The September 3rd, 2019 episode of WWE SmackDown aired live from the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, VA. Here are 5 takeaways from this week’s show:
Banks & Bayley Attacked Charlotte Flair
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley kicked off this week’s episode of SmackDown. Last night on RAW, Bayley joined Sasha Banks and attacked RAW Women’s Champion with a steel chair.
Bayley got a great reaction from the crowd and had a giant grin on her face as she made her way down to the ring. Bayley stood in the ring as “Bayley!” chants broke out along with some scattered boos.
Bayley said that her friendship with Sasha, the one person who has always had her back, has never changed. She claimed that she is still trying to lift this division up by giving people chances. She added that she tries to make the crowd feel like who she felt like was a kid.
She stated that she was showing people what it means to be loyal and that is why she didn’t turn her back on Sasha Banks. Bayley said that the crowd deserves a SmackDown Women’s Champion that has the same recognition as Becky Lynch and she is going to be that kind of champion for a long time.
Bayley referred to Charlotte Flair as the most selfish person on the roster and vowed to beat her at Clash of Champions. Charlotte interrupted and made her way down to the ring. Flair said that she is the Queen of selfishness and what you see is what you get. Charlotte told Bayley to hug her title real tight because at Clash of Champions…
Sasha Banks interrupted and slowly walked down the entrance ramp. Charlotte hit Bayley and knocked her out of the ring. Flair unloaded a couple of punches before Bayley got into the ring with a steel chair. Bayley hit Flair with the chair several times and the crowd loudly chanted “one more time!”.
Banks grabbed the chair and hit Charlotte with it several times. Sasha handed the chair back to Bayley and the SmackDown Women’s Champion continued to hit Flair with the chair as the crowd transitioned into a “Becky!” chant. Sasha and Banks hugged in the ring and then left Charlotte on the canvas.
Elias Advanced To The Semifinals Of The King Of The Ring Tournament
Elias squared off against Ali in the quarterfinals of the King of the Ring Tournament. Ali knocked Elias to the outside and went for a Suicide Dive but Elias caught him. Elias launched Ali on to the steel entrance ramp and then bashed his face into the corner of the barricade.
Elias lifted Ali up over his shoulders and hurled him into the timekeeper’s area as SmackDown went to a commercial break. When SmackDown returned, Elias was still in control and had Ali in a Headlock.
Ali broke free and connected with a Dropkick to buy him some time to regroup. Ali hit Elias with a forearm to the face and followed it up with a Facebuster for a near fall. Elias retreated out of the ring and Ali hit him with a Suicide Dive that sent Elias tumbling into the barricade.
Back in the ring, Elias perched Ali on the top turnbuckle and went for a Superplex but Ali blocked it. Ali knocked Elias to the mat and hit him with a 450 Splash on Elias’ injured arm. Ali then locked in a Crossface in the middle of the ring but Elias was able to fight through the pain and reached the bottom rope to break the hold.
Elias bounced Ali’s face off the middle turnbuckle and lifted him up in the Electric Chair. Elias transitioned into a Powerbomb for a two count and then applied the Stretch Muffler submission hold in the middle of the ring. Ali grabbed the bottom rope to break the hold but Elias stayed on the attack.
Elias slammed Ali’s knee into the ring post and then shoved Ali off the turnbuckle and to the floor. Elias hopped off the top rope but Ali hit him with a Superkick out of nowhere. Back in the ring, Ali made his way to the top turnbuckle and went for the 450 Splash but Elias got out of the way. Elias then hit Drift Away for the pinfall victory. Elias advanced to the semifinals of the King of the Ring Tournament.
Randy Orton Got The Better Of Kofi Kingston Again
Randy Orton came down to the ring and vowed to become the new WWE Champion in two weeks at Clash of Champions. Orton claimed that Kofi is a fraud champion and is not on his level. The crowd responded with a “Kofi!” chant as Orton boasted about getting the better of Kingston last week on SmackDown.
