WWE Smackdown! - October 28, 2022
by DocAllen
Bloodline are hanging out backstage ahead of their tag match. "Honorary Uce" Sami Zayn is still allowed to give Jey Uso orders. It's all hands on deck so they can be standing tall when Roman arrives.
The Brawlin' Brutes (Ridge Holland and Butch) vs. Bloodline (Sami Zayn and Solo Sikoa, with The Usos) No Roman, but don't worry, HE'S ON HIS WAY! Butch starts against Sami and connects with a dropkick. The Brutes make tags to keep Sami on defense. Solo makes a blind tag and ambushes Butch with a lariat. The Usos run interference. Butch fights back with a flying knee from the apron, but Solo lariats him from behind to send us to commercials. They return with Butch dodging Solo's corner splash. They have a confusing collision in the ring and race for tags, but it's Ridge who storms in to clean house. Holland slams Sami for 2. Solo makes another blind tag to superkick Ridge and then hit a Samoan drop for 2. Ridge traps Solo's arms for a series of headbutts. Butch and Sami tag in. Butch looks for a Cloverleaf, but lets go when an Uso interferes. Sami capitalizes with an Exploder into the buckles, but misses the Helluva kick. Sami lays down and dares Butch to try a flying move, but Jey pulls him to safety. Sami argues with Jey for ruining his scheme. Solo tries to play peacemaker, but Ridge plows through Bloodline and serves up Sami for Butch's pinfall at 11:54! Solid match that gave the Brutes a needed victory, and added some fresh meat to the Bloodline chaos, **¾. Winners: The Brawlin' Brutes
Bloodline continues bickering but everyone freezes when Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns (with Paul Heyman) arrives. The St. Louis fans simultaneously love the “ACKNOWLEDGE ME” catchphrase but are happy to boo him when it's finished. Roman is tired of the elephant in the room that is Jey vs. Sami, and orders them to end their beef now. Sami plays stupid and pretends to not understand what's going on because he “likes” Jey. He plays some good politics by apologizing to Jey and offering a handshake. Jey rejects the peace offering and complains about Sami's stupid face and hanging around his family every week. Sami says he's trying to do what the Tribal Chief wants and Jey says he doesn't give a damn what Roman said, which grabs certainly grabs Roman's attention. It looks like Jey is about to get beaten down, but Sami butts in to defend Jey for not being “very Ucey” lately. That line nearly forces everyone in Bloodline to break character and crack up, but they (mostly) hold it together. Roman goes along with it and threatens Jey to “find his inner Ucey” again or else he'll make Sami a full-blown Uce. They'll even rename him “Sami Uso” and Sami couldn't be happier. This was fabulous sports entertainment.
Bray Wyatt addresses his DEMONS later tonight.
Meanwhile, the Viking bonfire continues. Just more cryptic words and dramatic sips from a goblet.
The Maximum Male Models (Mansoor and Mace, with Maxxine) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods)
Woods trades holds with Mansoor. Woods hits a leg sweep into a back senton. Woods mocks with his own fashion pose and tags in Kingston for a tandem crossbody slam. Maxxine distracts the ref to give MMM the advantage. Kofi gets a hot tag at the 2:30 mark and runs wild. Boom Drop by Kofi, but Mace trips him up. Woods takes out Mace, and Kofi catches Mansoor with a splash to the spine. New Day finish with a tandem double stomp backbreaker to win at 3:43 while Maxxine looks on in disgust. Perfectly adequate short TV match, *½.Winners: The New Day
Kayla Braxton is backstage with Sonya Deville to discuss Ronda Rousey's pending open challenge. Sonya rants about Liv Morgan instead, which prompts another psychotic attack from the thin-skinned Morgan.
Braun Strowman talks to the camera. He used to tip over large vehicles for excitement and he gets that same feeling when confronting Omos. There is no giant too big for the Monster Among Monsters. I'm so glad their match is happening at a show I'll never watch, but I must admit the build has been decent.
Ronda Rousey comes to the ring for her open challenge but first mocks the hostile crowd on the mic. The returning EMMA is here to answer Ronda's call. I'm way more excited about this than the live crowd is.
