Tonga Loa's Anointment
Mattered ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This segment was a fine introduction to Smackdown. The Bloodline was doing the same old intimidate Heyman routine as they welcomed Loa to The Bloodline. I'm not interested in that at all. What's the endgame? Nobody is going to save Paul, at least not until Roman gets back, and even Roman doesn't care for Heyman. Plus, it doesn't make them seem dangerous anymore. The Bloodline still has to back its reputation with action.
Kevin Owens came out to attack Bloodline by himself, and he got way too much offense. He went in alone against the supposedly dangerous Bloodline. He should have been ripped apart. However, then the Street Profits ran in, and even the odds saved the segment.
Apollo Cruz Gets Jumped
Mattered ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Apollo Cruz got beat up backstage just for having a match with Angel later in the night. Personally, I'm here for it. I like Legado establishing that they are to be feared.
Jade & Bianca vs. Candice and Indi
Mattered ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jade and Bianca won with their awesome Monkey Flip German suplex. Alba, Isla, Zoey, and Shayna attacked them after the match, but Bianca and Jade beat them down and stood tall.
Cody Rhodes Challenges AJ Styles
Mattered ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Cody Rhodes challenges AJ to an Iquit match, which is genius. AJ faked a retirement to get this match, so Cody making him say Iquit would be demoralizing. AJ was in full control in this segment. Security was already there when Cody came to get AJ in the parking lot. When Cody called him out in the ring, the Club was there. When Cody was held back by security, Aj waited and then took his shot while Cody was detained. Aj played Cody like a little, but will it payoff?
Grayson Waller vs. Gargano
Mattered ⭐️⭐️⭐️.8
This match was entertaining but dangerous-looking as hell. Gargano looked like he nearly killed himself with sliced bread. Grayson Waller took a crazy sideways Canadian destroyer. However, the match was very entertaining and way more aggressive than you would expect. There was even a story that progressed. Grayson threw Austin Theory in harm's way to help get him a win, continuing their tension.
Jade and Bianca Get a Triple Threat Match
Mattered ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jade and Bianca agree to a Triple threat tag match at Clash in the Castle. The segment served the purpose of announcing the match, and that was about it. It served its purpose.
LA Knight vs. Carmelo Hayes
Mattered ⭐️⭐️⭐️.8
There wasn't anything technically on the line, but Carmelo and LA are so skilled in the ring and have such massive egos that fighting for dominance is entertaining enough. The match was excelling, but in the end, the wily vet La Knight schooled Carmelo with a schoolboy rollup.
Tiffany Stratton & Michin
Mattered ⭐️⭐️⭐️.9
Tiffany told Jax that she had her back and that Nia should think about teaming up with her. The Queen and Princess of the Ring. Personally, I think this is a great idea. Tiffany is absolutely right. Who could stop them? They would be the only team that could truly go toe to toe with Jade and Bianca.
Minchin came up to Nia and got in her face, and then Nia told her to retire like AJ and Styles. Michin threw a drink in Nia's face, so Nia threw Michin. They had to be broken up, and Michin screamed keep AJ's name out of your mouth. That was the weakest part of the segment. Apart from being in AJ's group, we have seen nothing to suggest that Michin and AJ have a strong relationship.
Logan Paul
Mattered ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Apparently, LA Knight is going to have to do more to get Logan's attention. Logan called him a titless mid-carder whos a walking catchphrase and a hick. Logan basically said LA Knight isn't worth his time in the most brutal fashion he could.
Bayley and Piper Meet Face to Face
Mattered ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Piper absolutely clobbered Bayley on the mic. Bayley came out talking nonsense like if you wanted a championship match, just ask. Really, all she had to do was ask, and you would just hand out a title match? Then she said she would have respected her if Piper hadn't attacked her from behind. This is where Piper tore a new one. Piper sensed the superiority in Bayley's statements. Piper let it be known that Bayley knew nothing about her. Then she told us she walked into this company, a world champion, while Bayley was dissing out hugs in an already-made scene. Piper was putting Scottish wrestling on the map. Piper then said she hopes that the respect Bayley has for her will soften the pain after the beating that Piper dishes out.
Kevin Owens & The Street Profits vs. The Bloodline
Didn't Matter ⭐️⭐️
This was a pretty predictable route to go. The action was good, but I couldn't see a reason to care. If Either side wins, then what changes? They must have felt the same way because the match ended in a DQ, and the Bloodline laid out everyone. They put Kevin Owens through a table, and that was the show. I need a reason to care about this. I'm starting to feel disconnected.
Reverse Hipster's Final Grade 75/100 C
The show was very average. Ironically, nearly everything mattered except the main event. But other than that, everything else felt just meh all night. Nothing was electrifying, and there is no story that makes me want to come back next week.
Comments