WWE’s greatest stars confirmed they had been prepared for battle* on Black Friday.
(*WarGames, not the retail selection that happened on-line and at malls throughout America.)
Friday’s go-home “WWE SmackDown” for “WWE Survivor Series: WarGames” teased the uneasy alliances inside each babyface groups for the lads’s and girls’s WarGames matches, in addition to decided which Bloodline — OG or New — would have the benefit Saturday evening.
In honor of the most important purchasing day of the 12 months, we’ll be shopping for or promoting every phase/match that happened on Friday’s present.
Sell: The ladies are prepared for battle
Whenever now we have a giant, particular match on a PLE, you possibly can virtually assure we’ll open the present with a tease that includes all events concerned. Friday did not deviate from that formulation, with all 10 ladies concerned within the ladies’s WarGames match reducing a promo to kick issues off. This wasn’t something we’ve not heard earlier than, doing little or no to hype us up any additional for the match.
I’m certain the match will likely be nice — it is onerous for it to not be contemplating the expertise concerned — however I want there was extra substance/distinction within the mic work.
That mentioned, there was a winner from the open…
Buy: Liv Morgan
Rhea Ripley continues to be essentially the most over individual on this match, however Morgan’s star is shining extremely brightly and she or he is delivering on each stage proper now. While Ripley, Bianca Belair, Naomi and Iyo Sky all primarily mentioned “We’re mad and need to make you pay” in several methods, Morgan (and Nia Jax, who deserves some reward right here as properly) added a brand new wrinkle by suggesting Bayley could have been behind the Jade Cargill assault.
Much like her “Watch Me” tag line, Morgan calls for your consideration when she’s in your display screen.
Buy: Shinsuke Nakamura’s new entrance, first match since April
Nakamura’s entrance has at all times been among the many finest in WWE, and the newest iteration is now totally different. I’m getting critical Undertaker vibes from the repackaged star.
After that superior entrance, Nakamura and Andrade proceeded to placed on an absolute banger of a match. Andrade confirmed off some really spectacular offense — together with a springboard dropkick adopted by a top-rope moonsault to the ground — and there was a pair of violent elbow strikes from each males within the latter levels of the match. Nakamura appeared pretty much as good as ever, regardless of a seven-month layoff.
The end protected Andrade, and afterward Nakamura misted LA Knight, standing tall a day earlier than their United States Championship match. There’s a superb likelihood irrespective of who wins Saturday that we nonetheless (justifiably) see Andrade within the United States Championship image.
Buy: 3-for-1 backstage segments
We obtained a trio of backstage segments between matches on “WWE SmackDown.” First, we obtained the New Bloodline hyping up Jacob Fatu earlier than his essential contest in opposition to Jey Uso in the primary occasion. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis interjected and introduced that each one different Bloodline members (OG and New) can be banned from ringside. This was positive, however I’d have liked for Solo Sikoa to be a bit extra menacing towards Aldis.
We additionally continued to look at Tommaso Ciampa’s descent into Goldie insanity and the inevitable DIY cut up — Johnny Gargano has yet another week to determine get a WWE Tag Team Championship match in opposition to MCMG or the Ciampa destruction tour resumes.
Finally, Kevin Owens made his case for why Cody Rhodes deserved the assault at Bad Blood and that the Undisputed WWE Champion turned a blind eye when Owens wanted him. These two will sq. off at Saturday Night Main Event subsequent month, which is giving immaculate vibes already.
Buy: Rhodes vs. Carmelo Hayes
Hayes, a former NXT Champion, is extraordinarily gifted and appeared nice at instances in his match in opposition to Rhodes, however he has but to captivate the gang on the primary roster like he did at NXT. Hayes confirmed off his movie research by evading a few of Rhodes’ signature strikes and forcing the Undisputed WWE Champion to regulate his recreation plan, using his energy benefit greater than we’re used to seeing.
Was this the very best match of the evening? No, but it surely was a high-profile second for a rising star in WWE and Rhodes’ stage of labor at this level is definitely worth the worth of admission, so we’re in on this.
Save for later: Roman Reigns, CM Punk have a sit-down assembly
Paul Heyman was the star right here, and seems to be the pawn on this brewing uneasy alliance between Reigns and Punk.
I did not love the best way Reigns approached the assembly — performing extra just like the heel Tribal Chief. He simply battled side-by-side with Punk in opposition to the New Bloodline final week and now he would not belief the man?
Another complicated second got here when Heyman warned Punk that if the New Bloodline wins, they will goal him as the subsequent greatest risk on the roster. Why would not they go after Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship?
We did get an added wrinkle within the type of a favor owed to Punk by Heyman when all is claimed and executed — very “Rocky III” of them.
This felt like an try to recapture the magic of the Reigns-Rhodes Georgia Tech promo, but it surely fell flat for me. I just like the intrigue that the Heyman-Punk favor provides and there is a actual query about who the Wise Man will wind up being loyal to.
Sell: Michin advancing in Women’s United States Championship match
No disrespect to Michin, however she would have been my third option to win in opposition to Piper Niven and Lash Legend. Not nice contemplating it was a triple-threat match.
The match itself wasn’t unhealthy, except for a clunky end, but when we’re wanting forward within the bracket, preserving alive a Niven-Chelsea Green ultimate is intriguing and Lash Legend has been so spectacular in her quick time on the primary roster that I’d have most well-liked the spot go to her as properly.
Michin might have been protected and been the primary challenger for the eventual winner.
Sell: LA Knight, Aldis’ message to OG Bloodline
Bryon Saxton caught up with Knight as he obtained medical consideration after being misted by Nakamura. This promo felt too rehearsed/cookie cutter. Not Knight’s finest work, regardless of all people (actually) saying L A Knight, YEAH, on the finish.
Much like he did for the New Bloodline earlier within the evening, Aldis knowledgeable Sami Zayn and Jimmy Uso that they’d be banned from ringside. This occurred in Gorilla Position, which robbed us of Jey Uso’s in style through-the-crowd entrance. For that, I’m not shopping for.
Uncrowned MVP (Most Valuable Purchase!?) of the evening
From a logistical standpoint, it needs to be Jacob Fatu, proper? The Samoan Werewolf secured the benefit for the New Bloodline in Saturday’s WarGames match with a win over Jey Uso in the primary occasion. It was additionally Fatu’s first singles match on WWE tv.
Logistics apart, Fatu continues to shine each time he steps foot in entrance of a WWE digital camera or in a WWE ring. His match with Uso was super and stood out on a “SmackDown” episode that did not have a foul match on it. Fatu — and the primary occasion — are apparent buys.
Can we get a refund?
Michael Cole and Corey Graves’ announce desk did not do the one factor announce tables must on a wrestling present — get destroyed. Seriously, if we’re giving out opinions, its failure to break down on a Samoan drop from Fatu to Uso earns it zero stars and I’m getting announce desk customer support on the road ASAP.
Despite having some gripes with the promo work, this was a very sturdy episode of SmackDown:
I give Friday’s “WWE SmackDown” 👑 9/10 crowns. 👑
