Charlotte Flair challenges Bianca Belair, The Brawling Brutes VS Pretty Deadly
Bianca Belair arrived to start this week’s edition of Friday Night SmackDown and the EST of WWE seemed glad that she was finally getting her opportunity to get revenge on Asuka. Charlotte Flair then came out and said some things before the two agreed that if Belair beats Asuka for the WWE Women’s Championship tonight, the two will battle for the title at Summerslam. This wasn’t the greatest segment as Charlotte made a few mistakes and neither woman is a particularly likeable Babyface. Also, why do they both keep underestimating Asuka?
Grade: C
The Brawling Brutes cut a promo backstage where they seemed fired up for tonight’s action. This then led into the first match of the night as Sheamus and Ridge Holland looked to get a measure of revenge on Pretty Deadly. This was a solid match where everyone played their parts well. Sheamus has become so good at exciting the crowd in recent years whilst Ridge Holland’s power game is very impressive. We also already know how much I rate Pretty Deadly and it was Kit Wilson and Elton Prince who picked up the victory in this match after Prince hit a nice leg drop from the top rope. If I was the Brawling Brutes, I’d give up with fighting the “Pride of Essex, England” because they never beat them (which is a good thing for PD).
Grade: B-
Bayley VS Zelina Vega, Jey Uso segment, AJ Styles VS Butch VS Santos Escobar VS Grayson Waller: United States Championship Invitational
Grayson Waller cut a promo about how he’s not surprised that everyone wants a piece of the Grayson Waller Effect. The Arrogant Aussie then mocked The Rock which is great. We then got a recap package of last week’s Tribal Court before Charlotte Flair told Adam Pearce that she was leaving. However, that didn’t last long as Bayley and Iyo Sky walked in and the Genius of the Sky made it clear to Pearce that she had plans to cash in tonight. Charlotte then came back and said she was staying. It was then time for Bayley to have a match as she went one-on-one with the LWO’s Zelina Vega. This match only went about two minutes and after a slight distraction from Iyo Sky, Bayley planted Zelina with the Rose Plant to get the victory. However, the important thing came after the match as Shotzi appeared on the screen and told the Role Model that she has no control over her before she shaved her hair off. This was cool and makes Shotzi look like a Badass. All WWE needs to do now is bring back the Blackheart name because that would work really, really work.
Grade: C+ (Overall)
Jey Uso arrived and he started straight away by saying that whilst he respects all of the elders and others in his family, he can’t respect Roman Reigns after what he did to Jimmy Uso last week. Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa then arrived and Paul said that Jimmy’s attack last week was all Jey’s fault. He then went on to say that nobody in his family is going to forgive him and even Solo Sikoa said it so you know it’s serious. Jey and Solo then got into a brawl before it resulted in the former Right Hand Man nailing the Wiseman Paul Heyman with a Superkick. He then took out Sikoa with a chair to end the segment. This was shorter than previous Bloodline segments and it benefited from it. Jey Uso is such a good Babyface whilst Paul Heyman is one of the Greatest Of All Time and his selling of the Superkick was exceptional.
Grade: B+
Austin Theory then arrived to join commentary as AJ Styles, Butch, Santos Escobar, and Grayson Waller battled in the first of two United States Championship Invitational Matches. All four of these guys are talented competitors and they put on an entertaining bout that was very fast-paced. Austin Theory is also really good on commentary and it wasn’t super clear as to who was going to win. However, it did look like it was going to be the Phenomenal One, but Karrion Kross then appeared on the screen after he’d beaten up The O.C. to distract Styles. AJ then tried to leave before he got nailed by Grayson Waller who then hit Butch with his Rolling Stunner. However, Santos Escobar then delivered a Splash to the Arrogant Aussie to pick up the victory and advance to the final. Whilst I’m not sure having Grayson Waller get pinned over Butch makes sense, I’m happy that Santos won because I wasn’t expecting it. However, I’m not so sure he’ll win the final in a couple of week's time. Also, Karrion Kross has to beat AJ Styles in their final match, otherwise continuing that feud is completely pointless.
Grade: B-
AJ Styles found the O.C. to check if they were alright and the Phenomenal One clearly wasn’t happy. The Street Profits were then outside the arena as Bobby Lashley returned to Friday Night SmackDown by letting the Profits into his fancy limo before he left again. Thanks, Bobby. On a serious note, having the Profits team up with Lashley could be cool as long as they are Heels. Rey Mysterio, Cameron Grimes, and Sheamus then all cut promos about how much a win would mean to them in next week’s United States Championship Invitational Fatal 4-Way before LA Knight arrived to remind everyone why he’s one of the most over wrestlers in the entire company. I’ve got my fingers crossed that WWE doesn’t blow it because their track record is mixed.
WWE Women’s Championship: Asuka VS Bianca Belair
It was then time for the main event of the evening as Asuka put her WWE Women’s Championship on the line against Bianca Belair in a sort of rubber match. Bayley and Iyo Sky had somehow brought a ticket to be in the front before Charlotte Flair arrived to actually sit in the front row. If WWE are going to keep doing this, they are no longer allowed to say that they sell out every arena. The match that was going on inside the ring was actually pretty decent and the action was probably better between the two than their clashes at WrestleMania and Night of Champions. However, shenanigans had to take place as Damage CTRL jumped the barricade which prompted Flair to do the same thing (normal people that buy tickets definitely aren’t allowed to do that). Bianca Belair then got annoyed at Charlotte before Iyo Sky through Flair into the ring post. This then led to the Queen going for a Spear, but Sky dodged out of the way meaning the 14-time Women’s Champion took out Belair, causing the DQ. Iyo then whacked Flair in the face with her briefcase before she was about to cash in. However, the ref took too long and the Empress of Tomorrow spat Blue Mist into the face of the Role Model before she ran off. Whilst it’s getting a little bit silly how every Asuka title defense ends in a DQ finish, there’s no denying that everyone involved in the WWE Women’s Championship picture is incredibly talented. Also, Bayley was just wearing a Karrion Kross/Scarlett t-shirt so she must have a problem with The O.C!
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