Home News 5 Takeaways From WWE SmackDown (11/21)

5 Takeaways From WWE SmackDown (11/21)

Robert Lentini
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5 Takeaways From WWE SmackDown (11/21)
Photo Credit: WWE.com

The November 21st episode of WWE SmackDown took place in Houston, TX. It was the first episode of SmackDown following WWE Survivor Series. Here are 5 takeaways from this week’s episode of SmackDown:

Owens & Zayn Were Almost Fired By Shane McMahon

This week’s episode of SmackDown kicked off with SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon coming down to the ring. The crowd cheered for Shane and McMahon thanked them. Shane said SmackDown was so close but came up short at Survivor Series. Shane added that SmackDown proved even in defeat that SmackDown is “the show” in WWE. Shane stated that he was proud of everyone on the SmackDown roster for their performances at Survivor Series this past Sunday.

Shane then called out Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. Zayn and Owens attacked Shane McMahon at Survivor Series during the 5-on-5 Elimination match. Zayn and Owens made their way to the ring. Zayn had. a ridiculous grin on his face and danced down the entrance ramp.

Owens and Zayn said that it was a mistake for Shane to leave them off the SmackDown roster and that they would have defeated anyone on the RAW roster. Owens told Shane to be a man and tell them that he is sorry. Shane told Owens to shut his mouth and stated that the two of them have zero respect no respect for anyone on the WWE roster.

Owens and Zayn claimed that they are the top two Superstars in WWE and Shane called them delusional. Shane added that the SmackDown locker room hates Owens and Zayn. Shane McMahon was about to fire Owens and Zayn when SmackDown GM Daniel Bryan interrupted.

Daniel Bryan came down to the ring and told Shane to put his personal feelings aside. Bryan announced that he had to send Randy Orton because Orton didn’t want to be held responsible for what he would do to Zayn and Owens tonight. Bryan announced that Zayn and Owens will face New Day in a Lumberjack match tonight.

Shane McMahon didn’t seem too pleased with Daniel Bryan’s decision during this promo. It appeared that Shane was hell-bent on firing both Owens and Zayn tonight. Shane and Bryan still aren’t on the same page and Daniel Bryan stated last week on SmackDown that he was going to have to talk to Shane following Survivor Series.

Gable & Benjamin Are Ready For Another Shot At The Titles

Jey Uso battled Shelton Benjamin tonight on SmackDown. Chad Gable kept trying to get involved in the match. Jimmy Uso slammed Gable into the barricade and Jey connected with a Superkick to Benjamin in the ring. Jey went for the cover but Benjamin was able to kick out at two.

Jey then climbed up to the top rope and went for a Splash. Benjamin rolled out of the way and Jey crashed to the canvas. Benjamin then planted Jey with the Paydirt for the pinfall victory. Gable and Benjamin are now at the front of the line for another opportunity for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships.

The Usos proved at Survivor Series that they are the best tag team in WWE when they defeated The Bar. The Usos are also fresh off of a victory in their rivalry against the New Day. Gable and Benjamin failed to capitalize on their opportunity for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships recently on an episode of SmackDown. After tonight’s win by Benjamin over Jey Uso, they proved that they are ready to challenge The Usos once again for the titles.

The Bludgeon Brothers & NXT Talent Made Their SmackDown Debuts

Ruby Riot, Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan made their SmackDown debuts tonight. They appeared backstage and approached Naomi. The trio beatdown Naomi and then Becky Lynch arrived to try and help Naomi. That didn’t work out too well for Becky as she also was beaten down.

Charlotte defended her SmackDown Women’s Championship tonight against Natalya. Charlotte started off the match in control and connected with a series of chops as the crowd chanted “woo!”. Natalya knocked Charlotte to the canvas and went for the Sharpshooter but Charlotte blocked it. Natalya then bounced Charlotte’s head off the second turnbuckle as SmackDown went to a commercial break.

