The October 4th, 2019 episode of WWE SmackDown aired live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. It was SmackDown’s debut on Fox. In addition to the takeaways below, Braun Strowman had an altercation with Tyson Fury during an 8-man tag match tonight.
Here are 6 takeaways from the show:
The Rock & Becky Lynch Beat King Corbin Down
Vince and Stephanie McMahon kicked off the show and welcomed the crowd to this historic episode of SmackDown.
RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch made her way to the ring to a great reaction from the crowd. Lynch stated that it feels so good to be kicking off the very first episode of Friday Night SmackDown. Becky thanked the crowd for using their voices to raise her up and said that she wanted to repay them by kicking someone’s ass.
King Corbin interrupted and claimed that he should be the one starting the show off. Corbin asked if Becky really believed that she is “The Man” and Becky challenged him to take another step and find out.
The Rock joined the party to a ridiculous reaction from the crowd. The Rock walked down the ramp and posed on the turnbuckle as the audience continued to go crazy. He then shook Becky’s hand and ignored Corbin before posing in the opposite corner of the ring.
The crowd loudly chanted “Rocky!” as The Rock grabbed a microphone. The Rock said that Corbin looked like a “broke-ass Burger King on crack” before saying “finally The Rock has come back home”. Corbin interrupted and said that this isn’t The Rock’s home anymore and he is no longer the Great One.
Corbin referred to himself as the most electrifying King in sports entertainment and told The Rock to know your role and shut your mouth. The Rock mocked Corbin for looking like a 35-year-old virgin at Comic-Con. The Rock added that Becky is The Man, but you don’t see her walking around holding a pair of testicles. Lynch chimed in and said that if she did they would be a hell of a lot bigger than Corbin’s.
King Corbin insisted that his testicles were adequate and joked that he is more of a king than Lebron James. The Rock called Corbin a badass and Lynch added that Corbin is a “super tough dude”. Rock then started an “STD!” chant and Becky joked that is going to stick with Corbin for life.
Lynch and The Rock then beat Corbin down. Becky connected with a Leg Drop and The Rock followed it up with the People’s Elbow. The Rock then hit the Rock Bottom as the crowd broke out in another “Rocky!” chant.
Charlotte Tapped Out The SmackDown Women’s Champion
Becky Lynch & Charlotte squared off against Sasha Banks & Bayley in the first match of Friday Night SmackDown.
Flair and Bayley started things off and Bayley hit Lynch with a cheap shot on the ring apron. Charlotte stomped on Bayley in the corner but Bayley battled back and slammed Flair to the canvas.
Banks tagged in and connected with Double Knees for a near fall. Flair unloaded a series of chops as the crowd chanted “woo!”. Charlotte followed it up with a boot to the face that sent Sasha tumbling to the outside. Flair climbed to the top rope but Bayley shoved her to the floor outside the ring as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Becky finally tagged in and beat Bayley down in the corner of the ring. Lynch followed it up with a Clothesline and then planted Bayley with an Exploder Suplex. Becky hit Bayley with a Leg Drop off the second rope and went for the cover but Bayley kicked out at two.
Charlotte tagged in and hit Natural Selection on Bayley but Sasha broke up the cover at the last moment. Banks and Becky traded shots and a brawl broke out between the two teams. Lynch hit Banks with a Dropkick off the top rope as Flair climbed up in the opposite corner. Flair hit a Moonsault onto Banks and Bayley before the action returned to the ring. Charlotte locked in the Figure Four and bridged into the Figure Eight for the submission victory.
The first half-hour of Friday Night SmackDown was entertaining. The Rock was just as good as ever in the opening segment and Becky Lynch had some excellent lines as well. As for the tag match, it was decent but I still cannot stand seeing champions get pinned on televised matches. Banks looked weak by running away from Becky on RAW and Bayley was the superstar that took the loss tonight. I would have preferred to see them dominate after turning heel.
The Fiend Attacked Seth Rollins
Universal Champion Seth Rollins battled Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura tonight on Friday Night SmackDown. As Rollins made his way down to the ring his entrance was interrupted by an episode of Firefly Fun House. Ramblin’ Rabbit was wearing Rollins merch and warned Seth to not get inside Hell in a Cell with The Fiend.
Wyatt then staged a Hell in a Cell preview with Mercy the Buzzard versus Ramblin Rabbit. Mercy ripped Ramblin Rabbit apart as Bray laughed. Bray added that history has a way of repeating itself and told Seth that he will see him in hell.
