deville, Mandy Rose, Nikki Cross, Lacey Evans, Carmella, and Dana Brooke competed in a Six-Pack Challenge to determine the #1 contender for the SmackDown Women’s Champion.
Deville and Mandy controlled the match early and beat Nikki Cross down in the ring. Nikki sent Deville into the turnbuckle but turned around into a Clothesline from Mandy. Rose and Deville then got out of the ring and beat Carmella down against the barricade. Mandy threw Carmella into the timekeeper’s area as Cross hit Lacey with a Dropkick. Carmella leaped off the barricade and took out Evans and Deville as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Rose and Deville were back in control and had Carmella isolated in the ring. Carmella battled back and knocked Rose and Deville out of the ring. Nikki went for a roll-up but Carmella kicked out. Nikki launched Carmella out of the ring and made her way to the top rope.
Nikki connected with a Crossbody onto Rose, Deville, and Dana Brooke. Lacey Evans threw Cross into the steel steps and then rolled Dana Brooke into the ring. Brooke planted Evans with a Powerbomb and made her way to the top rope. Dana connected with a Senton and went for the cover but Rose broke it up.
Mandy and Carmella traded slaps in the middle of the ring as Graves joked that this might be the greatest thing he has ever seen. Carmella locked in the Code of Silence on Mandy but Sonya broke it up. Nikki planted Mandy with the Spinning Neckbreaker for the pinfall victory. Nikki Cross will face Bayley for the SmackDown Women’s Championship in the near future. After the match, Bayley raised the title in Nikki’s face.
I would have preferred to watch these superstars earn their into this match over the course of a few weeks. It just comes across as WWE picking six names out of a hat and throwing them into this match.
Daniel Bryan Pinned The Intercontinental Champion
Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns teamed up to face Shinsuke Nakamura and King Corbin in the main event of this week’s SmackDown. Roman leveled King Corbin with an uppercut and tagged in Bryan to start things off.
Bryan hit King Corbin with a few boots to the face and followed it up with a Bulldog. Nakamura tagged in and Sami distracted Bryan while he was on the turnbuckle. Nakamura capitalized with a kick to the face and Bryan fell to the floor as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
Corbin and Nakamura had Bryan isolated in the ring when SmackDown returned from the break. Bryan battled back and connected with a Clothesline that knocked Shinsuke to the mat. Reigns reached for a tag but Corbin took him off the apron and slammed Roman into the steel steps.
Nakamura hit Bryan with a knee to the face and went for the cover but Daniel kicked out at two. Shinsuke went for a roll-up but Bryan countered into the Lebell Lock in the middle of the ring. Corbin broke it up but Reigns hit him with a Superman Punch. Roman then Speared Corbin through the barricade and into the timekeeper’s area.
Back in the ring, Daniel Bryan unloaded a few Yes Kicks that knocked Nakamura to the mat. Bryan went for the Running Knee but Shinsuke countered with a boot to the face. Nakamura went for the Kinshasa but Bryan dodged it and hit the Running Knee for the pinfall victory.
Both the SmackDown Tag Team Champions and the Intercontinental Champion got pinned tonight in meaningless matches. I’m assuming that we are going to see Bryan versus Nakamura for the IC Title and Corbin versus Reigns in the near future. There is no reason to have the champion get pinned to build a future title match. Absolutely nothing has changed with RAW and SmackDown. They are the same illogical shows that do not build anyone up or create compelling storylines.