This was a very good episode of Friday Night SmackDown. The main event was the highlight of the night for sure, with Ricochet winning the SmackDown World Cup and a shot at the Intercontinental Championship with it. For the first time in a while, it’s difficult to pick out a lowlight but if forced to pick one I would have to say the Emma-Shayna Baszler match. The action was good but it was obvious throughout the match that Baszler would win. In other news, we got another Triple H return, as Tegan Nox is now back. Also, Sami Zayn and the Usos continue to provide quality entertainment. This episode loses points because while all of the matches were good, most didn't get to the great or must-see category. Additionally, while the next challenger for the IC was decided, other stories moved along a little slowly. We're moving in the direction of an LA Knight-Bray Wyatt feud but that continues to move along slowly, for example. An entertaining show with a few things to look forward to.
On tonight’s edition of Friday Night SmackDown: Damage Control comes to the blue brand. What brings them to Friday nights? Sheamus takes on Sami Zayn. Will the Bloodline continue their domination or will Sheamus avenge his side’s loss? And the SmackDown World Cup comes to a close as Ricochet faces off with Santos Escobar. Who will earn a shot at Gunther?
GOOD Sami Zayn vs Sheamus:
The Usos attributed the WarGames win to Sami Zayn. Once the match started, Sheamus’ strength advantage was the key, tossing Zayn around. Later, Zayn turned the match around with a couple of DDTs. As Zayn looked for an elbow drop from the ring corner, Sheamus countered with a knee. Jimmy Uso distracted the ref in the finish while Jey Uso snuck in and super-kicked Sheamus. Sami Zayn wins via pinfall.
Results: Sami Zayn by Pinfall via Superkick
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
Kofi Kingston announced himself as the first entree in the Royal Rumble. Gunther and Kingston then agreed to a match.
In a backstage monologue, Bray Wyatt said that if he had been the one who attacked LA Knight, there would have been none of Knight left.
Legado Del Fantasma hyped up Santos Escobar as he prepared for the final match of the SmackDown World Cup.
GOOD Shayna Baszler vs Emma:
Emma attempted a couple of pins early in this match but things turned around when Baszler targeted her arm. Later, Emma got a near fall when she landed a neck breaker off the middle rope. Baszler got the victory with a Kirifuda Clutch. After the match, it took both Shotzi and Raquel Rodriguez to end a post-match attack.
Results: Shayna Baszler by Submission via Kirifuda Clutch
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
A video was shown of Lacey Evans going through basic training in an effort to reinvent herself.
GOOD Gunther vs Kofi Kingston:
Gunther was too much for Kingston early in this match, overpowering Kingston anytime he got any offense going. Later, Braun Strowman came to the ring, making quick work of Giovanni Vinci and Ludvig Kaiser. As a result of this distraction, Kofi Kingston nearly pinned Gunther with an SOS. Gunther finally got the win with a new finishing move to Kofi Kingston.
Results: Gunther by Pinfall via The Last Symphony
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
Sheamus ambushed the Usos with a shillelagh and promised that he and Drew McIntyre would be waiting for them on Raw.
GOOD Damage Control:
Bayley attributed the loss at WarGames to Damage Control being in the match for over 90 minutes. Then, Liv Morgan interrupted Bayley and brawled with Damage Control by herself. Just as the numbers looked like too much, Tegan Nox returned to WWE and saved Morgan.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 stars
Karrion Kross announced that Rey Mysterio is the next person he will target.
Uncle Howdy tells the audience to “revel in what you are.”
GREAT Santos Escobar vs Ricochet in the final match of the SmackDown World Cup:
Cruz Del Toro and Oscar Wilde distracted Ricochet, allowing Escobar to have the early advantage. The referee caught on to the shenanigans, tossing Del Toro, Wilde, and Zelena Vega as well. Minus the interference, Ricochet was able to shift the momentum. Later on, Escobar took a risk and hit Ricochet with a Suicide Dive into the announcer’s table. One of the highlights of the match came when both men were standing on the barricade outside the ring. As they were standing up there, Escobar hit Ricochet with a Hurricanrana. Santos Escobar tried the same thing on the ring corner but Ricochet landed on his feet. In the end, Ricochet won on a 630 Splash, earning a shot at the Intercontinental Championship.
Results: Ricochet by Pinfall via 630 Splash
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.75 Stars
Overall…
This was a very good episode of Friday Night SmackDown. The main event was the highlight of the night for sure, with Ricochet winning the SmackDown World Cup and a shot at the Intercontinental Championship with it. For the first time in a while, it’s difficult to pick out a lowlight but if forced to pick one I would have to say the Emma-Shayna Baszler match. The action was good but it was obvious throughout the match that Baszler would win. In other news, we got another Triple H return, as Tegan Nox is now back. Also, Sami Zayn and the Usos continue to provide quality entertainment. This episode loses points because while all of the matches were good, most didn’t get to the great or must-see category. Additionally, while the next challenger for the IC was decided, other stories moved along a little slowly. We’re moving in the direction of an LA Knight-Bray Wyatt feud but that continues to move along slowly, for example. An entertaining show with a few things to look forward to.
Matches: 0.5/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.75/1 Stars
Atmosphere: 0.75/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.5/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.75/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 3.25/5 Stars
Photo Credit: WWE
For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here:
