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KELLER’S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
OCTOBER 30, 2018
ATLANTA, GA.
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK
Announcers: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves
Tonight after WWE Smackdown, join me live with guest cohost Zack Heydorn of PWTorch.com to break down the show with live callers, an on-site correspondent, and the mailbag.
•STREAM LIVE HERE STARTING WITHIN 5 MINUTE AFTER SMACKDOWN
•CALL: (347) 215-8558
•EMAIL COMMENTS/QUESTIONS: wadekellerpodcast@pwtorch.com
•SEARCH “WADE KELLER” TO DOWNLOAD THE SHOW A FEW HOURS AFTER RAW
[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with tighter than usual shots of the cheering crowd as Phillips introduced the show and hyped the Jeff Hardy & Rey Mysterio vs. The Miz & Randy Orton tag match, billed as the main event.
-A.J. Styles made his ring entrance. Graves called it the “biggest way possible” to kick off Smackdown. Phillips noted that Styles lives 60 miles away. Phillips commented on a replay of what he called “incidental contact” between Styles and Daniel Bryan last week on Smackdown. Graves didn’t think it was incidental. Saxton said it was. So that’s settled. Fans chanted for Styles. Styles called Bryan out. Bryan came out to his entrance theme.
Styles apologized to Bryan for last week. Bryan said Styles doesn’t need to apologize because he has respect for Styles as a man and an in-ring competitor. He said when he looks at Styles now, though, he doesn’t see a friend or a respected colleague. “All I see is the WWE Championship,” he said. He said he wants that championship and the only thing standing in his way is him. He vowed to take it from him and he’ll do it this Friday at Crown Jewel. Boos.
Styles said it’s good to know. “But you didn’t let me finish,” he said sternly. He said he is sorry because he lied to Bryan last week. He said the Pelé kick wasn’t an accident, it was meant for him. Bryan mockingly said he would have never guessed it was on purpose. Bryan said he is 100 percent honest and he doesn’t lie, so he’s going to admit he feels like hitting him on purpose. Styles asked him what is stopping him. “You know what, we don’t have to wait until Crown Jewel,” Styles said. He offered to defend it against Bryan right here, right now. As they were about to start fighting, Shane McMahon danced onto the stage, pounded his heart with his fist, dangled his wrist to show how cool he is, and looked sternly at Bryan and Styles in the ring. He said this is Smackdown Live “and I’m back” and normally the authority figure would say the match can’t happen early, but he’s having the Crown Jewel championship match tonight “right here in Hot-lanta, Georgia.” (Cheap Pop.) He said it’s happening right now and called for the referee. Graves: “Oh my god!” Styles held the belt up in Bryan’s face as they cut to a break. [c]
(1) A.J. STYLES vs. DANIEL BRYAN – WWE Championship match
Mike Rome did formal ring introductions. The bell rang 15 minutes into the show. Byron said he is in shock this is happening on Smackdown. Phillips said the last time there was a WWE Title match on Smackdown was a little less than a year ago when Styles won the title against Jinder Mahal in the United Kingdom. The announcers talked about the fourth grade bickering between Styles and Bryan that led to this taking place early. At 2:00 Bryan roundkicked Styles in the corner a few times. Styles fought back with a forearm. Phillips noted this is the first one-on-one WWE Title match for Bryan in four years. They went into a rope rebound leapfrog sequence and Styles landed a dropkick. Bryan bailed out, then ducked a Styles dive, then charged through the ropes and speared Styles into the barricade. Bryan grabbed his knee when he landed. They cut to a break. [c]
On split screen during the break, Bryan grounded Styles with an armbar. Styles fought back with a backflip into an inverted DDT. Back from the break, Bryan took over and was landing Yes Kicks to a kneeling Styles. Styles grabbed his leg and dragon screwed him to the mat. Styles worked over Bryan’s knee. Bryan made a comeback and landed some more Yes Kicks. He dropped and sold knee pain. He did the Yes! gestures from his knees. When he charged for a running knee, Styles caught him with a dropkick. Bryan knocked Styles off balance on the top rope and then set up a top rope back suplex. Styles turned mid-flight and landed on Bryan. They cut to another break. [c]
Back live Bryan had Styles in a Yes Lock. Styles grabbed the bottom rope to force a break. Bryan tried to suplex Styles not the ring from the ring apron, but Styles countered and suplexed Bryan over the top rope onto the floor in a swift sudden move. Bryan grabbed his knee again. Styles dropped Bryan knee-first over the announce desk. Bryan reverse-whipped Styles into the ringside steps, but clutched his knee afterward. He threw Styles into the ring a few seconds later. He got fired up and was booed by the Styles hometown crowd. Bryan landed a running kick to Styles’s face.
