The October 11th, 2019 episode of Friday Night SmackDown aired live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Here are 6 takeaways from the show:
The Fiend Attacked Seth Rollins
SmackDown superstar Roman Reigns battled RAW superstar Seth Rollins to determine which brand will get the first selection in the WWE draft.
Rollins and Reigns locked up to start off the match. Seth applied a Headlock but Roman quickly escaped and leveled Rollins with a shoulder tackle. Rollins and Reigns started trash-talking with each other and then traded punches. Roman connected with a Clothesline and then launched Seth out of the ring as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Rollins was in control and once again had Roman in a Headlock. Roman broke free and planted Rollins with a Powerbomb for a near fall. Rollins battled back with a Suicide Dive and then a flying knee off the top rope. Seth then hit a Frog Splash off the top rope and went for the cover but Reigns kicked out at two.
Seth went for the Stomp but Roman got out of the way. Rollins hit a Buckle Bomb but Reigns bounced off the turnbuckle and hit a Superman Punch for a two count. Reigns went for a Spear but Seth countered into a Pedigree for another near fall. Rollins geared up for the Stomp once again but the lights in the arena went out.
The Fiend appeared from under the ring and applied the Mandible Claw. Wyatt dragged Rollins under the ring and then Seth popped out. The Fiend took a look at Rollins before the lights in the arena went out again and Wyatt’s laugh echoed throughout the arena. The Fiend then appeared yet again on the entrance ramp before the lights in the arena went out for the third time. Rollins wound up getting the win via DQ and RAW was award the first pick in the draft.
It is going to be difficult for me to get invested in another Rollins and Wyatt match after the disaster at Hell in a Cell. I just hope that WWE gets it right this time around.
Becky Lynch Was The First Pick In The Draft
Stephanie McMahon came down to the entrance ramp and announced that RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch will be heading to RAW. She then announced that SmackDown’s first-round pick was Roman Reigns.
The O.C. (Styles, Gallows, and Anderson) were announced for RAW and Bray Wyatt was announced for SmackDown. Drew McIntyre was then announced as the final first-round selection for WWE RAW.
Corbin Defeated Gable Again
King Corbin battled Chad Gable once again tonight on SmackDown. WWE actually changed Gable’s name to “Shorty Gable” for some ridiculous reason. Chad Gable started off in control but Corbin battled back and Chokeslammed Chad onto the announce table as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
Gable was back in control when SmackDown returned from the break. Gable connected with a Moonsault and went for the cover but Corbin kicked out at two. Chad followed it up with an impressive German Suplex for another near fall. Chad applied an Ankle Lock and then transitioned into a roll-up for a two count. King Corbin quickly planted Gable with the End of Days for the pinfall victory.
Sasha Banks Is Going To SmackDown
Stephanie McMahon came back to the ramp to announce the 2nd round picks in the WWE Draft. Orton was announced for RAW and Sasha Banks was selected by SmackDown.
Ricochet will be heading to RAW and Braun Strowman was picked by Friday Night SmackDown. The final pick in the second round was Bobby Lashley and he is heading to WWE RAW.
Cain Velasquez Interrupted Brock Lesnar
WWE Champion Brock Lesnar came down to the ring with Paul Heyman. Paul stated that a normal human would cower away from the fears when confronted by them.
Heyman claimed that the only thing that Lesnar fears is reliving what happened when Cain Velasquez dominated Brock in UFC and took his title in a first-round knockout.
Paul added that Brock Lesnar has no excuses about that night because that is the kind of fighter that Cain Velasquez is. Heyman added that Brock Lesnar embraces his fears and will conquer his fear at Crown Jewel on October 31st.
Heyman claimed that Lesnar will conquer Velasquez at Crown Jewel and that is a spoiler. Rey Mysterio and Cain Velasquez interrupted and came down to the entrance. Mysterio rolled footage from Velasquez’s victory over Brock at UFC 121. Velasquez then vowed to give Lesnar a matching scar on the other side of his face.
I am looking forward to this match way more than Fury vs. Strowman at Crown Jewel. Velasquez looked awesome at AAA’s Triplemania XXVII and I think this match will be much better than people are expecting. I have no idea why WWE needed to give Lesnar the belt and make this a WWE Championship match. Velasquez versus Lesnar would have sold itself and given WWE the headlines they are clearly after.
Bayley Debuted A New Look & Captured The SmackDown Women’s Championship
Charlotte defended the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Bayley in the main event of this week’s show. Charlotte captured the title from Bayley at WWE Hell in a Cell 2019. Before the match, Bayley popped all of the Bayley Buddies on the entrance ramp. Bayley also had shorter hair and a new theme.
Bayley went right after to Flair to start off the match but Charlotte quickly battled back and knocked Bayley out of the ring. Bayley slammed Charlotte into the steel steps and then posed in the ring as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Bayley was still in control and was choking Flair against the middle rope. Flair connected with a flurry of chops and sent Bayley to the corner. Charlotte focused her attack on Bayley’s knee and Bayley retreated to the ring apron.
Flair hit Bayley with a boot to the face that knocked her to the floor outside the ring. Charlotte followed that up with a Moonsault off the barricade and then rolled Bayley back into the ring. Bayley hit the Bayley to Belly out of nowhere and went for the cover but Flair kicked out at two.
Bayley got pissed off and started shouting at the referee. Charlotte capitalized with a Neckbreaker and slammed Bayley into the middle turnbuckle. Flair climbed to the top rope but Bayley got her knees up. Flair countered into a Boston Crab in the middle of the ring.
Charlotte tried to transition into the Figure Four but Bayley booted her into the middle turnbuckle. Bayley planted Flair with a Belly to Back Suplex and followed it up with a running knee to Flair’s face. Bayley climbed to the top rope and hit the Elbow Drop for another two count.
Bayley once again got pissed off and started shouting at the referee. Bayley pounded on the mat out of frustration and shouted that she deserved the title. Flair hit Natural Selection and went for the Figure Four but Bayley countered into a roll-up for the pinfall victory. Bayley is the new SmackDown Women’s Champion. After the match, Bayley grabbed the microphone and said “hey bitches, screw all of you” to the crowd as they applauded.
I hated that Bayley was crying after her loss to Flair at Hell in a Cell. I’ve wanted to see this version of Bayley for a long time now. I’m glad WWE also gave her new theme music to go along with her new attitude. Bayley’s full heel turn was pretty much the only part of tonight’s show I enjoyed. You could even criticize that because WWE claimed that automatic rematches were no more, yet Bayley was just given one five days after dropping the belt.
The WWE Draft was incredibly boring and Stephanie McMahon announced the selections like a teacher taking attendance. WWE had a Fox and USA war room shown throughout the draft with network executives celebrating after each pick. It didn’t work and I didn’t find anything entertaining about tonight.
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