A Room with a Review: SmackDown 07/03/20
It’s a surprisingly non-jingoistic episode of SmackDown leading into the 4th of July weekend. They even let the Japanese guy win for once!
- We’re starting off with Michael Cole in the ring to interview Matt Riddle, since Renee Young is at home right now celebrating her new cookbook. Also, she has Coronavirus, which WWE did not want us to know. Riddle is trying to break his own record of BPM (Bros Per Minute) while explaining his penchant for going barefoot everywhere. King Corbin comes out and he’s mad at Riddle for his role in his beatdown last week. Corbin has asked John Morrison to do his dirty work and fight Riddle.
- This leads to Matt Riddle vs. Morrison w/ The Miz and King Corbin on commentary. There’s like, 2% body fat in this match. Corbin leaves the commentary table and moves to ringside after Riddle throws a flip-flop at him. These two work really well together and could have a fun program. Riddle gets the win with a cool roll up I’ve never seen before. As he celebrates up the ramp, AJ Styles hits him from behind. Drew Gulak comes out, too, and we go to commercial.
- It’s AJ Styles vs. Drew Gulak for the Intercontinental Championship. Daniel Bryan with the first in-match commentary via Zoom. It was definitely live commentary and not pre-recorded. AJ hits the Styles Clash and could have easily gotten the win there, but the Intercontinental Champion wants to make a statement. He props Gulak up on the ropes and hits the Phenomenal Forearm for the victory.
- Next up is a special presentation by the Women’s Tag Team Champions. Bayley Dos Straps and Sasha Banks don’t feel appreciated, except by one person: The Undertaker. Bayley says that Taker called her personally last week and thinks WWE should be lavishing them with praise instead of him. Sasha throws to a video package, which is a tribute that the Golden Role Models put together themselves. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross come out to list their own accomplishments, including being the Queen of Scotland and driving across Antarctica in a go-kart. Alexa slaps Bayley and Sasha challenges her on Bayley’s behalf.
- It’s Bayley w/ Sasha against Alexa w/ Nikki. Bayley keeps taunting Nikki during the match until she finally hits the champ, causing a disqualification.
- Following that, they play a video package showing the history of Braun Strowman with the Wyatt Family.
- After a commercial break, it’s Kofi Kingston w/ Big E vs. Shinsuke Nakamura w/ Cesaro. Halfway through the match, Cesaro and E get into it, so Ref Jess tosses them. Kofi nearly gets the pin with the SOS, but Shin kicks out. Nakamura gets the win after a Kinshasa out of nowhere. Cesaro comes back down to celebrate, which includes grabbing a table from under the ring. Big E runs out and stops Cesaro from doing anything.
- Oh, God. The “main event” is Sheamus toasting a Jeff Hardy’s sobriety. Why have a show full of great wrestling only to throw it all away with this garbage angle? There’s a bar in the ring, even though places can’t serve alcohol in Florida right now. Jeff Hardy comes down and calls out Sheamus. The Celtic Warrior pops up on the TitanTron. He’s at his own home bar and gives some less than stellar Irish toasts. This is pointless and I’m stopping now. Watch the segment here, if you want. It’s ten minutes of your life you will never get back.
It was 90% of a good show, with the last 10 minutes nearly negating all of the good wrestling and story development ahead of it. Please move past this Jeff Hardy storyline, I beg of you.
Do you feel the same way? Let me know in the comment section below.
Please follow and like us:
