SmackDown Live - 05/06/2020
- LDR
- Jun 6, 2020
- 7 min read
The build towards Backlash continued this week on the blue brand, with Daniel Bryan having a meeting with his opponent for the vacant Intercontinental Championship, AJ Styles. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross would also defend their Women's Tag Team Championships against Sasha Banks and SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley and Jeff Hardy would tell his side of the story about what happened last week. Let's take a look and see what else went down on the SmackDown Live..
Source: wwe.com
Jeff Hardy Tell His Side of the Story
Jeff Hardy opened the show after a recap of the car crash and fall out that started last week's show. Jeff started by recounting that he got out of his car before being attacked by something that felt like an anvil to the head. The next thing he remembered was being arrested and taken to the police station. Hardy told us that, once his head cleared, he knew that he was sober, that he had no part in what had happened to Elias and that he hadn't let his family down. Jeff also told us that, while at the police station, a witness came forward claiming to have seen a red haired person with a red beard fleeing the scene of the crime. The obvious cuplrit here was Sheamus and Hardy had come to the same conclusion. SHeamus came out on the ramp to defend himself, telling Jeff that he needed to be a man and take responsibility for his actions for once and that he didn't need to worry about disappointing his family because "they are used to it". He also told Hardy that he couldn't be a man, because he was nothing more than a junkie. Hardy had heard enough, going after The Celtic Warrior, but Sheamus got the upper hand physically and hit the Brogue Kick before throwing the Charasmatic Enigma into the plexiglass at ring side. This rivalry looks to be heating up and Sheamus is always better as a heel. Fired up babyface Jeff Hardy is also the best version of this superstar, so the dynamic is great. However, I personally would prefer if WWE didn't choose to play off of Jeff's real life struggles with alcohol and drugs.
Source: wwe.com
Otis v King Corbin
Ahead of this match, we saw Otus and Mandy Rose walking backstage where they came across King Corbin's entrance gear. Otis put on the crown and the two left, enraging Corbin as he realised someone had taken his royal headpiece. There was also a short vignette showing what Otis and Mandy had been up to since becoming a couple. As the match kicked off, Otis took the early lead but Corbin fought back and hit a big spinebuster for a close 2-count. Mandy cheered on her man, leading to an impressive comeback from Otis who hit some great suplexes to keep the king down. As he was lining up the Caterpillar for the win, Corbin rolled out of the ring and grabbed his crown as he tried to leave. Otis went after him but was caught with a steel chair to the midsection for his troubles. As Corbin was disqualified, he continued to wail on Otis, but the big man managed to take Corbin down and hit the Caterpillar. The DQ finish was a bit of a cop-out, but keep either man from suffering a loss. This looks like it could lead to a bigger match down the line, maybe with Corbin putting his crown up against Otis' Money in the Bank briefcase, which would give a great increase in stakes and raise the intrigue.
Source: wwe.com
Lacey Evans v Sonya Deville
Again, we saw a couple of videos before this match, with Miz and Morrison spying on upcoming handicap match opponent Braun Strowman as a prank that they set up for him went off. We also had Shorty G in a backstage interview about his win over Cesaro last week. Before Shorty could speak, he was interrupted by Mojo Rawley who made jokes about the former Chad Gable's height and provided enough of a distraction for Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro to jump Shorty G from behind.
Going into the match here, Deville attacked Evans on her way to the ring, throwing her into the steel steps. These two had quite a brawl last time they faced off, so this was a good way to continue that. Evans showed good fire to take the upper hand as the match started and got a near fall with a slingshot elbow drop. The Pride Fighter came back, slowing the pace down to her favour and hit a gnarly looking neckbreaker off of the ring apron. Deville was vicious and dominant, really taking the fight to Evans but the Sassy Southern Belle had some fight left in her. As the two went back and forth, Sonya managed to take control again, looking like she was about to finish off her opponent, but Mandy Rose appeared on the screen to cause enough of a distraction to allow Evans to hit the Woman's Right for the win. This was another good scrap between two women who work pretty well in the ring together, but Mandy's distraction means we will be revisiting that rivalry - something that seems completely unnecessary at this point.
