{"id":105036,"date":"2020-09-25T09:17:08","date_gmt":"2020-09-25T14:17:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=105036"},"modified":"2020-09-25T09:17:08","modified_gmt":"2020-09-25T14:17:08","slug":"wwe-friday-night-smackdown-primer-9-25-final-clash-of-champions-hype-roman-set-for-in-ring-interview-hardy-vs-zayn-the-lady-vs-the-goddess-otis-money-in-the-bank-dilemma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/09\/25\/wwe-friday-night-smackdown-primer-9-25-final-clash-of-champions-hype-roman-set-for-in-ring-interview-hardy-vs-zayn-the-lady-vs-the-goddess-otis-money-in-the-bank-dilemma\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN PRIMER 9\/25:  Final Clash of Champions Hype, Roman Set for In-Ring Interview, Hardy vs. Zayn, The Lady vs. The Goddess, Otis\u2019 Money in the Bank Dilemma"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-1303842990\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><h3>WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN PRIMER<br \/>\nSEPTEMBER 25, 2020<br \/>\nORLANDO, FL. AT THE THUNDERDOME IN THE AMWAY CENTER<br \/>\nAIRS ON FOX NETWORK, 8:00 p.m. EST<br \/>\nBY FRANK PETEANI (@FrankPeteani), PWTORCH.COM SPECIALIST<\/h3>\n<p><em>Announcers: Michael Cole and Corey Graves<\/em><\/p>\n<h4>Top Three Developments from Last Week<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Bayley attacked Sasha Banks, who was responding to Bayley\u2019s words from a week earlier.<\/li>\n<li>A.J. Styles defeated Sami Zayn. After the match, Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy proposed they have a triple threat ladder match for the championship since everyone seems to have a claim to the title.<\/li>\n<li>Otis of Heavy Machinery was served with legal papers, saying that he is being sued by Miz and John Morrison. He must surrender the Money in the Bank contract or he will be taken to court.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Items Advertised by WWE<\/h4>\n<p>Tonight\u2019s Smackdown will be the final edition before Clash of Champions this Sunday. Here\u2019s what\u2019s advertised for the show:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Roman Reigns set for in-ring interview before Clash of Champions<\/li>\n<li>Jeff Hardy and Sami Zayn to go head-to-head before Clash of Champions<\/li>\n<li>Alexa Bliss to take on Lacey Evans after last week\u2019s Sister Abigail attack<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>WWE hyped a video that talked about Otis and whether he would surrender his Money in the Bank contract:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Will Otis surrender his Money in the Bank briefcase this Friday?\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Rr_Yry7Kxt8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Assuming WWE is going to address that, I\u2019ve included discussion of it in addition to what is advertised for tonight.<\/p>\n<h4>Will Otis Surrender Money in the Bank?<\/h4>\n<p>It\u2019s been several weeks of antics between 2020 Money in the Bank winner Otis and the Miz &amp; John Morrison. Last week saw them go at on the Dirt Sheet, which opened the show. Miz said he got Mandy Rose sent over to Raw so Otis could be on high alert, as he must be while holding Money in the Bank citing his own experience. He went a little far saying the Raw wrestlers want to do more than \u201csmell that rose,\u201d which drew Otis to the ring. He went after both Miz &amp; Morrison, stripped Miz down to his tighty whities, and gave him the caterpillar. Here\u2019s an exclusive of Miz being locked out of the Thunderdome in just his manhole cover:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Miz locked out of WWE ThunderDome in his underwear: SmackDown Exclusive, Sept. 18, 2020\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DWQRlgbssWQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>I mentioned in the top three developments what happened later in the show. Tonight, we\u2019ll find out whether Otis surrenders the contract.<\/p>\n<p><em>Frank\u2019s Analysis: Miz and John Morrison continue to be abysmal with their humor. It\u2019s not funny nor entertaining. Otis holding Money in the Bank is bad too, but if this gets the contract away from him, I\u2019m all for it. That\u2019s not because I want Miz or Morrison to have it, but either one of them are better choices than Otis. I never wanted him to win the thing.<\/em><\/p>\n<h4>Roman Reigns Interview<\/h4>\n<p>Last week, Universal Champion Roman Reigns teamed with his cousin Jey Uso and defeated King Corbin and Sheamus in a Samoan Street Fight. At the end of the match, the cousins hugged with enthusiasm. When Jey walked away alone, Roman\u2019s expression turned intense as Paul Heyman stood by his side. Two weeks ago, they defeated the same men in a straight-up tag match. Roman did not show up until long after the match started. At the top of the ramp, they raised each other\u2019s hand but stared at each other with an intense look. Jey claimed that Paul Heyman told him there was a miscommunication between the men.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-2136523526\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>This Sunday at Clash of Champions, Roman defends the Universal Championship against Jey. Tonight, Roman will be interviewed in-ring ahead of the match. They showed a video of Roman and Jey\u2019s history last week narrated by Heyman. Heyman then talked about the \u201ctrue Roman\u201d on The Bump this week.<\/p>\n<p><em>Frank\u2019s Analysis: I\u2019m afraid Jey is looking too na\u00efve and gullible, thinking (in story) that Roman has his back. It looks too obvious that Roman is just going to destroy him and Jey will look foolish for thinking everything is on the up-and-up with he and his cousin. The only thing I can think of is maybe the relationship with Roman and Heyman is bogus and the Usos are really with him, but would they go to all that trouble just to align a tag team with Heyman? I don\u2019t think so. I don\u2019t know what will be satisfying out of this story, but at least it\u2019s quite intriguing.<\/em><\/p>\n<h4>Non-Title Match: Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy vs. Self-Proclaimed Champion Sami Zayn<\/h4>\n<p>Before they head towards the triple threat match this Sunday at Clash of Champions to determine the Intercontinental Champion, Jeff and Sami go one-on-one tonight in a non-title match. I talked about what happened between them in the top three developments. To further add detail, Sami was upset he got caught holding A.J.\u2019s tights while trying to pin him. A.J. managed to roll Sami up for the win.