Big Show (w/ The Bar) vs. Kofi Kingston (w/ New Day)
SQUASH
- New Day seems pretty thrilled that they lost their titles.
- They make some pretty terrible corny jokes. They also make fun of all of Big Show's turns.
- Kofi Kingston says he wants a match tonight. The Bar takes their sweet time getting to the ring.
- Cesaro teases wrestling, then Sheamus, but it'll be Big Show.
- Big Show chops and tosses Kofi around before chokeslamming him four times.
- New Day and Bar run in, and that's it. The Bar beat down New Day.
- Big Show chokeslams Xavier Woods for the exclamation point. This was to get Big Show over again, and it served its purpose.
Usos defeated Daniel Bryan & AJ Styles
5.5/10
- These four are a great fit. The spot that sends the Usos outside the ring and the in-stereo planchas were a nice touch.
- It's kind of ironic that Daniel Bryan is the one wearing the vivid colors these days and Styles went the other way considering how things were ten years ago.
- Bryan is sufficiently worked over, and tags out to Styles. AJ gets an Ushigoroshi and applies a Calf Crusher, but Jimmy breaks it up.
- Miscommunication again as Styles Pele kicks Bryan.
- The Usos paying tribute to Roman Reigns by Jey cocking his fist during the Uso Splash. Usos win again!
- Backstage Daniel Bryan makes Pinocchio jokes about AJ Styles, indicating that Styles is lying. This is really stupid. He does a "Too Sweet" hand gesture too. I dunno man.
Performance Center MAYHEM
- Charlotte is shown talking to wrestlers at the Performance Center. Several ask questions until Becky Lynch.
- Becky Lynch attacks Charlotte and several PC members break them up.
- I really like Baszler, Duke and Shafir enjoying Lynch and Charlotte beating the snot out of each other.
- Charlotte cuts an over emotional promo about how there's no line that Becky Lynch won't cross. She says she'll stand over a friend who lost her way.
Rusev (w/ Lana) defeated Aiden English
SQUASH
- Aiden says instead of a short Rusev Day, Lana could have a long English night.
- Rusev goes after English. Aiden gets a swinging neckbreaker and gloats to Lana.
- Lana throws a shoe at Aiden. Machka Kick, Accolade, the end.
- Squash.
Rey Mysterio defeated The Miz
6/10
- Miz has custom sunglasses and put over all of the happenings at Smackdown 1000.
- Rey Mysterio says he's happy to be back. Miz says he wants to prove the little man can do it.
- There's a lot of talking, but not a lot is really said. Miz just says he'll win the World Cup.
- Mysterio says he didn't come back to be on some dusty talk show. He came back to compete.
- Miz cheap shots Mysterio.
- After the break we get this match. Not shit has happened on this show.
- Mysterio scores his baseball slide splash, but quickly gets cut off and worked over by Miz.
- A wheelbarrow snake eyes hits for Miz, but falls victim to a double springboard headscissors. He avoids the 619 and flattens Mysterio with a sick DDT.
- Miz sets up for a super Skull Crushing Finale, but gets body scissored to the mat. Miz catches Mysterio in midair with Reality Check.
- 619 and Dropping The Dime. Mysterio wins. Miz was a great opponent for Mysterio here.
BATTLE ROYAL STUFFS
- The IIconics come out and promote the battle royal, as does Lana.
- It's embarrassing how lazy and shitty the creative is outside of the title picture for the women on Smackdown because they have some great characters.
- Carmella interrupts Lana for a dance break. I like that the IIconics were just cool with doing a dance break at first, but Zelina attacks Carmella and a brawl breaks out.
- Sonya's spear, Lana's Bella Buster, and Mandy Rose's knees are highlights. Zelina hits double knees in the corner and gets wheel kicked by Asuka.
Shane McMahon
- Shane McMahon is here for some reason. I don't know why, because he doesn't really say anything.
- Shane puts over Evolution and Crown Jewel.
- When he says the tournament will determine the "best in the world," the crowd chants for CM Punk. Shane says he's not in the tourney.
Randy Orton defeated Jeff Hardy
5.5/10
- I do not understand why Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy would have a singles match a week and a half before they are in the same tournament together. Same with Miz and Mysterio.
- This is really just Orton beating up Hardy methodically for several minutes. Into the stairs, the Garvin Stomp, the earlobe tug, the Singh Bomb.
- Jeff Hardy makes his comeback and Randy Orton takes a Whisper in the Wind about the same way Tim Storm took that body press the other night.
- Hardy whiffs on a Swanton off the apron to the floor. NASTY.
- Randy Orton ends up getting a nice RKO after a couple of reversals and the win.
Rating guide
10- Perfect, 9- MOTY Territory, 8- Excellent, 7- Great, 6- Good, 5- Average to above average, 4- Slightly below average, 3 or below: Poor
Each match starts at a 5 and slides up and down based on entertainment, execution, time, environment, reaction and stakes. The ratings are in no way an indication of a "star rating," which is a completely different system. A standard, non-offensive "TV match" lands at a 5.The gap between 5.75-6 is generally the largest, with anything reaching 6 being recommended viewing.
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