The October 17th edition of SmackDown aired live from the KeyArena in Seattle, Washington. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn faced Shinsuke Nakamura and Randy Orton in the main event. Here are 5 takeaways from this week’s SmackDown:
Sami Zayn Is Great As A Heel
SmackDown GM Daniel Bryan kicked off this week’s episode of SmackDown and got a great reaction from his hometown crowd. Bryan said that he wanted to address Sami Zayn and Sami danced his way down to the ring. Daniel Bryan said that he was disappointed in Sami’s actions at Hell in a Cell.
Sami cut Bryan off and said that he is not like Daniel Bryan. Sami said that the fans got behind Bryan and that caused him to reach the main event of WrestleMania. Sami said that the fans never got behind him and that he no longer cares what the fans think. Zayn stated that he took ownership of his career back and said that if Bryan worked a little smarter, he wouldn’t have had to retire in this building years ago.
Sami added that Daniel Bryan was the best wrestler of his generation but now he wants to be nothing like him. Sami then called Bryan a housewife and Kevin Owens came down to the ring. Owens called Bryan a hypocrite and Bryan interrupted. Bryan stated that Owens doesn’t really care about Sami Zayn and that Bryan cares about what is doing what is best for the fans. Owens said that Bryan only cares now about what is “best for business” and that Daniel Bryan is now The Authority. Sami agreed with Owens and then called Bryan a sell out.
Zayn thanked Owens for opening his eyes and the two Superstars shared a hug in the ring. Daniel Bryan hopped out of the ring and started to walk backstage. Kevin Owen said “walking out of this arena is the best thing you got nowadays”. Daniel Bryan said that he was going to go out back and find some dudes to punch Owens and Zayn in the face.
This was a great segment to start off SmackDown. The crowd chanted “Sami sucks!” during the promo and Sami is doing awesome as a heel so far. He is very good at being annoying and it makes you wonder why WWE didn’t turn Zayn heel sooner.
"I'm going to go find a couple of dudes…to punch you guys in the face!"
#SDLive General Manager @WWEDanielBryan is working hard tonight! pic.twitter.com/Gh7ozcHjMj— WWE (@WWE) October 18, 2017
Charlotte Got The Best Of Natalya
Natalya, Tamina & Lana faced Becky Lynch, Charlotte & Naomi tonight on SmackDown in a 6-woman tag match. Charlotte got tagged in towards the end of the match and beatdown Lana. Charlotte connected with a big boot and then went for the Figure Four but Natalya got in the ring and threw Charlotte into the turnbuckle.
Becky Lynch hit the Exploder Suplex onto Natalya and then Tamina got back into the ring and booted Becky in the face. Charlotte then was able to lock in the Figure Eight onto Lana for the victory. After the match, Natalya tried to attack Charlotte with a chair but Charlotte was ready for it. Charlotte then grabbed the chair from Natalya and chased after her but Natalya escaped through the crowd. This feud will certainly continue and it just feels like a matter of time before Charlotte is SmackDown Women’s Champion again.
Things are FAR from over between #TheQueen @MsCharlotteWWE and #SDLive #WomensChampion @NatByNature! pic.twitter.com/n3CtVrZe4K
— WWE (@WWE) October 18, 2017
Jinder Mahal Challenged Brock Lesnar, Corbin Lost To Sin Cara
WWE Champion Jinder Mahal came down to the ring with a special announcement for WWE Survivor Series. Jinder Mahal challenged Brock Lesnar to a match at Survivor Series. AJ Styles then came down to the ring and challenged Jinder Mahal to a match for the WWE Championship. Styles then connected with a Pele Kick and knocked Mahal out of the ring.
I have very little interest in a match between Jinder Mahal and Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series. However, I would love to see AJ Styles take the WWE Championship off of Jinder Mahal as soon as possible. It was later announced that Brock Lesnar will respond to Mahal’s challenge on next Monday’s episode of RAW.
THIS is why THEY DON'T WANT NONE, @JinderMahal! #SDLive @AJStylesOrg @SinghBrosWWE pic.twitter.com/VoXQfJ1NSM
— WWE (@WWE) October 18, 2017
Baron Corbin Lost To Sin Cara
United States Champion Baron Corbin faced Sin Cara tonight for some reason and wound up losing the match via a count-out. I had completely forgotten that Sin Cara was on the SmackDown roster until tonight’s match. The announcers said that this could mean that Sin Cara is in line for a shot at the United States Championship in the near future. I hope that is not the case because that sounds absolutely terrible.
Chalk up a VICTORY over the #USChampion @BaronCorbinWWE for @SinCaraWWE! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/L8JZ4sNHpX
— WWE (@WWE) October 18, 2017
Nobody Cares About The Ziggler & Roode Feud
Dolph Ziggler and Bobby Roode had a rematch of their bout at Hell in a Cell tonight on SmackDown. The match was immediately interrupted by a commercial break and ended quickly when SmackDown returned. Ziggler got the quick victory by rolling up Roode and grabbing his tights for leverage. Roode won the match at Hell in a Cell the same way. This feud has been a pretty big letdown so far.
Roode hasn’t made any impact at all since joining the main roster and he barely got any reaction from the crowd tonight. Dolph Ziggler and Roode can put on a good match, but the audience has to be invested in the storyline for that to happen. As of now, it doesn’t seem like too many people care about this feud.
"I TOLD YOU SO!" @HEELZiggler picks up the victory over @REALBobbyRoode on #SDLive! #RoodevsZiggler pic.twitter.com/SL3tJlwVJF
— WWE (@WWE) October 18, 2017
Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens Defeated Nakamura & Orton
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens faced Shinsuke Nakamura and Randy Orton tonight in the main event of SmackDown. Zayn and Nakamura started off the match. Shinsuke connected with a knee to Sami’s midsection and then kick to the side of his head. Randy Orton was then tagged in and Owens and Zayn took over the match. Orton was slammed into the barricade surrounding the ring as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Owens and Zayn were still in control of the match. Owens and Zayn took turns beating down Nakamura for the next few minutes. Shinsuke finally fought back and connected with a kick that knocked Owens to the canvas. Orton and Zayn were tagged into the match. Orton launched Sami across the ring and then slammed Owens into the barricade outside the ring.
Orton approached the ring apron and Zayn connected with a Dropkick. Orton then hit a right hand and then slammed Zayn through the announce table outside the ring. Randy brought Sami back in the ring and went for the cover but Owens broke it up. Zayn went for the Helluva Kick but Orton countered it into a Powerslam for a two count.
Kevin Owens distracted the referee and Owens delivered a brutal low-blow to Randy Orton. Zayn then followed it up with a Helluva Kick for the pinfall victory. After the match, Sami Zayn and Owens celebrated in Daniel Bryan’s face backstage. Bryan announced that Shane McMahon will be returning next week on SmackDown. Owens and Sami then came back down to the entrance ramp and mocked Orton and Nakamura.
Owens grabbed the microphone and said that he and Sami were SmackDown Live and that there was nothing anybody could do about it. Owens shouted that they are best friends and raised Sami’s hand. The two then shared a hug and Owens shouted “hold me tight!” as SmackDown went off the air.
"My name is @FightOwensFight! THIS is @SamiZayn, and he is MY BEST FRIEND!!!" #SDLive pic.twitter.com/yt2k69Vhgb
— WWE (@WWE) October 18, 2017
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