Smackdown Review – 05.29.26

Words, words, so many many words: SNME | AAA | Raw | NXT | Evolve | Impact

Also, you should read Kat’s excellent write-up on the Superfan Vladimir documentary!

Smackdown was live for the rest of the world today on Netflix, but it comes to the USA airwaves on tape delay from The Olimpico Arena in Barcelona, Spain. The announcers for tonight’s show are Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett on match calls and analysis, Lilian Garcia on ring introductions, and Cathy Kelley on interviews and news. Let’s watch some wrestling!

Then, Now, Forever…..TOGETHER

Arrivals to the show include WWE Men’s Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes and his dance partner, GUNTHER. Also arriving in split screen are Carmelo Hayes and Ricky Saints, and here’s Chelsea Green who will face Nia Jax, flanked by good friend Lash Legend.

Tessitore throws to the the Spanish announce team of Alvaro Carrera and Miguel Perez who welcome us to Spain and are HYPED for the show. It’s just Smackdown, guys, let’s ease down. Tessitore throws to highlights of Saturday Night’s Main Event, which I reviewed and enjoyed.

Here’s Jade Cargill out with Michin and B-Fab out to a chorus of boos. Everyone gets a mic because I definitely need to hear Michin’s thoughts tonight. Cargill tells Barcelona to soak it in and B-Fab admonishes the crowd in Spanish. Cargill doesn’t ask for permission and she’s one of one, and everyone’s mad because she does what she wants. B-Fab says Cargill will win on Sunday because she’s the most dominant. Michin says the future is now and speaking of now….

Here’s WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley out to an enormous pop. Barrett questions Ripley’s smarts in terms of getting in the ring with three enemies, but Ripley seems unconcerned. The “Ole, Ole” futbol chant erupts and Ripley says Cargill comes out every week to talk about her dominance and doesn’t want to mention the people she uses to make her look better. Ripley says when it’s just her and Cargill she beats her. Ripley won at Wrestlemania and is confident that she’ll win again in Italy. Cargill says Ripley sounds stupid in thinking THIS DIVISION revolves around her. The women that are with Cargill are interested in power, but Ripley is willing to walk around with people that don’t even like her and well…

Here’s Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss out to even up our numbers a bit, and because it’s Smackdown, everyone gets a full entrance. Flair gives Barcelona a WOOOOOO and starts dogging Cargill immediately by saying that she’s confusing hype for accomplishments. Flair blows off some Michin insults and Bliss says Cargill has the ego of a legend but the resume of a rookie when it comes to Flair, Ripley, and herself. Bliss warns Cargill that she’s gone against people way better than Cargill and if she wants to get embarassed, there are no worries. Here’s Smackdown GM Nick Aldis out to make a match between Bliss and Cargill. We go to commercials.

Alexa Bliss vs Jade Cargill

Everyone stays at ringside and I wonder what that means for the finish. Bliss starts with a flurry of little person offense but Cargill dumps her to the floor to break things up. Cargill goes out and gives chase so Bliss ducks back in and whales on Cargill when she tries to re-enter. Cargill misses a charge and Bliss snaps her neck-first over the top rope. Bliss tries a cross-body which Cargill sniffs out and mashes Bliss back-first over her knee. Cargill bullies Bliss to a corner but eats a back elbow and a kick when she charges. Bliss ascends and Cargill yanks her up for a press-slam. Cargill misses an elbow drop and then Bliss dumps her to the floor when she charges. Cargill catches Bliss again and powerbombs her on the barricade. We go to commercials.

Cargill elbows Bliss down when the show returns. Flair checks on Bliss before Cargill comes out to continue whomping on Bliss. Cargill flexes for the crowd before hoisting Bliss on her shoulders. Bliss slips off and mashes Cargill with a dropkick and then Cargill misses a charge while slamming her knee into the ring steps. Bliss kicks at the knee and has another short flurry that includes a Meteora and a flipping senton. Bliss covers Cargill for two. Bliss wants Sister Abigail but Cargill slips out of it. Cargill has a chat with the ref allowing for some Michin interference and here come the troops from the other side of the ring. Flair and Ripley start smashing B-Fab and Michin around and back up the aisle. Cargill turns into a Bliss DDT and Bliss ascends. Bliss wants Twisted Bliss but meets Cargill’s knees. Cargill hits a pump kick and pulls Bliss into Jaded, and that ends things.