Smackdown Women's Championship:
Ronda Rousey © vs. Emma
Triple H clearly is bringing back all of his NXT favorites who never got a real push on the main roster. Is Adam Rose or Bo Dalls next? Ronda isn't impressed and kicks Emma outside. Ronda misses a shoulder thrust into the steps. Emma puts Ronda into the Dil-Emma and then hits a flying crossbody for 2. Ronda blocks the corner crossbody and puts her into the “Ronda-conda” which is knee strikes to the head while tied up in the ropes. Ronda focuses her attacks to the head and chokes Emma out with her own arm. Emma returns fire and nails a clothesline for a breather. Russian leg sweep by Emma gets 2. Ronda grabs an ankle lock, Emma escapes for a wheelbarrow suplex! Emma scores the Emma Sandwich for 2. Emma blocks Piper's Pit, but Ronda rakes the eyes and hits Piper's Pit anway. Ronda finishes with an armbar at 6:53! I'm going to slightly overrate this average, yet fun match because I'm happy that Emma is back, **½Winner and still Smackdown Women's Champion: Ronda Rousey
Jey Uso tries to get past Paul Heyman for a word with Roman, but Paul thinks it would be better if he delivers Jey's message instead.
Shayna Baszler congratulates Ronda Rousey and they hug it out. Natalya chooses a poor time to confront Ronda, as Shayna chokes her out.
Legado Del Fantasma (Joaquin Wilde, Cruz Del Toro, and Santos Escobar, with Zelina Vega) vs. Hit Row (Top Dolla and Ashante “thee” Adonis, with B-Fab) and Shinsuke Nakamura
I'm very accepting about what wrestling shows give me, and I'm not that concerned that Nakamura teaming up with Hit Row makes no sense whatsoever. Remember this the next time you think I'm going too easy on Dynamite. Hit Row and Nak charge the ring for a hot start. Even B-Fab takes Zelina out with a thrust kick. They return from commercials with Legado Del Fantasma controlling the match. LDF wrestle like babyfaces while working Ashante over. Nakamura gets the routine hot tag and unleashes the Wish.com version of his moveset. Top Dolla helps by power slamming two LDF guys at once. Top Dolla then shows off with a step up axe handle. Nakamura finishes with the Kinshasa at 8:44. Well, this is like week 3 on Smackdown for Legado Del Fantasma, and they're already jobbing to makeshift teams. This was a digestible TV match in the very least, *¾.Winners: Hit Row and Shinsuke Nakamura
Backstage, Paul Heyman and Roman Reigns watch footage of Logan Paul training for their match at Crown Jewel. Paul warns Roman that sometimes it takes one lucky punch to win.
Kayla Braxton interviews LA Knight backstage. He insults her for not getting his hometown right. Ricochet interrupts to suggest Knight would be treated better if he didn't act like God's gift to Smackdown. Knight thinks Ricochet is right about him being God's gift and all, so Ricochet hopes somebody will shut his mouth.
Karrion Kross (with Scarlett) vs. Madcap Moss
Kross looks well for somebody who was just in a terrible car accident. I mean, I pull a muscle in my leg, and I want to spend the next week on my couch, but I digress. Moss gets a hot start with classic developmental offense and some chops. Kross fires back with some very impressive punches. Moss hits a flying shoulder tackle and clotheslines Kross outside to cue the commercials. They return with Kross hitting an overhead belly to belly suplex. Kross throws a Northern Lights Suplex into a clothesline for 2. Kross seems to run out of tricks as the match lumbers on. Moss fights back with clotheslines and a spinebuster for 2. Fallaway slam by Moss, running shoulder thrusts, but Scarlett's distraction lets Kross hit a back suplex. Kross hits a closed fist to the back of the head to win at 9:35. Boring match that long overstayed it's welcome, *.Winner: Karrion Kross
Kross makes Moss pass out to a Rear Naked Choke, and keeps the hold while cutting a promo about how scared Drew McIntyre should be. This is far more entertaining than the ten minute match preceding it.
Bray Wyatt paces around in a darkly lit room while a TV flickers menacingly at him. We're suddenly interrupted by cheesy commercials.
Kayla Braxton chats with Rey Mysterio backstage. He's excited to compete for the Intercontinental Championship again, but that's about it as he's jumped by Imperium.
Bray Wyatt comes out for the main event talking segment. The crowd loves him and Bray admits that he's still getting used to it. He continues to portray himself as Bray Wyatt The Man, which the best version of himself. Bray confesses that his emotions can sometimes send him to a dark place where he feels nothing at all. A part of him likes that he's not afraid to do horrible things. He knows that someday he'll have to do something horrible, but then the lights go out. A creepy figure appears on the big screen to offer some menacing words. This is pretty cheesy and gives me Dungeon of Doom flashbacks. And that's a wrap.
Final Thoughts: This was a pretty solid episode until the Wrestlecrap-worthy main event segment. I like having short format TV matches and clear build to big matches. I'm not sure I like where things are going with Bray Wyatt after a promising return. Watch with caution.
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