Natalya remained in control of the match during the commercial break. When SmackDown returned, Natalya planted Charlotte with a Powerbomb for a two count. “Lets go Charlotte!” chants echoed throughout the crowd as Natalya locked in the Sharpshooter in the middle of the ring. Charlotte screamed in pain but was able to get to the bottom rope to break the hold.

Natalya charged at Charlotte in the corner but Charlotte avoided her and smashed Natalya’s face into the top turnbuckle. Charlotte climbed up to the top rope and went for a Moonsault but Natalya got her knees up. Charlotte connected with a Spear that knocked Natalya out of the ring.

Ruby Riot, Sarah Logan and Liv Morgan came down to the ring through the crowd and attacked Natalya. Riot booted Natalya in the face as the crowd chanted “NXT!”. The trio then attacked Charlotte in the ring and beat her down. Sarah Logan booted Charlotte in the midsection and knocked her to the canvas. Liv Morgan and Ruby Riot also slammed Charlotte to the canvas and then posed in the ring as the crowd booed.

The Bludgeon Brothers (Luke Harper and Erick Rowan) also made their SmackDown debut tonight. They faced the Hype Bros in a tag match. Harper launched Zack Ryder into the steel steps right when the match started. The Bludgeon Brothers surrounded Mojo Rawley. Rowan slammed Rawley to the mat and tagged in Harper. Harper connected with a big boot and tagged in Rowan. Harper and Rowan slammed Mojo to the mat (Crucifix Bomb) and pinned him for the victory.

I’m glad that new female Superstars are joining the main roster. Last night on RAW, Paige made her WWE return alongside Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville. I thought there were better options to join Paige’s entourage (Peyton Royce and Billie Kay), but RAW’s women’s division got a much needed shake-up. In general, I feel the same way about this trio as I did last night on RAW. I think that other Superstars were ready to join the main roster, but we’ll see how this plays out.

As for The Bludgeon Brothers, I thought that their vignettes were cringeworthy. I wasn’t looking forward to their debut at all, but I actually found them entertaining. I’ve always thought that Harper was one of the most undervalued Superstars in WWE. Hopefully this team works out for Harper and Rowan because both RAW and SmackDown could use some more legitimate tag teams.

AJ Styles Will Defend His WWE Championship Against Jinder Mahal At Clash Of Champions

WWE Champion AJ Styles came down to the ring to a great ovation. Styles complimented Brock Lesnar on his victory at Survivor Series. Styles stated that he got congratulatory messages following Survivor Series for holding his own against Lesnar. AJ said that this is the WWE and you don’t get trophies for second place. AJ hinted at having a rematch with Brock Lesnar in the future.

Styles then turned his attention to Jinder Mahal. AJ challenged Mahal to come down to the ring and try to take the title from him. Mahal appeared on the jumbotron and said that he was watching Styles’ loss to Lesnar on the WWE Network over and over again. Mahal added that he would have defeated Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series and he would have been known as “The Beast Master”.

AJ once again challenged Jinder to come down to the ring and face him for the WWE Championship. Styles stated that Mahal should be rested since he did nothing at Survivor Series. Mahal said that he wants his rematch at Clash of Champions. The Singh Brothers tried to attack AJ from behind but Styles fought them off. AJ planted one of the Singh Brothers with the Styles Clash and then stared at Jinder Mahal on the screen.

AJ Styles versus The Singh Brothers in a Handicap match was announced for next week’s SmackDown.

This match was originally supposed to happen tonight on SmackDown but WWE changed their plans. I wish the match would have happened tonight. I’m tired of Jinder Mahal in the main event scene and I’m not looking forward to a four week build for their match at Clash of Champions. I still have a bad feeling that WWE is going to put the title right back on Mahal for some reason. Hopefully that doesn’t happen, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all.

