Niz Reviews SmackDown — page 4

Joe Tessitore welcomes us to Smackdown at the PPG Arena in Pittsburgh (recorded Monday night) via voiceover and here’s Solo Sikoa with his new WWE Men’s United States championship in the second seat of an SUV. As he’s getting ready to head into the arena, Jacob Fatu attacks. Fatu yanks Sikoa out of the window for a headbutt and then wrecks Tonga Loa and JC Mateo who were also passengers. Security and Smackdown GM Nick Aldis arrive to break up the one-sided brawl.

Smackdown tonight comes from the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. There were apparently technical issues on the world broadcast stemming from a power outage, so let’s see how this American (delayed til it’s normal start time on USA) version of the show turns out.

Arrivals to the show include WWE Woman’s Champion Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax, who will face Stratton in a Last Woman Standing match for the title. WWE World Tag Team Champions The Street Profits and WWE Women’s US Champion Zelina Vega also arrive ahead of their respective title matches tonight. Giulia, who will challenge Vega for her title, is also shown. Jade Cargill and Asuka are shown arriving ahead of their Queen of the Ring final at tomorrow night’s Night of Champions. 

Live from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids MI. Your announcers are Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett, Byron Saxton backstage and Mark Nash doing ring intros.

Then, Now, Maybe, Sort Of, Who Knows, Forever, Together, IguanaMan

Man, that new opening is something. Smackdown is coming to you LIVE AND IN COLOR DADDEH from Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY. We’ll have two men’s King of the Ring qualifiers tonight, and two women’s Queen of the Ring qualifiers as well. Walk-ins tonight: US Men’s Champion Jacob Fatu, and Naomi (with the MITB briefcase containing who knows what in hand).

It’s Money In The Bank weekend and we open with a shot of the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles where the event will be held on Saturday while Joe Tessitore talks up the event (EL SEGUNDO STILL HAS MY WALLET, FOR THE RECORD). However, tonight Smackdown is in Bakersfield at the Dignity Health Arena.

We are live at the Performance Center.

Highlight package from last week’s show include Ethan Page taking the men’s North American title from Ricky Saints, Hollywood Trick being confronted by Mike Santana, and Jacy Jayne’s SHOCKING upset of women’s champ Stephanie Vaquer.

Walkups: Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, and Jazmyn Nyx of Fatal Influence, Mike Santana and Hollywood Trick.

Then, Now, Forever – Together is what I say to corn on the cob as I’m eating it.

The opening highlights spotlight last weekend’s Saturday Night’s Main Event show. John Cena’s deception and subsequent nards attack on R-Truth is spotlighted. Cena vaguely threatened Jey Uso, and then attacked the World Heavyweight Champion as he had Logan Paul pinned. That brought out a returning Cody Rhodes to attack Cena (and allow Uso to actually pin Paul). Cody then tossed out a challenge of him and Jey Uso vs Cena and Paul at Money In The Bank.

We are LIVE in Knoxville, TN at Thompson-Boling Arena on the campus of the University of Tennessee. Let’s see some folks walk in, shall we? Here’s a nattily dressed Cody Rhodes (and Pharoah) who will go face-to-face with John Cena later. Here’s Bianca Belair (who is from Tennessee and sporting a Volunteer-orange singlet and orange boots). Belair is on her way through Gorilla out to the ring.