This was a great episode of SmackDown: the matches were all good to great and most of the storylines were advanced. The highlight as usual was the Bloodline story, as Jey Uso and Roman Reigns continue to build up to their match. The low point was the women’s tag match. The action was decent but it just wasn't the best match on the show.
The matches were all good but none were amazing. The show structure was good, leading up to the main event but some of the matches didn't get put on the card until the middle of the show. The atmosphere was good but not great. Storytelling was great as The Bloodline highlighted several stories that were advanced. The production was good but no theme to this episode.
Tonight on Friday Night SmackDown: Jey Uso goes face to face with Roman Reigns ahead of their title match at Summer Slam. What do the former allies have to say to each other? Karl Anderson looks for revenge on Karrion Kross. Will he succeed in his quest? And Rey Mysterio faces his protege, Santos Escobar, in the final round of the US Championship Invitational.
AMAZING Jey Uso and Roman Reigns:
Roman Reigns accused Jey of being ungrateful for bringing the Usos to the top. He also said Jey has been plotting to betray him all this time. Reigns then went for the jugular when he said that Jimmy would have been the right-hand man if Jimmy hadn’t been hurt. Turning to their match at Summer Slam, Reigns said that regardless of whether he wins or loses, Jey won;t be able to handle the pressure. Jey Uso ended by telling Reigns that he pinned him once and will do it again.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 4 Stars
Grayson Waller offered to give Jey Uso the rub from being on the Grayson Waller Effect, but Jey wasn’t interested, rejecting the offer with a strike to Waller.
GOOD Rey Mysterio vs Santos Escobar with the winner earning a championship match against Austin Theory:
Early on, Escobar targeted Rey with submission moves in an effort to take away Rey’s speed. Current US Champion, Austin Theory was seen as watching the match from a box in the arena. One high point of this match came when Santos Escobar moved out of the way of a 619 but Rey landed a senton over the top rope. Unfortunately, Rey Mysterio was medically unable to finish the match and Santos Escobar was declared the winner.
Results: Santos Escobar by Medial Disqualification
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
Charlotte Flair wants to team with Bianca Belair against the Women’s Tag Team Champions. Belair wasn’t interested but this didn’t stop Flair from going to Adam Pearce to schedule the match.
GOOD Ashantee the Adonis vs LA Knight:
Before the match started, LA Knight got on the mic to rip apart each member of Hit Row. Hit Row got a couple of cheap shots on the megastar to take an early advantage. Knight quickly turned things around with a neck breaker and an elbow drop. LA Knight hit a BFT in the finish to pick up the win.
Results: LA Knight by Pinfall via BFT
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
Adam Pearce scheduled a match between Grayson Waller and Jey Uso.
Bobby Lashley gave the Street Profits some nice new clothes.
GOOD Charlotte Flair and Bianca Belair vs Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green:
Flair tagged herself in early, upsetting the EST. nevertheless, the makeshift tag team controlled this match until Chelsea Green entered the ring as the illegal woman to help her partner. In the finish, Bianca Belair had a KOD set up but Charlotte tagged herself in. a big boot and Flair made the pin.
Results: Charlotte Flair and Bianca Belair by Pinfall via Big Boot
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
Iyo Sky told Asuka she will become champion with the MITB briefcase regardless of who won at Summer Slam.
GOOD Karrion Kross vs Karl Anderson:
Before the match, Anderson told the rest of the OC to remain backstage as this match is personal for him. Anderson controlled this match early on but Scarlett interfered, allowing Kross to gain the momentum. Kross won the match off a Final Prayer. Post-match, Kross put Anderson in a Kross Jacket until the rest of the OC came to the rescue.
Results: Karrion Kross by Pinfall via Final Prayer
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
GREAT Jey Uso vs Grayson Waller:
Grayson Waller was in control early but just Uso got back in the match, Roman Reigns made his entrance. This distracted Jey Uso and allowed Waller to hit him from behind. Waller later tried to mock the Rock and went for a People’s Elbow but Jey Uso moved out of the way. In the finish, Jey speared Waller and then landed a splash to pick up the victory. After the match, Solo Sikoa and Roman Reigns laid the beatdown on Jey Uso. This included two spear/Samoan Spike combos.
Results: Jey Uso by Pinfall via Splash
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.5 Stars
Overall…
This was a great episode of SmackDown: the matches were all good to great and most of the storylines were advanced. The highlight as usual was the Bloodline story, as Jey Uso and Roman Reigns continue to build up to their match. The low point was the women’s tag match. The action was decent but it just wasn’t the best match on the show.
The matches were all good but none were amazing. The show structure was good, leading up to the main event but some of the matches didn’t get put on the card until the middle of the show. The atmosphere was good but not great. Storytelling was great as The Bloodline highlighted several stories that were advanced. The production was good but no theme to this episode.
Matches: 0.5/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.75/1 Stars
Atmosphere: 0.5/1 Stars
Storytelling: 1/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.75/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 3.5/5 Stars
Photo Credit: WWE
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