For LIVE updates from WWE Stomping Ground, check out this page right here. Hello and welcome to this week’s WWE Smackdown Live recap! New Day started us off promoting Kofi Kingston’s cage match against Dolph Ziggler at Stomping Grounds (June 23). Apparently, Big E has dubbed the final hour of Smackdown Live as the Freaky Hour. Ziggler had to interrupt when Big E mentioned the slide ‘n slide for his promo.
“Kofi, you don’t deserve to be WWE champion,” and informing Kingston he would follow their match with an apology tour because “you failed.”
Kingston replied guaranteeing he will win at Stomping Grounds after abusing Ziggler in as brutally way as possible.
Before that, Woods had been dying to get hit hands on Ziggler, so they started things off with a flourish.
Dolph Ziggler beat Xavier Woods by pinfall
The match started out as a top tier old fashioned wrestling match as Ziggler and Woods exchanged holds and counters. It was a great display of both men’s talents and was entertaining before Owens and Zayn ran out and attacked Kingston and Big E outside the ring. all four of them were banished from ringside so the match could continue.
The match continued with a mix of old and new moves until Ziggler hit Woods with a Zig Zag and superkick kick while Woods was tied up in the ropes for the pin.
Possibly the best match of the night, this built anticipation for Ziggler and Kingston’s upcoming match by showing Ziggler to be more dangerous and ready to push Kingston. It also pushed Woods and Ziggler’s rivalry along, and we’ll probably see that come to fruition this weekend at Stomping Grounds.
Tag Team Match (2 out of 3 falls): Rollins and Kingston beat Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens by pinfall
Earlier in the night, Shane McMahon arrived and was immediately approached by Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. They informed him about Rollins attacking the B-Team and asked for him to do something about it.
Shane’s response? A tag team match best of three falls between Zayne and Owens and Rollins and Kingston.
First fall:Kingston hit Zayn with a Trouble in Paradise as soon as the bell rang for the pin. New five second rule?
Second fall:Rollins hit Owens with the Stomp for the pin.
An entertaining match and best one of the night saw the first fall come quickly, but the second fall took the rest of the night as Rollins and Kingston repeatedly kicked out. This marked the second night in a row the best out of three falls were used, and both times the babyfaces won easily.
Oh, and Paul Heyman watched the match from backstage to keep the threat of Lesner appearing alive.
It’s safe to say, Shane’s arrival didn’t have the consequences some had hoped for.
Smackdown Rundown:
There’s a line to be Corbin’s Special Guest Referee
Without Rollins being around, Corbin moved his special guest referee interviews to Smackdown with a short line of Superstars including Shelton Benjamin and the B-Team. Matt Hardy was already in for his and came out looking relieved and motioned for Benjamin to go.
Bayley Suffers a Moment of Bliss
You know it’s going to be a good one when Alexa Bliss doesn’t have her coffee, and when she calls for it, Bayley came out drinking it.
Bayley wasted no time in saying she hadn’t done anything to Nikki Cross, and added, “I’m sorry to tell you Alexa isn’t really your friend.”
A dare from Bayley to Bliss resulted in a brief exchange, with Bayley saying, “The truth is, you’re not some goddess, you’re just an entitled little princess that doesn’t deserve a damn thing.”
Ouch.
“Bayley, you’re a place holder…You peaked in NXT.”
Cross broke up the ensuing conflict, and Bliss blindsided Bayley, leaving her on the stage.
This played out perfectly, cementing each Superstar’s roles in the upcoming pay-per-view. This is going to be a must see match.
Andrade Returned Apollo Crews’ Message
Crews approached Zelina Vega about relaying a message to Andrade, but Andrade attacked him from behind, leaving him to lick his wounds. Chad Gable watched from a distance and took notes for a second straight week.
Heavy Machinery beat the B-Team by pinfall
In a warmup match to heighten Heavy Machinery’s title match with Rowen and Daniel Bryan, the B-Team made this an enjoyable match even if it was short as Heavy Machiner hit the Compactor on Bo Dallas for the pin.