It was pretty obvious that Cargill wasn’t losing this prior to the title match, it was just a matter of how we were getting there and creative chose “Jade is actually physically dominant over tiny people” which is fine and probably true. So, from start to finish this was the first thirty minutes of this show and taken as a whole, it’s a LOT of yap for a rematch plus a two-segment match. Luckily, no one got hurt (given what’s happened with Jacob Fatu, it’s a legit concern) and Cargill looked impressive. 2.75*

Winner – Jade Cargill (Jaded)

Post-match sees Cargill duck out for a chair which she lays down in front of her. Cargill yanks Bliss up for another Jaded that ends with Bliss going face-first into the chair. Here’s a charging Ripley and Flair back in and Ripley is PISSED. Ripley does the crotch chop to Cargill while continuing to put the stink-mouth on her.

Tessitore throws to highlights from last week when GUNTHER interfered during the Rhodes-Zayn match, and then the subsequent post-match attack from the challenger. Here’s Cathy Kelley with Cody Rhodes who is immediately approached by Sami Zayn. Rhodes says he’s got nothing to say to Zayn and Zayn wants an apology for doing the right thing last week. Rhodes explodes on Zayn and reminds him that Zayn walked away while GUNTHER was “choking me out”. Zayn calls himself the “last real good guy” and he says that he realized that the right thing to do was to leave Rhodes in the sleeper hold to teach him a lesson. Rhodes says that hopefully once he’s done with GUNTHER tonight he can return the lesson-teaching favor to Zayn.

Here’s Nick Aldis with Danhausen who’s science equipment seems to have been held up at Customs. Aldis tells Danhausen to improvise and he scurries away while The Miz comes in to ask for a postponement of tonight’s match because Kit Wilson is not in Barcelona. Aldis says it seems like Miz is more concerned about having to go out to fight Spain’s native son Axiom on his own. Aldis reminds Miz that his match is next while Danhausen scrambles around in the background improvising as instructed. We go to commercials.

The Miz vs Axiom

Did you know that the last singles match win for Miz on television occurred in February of 2024? Well now you do, partner. Lilian Garcia announces Axiom en espanol and he emerges with tag partner Nathan Frazer in tow. Tessitore fills in the backstory here that Kit Wilson wasn’t allowed in the country because of his excessive amount of travel moisturizer and well, this is huge if true.

Axiom flips Miz around and Miz grabs his mask to get out of it. The lights flicker and Axiom pulls Miz down during some rope running. Axiom eats a Miz back elbow but Axiom fires up with an elbow drag and we reset. Miz runs right into an Axiom dropkick and gets sent to the floor by more Axiom kicks. Frazer points Miz back to the the ring and Axiom continues to beat Miz up. Miz kicks the ropes as Axiom tries to enter and we take a commercial break.

Axiom nips up to a wild cheer when the show returns. Axiom waffles Miz with a German and covers him for two. Axiom ascends and slips a Miz charge. Axiom gets yanked into a DDT and Miz covers him for two. Miz wants the crowd to pipe down while he blasts Axiom with Yes kicks. Axiom catches one of them and hits a Dragon Screw before stomping on the Miz’s hands and delivering some Yes kicks of his own. Axiom ascends for a cross-body that gets two. Axiom misses a charge and Miz crushes Axiom with a running lariat. Miz tries a springboard and leaps right into a Triangle Choke before transitioning to an STF, but Miz reverses it and gets a quick two. Miz hits a slingshot powerbomb and ascends. The lights flicker again and it gives Axiom enough time to rise up for a Spanish Fly. Axiom misses Miz by a mile with the Golden Ratio but Miz sells it and that ends things.

Will Miz ever win a singles match on television again? It’s an important question. So they ran a “home country babyface beats a grumpy old vet” play here and they ran it pretty well given the competitors. Now, you won’t remember any of it in 12 hours or so but it gave Axiom some shine in his home country and Miz got to go to Barcelona again. We’ll call it even. 2.5*

Winner – Axiom (Golden Ratio)

Here’s WWE Men’s Tag Team Champions R-Truth and Damian Priest and Truth is lamenting that he’s still not cleared. Truth has gotten Priest a replacement for tonight’s match with the MFT’s and it’s Royce Keys. Truth promises they will take care of the MFT’s and Priest doesn’t seem enthused at all. Keys says Priest is just out for himself and Priest wonders openly how he can trust Keys. Truth questions whether or not they are scared of the MFT’s or tagging with each other, and both say no, so Truth says it’s go time and leaves as both Keys and Priest are baffled at the eruption of logic.

