WWE Smackdown Live Review - July 23rd
We're continuing the road to Summerslam on the blue brand! This show added some heat to Summerslam with some new matches confirmed along with interesting moments that could effect most of the matches as well. Now that RAW Reunion has taken place, we can focus on the build to the biggest show of the summer and business has sure picked up a bit. Let's take a look at what went down!
Show opened with Shane McMahon cutting a promo on his upcoming match against Kevin Owens at Summerslam. Shane states that he wants to see KO quit after he beats him at Summerslam and that he wants it in writing. KO comes out and states that he will beat the crap out of Shane at the PPV and he will never quit again. He then teases to fight Shane right then and there, but Shane counterattacks him by making match between KO against Roman Reigns for later in the show!
Backstage Shane greets with Elias and Drew McIntyre as they were both kissing his ass for making the match between Owens and Reigns. Shane then makes Drew the special guest referee for that match and Elias the special guest time keeper.
Show opened with Shane McMahon cutting a promo on his upcoming match against Kevin Owens at Summerslam. Shane states that he wants to see KO quit after he beats him at Summerslam and that he wants it in writing. KO comes out and states that he will beat the crap out of Shane at the PPV and he will never quit again. He then teases to fight Shane right then and there, but Shane counterattacks him by making match between KO against Roman Reigns for later in the show!
Backstage Shane greets with Elias and Drew McIntyre as they were both kissing his ass for making the match between Owens and Reigns. Shane then makes Drew the special guest referee for that match and Elias the special guest time keeper.
Shinsuke Nakamura Vs. Apollo Crews
I must say this was a good match! Apollo showed so much offense and I was happy to see that because he is really talented. Apollo almost had the match won when he hit the Olympic Slam on Nakamura for a near fall, even I thought for a split second he was gonna beat him. Crews then attempts a Standing Shooting Star Press but Nakamura got out of the way and hits the Kinshasa for the win! Afterwards, Nakamura beats down Crews some more by taking him to the outside and hits the Kinshasa yet again.
Backstage we see Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville as Mandy confirms that next week they will face the IIconics. If they come out victorious, they will get a tag team title shot against them in the foreseeable future. That means it'll be long ass time before they get a shot at those titles.
MizTV segment was next with guest Shawn Michaels! They talk about the highlights of RAW Reunion until they're interrupted by Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler takes this time to talk down on Michaels, calling him an embarrassment and that he shouldn't be a Hall of Famer. HBK then rebuttals by saying that he once felt like he was an embarrassment, but what's more embarrassing to him is that Ziggler worked hard his whole career just to be known as a second rate version of himself. Ziggler gets angry by this and claims that he's the one and only version of himself. Miz steps in and challenges Ziggler to do something about it if he's so frustrated. Ziggler attempts to leave but turns around and swings at HBK but hits Miz instead. Michaels got a punch in on Ziggler and checks on Miz then he turns around into a wicked Superkick by Ziggler! Miz runs at Ziggler but he exits the ring and becomes pretty satisfied with himself for laying out HBK.
Backstage we see Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville as Mandy confirms that next week they will face the IIconics. If they come out victorious, they will get a tag team title shot against them in the foreseeable future. That means it'll be long ass time before they get a shot at those titles.
MizTV segment was next with guest Shawn Michaels! They talk about the highlights of RAW Reunion until they're interrupted by Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler takes this time to talk down on Michaels, calling him an embarrassment and that he shouldn't be a Hall of Famer. HBK then rebuttals by saying that he once felt like he was an embarrassment, but what's more embarrassing to him is that Ziggler worked hard his whole career just to be known as a second rate version of himself. Ziggler gets angry by this and claims that he's the one and only version of himself. Miz steps in and challenges Ziggler to do something about it if he's so frustrated. Ziggler attempts to leave but turns around and swings at HBK but hits Miz instead. Michaels got a punch in on Ziggler and checks on Miz then he turns around into a wicked Superkick by Ziggler! Miz runs at Ziggler but he exits the ring and becomes pretty satisfied with himself for laying out HBK.