Daniel Bryan Let Owens & Zayn Off The Hook

Owens and Zayn approached Baron Corbin backstage during the first hour of SmackDown. They asked if Corbin was willing to stick up for them during the Lumberjack match later tonight. Corbin said that he couldn’t stand them both and told Owens and Zayn to find someone more weak-minded to be in their corner. Owens and Zayn then approached Bobby Roode and Roode began shouting at them. Roode stated that he wanted nothing to do with them and he owes them a receipt for costing SmackDown the match last night.

Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan had a conversation backstage. Shane said that he agreed with Daniel’s decision to put Owens and Zayn in a Lumberjack match against the New Day because he expected Bryan to fire Owens and Zayn after the match. Shane added that he was going to head back to the hotel and sit back and watch the rest of the show.

Zayn and Owens approached Aiden English and Rusev backstage to try and befriend them before the Lumberjack match. Owens and Zayn claimed that New Day was jealous of “Rusev Day” and added that Shane McMahon screwed Rusev out of a chance of joining Team SmackDown at Survivor Series.

Owens and Zayn approached Daniel Bryan backstage. Zayn said that if Bryan fired Owens and Zayn after the match, it would be the biggest mistake he ever made. Daniel Bryan wished Owens and Zayn luck and walked away.

Big E and Kevin Owens started off the match in the ring. Big E knocked Owens to the canvas and then swayed his hips in Owens’ face. Owens applied a Chin Lock but Big E quickly broke free and leveled Owens with an elbow to the face. Kofi Kingston was then tagged in and he continued the beatdown on Owens. Kevin Owens threw Kingston out of the ring and the lumberjacks didn’t force Kingston to get back into the ring at all.

Kofi took his sweet time getting back into the ring as Owens shouted at the lumberjacks. Zayn was tagged in and he once again threw Kofi out of the ring. Kofi fist-bumped with The Ascension and Zayn got out of the ring to grab Kingston. The lumberjacks then pounced on Sami and beat him down. Zayn tried to escape up the entrance ramp but the lumberjacks carried back to the ring as SmackDown went to a commercial break.

When SmackDown returned, Big E and Kofi were taking their turns stomping on Owens in the corner of the ring. Zayn distracted Kingston for a second and Owens connected with a Superkick. Zayn was tagged in and he connected with a series of punches in the corner. Zayn mocked the New Day by dancing in the ring and then leveled Kingston with a Clothesline for a two count.

Owens got back into the match and slammed Kingston to the canvas for a two count. Owens went for a Senton but Kofi got his knees up. Big E and Sami Zayn were then tagged in. Big E hit Zayn with three Belly to Belly Suplexes in a row. Big E followed it up with a Splash and then Kofi was tagged in. Kofi hit a Crossbody off the top rope but Owens broke up the pinfall.

Big E ran after Owens and the two Superstars connected with a Clothesline at the same time. Zayn was launched into the lumberjacks outside the ring. Corbin went to hit Zayn but Sami ducked and Corbin cracked Bobby Roode in the face. A brawl then broke out between the lumberjacks outside the ring. Sami Zayn then rolled up Kofi Kingston from behind for the victory.

Owens and Zayn tried to escape but Big E got in their way. Rusev and Aiden English attacked Big E. Kofi leaped off the top rope onto Aiden English and Rusev. Owens escaped through the crowd but Woods grabbed Zayn and brought him back to the ring. New Day beatdown Sami Zayn in the middle of the ring. Big E and Woods planted Zayn with the Midnight Hour.

Kevin Owens was shown backstage with Daniel Bryan. Owens asked Daniel Bryan not to fire them. Owens got on his knees and begged Bryan not to fire them. Bryan stated that he was never going to fire them and announced that Kevin Owens will face Randy Orton next week. Owens thanked Bryan as SmackDown went off the air.

I actually find this storyline interesting. Daniel Bryan clearly has a grudge against Shane McMahon and the way he handled the RAW invasion before Survivor Series. He is still placing Owens and Zayn in difficult situations after they betrayed their team at Survivor Series, but he’s not going to fire them. It will be interesting to see Shane’s response next week and how this power struggle will develop between Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon.

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