Source: wwe.com
AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan Face-to-Face
Another prank from Miz and Morrison preceded this segment, with Braun Strowman's backstage interview ending in Kayla Braxton being covered in slime intended for the Universal Champion. Renee Young introduced the two finalists in the Intercontinental Championship Tournament and Styles started by claiming that if it hadn't been for Jeff Hardy, Sheamus would be the man standing across from him right now. Bryan claimed that he wanted to earn his place properly, which is why he fought Sheamus last week. He also claimed that Styles was a coward and would hold the title as such, whereas Bryan would defend the strap every week against any and all challengers. Styles decided to prove that he wasn't a coward for not giving what he called hand outs and challenged Drew Gulak to a match to prove himself. Gulak went straight after Styles and the two men - known for technical brilliance - went at it like hardened brawlers. Gulak did try to slow Styles down with an arm bar but Styles made it to the ropes. The two showed off some awesome technical wrestling, a great prelude to what Styles and Bryan will bring, and some big hits before The Phenomenal One looked to put Gulak away with the Styles Clash. Gulak managed to counter the finisher into a jack knife cover to secure a shock win over AJ Styles. Gulak is made to look like a smaller calibre performer by being known as Daniel Bryan's coach or friend, so wins like this will do a lot to raise his profile as an individual.
Source: wwe.com
Shorty G & The New Day v Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura & Mojo Rawley
After the backstage assault on Shorty G earlier in the night, this match was announced for later in the show. Ahead of the match, John Morrison and The Miz smashed up Braun Strowman's car. This was a fairly chaotic affair, as most multi-man matches tend to be, and the momentum swung back and forth. Shorty G started against Cesaro, but it all really kicked off when Big E was being isolated by the heel team. He managed to hit a huge belly to belly suplex to create seperation and he and Kofi Kingston managed to get into a groove, hitting tag team moves as they always do. Kingston looked to have Nakamura in place for the Trouble in Paradise. but Cesaro pulled The Artist out of the way. Kingston went for a dive to the outside, but tweaked his knee and was then demolished by a huge shoulder tackle from Rawley. Kingston managed to tag to Shorty G, who used his speed to take down Rawley and almost took the win with a moonsault. Rawley kicked out and managed to counter an O'Connor Roll attempt but needed Nakamura's help to escape the ankle lock. After some chaotic battling from both teams, Rawley hit the Overdrive but Shorty G was saved just in time. Using his speed again, Shorty tagged in Big E who tagged Kingston as they hit the Midnight Hour for the pin. Shorty managed to grab the legs of both Cesaro and Nakamura to stop them from breaking up the pin. This was a great showcase for all of these men, with Rawley and Shorty G getting ample shine. After the match, we cut back to outside, where Braun Strowman finally sees the damage to his car and realises that Miz and Morrison are hiding inside a truck. Strowman tries to get in but Miz and Morrison won't leave, so Strowman uses his freakish power to flip the truck with the Universal Championship challengers inside. Braun is at his most entertaining with stunts like this, so this was a perfect way to end a night of childish pranks.
Source: wwe.com
Sasha Banks & Bayley v Nikki Cross & Alexa Bliss (Women's Tag Team Championship Match)
Nikki Cross wasted no time here, going straight after SmackDown Women's champion Bayley. The early fight was in the champs' favour, with quick tags allowing them to maintain control but Banks managed to distract Cross, allowing Bayley to knock her out of the ring. Banks and Bayley had control for a while here, but Cross eventually managed to tag in Bliss. The Goddess came in with a fire under her, smashing both of her opponents with big right hands and was headed to the top for the Twister Bliss finisher, but Banks again distracted the champ to allow Bayley to take over. A Bayley-to-Belly from the middle rope was surprisingly kicked out of by Bliss before Sasha hit a running knee. It looked as though the challengers had taken the upper hand, but Bayley looked to keep the spotlight on herself rather than just allowing Banks to take the win as she was looking for the Bank Statement. Cross got the upperhand, but Banks broke up the pinfall and dragged Bayley to the corner and ragged back in. Cross and Banks ended up going back and forth with some great counters before Banks finally managed to keep the Scot down for the pin fall while Bayley and Bliss fought on the outside. Bayley is now a double champion, adding more and more credence to the fact that she has been overlooked as one of the most successful female wrestlers in WWE. There were some more seeds sown here for a Banks and Bayley split, but having them win the titles means that something will hold them together until their eventual implosion. Losing the tag belts is a great catalyst and - assuming Bayley can hold on to her other title - would lead into a great SmackDOwn Women's Championship feud down the line.
What did you think of SmackDown Live this week? Who should face Sasha Banks & Bayley for the tag belts first? Who will win the Intercontinental Championship match between AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan? Let us know what you think on these points and more down below.
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