The May 14th, 2019 episode of WWE SmackDown was taped earlier today at the O2 Arena in London, England. It was the final episode of SmackDown before WWE Money in the Bank this Sunday night. Here are 6 takeaways from this week’s show:
Shane McMahon Banned The Miz From The Building
Just like last night’s episode of RAW, Roman Reigns kicked off this week’s SmackDown. Roman said that he had some unfinished business from last night’s RAW and welcomed The Miz down to the ring.
The Miz went on a rant about Shane McMahon and stated that it was unforgivable what he did to his father. SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon and Elias interrupted and made their way to the entrance ramp.
McMahon banned The Miz from the building tonight. Elias claimed that he was going to prove to Reigns why Vince McMahon chose him as the biggest acquisition in SmackDown’s history at Money in the Bank.
Shane added that there are couple more people that hate The Miz that would like to help them out. Bryan and Rowan joined the party and marched down to the ring with Shane and Elias.
The Miz and Reigns tried to fight them off but the numbers game quickly caught up to them. The Usos saved the day and came to the rescue of Reigns and Miz. The Usos connected with a Suicide Dive but Rowan quickly leveled Jimmy and Jey with a massive shoulder tackle. Reigns and Miz got back into the ring and threw everyone to the outside.
Ricochet Sent A Message Heading Into Money In The Bank
Randy Orton, Finn Balor, Ali, and Andrade competed in a Fatal 4-Way Match this week on SmackDown. Those four superstars will represent SmackDown in the men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match this Sunday night.
Orton controlled the match early and slammed Andrade on the announce table outside the ring. Randy turned his attention to Ali and stomped on his leg in the ring. Ali desperately crawled to the corner as Balor got on the apron. Orton went for the DDT but Ali rolled Randy up from behind for a two count.
Ali knocked Balor off the apron and turned around into a Powerslam from Orton. Ali connected with a Tornado DDT off of the second rope and went for the cover but Andrade broke it up at two. Andrade turned Ali inside out with a Clothesline and then connected with a Dropkick on Orton.
Andrade threw Ali to the outside and then ran into a boot to the face from Balor. Finn connected with an Enziguri and made his way to the top rope. Andrade tripped him up and Balor fell to the canvas. Andrade followed that up with Double Knees for a near fall.
Zelina Vega instructed Andrade to get a couple of ladders from under the ring. Andrade brought a ladder into the ring and started hitting everyone in sight. Ali countered with a Superkick that sent Andrade tumbling to the outside. Ali went for a Crossbody but Andrade bashed him with the ladder while he was in midair.
Andrade then set up a ladder in the corner but Balor hit him with a Slingblade. Balor Dropkicked Andrade into the ladder as Ali climbed to the top rope. Ali leaped but Balor got out of the way. Orton hit Ali with an RKO and then Andrade Dropkicked Orton tot he outside.
Balor Clotheslined Andrade out of the ring and then flipped onto everyone. Andrade got out of the way at the last moment and sent Balor into the steel steps. Andrade then planted Balor with the Hammerlock DDT for the pinfall victory.
Andrade started climbing up the ladder towards the briefcase but Ricochet sprinted to the ring. Ricochet leaped onto the ladder and started trading shots with Andrade. Ricochet knocked Andrade to the canvas and grabbed the MITB briefcase. Ricochet exited the ring with the briefcase to a great reaction from the crowd.
Despite the poor build, I’m looking forward to both MITB Ladder Matches this Sunday. I would love to see a superstar like Ricochet or Ali capture the briefcase. Ali would be particularly interesting because he lost out on his title shot at Elimination Chamber due to injury and Kingston was his replacement. If Kofi retains this Sunday, that could set up a great feud with Ali in the following weeks.
Flair Vowed To End Her Rivalry Against Becky Lynch With A Victory
Charlotte Flair came down to the ring to cut a promo about her SmackDown Women’s Championship match against Becky Lynch this Sunday night. Lynch will also be defending her RAW Women’s Championship against Lacey Evans at the Money in the Bank PPV.
Flair claimed that this Sunday at Money in Bank, her storied rivalry will end with Becky Lynch with her becoming the new SmackDown Women’s Champion. Flair then pointed to the jumbotron and a video package rolled of Flair and Lynch’s history.
Lacey Evans then cut a backstage promo and said that she is going to give Becky a new nickname, “Becky Black Eye”. Evans vowed to walk out of MITB as the new RAW Women’s Champion.
Shane McMahon Avoided The Miz
Shane McMahon, Erick Rowan, Elias, and Daniel Bryan battled Roman Reigns, and The Usos tonight in a Handicap Match. Bryan started off the match with Jimmy Uso and knocked him to the canvas.
Elias tagged in and continued to beat down Jimmy. Uso battled back as the London crowd sang “walk with Elias”. Jey tagged in and went for a Splash but Elias got out of the way. Elias connected with a Clothesline and stomped on Jey in the corner of the ring. Shane McMahon tagged in and went after Jey’s right leg. Jey tweaked his leg after failing to connect with the Splash.
