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SmackDown (3/12/19)- Talk Talk Talk

While WrestleMania is around the corner, WWE turns to an abundance of promos to build up programs involving the talent of the Blue Brand.




SmackDown Thoughts (3/12/19)



- Shane McMahon comes out first, with a black shirt and leather jacket. (A not-so-subtle outfit for a new heel.) The World Cup is in the ring with him from Crown Jewel. The crowd chants "YOU SUCK!" at Shane. Shane has the ring announcer come in and announce him as "The Best in the World." Shane grabs the ring announcer by the shirt and tells him to do it right. The ring announcer does it again. Shane grabs him by the shirt and tells him to do it with conviction. And the ring announcer does it to Shane's satisfaction.
Shane is tired of all of the people who have ever been in his life. Everyone tries to rub up against him to get ahead in life. It's all about them. Them. Them. Them. It all stopped Sunday when he beat up The Miz in his own hometown. Shane's "The Best in The World" because he was born that way. Shane's going to do stuff for himself for now on. The final thing The Miz saw before passing out was seeing his father watch him get beat up.  Shane declares that he will face The Miz in a match at WrestleMania. And it will be AWESOME!

(Good heel work by Shane here. This hasn't been my favorite program in the entire world, but the promo here was solid with Shane hitting some good heel vibes to come off like a jerk. The stuff with the ring announcer was well done as it gets over the new aggressive heel character.)

- The Overexposed Team of Aleister Black and Ricochet are out next. Aleister waits awkwardly at the end of the aisle waiting for the commercial to hit. It's Aleister Black, Ricochet, and The Hardys to take on Shinsuke Nakamura, Rusev, and The Bar.

Black and Ricochet each take turns beating down on Nakamura. Matt Hardy and Sheamus soon get tagged in. Matt and Jeff get some shots in on Sheamus. But then Sheamus beats down on Jeff and tags in Cesaro. Jeff ends up taking the heel offense for a few minutes. The heels do some classic rule breaking behind the referee's back. Rusev overpowers Jeff in the ring, using Jeff's hair to stop any offense. The heels do some great tag team wrestling here by doing a gauntlet tag of offense.
Hardy uses a jawbreaker on Rusev and tags in Ricochet. Ricochet goes to springboard onto Rusev, but Rusev connects with a right hand. Ricochet crashes down to the floor. Commercial break/split screen. Ricochet gets planted on the apron by Cesaro and rolled into the ring. The heels take their turn beating down on Ricochet. Cesaro, Rusev, Nakamura, and Sheamus all get their hits in on Ricochet during the break. Matt Hardy even gets a cheap shot by Cesaro during the break. Sheamus takes a dive to the floor. Cesaro rolls Sheamus in the ring and tags in. Cesaro gets backdropped by Ricochet. Tag to Matt Hardy. Turnbuckle headbutts by Matt Hardy to Sheamus. Jeff and Matt double team on Cesaro. Jeff hits the Twist of Fate on Cesaro. Swanton Bomb. 1-2-pin is broken up by the heels.
All 8 men are in the ring brawling at this point. The New Day come out. The bell is rung, and the ring is cleared. They go out and attack the heels at ringside. Shining Wizard by Xavier Woods to Nakamura. Trouble in Paradise to Rusev.

(Good TV tag team match while it lasted. The New Day running in and clearing house hopefully will lead to Xavier and Big E being involved in some big tag team match at WrestleMania. And hopefully, Kofi gets the WWE Championship spot. Hopefully, we'll find out if that will happen later tonight.)

- The Usos applaud The New Day for taking advantage of the situation, just like they did at Fastlane. They cut a promo on all the tag teams in the division.

- Randy Orton is out next. He cuts a promo about where AJ Styles was at in the 2000s while he Randy Orton was making his name in WWE. While AJ Styles was wrestling in bingo halls and shaking hands, he was becoming the youngest ever World Heavyweight Champion. In 2005, while Styles was in Orlando getting a tan with Dixie Carter, Randy Orton was having classic matches with The Undertaker. 2006-2015, AJ Styles was elsewhere while Randy Orton was making a name for himself in WWE.  This isn't The House That AJ Styles Built. This Is The House That Randy Orton Built!  AJ comes out and tells Randy that he knows a lot about the Indies for a guy who says he hates it. AJ says he's damn proud of where he came from. He didn't sell out for a pose or a knockoff Diamond Cutter. Randy makes a Bullet Club reference by saying they are a bunch of ripoffs. AJ says Randy is surrounded by Indies.