Orton stated that he has been destroying the New Day for weeks now and rolled footage of his recent attacks on Kingston, Woods, and Big E. Randy said that he didn’t want to wait until Clash of Champions and told Kingston to come down to the ring right now.
The Revival attacked Kofi on the entrance ramp and beat him down. Dawson and Wilder brought Kingston into the ring and Orton stomped on him while shouting “stupid!” several times. Kofi battled back but the numbers game caught up to him. The Revival lifted Kofi up and Orton planted him with an RKO.
Chad Gable Advanced To The Semifinals Of The King Of The Ring Tournament
Andrade squared off against Chad Gable in the quarterfinals of the King of the Ring Tournament. Samoa Joe confronted Gable before the match and told him that he was mentally weak. Zelina Vega said that she had nothing but admiration for Gable for being short and continuing to overcome the odds. Vega claimed that Andrade will beat Gable tonight but there is no shame in losing to the future King of the Ring.
Gable started off the match in control but Andrade quickly turned the tables with an elbow to the face. Gable responded with a roll-up for a two count. Andrade launched Gable out of the ring as SmackDown went to a break.
When SmackDown returned, Gable connected with a Neckbreaker and followed it up with a German Suplex for a two count. Andrade battled back with a boot to the face as Elias was shown watching on from backstage. Andrade connected with a Double Stomp for a two count.
Andrade hit two Suplexes in a row but Gable responded with two German Suplexes of his own. Andrade hit the third Suplex and went for a Moonsault but Gable got his knees up. Chad climbed to the top rope and hit a Moonsault of his own for a near fall.
Andrade went for Double Knees but Gable got out of the way. Gable connected with another German Suplex and went for the cover but Zelina Vega distracted the referee. Andrade went for the Hammerlock DDT but Gable escaped and rolled up Andrade for the victory. Gable will face Elias in the semifinals of the King of the Ring Tournament.
Rowan Attacked Reigns & Bryan
Daniel Bryan made his way to the ring in the final minutes of this week’s episode of SmackDown. The crowd chanted “Daniel Bryan!” and Bryan said it finally seems that we have a group of people that believe him.
Bryan said that people believe that he is guilty by association because Rowan was shown attacking Roman Reigns. Daniel claimed that he had nothing to do with the attacks and that nobody can say that he is a liar.
Daniel stated that he has never lied to anyone and the truth is that he hates liars. Bryan demanded an apology from Roman Reigns for accusing him of something he didn’t do, Spearing him last week, and for calling him a liar.
Roman Reigns came down to the entrance ramp but Rowan attacked him from behind. Rowan launched Reigns into the steel steps and then bashed his face on the ring apron.
Bryan tried to stop Rowan but got shoved to the floor. Rowan Powerbombed Reigns into the ring post and rolled him into the ring. Rowan planted Reigns with the Iron Claw and grabbed the microphone. Rowan said that Bryan cannot control him and he is nobody’s puppet.
Rowan challenged Bryan to get in the ring and try to slap him in the face. Rowan claimed that he was proud of what he has done to Reigns and added that he will be most proud of the pain he is going to inflict to Roman at Clash of Champions. Rowan grabbed the steel steps and bashed Roman in the face with them.
Rowan cleared off the announce table but Bryan interrupted and shouted that he was Rowan’s friend. Daniel slapped Rowan in the face but Rowan shrugged it off. Rowan hit Bryan with the Iron Claw through the announce table as SmackDown went off the air.
This week’s episode of SmackDown was an okay show. Both of the King of the Ring Tournament matches were entertaining and the opening segment with Bayley, Bank, and Charlotte was good as well. Rowan acting on his own is pretty anticlimactic, simply because I don’t expect him to defeat Reigns at Clash of Champions. I wouldn’t mind seeing WWE build Rowan up as a dominant heel but I have no faith that WWE will do that. chad gable smackdown
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