Sami Zayn accompanied Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura down to the ring for the match. Nakamura locked in an Arm Bar to start things off but Rollins quickly escaped and connected with a Buckle Bomb. Seth followed it up with a Suicide Dive and then got distracted by Sami Zayn.
Back in the ring, Rollins hit a Slingblade and then a knee to the face off the top rope. Rollins set up for The Stomp but the lights in the arena went out. The Fiend attacked Seth on the entrance ramp and applied the Mandible Claw. The Fiend then threw Rollins off the stage to end the segment. Rollins will defend the Universal Championship against The Fiend Bray Wyatt this Sunday night at WWE Hell in a Cell.
Shane McMahon Was Terminated From WWE
Kevin Owens faced SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon in a Ladder Match tonight. The loser of the match will be terminated from WWE.
Owens got the jobber entrance but then attacked Shane during his and hurled him into the steel steps. Owens set up a ladder from the apron to the barricade and then set up another one in the ring. Kevin tried to throw the ladder at Shane but McMahon was able to duck at the last second.
Shane connected with a Dropkick and bashed Owens in the back with a ladder. Shane set up Owens on the announce table and made his way to the top rope. McMahon connected with an Elbow Drop off the top rope and through the table. The crowd chanted “holy sh*t!” as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Owens had Shane set up on the ladder from the apron to the barricade. Owens hit a ridiculous Frog Splash that sent both superstars crashing through the ladder as the crowd chanted “this is awesome!”. Owens set up the ladder in the ring and started to climb towards the briefcase suspended above the ring.
Shane hit Owens in the back with a chair and Owens fell to the canvas. McMahon hit Owens again with the chair and set him up in the corner. Shane set up a ladder on Owens and climbed up to the top rope and connected with the Coast to Coast Dropkick.
McMahon climbed up the ladder but Owens got back up. Kevin Powerbombed Shane on top of another ladder and climbed the ladder to grab the briefcase. Shane McMahon is now fired from WWE. After the match, Owens shouted “you’re fired!” at Shane and hit him with the Stunner.
Owens and McMahon put on a very good Ladder Match tonight and this show needed it. SmackDown started to drag a bit following The Rock segment but this match got the crowd back into it. I’m also glad that this feud has finally come to an end.
Roman Reigns & Daniel Bryan Picked Up Some Momentum Heading Into Hell In A Cell
Roman Reigns faced Erick Rowan in a Lumberjack Match tonight. Daniel Bryan joined commentary for the match. Bryan will team with Reigns to battle Rowan and Harper at WWE Hell in a Cell this Sunday night.
Roman knocked Rowan to the outside and Erick started beating the hell out of the lumberjacks. Rowan then grabbed Reigns and launched him into the barricade. The lumberjacks then started beating up Reigns as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Reigns went for a Superman Punch but Rowan caught him. Erick hit a boot to the face but Roman bounced off the ropes and connected with the Superman Punch. Luke Harper made his way down the entrance ramp and Bryan met him on the ramp. A massive brawl broke out and Reigns took everyone out with a Suicide Dive.
Rowan Powerbombed Ali on top of Roman and then rolled Reigns back into the ring. Erick hit a Crossbody and went for the cover but Roman kicked out at two. Harper got in the ring and hit Roman with a Clothesline. Bryan hit Harper with a Running Knee as Rowan got back to his feet. Erick went for the Iron Claw but Reigns hit him with the Spear for the pinfall victory. After the match, Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan shook hands as the crowd chanted “yes!”.
Cain Velasquez Confronted Brock Lesnar
Kofi Kingston defended his WWE Championship against Brock Lesnar in the main event of this week’s show. Brock Lesnar hit Kofi Kingston with the F5 right away and won the match in a matter of seconds.
After the match, Rey Mysterio’s music hit and Rey came down to the ring with Cain Velasquez. Cain took Lesnar down and unloaded a flurry of punches before Lesnar retreated out of the ring.
Kofi’s WWE Championship reign was a disappointment and it needed to come to an end. Having said that, I’m sure many are going to be annoyed that his reign ended in a squash match. Lesnar versus Velasquez will certainly be entertaining and WWE will hype up the fact that Cain defeated Brock at UFC 121. Overall, SmackDown’s debut on Fox had its moments but I was expecting a more entertaining show. Tonight’s show didn’t do much to hype up WWE Hell in a Cell this Sunday night.