AJ didn't have help by his father, Triple H, or Batista. Randy Orton accomplished more by the time he was 24 than most other performers. Randy Orton says he did it by himself. AJ Styles tells Randy Orton that he had a lot of babysitters: Evolution, Legacy, Rated RKO, The Wyatt Family. He has tossed them all to the curb. AJ Styles refuses to be Randy's next victim. Randy Orton proclaims himself the landlord, and the rent is due. AJ tells Randy if he wants his rent (points to the WrestleMania sign), come and take it.

(I thought this was a solid promo by both men. I liked the history of both being brought into the feud. These aren't the greatest orators in wrestling history. But they did enough in my opinion to get the job done.)

- Asuka makes a TV appearance here as she faces Sonya Deville. Asuka and Sonya go back and forth. Deville spears Asuka for a 2 count. Sonya gets the advantage on Asuka. (In reality, why shouldn't Sonya beat Asuka? If Mandy freaking Rose and Carmella can beat Asuka, Sonya Deville should without a sweat, right?)   Asuka fights off Sonya. Deville rolls to the floor. Asuka kicks Mandy on the floor. Mandy trips up Sonya by accident with the ring apron apparently. Asuka Lock. Tap out.

(Again, Asuka is an afterthought as Mandy and Sonya's problems continue to cost themselves the match.)

After the match, Mandy and Sonya have words after the match. Mandy walks away from Sonya.

- The IIconics are backstage. They cut a promo on The Boss 'N' Hug Connection. They challenge them to a future WWE Women's Tag Team Championship shot.

- Becky Lynch comes out next, throwing the crutch away while walking gingerly to the ring. She goes over the last couple months and talks about being put back in the main event of WrestleMania. She had to earn her way into her match twice: Once by the Royal Rumble, and secondly by playing Ronda Rousey like a fiddle. It's hard to play mind games on someone with no brain. She's going to take everything "THEY" have tried to give to someone else. Charlotte Flair's music plays. "Speaking of someone else," says Becky Lynch.

Charlotte tells Becky she's in HER main event now. Her resume speaks for itself. Charlotte's been hot for 4 years. She was chosen to get the job done. Becky only gets support because everyone feels sorry for her. Becky is only in the main event because she got a handout. Becky tells Charlotte that she may have been on top for 4 years, but they'd never be in the main event of WrestleMania without The Man. Mic drop.

(A good promo here. But SmackDown needs another match right now as there's been way too much talking. Becky got some good barbs in, but this segment was basically a waste of time. )

- Daniel Bryan and Rowan come out of Mr. McMahon's office. He was telling Vince McMahon his honest opinion about Kofi Kingston. McMahon apparently made Bryan and Rowan vs. Ali and Owens.

- Rey Mysterio and R-Truth vs. Andrade and Samoa Joe is next. Truth and Andrade start off the match and Truth is able to knock Andrade down. Truth tags in Rey. They team up on Andrade, but Rey gets too overconfident. Joe tags in on Andrade and goes to work on Rey with a bunch of strikes in the ring. Rey gets sent to the floor by Joe. During the split screen commercial break, Joe rolls Rey back into the ring and goes to work. Andrade gets tagged in and continues the beatdown. Joe gets tagged back in and gets his powerbomb in. Then he transitions into the Boston Crab and the STF. Truth breaks it up. Joe tags in Andrade.
Three Amigos by Andrade. Rey gets a Code Red on Andrade after the second Amigo. Zelina tries to stop Rey from tagging, but Carmella pulls her out of the ring. Tag to Truth. Truth hits the John Cena moves on Andrade, including the 5 Knuckle Shuffle. Joe tags in on Andrade and stops the momentum. Rey gets a blind tag and puts Andrade and Joe in position. Double 619! Rey jumps off the corner on Andrade. Joe hits a senton on Rey. Joe goes for the Rock Bottom, but Rey rolls him up for a 3 count. Joe lays out both Truth and Andrade after the match in anger. 

(Well, Joe is officially a champion in WWE now. He's been beaten in his first week as champion. Good tag team match between the two teams, though nothing that will be remembered a day from now.)

- We get a recap of the just swell news that Alexa Bliss is the host of WrestleMania. Ugh... next!