Here’s Sami Zayn chatting with Candice LeRae and Zayn feels like LeRae needs to hear about him teaching Cody Rhodes a lesson, or in actuality, Sad John Wrestling who’s laying on a stairwell. Here’s Matt Cardona in to make fun of Gargano and to talk about the “Cody stuff”. Cardona says things aren’t going his way either but he’s not talking to a “corpse” to make himself feel better. Zayn fires up over this disrespect and says he can’t let it stand so he wants Cardona tonight. Cardona says bet and goes to talk to Nick Aldis.

Damian Priest makes his entrance as we go to commercials.

Charlotte Flair is comforting Alexa Bliss when the show returns, and then she leaves to find Rhea Ripley. Flair says Bliss is in a lot of pain and pissed off, so the next time she sees Jade…and Ripley promises to beat Cargill in Italy. Flair says she better because if not, Flair will handle things because Cargill has a receipt coming. (It’s wild to me that kayfabe terms like receipt are now just part of the wrestling vernacular, but I also don’t hate it either.)

WWE Men’s Tag Team Champion Damian Priest and Royce Keys vs The MFT’s (Talla Tonga and Tama Tonga)

Solo Sikoa is out with his face-painted crew. Priest whips his t-shirt at Talla who responds with a bunch of kicks. Priest fires up but gets trucked down for his efforts. Talla tosses Priest into the MFT corner and Tama tags in to continue whaling on Priest. Priest fires up and starts smashing Tama around before Keys tags in. Tama and Keys slug it out and Keys yanks Tama up for a tilt-a-whirl slam over his knee. Keys runs into a high boot but immediately yanks Tama into a snap powerslam. Keys sends Tama to the floor and then breaks up Priest potentially getting chokeslammed by a charging Talla. Keys and Priest slug away at Talla and then dump him to the floor. We go to commercials.

Tama prevents a tag as the show returns. Keys, who’s been getting whomped on the entire break, yanks Tama into a huge spinebuster and crawls over to tag Priest who immediately lays waste to Tama. Talla charges in and eats a bunch of right hands from Priest. Priest waffles both of them with kicks and then boxes Talla’s ears. Priest sends Talla to the floor with a forearm and then yanks Tama into a facebreaker. Priest ascends and wallops Tama with a flying lariat. Talla breaks up Priest cover at two and eats an immediate Keys lariat in response. Talla ends up on the floor and while Charles Robinson is admonishing Keys, Priest runs into a Samoan Spike from Sikoa on the apron. Here’s a charging R-Truth down to start battling with Sikoa. Sikoa hits Truth with a Spike and Keys charges over to pull Sikoa away while berating him. Tama smashes Keys from behind and in the ring Talla pulls Priest into a T-Bomb chokeslam which ends things.

Okay, this got very overbooked for a random Smackdown non-title match, but I’m guessing this result leads to a title match soon since Priest took the fall. Nothing major here, the Samoans continue to mostly underwhelm and don’t really offer much in the way of entertainment, and whatever this Keys story is supposed to be is just sort of limping along at this point. 2.5*

Winners – The MFT’s (Talla T-Bomb chokeslam on Priest)

Post-match sees Sikoa mention that there’s still time to join his family to a fallen Keys. Huge, if true.

Here’s the Miz threatening to sue Nick Aldis by saying that he’s working in a hazardous workplace with all this light flickering. Aldis promises to get to the bottom of the electrical issues and of course he stumbles into Danhausen’s makeshift lab. Danhausen lets Miz have a blast of fire extinguisher and he leaves while a bereft Aldis looks on helplessly. Tessitore promises a look at the Roman Reigns-Jacob Fatu history when the show comes back from commercials.

The Pique Group has earned the TWISTED TEA SEAT UPGRADE. I’m thrilled for all of you!

Here’s a look at the buildup to Tribal Combat. Now, the news today indicated that this match might be in jeopardy due to a Jacob Fatu injury situation that developed in the aftermath of a house show battle with Solo Sikoa in Liverpool. We’ll see how this unfolds throughout the weekend. Tessitore does not mention any of this while hyping up that match during his run-down of all the matches happening in Torino. WWE has announced that Cody-GUNTHER will kick off the show and that has my Spidey sense tingling.

Here’s Chelsea Green running into WWE Women’s US Champion Tiffany Stratton and they are dressed in remarkably similar fashion, which Green points out. Stratton says she was always planning on wearing her stuff and Green is excited for her match tonight. Stratton says she’s not accompanying Green to ringside and a hurt Green says she’ll guess she’ll see Stratton after it’s over.

Sami Zayn makes his entrance and hypes up his “ride or dies” as he slaps a bunch of hands. It’s time to sell some more products to an unsuspecting public.

Here’s a look at MASK VS MASK and y’all, I have to tell you that I am looking forward to this match more than I ever would have expected. I urge ALL of you to watch Noche de los Grandes tonight because it’s going to be INSANITY.

Sami Zayn vs Matt Cardona

Cardona’s tan is just….something to behold. Zayn grabs a wristlock and Cardona reverses before we reset. There’s some standing switches and Zayn snaps off an armdrag after some rope running. Zayn punches Cardona in the head a few times and then gets dumped to the floor by Cardona. Cardona hits a between-the-ropes dropkick and goes to the floor with Zayn. Cardona runs Zayn back in and gets pulled over the top rope in a suplex by Zayn. Zayn tries some covers that get two, and then goes to ground and pound. Zayn chops away in a corner but Cardona fires up with some forearms and a lariat. Cardona ascends for a missile dropkick and we go to commercials.

Cardona is crawling to a corner when the show returns and Zayn slaps on a a sleeper. Cardona hits a jawbreaker and a series of lariats before dropping Zayn with an X-Factor. Cardona rams Zayn with a running forearm and then waffles Zayn with the Broski Boot. Cardona wants the Ruff Ryder but Zayn slips it. Zayn wanders into a gnarly leaping double underhook powerbomb from Cardona that gets two. Zayn fires up but Cardona catches him with a neckbreaker that gets two. Cardona wanders into a Zayn powerbomb and that gets two. Zayn lines up Cardona and runs right into the Ruff Ryder. Zayn gets his foot on the rope as the ref gets to two. Cardona mounts Zayn on a top turnbuckle and ascends for some fighting. Zayn slugs Cardona down and rams him into a corner with an Exploder. Zayn hits the Helluva Kick and that ends things.

Another story that’s just sort of limping along is this Zayn heel turn and like, yes, he’s fully a heel now but you still feel like there’s something BIG coming and maybe that’s just not a feeling to hold on to. Like, I just kind of want Zayn to snap and really lay waste to someone, preferably Cody, but whomever, to really cement things. Anyway, this is just more content for this should-be-two-hours-but-must-be-three-because-USA-wants-it-this-way era. 3*

Winner – Sami Zayn (Helluva Kick)

Tessitore throws to a preview of the King and Queen of the Ring Tournaments which will be starting this week on Raw. I know opinions are mixed on King Booker but man, I LOVED that character. The winners of this years tournaments earn title shots and the finals will be at Night of Champions, which is still mentioned as being in Riyadh.

Lil Yachty knocks on a door and out comes WWE Men’s US Champion Trick Williams. They will join us after some products are talked about in thirty second increments.

Nick Aldis is with GUNTHER who he tells that he wants tonight to be civilized when the talking segment occurs with Cody Rhodes. GUNTHER promises to attack Cody……verbally. GUNTHER thinks they should go to Madrid next time they’re in Spain to draw some HEAT from the crowd.

Here’s WWE Men’s US Champion Trick Williams out with Lil Yachty, who’s toting a white kendo stick and a huge pile of cash. Tessitore tells us that Yachty’s TRICK STICK is actually covered with diamonds. Yachty introduces himself as the man with the money, connections, and who makes things happen. Yachty says we’re all witnesses to the Trick Williams Campaign and Trick soaks in some chants. Trick says he’s arrived and gets a nice pop. The “Ole, Ole” chant starts up and Trick dances a bit while calling himself “the man who holds down the brand”. Trick runs down his list of latest opponents and puts himself over as the future. Trick declares himself for the King of the Ring tournament and…

Here’s Carmelo Hayes out in his ring gear as I presume this yap session will lead into Hayes’s upcoming match. Hayes says he needs to digest Trick declaring for KOTR. Hayes puts over Trick on the mic and for his entrance but says that KOTR is “grown folk business” and Trick isn’t there yet. Hayes promises to handle Ricky Saints tonight and then wants Trick for the US title again. Trick says it sounds like excuses coming from Hayes and gets his chant going, so Hayes promises to actually whoop that Trick. Trick continues to berate Hayes and….

Here’s Ricky Saints out with a mic to say that no one wants to see this telenovela stuff, they want to see a champion like Saints. Saints promises he’s three steps ahead of Hayes and once he’s done with Hayes he’s coming for Trick. Trick says Saints looks like a bobblehead and makes him sick. Trick tells Saints to take some advice and shut the hell up when told to by the champ. Trick says that when the short kings figure things out one of them can come try to take the title but he’ll prove he’s the King. Saints says Trick is the King of Delusion and starts putting the stink-mouth on Trick only to get popped with a backhand. Saints ends up on the floor and Hayes marches towards Trick threateningly, but Yachty pulls Trick away and they make an exit while Saints checks his jaw. We go to commercials.

I won’t miss these segments when this show goes back to two hours. Like, at all.

Ricky Saints vs Carmelo Hayes

We’re joined in progress here and Saints smacks Hayes with a bunch of rights along the ropes. Saints eats a Hayes dropkick after some rope running and Hayes mashes Saints with a kaman giri and springboard leg drop. Saints fires up with a lariat and some ground and pound before popping Hayes with a huge right and some chops. Saints puts the boots to Hayes in a corner. Hayes fires up with a short flurry and then starts chopping Saints in a corner. Hayes hits a running splash and then kicks Saints dead in the back. Hayes mounts Saints in a corner and drops a ton of right hands. Saints pushes Hayes to the floor and then goes out after to ram Hayes into the barricade a few times. Saints hits his pose and we get to watch commercials!

Saints has been mashing Hayes around during the entire break and he mounts Hayes on a turnbuckle when the show returns. Saints ascends himself and predictably we slug it out. Saints gets dumped and Hayes’s frog splash attempt meets Saints knees. Saints pulls Hayes into a bridging Northern Lights suplex that gets two. Hayes grabs a quick roll up for two and then crushes Saints with a leaping DDT. We reset and both guys rise for a mid-ring slugfest. Hayes hits a springboard shoulder block and follows with Dirty Diana for two. Hayes yanks Saints up but Saints fires up and pulls Hayes into a twisting DDT that gets two. Saints gets dumped to the floor and Hayes wallops him with a tope con hilo. Saints sends Hayes into the crowd so Hayes leaps over the barricade with a lariat. Hayes sends Saints into the ring steps as the ref’s count reaches ten, and both guys are counted out.

You have to be kidding me with this finish. All of that yap for a double count-out? I should start rating this show by “Segments that make me want to throw my television in a river” because COME ON ALREADY. The sad thing is that the crowd was super into this and they gave them this utter wet fart finish. I THINK I’VE REACHED MY LIMIT BRAIN. 1.5*

No winner – Double count out

Post-match sees Saints attack again but Hayes fights him off with a dropkick and a First 48. Hayes music plays and Saints looks on in horror from the aisle.

Tessitore throws to a preview of Femi-Lesnar 2: THE UNRETIRING.

Here’s Nia Jax and Lash Legend sidling up to Tiffany Stratton and Jax mentions how smart Stratton is for not being in Chelsea Green’s corner. Jax promises to make sure Green won’t bother them anymore, and she and Legend then say it will just be a matter of time until one of them holds the US title. Stratton is nonplussed as we go to commercials.

Here’s a pre-taped promo from Blake Monroe who runs down a few names from the Smackdown locker room. Monroe focuses on Rhea Ripley and says Ripley is hiding from all her heartbreak and betrayal. The Glamour is coming to Smackdown and is coming for Ripley. Sure.

Nia Jax vs Chelsea Green

This is your main event match, as we’ll have a face-to-face with Cody and GUNTHER as the last segment of the show. Lash Legend is out with Jax as expected. It’s Nia Jax’s 42nd birthday, so many happy returns to her, enjoy some sangria! Jax tosses Green around to start and then mashes her with a running splash. Jax mangles Green and does her salute. Green slips a charge and then dumps Jax to the floor. Green hits a tope suicida and it’s time to sell some products.

Jax hits a powerbomb and covers Green for two when the show returns. Jax yanks Green into a cobra clutch and Green sits down to break out of it. Green gets caught by Jax who powerbombs her for two. Jax positions Green for a legdrop but Green escapes. Jax hoists Green up but she slips off for a Zig Zag that gets two. Jax misses a charge and Green ascends for a missile dropkick. Green hits the Ruff Ryder and gets two. Green wants Unpretty-her but Legend interferes. Green runs into a Samoan Drop and here’s Tiffany Stratton out to smack Jax in the face with her title belt. Legend gives chase as Green covers Jax and gets three.

