WWE Smackdown Live 05/07/19 results and full recap starts off in Styles, as AJ Styles takes advantage of the new Wild Card Rule to return to the “House that he built” (or leasing from the Rock?:D). He returned to a hero’s welcome, and even showed his appreciation for returning before things got down to business.
WWE SmackDown Live 05/07/19 Results And Recap: Wild Card Rule, A Bandaid Measure Until WWE Reverts Back To Shared Cast?
Sami Zayn also took advantage of the new rule (Kinda makes one wonder why bother keeping the brands? Maybe go back to Smackdown being on Thursdays and have Superstars on both? More thoughts on this later.) and came out to spread his lingering trashy smell…. er, his viewpoint. An interesting change of pace had him actually criticizing Styles instead of the fans for his toxic attitude.
In the midst of his berating Styles, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods from New Day decided to join the party.
The most interesting thing here was Zayn actually talking Kofi into a title match, but not with Styles, oh no. With himself as the challenger. Kofi took it a step further and said he’d face either one of them. They just had to choose.
This screamed Triple Threat, and following the commercial break that’s what was set. While an interesting idea, it wasn’t unexpected as the last few weeks every excuse possible has included the Superstars from the opening promo.
This begs the question as to whether Zayn will continue his current arc of criticizing the fan base on Raw and a possibly grudge with Strowman for throwing him in the dumpster. This screams of a reboot or him “learning” his lesson and focusing on his fellow Superstars. Either way, it promised to be interesting if he’s given flexibility to let his character continue thriving.
WWE SmackDown Live: Kevin Owens is on Vacation
Following the opening promo, we were treated to Kevin Owens sitting in his car and saying he realized it was his birthday and he didn’t have to deal with opening the show with a confrontation with Kingston. He bid Kofi a good day and left. Or did he?
WWE SmackDown Live: Ali beat Andrade via disqualification
What started as a fun match between two rising stars ended with Randy Orton entering from the crown and interfering and RKOing both men after they got their shots in on him. Now, it was impressive how Orton hit his RKOs (Ali came off the ropes and ran into one and Andrade jumped off the top rope and Orton counted his move), but it felt unneeded.
Orton cemented himself as the bad guy in the Money in the Bank match, which will only put the fans behind the other Superstars, but interfering in a good match was just… meh? It didn’t feel right, and it didn’t seem to go over with the fans too well.
WWE SmackDown Live: Roman Reigns Bio Special
“I have a unique story. I just hope people take it as inspirational.”
Reigns’ quote was the backbone of the piece as it showed his important victories over the years, but also his bout with Leukemia. To have accomplished everything he has and overcoming that disease makes him a true inspiration and it was a fitting piece that helped bring him and the fan closer by reminding us the Superstars are human.
WWE SmackDown Live: Shane McMahon crowns new Smackdown Live Tag Team Champions
Of course, anything involving Shane McMahon (Little Mr. McMahon?) is going to be entertaining.
Out of his entire speech, the most entertaining part may have been when a fan held up a speech bubble cutout that said, “Yes, I suck!” at the perfect time for the camera to catch it.
That didn’t mean there wasn’t a purpose behind his efforts. In fact, he named Daniel Bryan and Rowan as the new tag team champions.
The move was surprising in a way, but it opened the door for another Wild Card Rule crossover as he Usos came out and challenged Bryan and Rowan as they didn’t earn the titles. Shane, seeing a chance to promote and prove his choice, set the match up for right then and there as he called a referee out from the back.
Smackdown Tag Championship: Daniel Bryan and Rowan beat The Usos via pinfall
This was simply an awesome match. As much as a tournament would’ve been fun to watch, this match made up for it as the best tag team in the last decade (The Usos) took on Bryan and Rowan in what was the best match of the week.
The Usos dominated Bryan early, and Jey nearly scored a pin after countering Bryan’s Yes Lock. The Usos even used sneak-tags to get in when facing Rowan, but Rowan’s power was just too much for them. Despite several super kicks and an Uso Splash, Rowan put Jey down with an Iron Claw for the pin.
Before then, we were treated to acrobatics, and a fluidity that’s been lacking lately. There’s no doubt Bryan and Rowan earned the titles, and with Shane McMahon as their backer, they should provide some awesome storylines and matches going forward.
WWE SmackDown Live: Shane McMahon… Again. And The Miz
We got to enjoy one of the few legitimate moments from Shane McMahon in character when he took center ring and began explaining the dangers and rewards of the Money in the Bank match when he was interrupted by The Miz, who attacked him from behind.
Shane ran away, but the B-Team came to his defense. The Miz fought back, tossing both of the B-Team to the side, but Shane nailed him with a steel chair not once, but twice. The latter when The Miz was on his knees. Shane then stood over him before leaving him laying on the ramp.
WWE SmackDown Live: Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville beat Ember Rose and Carmella via pinfall
An entertaining match, it eventually came down to sacrifice. Sonya Deville took a suicide dive outside the ring from Ember Moon that was meant for Mandy Rose, Rose caught Moon with a knee. Rose then his Moon with an Implant Buster, securing the pin.
Rose and Deville were quickly confronted by Paige and her team, Kairi Sane and Asuke, as they came out. Paige informed them they would be facing each other next week. Should be fun to watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywl9mSvkB9s
WWE SmackDown Live: Lars Sullivan Wreaks Havok Again
What started with an interview with Matt Hardy, who said his brother Jeff’s surgery was successful and he’d be returning, was interrupted as R-Truth approached him.
They started talking about Lars Sullivan without knowing Sullivan was behind R-Truth.
When they finally noticed him, Lars through Matt through a bathroom door, then R-Truth through a table. Calling it now: a handicap match is coming soon. Hopefully before this gimmick loses any more steam. Maybe at Money in the Bank? Let’s hope so.
WWE SmackDown Live: Aleister Black Promo
“My own sins. Sins I shall seek absolution for in the form of victory. Victory that I shall take from you.”
This is proving to be and ominous and interesting story arc. Should be fun to see where it goes.
WWE Championship: Kofi Kingston beat Sami Zayn (pinfall) and AJ Styles
A fun match that proved to be the second best of the night, saw Zayn’s craftiness as he waited for Styles and Kingston to soften each other up before moving in and taking control of the match for a time.
The surprise of the match came when Kevin Owens hadn’t really left the building and attacked Xavier Woods outside the ring, then backed away.
With Kingston distracted and Styles incapacitated outside the ring, Zayn delivered three Blue Thunder Bombs, each ending with a Kingston kickout. Zayn then attempted a Helluva Kick, but it was caught and countered with Trouble in Paradise and Kingston scored the pinfall victory.
The twist here was Owens’ willingness to help his best friend, Zayn, win the championship, so this favor may be returned at Money in the Bank. That adds an interesting angle that should prove interesting going forward.
Okay, more on the new Wild Card Rule.
This is most likely meant as a bandaid until the creative team fixes what the apparent problems with the brands are, but are the brands necessary if the Superstars are going to be crossing back and forth regularly? Could it be time to eliminate the brands and go back to both shows having a shared cast, but only the champions would be on both regularly to ensure mid and lower cards are shown? The United States and Intercontinental belts could remain separate, but the rest would be merged and it’d mean bringing back the Undisputed Championship. It would be a curious way to go about things, and they may be heading toward that given how the new formula seems to be helping in increasing the ratings.
Time will tell, but maybe more than a Superstar Shakeup’s Shakeup is needed or coming. Either way, things are getting interesting.
