Overall, this was a pretty good episode of Friday Night Smackdown, with a couple of good matches sandwiching some ok content in the rest of the show. The main event was definitely the highlight, as it incorporated some good wrestling with some interesting storytelling. Nakamura was injured mid-match but Riddle continued to fight on his own. Despite being outnumbered, it took a distraction caused by Sami Zayn to prevent Riddle from winning. The low point of the night was the match between Jinder Mahal and Humberto. While the post-match segment included some more dancing from Shanky, the match itself didn't have much action and ended on an anticlimactic note. The women’s match to determine the next challenger for the women’s title featured some good spots and saw Natalya emerge victorious. In conclusion, the lows weren't the lowest and the highs weren't the highest.
On tonight’s episode of Friday Night Smackdown, Riddle and Shinsuke Nakamura challenge The Usos for the Undisputed Tag Team Title. Will The Usos retain or will the makeshift team of Riddle and Nakamura become the new champs? A six-pack challenge involving Xia Li, Natalya, Aliyah, Shotzi, Shayna Baszler, and Raquel Rodriguez to determine the next challenger for the Smackdown Women’s Championship. Who will Ronda Rousey’s next challenger be? And Madcap Moss returns to Smackdown with revenge on his mind!
GOOD Drew McIntyre, the New Day, and The Brawling Brutes: Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods thank Drew McIntyre for assisting them in their bout last week by providing him with a new quilt. The Brawling Brutes came to the ring to challenge The Drew Day to a match. Kingston and Woods seized the momentum midway through the match front flipping over the top rope and on top of Sheamus and Ridge Holland. After turning things around, Sheamus landed a knee drop off the corner onto Kingston but was unable to make the pin. After a Bitter End from Butch, The Brawling Brutes came away with the victory.
Results: The Brawling Brutes by Pinfall via Bitter End
First and Last Name WR Star Rating – 3.25
Riddle and Shinsuke Nakamura are interviewed by Kayla Braxton backstage. Riddle promises to avenge the injury to Randy Orton in his tag match against The Usos.
AVERAGE Humberto Carillo vs Jinder Mahal: Mahal gave Shanky strict instructions not to do any dancing while Mahal’s match was going on. During the match, Mahal had most of the momentum but Humberto rolled him up at one point. However, Shanky had the ref distracted, saving Mahal. This distraction allowed Jinder to roll up Humberto and secure the victory. After the match, Shanky had a dance party once again with Samantha Irvin.
Results: Jinder Mahal by Pinfall via Rollupp
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.5 Stars
ABOVE AVERAGE Aliyah vs Xia Li vs Raquel Rodriguez vs Shotzi vs Shayne Baszler vs Natalya in a six-pack challenge: Aliyah started the match off hot by attacking Shotzi, who tried to lock Aliyah in the locker room. Raquel Rodriguez had a creative sequence in which she put Shotzi in a standing suplex and onto another competitor. Baszler prevented Rodriguez from making the pin with a Kirifuda Clutch. This opened the door for Natalya to pick up the pinfall victory.
Results: Natalya by Pinfall
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.75 Stars
GOOD Madcap Moss: in his return, Moss ditched the suspenders and the sunny disposition in exchange for a new, angry attitude. Moss demands Happy Corbin come to the ring to fight. Corbin obliges and tells Moss he is too emotional for a match, Adam Peace disagreed and made the match between the two official. The ensuing match didn’t last long as Madcap Moss grabbed a chair and started hitting Corbin with it. Moss attempted to wedge Corbin’s neck in a chair, the same way Corbin did to him, but WWE officials stopped him. Later in the night, Pearce sets a No Holds Barred match for Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss at Hell in a Cell.
Results: Happy Corbin by Disqualification
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 stars
Kayla Braxton interviewed the Usos backstage about the comments made by Riddle.
Ricochet and Gunther both speak on their upcoming title match for the Intercontinental Championship next week on Smackdown.
GREAT Riddle and Shinsuke Nakamura vs The Usos for the Undisputed Tag Team Championships: after Jimmy pushed Riddle from the corner, Jimmy and Jey combined to superkick Riddle. Outside the ring, the Usos target the back of Nakamura’s knee. This leads to an injury that forces Nakamura to leave the match. A fired-up Riddle insists on continuing the match alone, quickly knocking both Usos out of the ring. After regaining momentum, Jey Uso mocks Randy Orton’s pre-RKO move, angering Riddle into fighting harder. Riddle hit the Usos with a Floating Bro and a Ropehung DDT for the near-victory but Jimmy Uso kicked out. The entrance music of Roman Reigns started to play, distracting Riddle long enough for Jey Uso to make the tag. A frog splash from Jey Uso allowed the champs to retain. It is revealed that Sami Zayn snuck into the control room to play Roman’s music for a distraction.
Results: Name by Win Method via Move
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.5 Stars
Overall, this was a pretty good episode of Friday Night Smackdown, with a couple of good matches sandwiching some ok content in the rest of the show. The main event was definitely the highlight, as it incorporated some good wrestling with some interesting storytelling. Nakamura was injured mid-match but Riddle continued to fight on his own. Despite being outnumbered, it took a distraction caused by Sami Zayn to prevent Riddle from winning. The low point of the night was the match between Jinder Mahal and Humberto. While the post-match segment included some more dancing from Shanky, the match itself didn’t have much action and ended on an anticlimactic note. The women’s match to determine the next challenger for the women’s title featured some good spots and saw Natalya emerge victorious. In conclusion, the lows weren’t the lowest and the highs weren’t the highest.
Matches: 0.5/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.75/1 Stars
Atmosphere: 0.5/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.5/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.75/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 3/5 Stars
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