Bryan went for a huracanrana off the top rope, but Styles held on and tried to set up the Styles Clash from there. Bryan then head scissored Styles to the mat instead. Bryan threw more round kicks to Styles on the ring apron, but Styles grabbed one and then yanked his leg over the middle rope as he dropped to the floor. Styles went for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Bryan side-stepped it and then landed a double underhook suplex into a cross armbreaker. He shifted into a Yes Lock mid-ring. Styles powered up, though, and leveraged Bryan’s shoulders down for a one count. Bryan figure-four leglocked Styles’s neck as fans chanted “A.J. Styles!” Styles countered into a Styles Clash and then applied a Calf Crusher. Bryan tapped out. Graves complimented the extraordinary match-up.
WINNER: Styles via tapout in 22:00 to retain the WWE Title. (****)
(Keller’s Analysis: Very good match with a solid theme of Bryan overcoming an injured knee throughout the match and eventually tapping to a submission hold that included some leg torque.)
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-After the match Bryan offered a handshake. Styles accepted it. They hugged. Bryan raised Styles’s arm. Samoa Joe attacked Styles from behind and knocked Styles into Bryan, who fell to the floor. Joe went after Styles aggressively and applied the Coquina Clutch. Bryan made the save and attacked Joe. Joe, though, went on the attack on Bryan with a leg stomp and a Coquina Clutch. Saxton asked what Joe was trying to prove. Joe held up the WWE Championship belt to a chorus of boos. Graves said Joe knows no boundaries.
-They went to the announcers at ringside. Graves said he’s curious to see where this leads. Phillips talked about Crown Jewel, shifting to the World Cup brackets. He acknowledged Bobby Lashley replaced John Cena, but didn’t provide any context.
-A soundbite aired with Jeff Hardy talking about how every battle adds a new color to his pallet and every death-defying leap adds a meticulous paint stroke, and at the World Cup he’ll illustrate the masterpiece of his life showing he is the best in the world.
-A soundbite aired with The Miz who said every morning he wakes up to his flawless wife who tells him he’s the best husband in the world. Then his baby Monroe thanks him with her eyes for being the best father in the world. Miz said he’s also the best reality star in the world and the best WWE Superstar in the world. He said after Crown Jewel he’ll have the trophy to prove it.
-They plugged the main event tag team match. Then they showed Halloween props being brought to the ring as the zany Halloween music played. Saxton was especially excited. [c]
-Highlights aired of Evolution on Sunday.
-Paige was texting when Charlotte walked in. Paige said her match at Evolution was amazing and incredible. She said the match could have gone either way. Charlotte thanked her. Paige excitedly asked Charlotte to be the captain of the Smackdown Women’s Team at Survivor Series. Charlotte said she doesn’t think she’s the right woman for the job. Paige told Charlotte she once said not to let success go to your head and failure go to your heart. She asked her to think about it. Charlotte nodded and walked away.
-Back to the announcers at ringside, Phillips referred to “the global pay-per-view event known as Crown Jewel.” They threw to a video package on DX vs. Brothers of Destruction.
-New Day came out as “The Brood.” Graves called it incredibly disrespectful. Then Big Show and The Bar walked out. They cut to a break. [c]
(Keller’s Analysis: Time for grown-ups to leave the room for a few minutes.)
(2) THE NEW DAY vs. THE BAR & THE BIG SHOW – Halloween Match
They joined the match in progress with Cesaro battling Big E. Graves: “I don’t know why I’m talking to you, Saxton, your family gave out raisins for Halloween.” Cesaro power slammed Big E onto a pile of carved pumpkins.
[HOUR TWO]
Big Show caught Kofi diving through the ropes. Kofi sprayed red mist on him. Back in the ring Big E sprayed red mist at Cesaro and then gave him a Big Ending for the win. A red-faced Big Show was pouting at ringside.
WINNERS: New Day in about 5:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: That was mercifully short. Adults, it’s safe to return to the room.)
-The announcers talked more about the World Cup brackets.
-Backstage Shane McMahon asked who is going to be known as the Best in the World? He asked Miz if it’ll be him or Hardy if it’ll be him. Then in walked Orton and then Rey Mysterio. Rey talked about how intimidating Orton can be and admitted he strikes fear in every Superstar, “but I’m here to keep hope alive for everyone that’s ever been underestimated.” Orton admitted he is vicious and said tonight he’ll show him how vicious he can be and then at the World Cup he’ll prove to the entire world he should have never come back. Hardy then told Miz he’ll fly straight off of his demons of the past to become what he’s always known he can be. Miz mockingly said it’ll be the Jeff Hardy redemption story. He said Hardy will crash and burn. Orton looked bored as Miz went on and on. Miz said Rey is a Power Ranger, Jeff is the long-lost member of Insane Clown Posse, and Randy is – at which point Orton stared at him. Miz said, “Randy is… cool.” Shane said he likes the intensity they are all showing. He said he doesn’t want his sister to be able to call a Raw Superstar the best in the world. He said whomever makes it to the finals, that person better not lose to the Raw Superstar or else they will no longer have a home on Smackdown Live.
(Keller’s Analysis: That seems a little much. But it adds some drama to the finals, or perhaps takes away the drama, as it doesn’t really seem to make sense that they’d send any of those four to Raw or off the roster entirely.)