Hey, as it turns out, I’m pretty sure this was your match of the night! They kept things simple and straight-forward here, and the immaculate crowd gets to go home happy (I would assume, we still have some chat to get through) with a jubilant Green celebrating her win. If Green and Stratton are going to be wacky friends who are wacky, this was a good start. 3.5*

Winner – Chelsea Green (roll up after Stratton interference)

Post-match sees a super happy Green want a hug and Stratton begs off of that while retreating back up the aisle.

Cathy Kelley is with WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Brie Bella and Paige. Bella says they know the target on their backs is huge, and here’s Fatal Influence in to interrupt. Jacy Jayne declares for Queen of the Ring, and then Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid threaten the tag champs. Paige and Bella ponder that while Fatal leaves. Do you like products, services, and things you might want to buy? YOU ARE IN LUCK RIGHT NOW FRIEND

It’s time for our LAST SEGMENT YAP SESH and here’s “Kingdom” firing up the crowd as WWE Men’s Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes gets a full entrance. Cody’s eye finally looks normal so we can retire #ShinerWatch26 officially. Rhodes wants to know what Barcelona wants to talk about and well….

Here’s GUNTHER striding to the ring while glaring at Rhodes. GUNTHER seems perturbed by the crowd chanting for Rhodes and he tells them he’s not there to engage with the crowd, he’s here to tell Rhodes exactly what he thinks about him. GUNTHER has figured out that Rhodes is always front and center on Smackdown, but GUNTHER knows that Rhodes is a product of his environment. GUNTHER says it’s interesting that Rhodes’s nickname is the American Nightmare because he’s currently the symbol of “the crumbling American Dream” (I’m guessing that choice of words was workshopped a BUNCH before being approved.) and this fires Rhodes up. GUNTHER says he was told as a boy you have to leave home and come to America to become rich and famous, and he’s done that, while Rhodes had everything he wanted was just one phone call away. GUNTHER mentions Rhodes leaving WWE and knowing one phone call would get him back in. GUNTHER says they’re nothing alike and Rhodes has to keep scratching the itch of his ego. GUNTHER says it’s unnecessary for him because he’s only out to be the best while protecting the sport from people like Rhodes. Rhodes only cares about himself and GUNTHER says Rhodes is a “mark for himself”. WE’RE SHOOTING NOW BROTHER

Rhodes says GUNTHER is a liar because he claims he doesn’t care about the title when he absolutely does want that fame and the trappings that come with it. Rhodes mentions that GUNTHER wants it because otherwise he’d be talking to a 330 lb equivalent of GUNTHER at an indy show instead. Rhodes talks up Paul Heyman’s involvement in getting GUNTHER this match, and promises that the title is addictive and GUNTHER is just as sick as him. Rhodes says GUNTHER will get this close only to find out he’s just not good enough. Rhodes says he’s easy to find and hard to beat, but GUNTHER wants a nose to nose before Rhodes leaves. GUNTHER tells Rhodes that he promised Goldberg he’d choke him out, and he did. GUNTHER promised AJ Styles and John Cena that he’d tap them out, and he did. GUNTHER promises Rhodes that on Sunday he’s going to choke him out and take the precious prize with him. GUNTHER leaves, the credits roll, and we are DESPERATELY OUT OF TIME.

Well, they tried very hard to sell you on Clash in Italy with this show and I guess we’ll see how that worked. The wrestling mostly felt secondary to all the yap tonight, I have to be honest. For a go-home, I guess that’s where we are now, and I guess I understand. The crowd was great all night so thumbs up there, and while nothing other than the double count-out finish really pissed me off, I was just feeling underwhelmed by this show in general by the time we got to Cody and GUNTHER yelling at each other. A very mid presentation tonight, and I will be wildly glad that we’re back to two hours next week assuming it actually happens.

Thanks for reading and commenting. I wanted to invite any lurkers who don’t comment to please feel free to join us here. You are more than welcome in this community and I’ll do my best to keep an eye on the comments in case it gets weird (it almost never gets weird in the Smackdown comments section but you never know). Have a good Saturday and remember that Noche de los Grandes starts at 10 PM Eastern for the big MASK vs MASK showdown!