- Next, it is Kevin Owens and Mustafa Ali vs. Daniel Bryan and Rowan. Owens and Bryan start off the match. After a shoulder tackle by Owens, Bryan tags in Rowan. Rowan uses his size and power to knock down Owens a few seconds later. Owens breaks free from Rowan and tags in Ali. Ali tries to do the rolling X-Factor, but he's knocked down by a running crossbody by Rowan. Rowan continues to punish Ali and tags in Bryan. Bryan tortures Ali in the center of the ring as we go to commercial.

We return from break as Daniel Bryan and Rowan continue to assault Ali. Rowan rams Ali into the corner and tags in Bryan. Bryan hits a Butterfly Suplex on Ali off the top rope!!!! Labell Lock! Ali gets his foot on the bottom rope. Ali starts fighting back and gets a dropkick on Bryan. Ali reaches out to KO, but Bryan stops him. Backstabber to Bryan. 2 count as Rowan kicks Ali in the head. Owens and Rowan go at it in the ring. Superkicks send Rowan out. Rowan and Owens fight on the floor. Rowan sends Owens into the barricade. Rowan tags in on Bryan. Ali jumps off the corner and jumps into the hand of Rowan. Palm Slam by Rowan. 1-2-3. Wow. Rowan pinned a guy.

(Decent match here with a lot of good action. The finish seemed rushed as we didn't get a tag from Owens to set up the face comeback here. It was basically Rowan and Bryan dominating the match.)

- Vince McMahon comes out while Rowan and Bryan are walking to the back. Vince tells the audience he's going to give them what they want: Kofi Kingston getting a WWE Championship opportunity at WrestleMania. They replay the events at Fastlane. (If Vince says "Opportunity" one more time, I'm going to start fearing that Kofi is going to have to sit through a Hillbilly Jim Hall of Fame Induction speech to get his "opportunity." I wouldn't wish that on Uncle Elmer, let alone Kofi.)
Vince said he gave Kofi the opportunity at Fastlane, and he failed. He says that's a "teachable moment." The New Day come out, and they are not in a comedic mood. Loud "Kofi" chants. The New Day mouth off saying they've done everything Vince McMahon has asked. Kofi deserves more. Vince says he doesn't deserve a damn thing. Vince says no one deserves anything. Big E says this is bigger than New Day or Vince's ego. Vince says NOTHING is bigger than his ego. (Lol. He's said the truth.) Xavier points out that Kofi's beaten WWE Champions before, and he has never gotten his opportunity. More loud "Kofi" chants.

Vince tells Kofi that if he were worthy, it would have happened a long time ago. Kofi's been great lately. But one day, he'll be in the Hall of Fame. He's not going in by himself. The only way Kofi's going in is part of The New Day. Vince calls Kofi old and sucking the youth out of Big E and Xavier. Daniel Bryan told Vince that Kofi's a great "B+ Player."

Kofi says he's not demanding anything. He's happy doing what he's doing. His life is blessed. Kofi is upset that Vince doesn't see the hard work that Kofi's put out for 11 years. Kofi's never complained about anything, including that anyone "like him" has never competed for the WWE Championship. Kofi asks Vince to tell him what he needs to do so that he can do it. Randy Orton's music plays. Samoa Joe's music plays. Sheamus's music plays, and The Bar comes out. Rowan's music plays. Kofi has to beat ALL of those men in a Gauntlet Match next week! The New Day clear the ring of all the heels when they charge the ring. Trouble in Paradise to Cesaro ends the show.

(Well, I think the road is clear for next week. Kofi's going to run this gauntlet and go to WrestleMania. The question is how he will do it. Randy Orton will easily be eliminated thanks to AJ Styles probably. Samoa Joe is a champion. Therefore, he'll lose. It's WWE after all. Sheamus and Cesaro will likely both lose good, competitive matches. And Rowan will fall pretty easily in this situation. So, that's that. Kofi's going to WrestleMania. They will just make it official next week.)

Overall, this was a very mixed episode of SmackDown. On one hand, they handled the business they had to handle in order to start pushing some of the big matches for WrestleMania. The way they did it though, the overabundance of promos, left a little to be desired. The matches in the second hour were ok, but they really didn't do much to add to the show quality itself. This was definitely a step below the standard set for SmackDown, but it wasn't the worst show in the entire world either.

Until next time, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.

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