<\/p>\n<p>Sami continues to claim that he is the real Intercontinental Champion. Here he is on Twitter complaining about the graphic on TV during his introduction:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Who let this graphic get on TV <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WWE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@WWE<\/a>?! <br \/>I have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career that make me a nightmare. If you fix it now, it&#39;ll be the end of it. But if you don&#39;t, I will look for you, I will find you&#8230;and I will kill you<br \/>&#8211; SZ <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ca5uNtD1bQ\">pic.twitter.com\/ca5uNtD1bQ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Sami Zayn (@SamiZayn) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SamiZayn\/status\/1308428814096232448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 22, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em>Frank\u2019s Analysis: They got to the place I expected when I wrote last week\u2019s primer. This is a case where a triple threat works, even if it still isn\u2019t my favorite match. Sami continues to be a great performer. While he\u2019s playing his role very well, I hate how he loses so much. I know somebody must lose and \u201cwinning matches\u201d aren\u2019t everything, but he is still better than his presentation. On the positive, at least Sami is involved in a meaningful story. I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if he wins Sunday, but something tells me Jeff will still be the champ.<\/em><\/p>\n<h4>Lacey Evans vs. Alexa Bliss<\/h4>\n<p>It was a tale of two Alexas last week once again. She interviewed her best friend Nikki Cross last week on A Moment of Bliss following her earning the right to face Bayley, again, for the Smackdown Women\u2019s Championship at Clash of Champions. She defeated Alexa, Lacey Evans, and Tamina in a fatal four-way the previous week. Nikki said that because of Sasha Banks being out of the way, she can focus on Bayley.<\/p>\n<p>Now to the elephant in the room. During the fatal four-way, Alexa gave Nikki a Sister Abigail and walked away from the match in a trance. Nikki asked Alexa what was up with her, but she couldn\u2019t explain it because she didn\u2019t understand what has been happening with her. Alexa hasn\u2019t been the same since being attacked by \u201cThe Fiend\u201d Bray Wyatt during his feud with Braun Strowman over the Universal Championship over the same. Out came Lacey Evans, questioning whether this was an episode of Dr. Phil. Evans and Nikki went on to have their scheduled match, with Alexa on guest commentary. After Nikki defeated Lacey, Lacey confronted Alexa and asked if she was going to get the Fiend. That sent Alexa into a trance, and she proceeded to give Lacey a Sister Abigail.<\/p>\n<p>Tonight, Alexa goes one-on-one with Lacey. Here\u2019s Alexa in an exclusive:<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-200601039\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Alexa Bliss remains in a trance after Sister Abigail attack: SmackDown Exclusive, Sept. 18, 2020\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RxKS_ywrgLo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><em>Frank\u2019s Analysis: As much as I think this story is cool, Alexa is all over social media talking about her new WWE podcast and being interviewed by people all happy and with smiles. It\u2019s one thing with an actor as they play multiple roles. Wrestlers play one character. While the character is fictional, you get invested the most when you believe they are immersed in and are willing to protect that character. Alexa seems like a wonderful person and I hope my family and I meet her one day, but all the happy smiley social media stuff makes it hard for me to think she has this impending alliance with the Fiend.<\/em><\/p>\n<h4>Other Match Results and Segments from Last Week<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Cesaro defeated Gran Metalik.<\/li>\n<li>Matt Riddle explained why he says \u201cBro\u201d so much. Can\u2019t a character just do their thing and leave the reasons to the imagination?<\/li>\n<li>Another vignette of the mystery woman aired.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Final Thoughts<\/h4>\n<p>I covered just about everything I had to say throughout the report. I suppose if I were to add anything it would be how much more I look forward to Smackdown these days over Raw. There are still redundant matches involving people feuding with each other, but that\u2019s the WWE formula these days. Complaining about that would be like farting in a windstorm. The stories are fun to watch. Hopefully, there are worthwhile payoffs ahead.<\/p>\n<p><em>Follow Frank on Twitter @FrankPeteani. Questions and discussion are welcome. Thank you for reading!<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-3451225569\"><div id=\"pwtor-3210812773\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN PRIMER SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 ORLANDO, FL. AT THE THUNDERDOME IN THE AMWAY CENTER AIRS ON FOX NETWORK, 8:00 p.m. EST BY FRANK PETEANI (@FrankPeteani), PWTORCH.COM SPECIALIST Announcers: Michael Cole and Corey <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/09\/25\/wwe-friday-night-smackdown-primer-9-25-final-clash-of-champions-hype-roman-set-for-in-ring-interview-hardy-vs-zayn-the-lady-vs-the-goddess-otis-money-in-the-bank-dilemma\/\" title=\"WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN PRIMER 9\/25:  Final Clash of Champions Hype, Roman Set for In-Ring Interview, Hardy vs. Zayn, The Lady vs. The Goddess, Otis\u2019 Money in the Bank Dilemma\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":105042,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,52,4403,27,5893,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-105036","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-prowrestlingnews","category-opnionandanalysis","category-smackdown-primer","category-specialists","category-tvprimers","category-news_wwe"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/09\/reignsheyman-2.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105036","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=105036"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105036\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":105043,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105036\/revisions\/105043"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/105042"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=105036"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=105036"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=105036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}