-Shinsuke Nakamura made his way to the ring. Phillips said he’d defend against R-Truth next.
-Mixed Match Challenge soundbites aired with Alicia Fox & Jinder Mahal and Ember Moon & Braun Strowman. [c]
-Evolution highlights aired.
-A clip aired of the Styles vs. Bryan match and the Joe angle afterward.
-Styles walked up to Paige and told her she wants a match against Joe at Crown Jewel. Paige said he shouldn’t be rewarded for his actions. Styles said she could have arrested him weeks ago, but she let them wrestle at Super Show-down. “Consider it done,” said Paige. Styles said she won’t regret her decision, but Joe will.
(3) SHINSUKE NAKAMURA vs. R-TRUTH (w/Carmella) – U.S. Title match
Truth danced to the ring with Carmella singing his song. Phillips said Truth entered this match, replacing Tye Dillinger. Graves said, “I heard a rumor Dillinger reinsured his fingers counting.” Truth took Shinsuke down with a headscissors tackle or something. It drove Shinsuke’s head into the mat. The announcers said they weren’t sure what that was. Truth clotheslined Nakamura over the top ope. Carmella entered the ring and had a dance break with Truth. They cut to a break. [c]
They stayed with the action on split screen. Nakamura took over at ringside, then settled into a mat hold. Carmella led the crowd in some claps as Truth fought to his feet and hip-tossed Nakamura. Nakamura eventually won with a Kinshasa Kick.
WINNER: Nakamura in 8:00 to retain the U.S. Title. [c]
-They showed Tweets from various WWE women plus Cena talking about Evolution.
-Becky Lynch made her ring entrance. She said she proved at Evolution she is “The Man” when she beat the most decorated woman wrestler in WWE. She said that goes for Raw locker room too, not just the Smackdown locker room. When she heard a “We Want Ronda” chant, Becky lashed out a bit. She asked what planet Ronda claims to be from when she says he’s the best on the planet. “I have travelled the world to smash people like you,” she said. She said she didn’t come here to cos play or talk about a reality TV show. “I’m heading to Survivor Series to rip your arm off,” she said. Then she threw the mic down. Saxton said Becky sounds focused and ready.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good intensity and focus that made her seem like she believes he’s on Ronda’s level.)
-The announcers talked about the Crown Jewel line-up. They added Styles vs. Joe for the WWE Title. They hyped that it’s free for new subscribers. Graves said he can’t wait to see if Brock Lesnar can F5 Braun Strowman once again.
-The Miz made his ring entrance. [c]
-Backstage Samoa Joe sang, “Oh, A.J.!” He asked if he actually thought they were done. He asked if his kids sleep soundly at night without nightmares about good ol’ Uncle Joe. He asked if Wendy is double- and triple-checking the locks at night.
-Then Orton, Hardy, and Rey made their ring entrances. [c]
(4) THE MIZ & RANDY ORTON vs. JEFF HARDY & REY MYSTERIO
The bell rang with ten minutes left in the show. (For perspective, Becky’s promo was going on 20 minutes earlier and almost nothing has happened since.) Hardy got some early “Delete!” chants. Graves said he is an “unbiased journalist” in this Survivor Series brand rivalry because he’s on both shows. (Best part of Crown Jewel is only three weeks of this Raw vs. Smackdown “brand supremacy” nonsense talk.) Hardy and Orton battled for a while in the body of the match. Orton used a thumb to the eye to gain an advantage. Hardy dropped Orton a minute later with a whisper in the wind, then hot-tagged Rey. Miz also tagged in. Rey went to work on Miz with fast-paced offense. Eventually Rey hit a 619 and then tagged in Hardy who landed the Swanton and he scored the three count.
WINNERS: Hardy & Mysterio in 8:00.
-Orton gave Hardy an RKO afterward. Then he caught Rey flying through the air with an RKO. The crowd booed. Phillips said there are no friends Friday at Crown Jewel. He said it took early, as Orton hadn’t attacked a “friend” or partner yet. Orton then delivered the RKO to Miz. That’s when Phillips was supposed to say there are no friends on Friday. Oh well.
Tonight after WWE Smackdown, join me live with guest cohost Zack Heydorn of PWTorch.com to break down the show with live callers, an on-site correspondent, and the mailbag.
•STREAM LIVE HERE STARTING WITHIN 5 MINUTE AFTER SMACKDOWN
•CALL: (347) 215-8558
•EMAIL COMMENTS/QUESTIONS: wadekellerpodcast@pwtorch.com
•SEARCH “WADE KELLER” TO DOWNLOAD THE SHOW A FEW HOURS AFTER RAW
I’m curious about much today…. will they say the dreaded words SAUDI ARABIA when they’re sitting in the middle of it? Was Daniel Bryan booked to win and cost himself the belt with his political correctness? Does being involved with the Bellas [past or present] make you want to shoot your career in the arse? John? Could I start a gopay or whatever it’s called fund to pay off Vince to book Becky to win with her armbar? Please? Decent show, still not looking all that forward to Crown Jewel.