Bryan got back in and continued to beat the hell out of Jey Uso. Bryan shoved Jey off the top rope and he went flying into the barricade surrounding the ring as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Jey was still stuck in the ring with Jey Uso. Elias tagged in and continued the beat down as Reigns and Jimmy pleaded for a tag. Shane got back in the action and hit Jey with a few of his ridiculous looking punches. Jey finally battled back with an Enziguri and both superstars fell to the canvas.
Bryan and Reigns then tagged in. Roman leveled Bryan with a massive Clothesline and then blasted Elias off the apron. Reigns followed it up with a big boot and then blasted Elias off the apron once again. Bryan tagged in Rowan and he quickly knocked Reigns to the mat.
Elias tagged himself in and unloaded on Roman with a flurry of strikes. Elias connected with a knee to the face for a two count. Rowan tagged back in and connected with an elbow for a near fall. Elias tagged in and walked into a Samoan Drop from Reigns.
Jimmy tagged in as Bryan got back in at the same time. Bryan avoided a Superkick but Jimmy connected with one to Rowan, Elias, and Shane McMahon. Jey tagged in and The Usos hit Bryan with a double Superkick. Jey went for the cover but Shane broke it up at two. Jey sent Shane out of the ring but Elias took him out with the Drift Away. Bryan hit Jey with the running knee but Roman broke up the cover.
Rowan Clotheslined Roman to the outside and went after him. Reigns hit him with a Superman Punch but Elias sent Roman into the steel steps. Shane climbed to the top rope and hit Jey with the Coast to Coast Dropkick for the pinfall victory.
After the match, Shane, Elias, Bryan, and Rowan started beating The Usos and Reigns down. The Miz sprinted to the ring with a steel chair and hit Elias with it. Shane ran out of the ring and retreated up the entrance ramp. Reigns hit Rowan with a Spear as Shane stared at Miz from the top of the ramp. Greg Hamilton then announced that “the best in the world”, Shane McMahon was the winner of the match.
This match was much better than I thought it was going to be. I don’t have much interest in the feud between Elias and Reigns, but Shane versus The Miz in a Steel Cage Match should be awesome at the PPV. I thought they had a terrific match at WrestleMania 35 and I’m looking forward to seeing what they do at Money in the Bank.
Paige Announced Asuka & Sane’s Team Name
Kairi Sane and Asuka squared off against Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville tonight on SmackDown. Paige accompanied Asuka and Sane to the ring for the match. Women’s Tag Team Champions The IIconics joined commentary for the match as well. Paige introduced Asuka and Kairi Sane as “The Kabuki Warriors”.
Mandy and Sonya mocked the Royal Family and then Rose vowed to win the women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match this Sunday. Sane leaped off the apron and caught Rose with a forearm to the face. Asuka then delivered a Hip Attack to Sonya as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Rose and Deville were in control and had Kairi isolated in the ring. Asuka finally tagged in and hit Rose with a Dropkick. Asuka followed it up with a German Suplex and then a Hip Attack in the corner. Asuka went for the Asuka Lock but Deville broke it up. Sonya then kneed Sane off the apron and tagged into the match.
Sonya blasted Asuka in the face and followed it up with a Spinebuster. Rose begged for the tag and Deville obliged. Rose went for the cover but Asuka reversed it into a roll-up for the pinfall victory as Billie Kay and Peyton Royce laughed on commentary.
Asuka and Kairi Sane work well as a team, but The Kabuki Warriors is just a terrible name. The IIConics have done absolutely nothing with the Women’s Tag Team Championships and the division is an afterthought right now.
Kofi Kingston Got The Better Of Owens & Zayn
WWE Champion Kofi Kingston was the guest on the Kevin Owens Show in the final segment of this week’s show. Kofi will defend his title against Owens at WWE Money in the Bank 2019 this Sunday.
Kingston came down to the ring and took a seat. Owens showed up on the jumbotron and rolled highlights of his career. The highlights featured him defeating John Cena, betraying Chris Jericho, and his attack on Xavier Woods last month.
Kofi challenged Owens to come down to the ring and Kevin walked off camera. Owens’ theme hit and Owens marched down the entrance ramp. Owens slowed down and stared at Kingston from the ramp. Kevin then laughed and turned around, before making his way to the ring once again.
Owens stopped short and Kofi chased after him. The two superstars traded shots on the entrance ramp, but Sami Zayn attacked Kofi from behind. Owens was about to Powerbomb Kingston on the ring apron but Woods sprinted to the ring for the save. Owens launched Woods into the ring post and turned his attention back to Kingston.
The crowd chanted “Kofi!” as Kingston tried to battle back. Owens launched Kofi into the steel steps and rolled the WWE Champion into the ring. Kevin grabbed Kingston by the face and shouted that he was taking his title on Sunday. Owens went for a Cannonball in the corner but Kofi got out of the way. Zayn went for a Helluva Kick but Kofi once again got out of the way. Kingston hit Zayn with the Trouble in Paradise as Owens retreated up the entrance ramp.
SmackDown was a good show this week and featured a couple of entertaining matches. The storylines might be lackluster, but there is still several matches to look forward to at WWE Money in the Bank.
Comments
5 responses to “6 Takeaways From WWE SmackDown (5/14)”