What was just as entertaining (maybe more so?) was Rowen and Daniel Bryan outside commentating on the match. We not only got to see into Bryan’s mind when it came to wrestling, but he gave us that peek while cementing himself further as a heel by deriding Heavy Machinery for their excess gyrations.
Following the match, Rollins attacked the B-Team with a steel chair for talking with Corbin.
Shane Relives Past Humiliations
In the ring, Shane, McIntyre, and Elias attempted to cut a promo for McIntyre’s upcoming match against Roman Reigns. He wanted the Big Dog and no excuses, so of course, who comes out but… The Miz?
The Miz replayed Reigns’ attack on Shane and company on the previous night’s Raw, and then took full blame for Shane’s inflated ego. Shane then offered to let The Miz face Elias and McIntyre. The Miz had ten seconds to pick anyone to be his partner, and R-Truth happened to be by the ring and the Miz spotted him.
Tag Team Elimination Match: Drew McIntyre and Elias beat The Miz and R-Truth by pinfalls
First Elimination:It was fun to see R-Truth in a match that didn’t involve the 24/7 title, and it was a shame he was the first one eliminated when Elias pinned him following a splash and some Shane interference. With the match over, the backstage area emptied as they came out to take the belt despite none of them pinning Truth. Truth then grabbed the belt and took off.
Second Elimination: In what became a handicap match, The Miz nearly rolled Elias up for the pin, but when Elias kicked out, McIntyre hit Miz with a Glasgow Kiss, tagged in, then hit with a Claymore for the pin.
After the match, Shane held The Miz up for two more Claymores to send a message to Roman Reigns.
Ember Moon had Enough
After Carmella ran by looking for R-Truth, Moon went after Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville while they were eating their doughnuts. The pair continued taunting her for being a loner, and Moon knocked the doughnut box out of their hands and attacked. Moon and Deville were pulled apart by officials after a brief brawl. It’s going to be fun seeing this rivalry heat up.
Aliester Black Offers Change
“What does it take to change the essence of a man? See, I get it. I understand why no one has come knocking on my door. I get why no one is willing to fight with me, cause I can hear your whispers as you pass by. ‘Haven’t you heard? He was always told that he would amount to nothing. Haven’t you heard a child destined to fall from grace?’
But I know what you’re thinking, bud. This is not a woe is me story. No. This is a woe my opponent story.
“Because someone will come knocking at my door. Someone will pick a fight with me. And when we fight our fight, I shall change the essence of that man.
While this is an intriguing story arc, when are they going to find someone for him to fight? Is their preferred choice injured or tied up with another thread? Maybe it’s someone new they’re waiting on? Maybe it’s Lars Sullivan? Whoever it is, please knock on his door already.
The Kabuki Warriors Return with a Chane at the Iiconics’ Tag Team Championships
Just when we thought Paige and the Kabuki Warriors had disappeared, they turn up and Paige announced they have a match against the Iiconics in Tokyo at next week’s Smackdown, and if they win, they’ll get a title opportunity.
24/7 Championship Drake Maverick beat R-Truth (c) by pinfall
Seeking escape, R-Truth and “Carmella” call an Uber, but the driver ended up being a referee.
When he turns around, Drake Maverick pulled off his wig and attacked. Truth tried to jump into the care and escape, but Drake rolled him up and, putting his feet on the car for leverage, got the pinfall.
Maverick drove off as champion, saying he was going to get married, leaving Truth sitting on the ground.
“Carmella’s getting married? Why wasn’t I invited?”
Final Thoughts
This was a pretty entertaining show despite being predictable match-wise. As far as the storylines, Corbin still not naming a special referee (watch it’s be himself or Lesner) will keep the tension with Rollins high heading into Stomping Grounds this weekend. Should be an interesting pay-per-view. It couldn’t be any worse than Super Showdown, right?
