The July 2nd, 2019 episode of WWE SmackDown aired live from the AT&T Center in San Antonio, TX. Here are 5 takeaways from the show:
Shane & Drew vs. Undertaker & Reigns Will Be A No Holds Barred Match At Extreme Rules
Kevin Owens welcomed Drew McIntyre and Shane McMahon on the Kevin Owens Show to start off this week’s episode of SmackDown. Shane demanded that Greg Hamilton properly announce him as the best in the world before the promo started.
Owens rolled footage of The Undertaker’s promo against Shane and Drew last night on RAW. Shane mocked The Undertaker and claimed that he wasn’t afraid of him. The crowd broke out in a “Undertaker!” chant as Shane boasted that he was on a hot streak. He bragged about running through The Miz, Roman Reigns, and vowed to run through The Undertaker at Extreme Rules.
Shane McMahon announced that the match at Extreme Rules is a No Holds Barred Match. McIntyre referred to himself as the most dangerous superstar in the world and stated that it will be an assault like nobody has ever seen before at Extreme Rules. Owens rolled footage of Shane and Drew retreating last night on RAW and stated that it looked like Shane was just a bit afraid of The Undertaker. Kevin joked that it must have been a reflex to hop into the fourth row when Undertaker’s theme hit.
McMahon told Owens to be a “good little talk show host” and read the cards like they discussed before the show. Owens instead asked Shane how it felt to lose to The Undertaker in the Hell in a Cell Match at WrestleMania. Dolph Ziggler interrupted and Owens flipped out. Owens shouted at Ziggler to get over it because it is never going to be him and it is never going to happen.
Ziggler said that everyone in the arena knows that he should be WWE Champion right now because he looks the part. Dolph joked that Owens looks like he should be in a hot dog eating contest. Kevin shouted that he would win a hot dog eating contest, which is more than Ziggler can say about wrestling matches. Shane suggested that Ziggler and Owens team up to face Heavy Machinery tonight. The winner of that match will be in the SmackDown Tag Team Championship match at Extreme Rules.
I guess Kevin Owens is a face now. I must have missed when that was established on WWE television. It seems rather obvious that Heavy Machinery will be the team that wins this match.
Rowan Helped Bryan Defeat Big E
Big E battled Daniel Bryan on tonight’s show. Rowan and Xavier Woods were ringside for the match. Big E launched Bryan across the ring and then shrugged off Daniel’s attempt at a shoulder tackle. Big E applied an Abdominal Stretch and spanked Bryan several times before releasing the hold.
Big E leveled Bryan with a shoulder tackle and then turned Bryan inside out with a Clothesline as SmackDown went to a commercial break. When SmackDown returned, Bryan was in control and connected with a Dropkick on Big E while he was up against the turnbuckle.
Bryan got cocky and started slapping Big E in the face. That didn’t work out too well as Big E planted him with two Belly to Belly Suplexes in a row. Big E went for a third but Bryan sent him to his knees and delivered a few Yes Kicks. Big E ducked under the final one and hit a third Belly to Belly Suplex.
Big E followed that up with a Splash and went for the cover but Bryan was able to kick out at the last moment. Bryan avoided a Spear and went for a Suicide Dive but Big E caught him with a forearm to the face. Rowan shoved Big E into the ring post and then leveled Woods while the referee wasn’t paying attention. Bryan capitalized with the Running Knee for the pinfall victory.
Bayley Defeated Nikki Cross
Alexa Bliss informed Nikki Cross that she will be hosting an episode of A Moment of Bliss tonight. SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley was the guest. Bayley will defend her title against Alexa Bliss at WWE Extreme Rules.
Nikki took a moment to say that she loves Alexa Bliss and admires her. Cross said that she was from Glasgow, Scotland and she has an accent, so she will try to talk slowly to be the best host she can be. Bayley came down to the set in her wrestling attire and took a seat across from Cross.
Cross thanked Bayley for being here tonight and Bayley stated that she was impressed that Alexa was giving her a bit of the spotlight tonight. Bayley told Cross that she doesn’t have to Bliss’ bidding and Cross said that she was here to ask the tough questions.
Nikki asked Bayley why she called Alexa a liar and Bayley simply said that she is a liar. Cross thought it was unfair the way Bayley drags Alexa’s name through the dirt. Bayley stated that it was unfair that Nikki defeated her last week and it should be Nikki Cross in that match.
Cross got up and stated that she doesn’t know and challenged Bayley to a match right now. Bayley accepted and Nikki sprinted to the ring as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, the match started and Bayley connected with a Suplex. Nikki rolled out of the ring to regroup and got hit with an elbow to the face once she got back inside. Bayley threw Nikki into the turnbuckle and applied an Arm Bar in the middle of the ring. Cross escaped and Dropkicked Bayley out of the ring.
Back in the ring, Nikki climbed to the top rope and connected with a Crossbody for a two count. Cross followed that up with a Bulldog and went for the Neckbreaker but Bayley countered into a cover for a near fall. Bayley hit Bayley to Belly for the pinfall victory.
There were a whopping 13 minutes of wrestling in the first hour of SmackDown. I find Nikki Cross entertaining and hope that something actually comes of this storyline with Alexa Bliss.
Kofi Kingston Flipped Samoa Joe The Bird
WWE Champion Kofi Kingston had a face to face with Samoa Joe tonight on SmackDown. Joe suggested that Kayla got out of the ring and claimed it was an act of generosity. Samoa Joe claimed that Kingston was using these people and that he wouldn’t be surprised if in a couple of years Xavier Woods was his hype man and Big E was his butler.
Kingston mocked Samoa Joe for losing the United States Championship to Ricochet and claimed that he almost feels bad for Joe. Kofi wondered why Joe was hiding now and attacking people from behind. He then joked that Joe’s ass is too big to play hide and seek.
Joe claimed that Kofi was using his son to promote his new t-shirt to sell to all the mindless idiots in the crowd. Kingston said that Joe was jealous because he will never have a moment at WrestleMania to share with his kids. Joe asked Kofi to shake his hand with the realization that he is looking at the next WWE Champion. Samoa Joe added that he will guarantee safety for Kingston, his family, and his friends if he just shakes his hand.
Kingston decided not to shake Joe’s hand and gave him the middle finger instead. Kofi then dropped Joe with the Trouble in Paradise and stood over him to end the promo.
I really enjoyed this segment and the middle finger at the end was great. I would have liked to see this storyline develop longer, instead of only being given a three week build before Extreme Rules. I have no doubt that I will be entertained by this match, I just don’t WWE putting the title on Samoa Joe at Extreme Rules and that makes it hard to get fully invested in this feud.
Heavy Machinery Earned Their Way Into The SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match At Extreme Rules
Kevin Owens & Dolph Ziggler faced Heavy Machinery (Otis & Tucker Knight) in the main event of this week’s show. The winner of the match will be added to the SmackDown Tag Team Championship match at Extreme Rules. New Day and Bryan & Rowan joined commentary for the match tonight.
Heavy Machinery controlled the match early and Owens dragged Ziggler out of the ring. A brawl broke out between New Day and the SmackDown Tag Team Champions near the announce table. Pancakes flew everywhere as Rowan delivered the Iron Claw through New Day’s customized announce table.
When SmackDown returned, the match was restarted and Tucker battled with Kevin Owens. Tucker leveled Owens with a Dropkick for a two count. Owens knocked Tucker to the canvas and hit a standing Frog Splash for a near fall.
Ziggler tagged in and planted Tucker with a Neckbreaker. Owens followed that up with a Senton before heading to the ring apron. Ziggler capitalized and applied a Headlock on Tucker in the middle of the ring.
Owens tagged in and taunted Otis and turned around into a Crossbody from Knight off the second rope. Otis and Dolph tagged in and Otis hit a Body Slam. Otis followed that up with a Fallaway Slam for a two count. Ziggler planted Otis with a DDT and tagged Kevin Owens back into the match.
Otis launched Owens to the outside and hit Ziggler with a Splash in the corner. Otis hit Ziggler with the Caterpillar as Owens got back into the ring. Owens hit Otis with a Superkick but then Dolph accidentally booted Kevin in the face. Tucker knocked Ziggler out of the ring and Heavy Machinery hit Owens with the Compactor for the pinfall victory.
Daniel Bryan & Rowan will now defend their SmackDown Tag Team Championships against New Day and Heavy Machinery in a Triple Threat Match at Extreme Rules. After the match, Kevin Owens hit Ziggler with the Stunner and yelled “this is my show!” as SmackDown went off the air.
I’m glad Heavy Machinery is getting over with the crowd and are in the title match at Extreme Rules. It was predictable, as Ziggler and Owens were thrown together as a team earlier in the night. Overall, the only segment tonight that was worth watching was the promo between Kofi Kingston and Samoa Joe.
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