Charlotte Flair Vs. Ember Moon
I was looking forward to this match but was disappointed how it turned out. The match was very quick as the two women go at it for a little until Bayley arrives, distracting Charlotte. Ember then rolls up Charlotte for the quick win! Afterwards, Bayley and Ember stand side by side til Ember tosses Bayley into the ring and Charlotte takes her out. Ember then hits the Eclipse on Charlotte then nails another one on Bayley, standing tall at the end of it all!
Kofi Kingston arrives next as he looks to find an opponent for his WWE Title at Summerslam. Kofi calls out a man that he's had a long history with over the past decade, and that man is Randy Orton. Orton comes out and they engage in a war of words as Kofi brings up the moment where he did the Boom Leg Drop on Orton at Madison Square Garden 10 years ago and how that was a career defining moment for him. Orton talks about how he got over the past 18 years by just simply being himself and winning titles, royal rumbles and even main eventing Wrestlemania on a couple of occasions. Randy then brings up the fact that Kofi only main evented Wrestlemania 35 because of him injuring Ali back in February and I was glad he brought that up because that's very true. He goes on to say that he can take the WWE Championship away from Kofi at any time and this prompted Kofi to officially challenge him for the title at the PPV and Orton accepted.
Kofi Kingston arrives next as he looks to find an opponent for his WWE Title at Summerslam. Kofi calls out a man that he's had a long history with over the past decade, and that man is Randy Orton. Orton comes out and they engage in a war of words as Kofi brings up the moment where he did the Boom Leg Drop on Orton at Madison Square Garden 10 years ago and how that was a career defining moment for him. Orton talks about how he got over the past 18 years by just simply being himself and winning titles, royal rumbles and even main eventing Wrestlemania on a couple of occasions. Randy then brings up the fact that Kofi only main evented Wrestlemania 35 because of him injuring Ali back in February and I was glad he brought that up because that's very true. He goes on to say that he can take the WWE Championship away from Kofi at any time and this prompted Kofi to officially challenge him for the title at the PPV and Orton accepted.
Kofi Kingston Vs. Samoa Joe
Decent match here as Randy Orton was at ringside for it all. Joe gave Kofi a beating but of course Kofi fought back like the champion that he is. Kofi hits Joe with a Flying Chop until Orton comes in almost immediately and attempts to hit the RKO but Kofi dodged it right away. Joe gets up and tries to go after Orton but gets caught in the RKO himself! Poor Joe man....
Finn Balor comes out next to talk about being ambushed by Bray Wyatt last week. Balor in particular challenged The Fiend to a match at Summerslam, which prompted an appearance by Bray Wyatt who brought back the Firefly Funhouse! Bray, along with Mercy The Buzzard and Rambling Rabbit, lets Balor know that The Fiend has accepted his challenge.
Finn Balor comes out next to talk about being ambushed by Bray Wyatt last week. Balor in particular challenged The Fiend to a match at Summerslam, which prompted an appearance by Bray Wyatt who brought back the Firefly Funhouse! Bray, along with Mercy The Buzzard and Rambling Rabbit, lets Balor know that The Fiend has accepted his challenge.
Kevin Owens Vs. Roman Reigns
Shane McMahon made himself the special guest ring announcer for this match. Along with Drew as the referee and Elias as the time keeper, Owens and Reigns had the cards stacked against them or so they thought. This match never took place though as KO grabbed the microphone and states that he could go through Roman Reigns in order to get to Shane himself. Roman didn't like this and he states that he had no problem whooping KO's ass. The two did lock up but Drew shoved Roman off so he can separate the two of them and Roman didn't appreciate that at all. He slaps Drew then tosses him outside the ring and KO goes after Elias. Shane was all alone so the two of them went after Shane as Roman hits him with the Superman Punch and KO hits him with the Stunner to close out the show!
Show Rating: 7/10
Show Rating: 7/10
