source: WWE
The Superstar Shake-Up concludes this week on Smackdown, and it is revealed which superstars made the switch from Raw to Smackdown!
source: WWE
AJ Styles vs. Rusev
Winner: AJ Styles (via DQ)
AJ Styles comes out to the ring and calls Shinsuke Nakamura a con artist. Like the fans, he is angry that Nakamura interrupted the dream match between him and Bryan, and refuses to leave the ring until Shinsuke comes out to fight him.
Instead of Nakamura, Aiden English and Rusev come out. AJ says that since it is Rusev Day and Nakamura is too scared to fight, they should fight right now,
Highlights:
AJ cinches in the calf crusher
Less than a minute into the match, English breaks the submission, attacking AJ
Daniel Bryan saves AJ, helping him clear the ring of Rusev Day
Paige makes a tag team match: AJ and Bryan vs. English and Rusev
Opinion:
While I’m a little surprised that Bryan didn’t get moved to Raw, I like the idea of him teaming up with AJ instead of facing him. These two babyfaces should be great friends for a while so their eventual main event match is even better.
I do think that, by filling the opening segment with known Smackdown stars, the Superstar shake up feels less relevant. Raw seemed jam packed with new stars, and as of right now, Smackdown seems like it’s lacking.
source: WWE
Shelton Benjamin vs. Jeff Hardy
Winner: Jeff Hardy
Benjamin comes to the ring, saying that his Twitter was hacked night and the hacker was supportive of Chad Gable’s Raw endeavors. Benjamin said that he deserved respect and asked Paige to give him some competition.
Randy Orton’s music hits, but when he makes his way down the ramp, Jeff Hardy’s music hits as well. Hardy raises his new US Championship in the air before the bell rings.
Highlights:
Benjamin pushes Hardy as he stands on the turnbuckle, causing him to fall on it
Shelton hits Hardy with a running knee as he sits on the top turnbuckle
Hardy hits Benjamin with a Whisper in the Wind
Jeff gives Shelton a Twist of Fate and a Swanton Bomb for the three count
Opinion:
Even though it worries me a little to see Gable on his own, I like the idea of Gable and Benjamin splitting up. Gable was always the standout when he was with both Jordan and Benjamin, and I think they both could thrive in their own environments.
Bringing Hardy to Raw was a good idea because now they don’t have to switch the US and IC titles between shows, and he can be a separate entity from his brother. One day, they will reunite and it will be exciting to watch.
source: WWE
Jey Uso vs. Harper
Winner: Harper
Highlights:
Jey suicide dives into Rowan, but Rowan catches him
Harper clotheslines Uso on the apron and gets the pin
After the match, Harper and Rowan eliminate Jimmy and send Jey into the apron
Naomi runs out and pleads with the Bludgeon Brothers when they pick up their mallets
Harper and Rowan retreat with their titles and mallets
Opinion:
The Bludgeon Brothers are looking more dominant week by week, and it didn’t hurt them to show mercy to the Usos after Naomi pleads with them. I hope that Naomi is in a storyline of her own soon though—she didn’t win the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal for nothing.
source: WWE
Sin Cara vs. Samoa Joe
Winner: Samoa Joe
Highlights:
Joe delivers a hard knee to the head of Sin Cara
Joe traps Sin Cara in a Coquina Clutch
After the match, Joe says that the superstars of SD have had it easy
Samoa Joe says that he will put every superstar to sleep
Joe claims that he will destroy what’s left of Roman Reigns at Backlash
Opinion:
I’m confused as to why Joe has been calling out Roman Reigns in recent weeks if he’s going to Smackdown. It also confused me that Joe said he would take his “newly won” IC Championship to Smackdown—isn’t that match between Rollins, Balor and Miz? I just don’t understand Joe’s purpose on SD Live.
source: WWE
A MellaBration
Carmella skips out to the ring for her “MellaBration”, and she brags about how she waited for the right time to be at the top of the women’s division. She boasts about beating Charlotte Flair and how her cash in was historic.
She replays the footage of her victory and an amazing promo package that revolves around her selfishness and ability to win. Carmella yells about how she’s money, and she is interrupted by Charlotte.
Charlotte congratulates Carmella for capitalizing on an opportunity the Iiconics gave her, but tells her it’s much harder to stay on top than to get there. Flair is interrupted by the IIconics, who make fun of her for being a baby and not taking her loss and making excuses.
Charlotte goes to attack Royce and Kay, but the numbers game defeats her, prompting Becky Lynch to come to her best friend’s defense. After commercial, a match has begun between Charlotte and Billie Kay.
source: WWE
Charlotte vs. Billie Kay
Winner: Charlotte
Highlights:
Kay yells at Charlotte while she holds her in an arm bar
While the ref is distracted, Peyton Royce gets a cheap shot in at Charlotte
Billie Kay taps out to Charlotte’s Figure Eight
Carmella attacks Charlotte after the match, and Royce attacks Becky Lynch
Asuka comes out and deliver strikes and suplexes to Kay and Royce
Opinion:
Carmella and the IIconics are fantastic heels. It’s refreshing to see women other than Alexa Bliss be petty and selfish and bullies. All of the women in this segment were NXT creations (except for Asuka, who did spend time in NXT), and they’re all thriving.
Carmella is so hatable that you love watching her bask in her own glory. She’s selfish and awful, but I get so excited when she brags about her two achievements and how she’s worth so much.
source: WWE
AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan vs. Rusev and Aiden English
Winners: N/A (DQ)
Highlights:
Bryan restrains English and hoists him in the air before tagging Styles in, and Styles jumps onto him from the top rope
AJ hits Aiden with a gutbuster
Styles gives English a Pele kick
Aiden English breaks up a yes lock and gets sent out of the ring by Bryan
Bryan gives Rusev the yes kicks
Daniel hits Rusev with a running knee
Shinsuke Nakamura gives AJ Styles a low blow as he stands on the apron
Big Cass appears with a big boot to Daniel Bryan
Opinion:
So much happened in this match! I like how they gave fans a taste of AJ and Daniel in the same ring, but tore it away with a great advancement in AJ’s rivalry with Nakamura and a development in the new feud between Big Cass and Bryan.
Rusev Day looked great, but again is lost in the shuffle due to bigger storylines overshadowing them. If Rusev weren’t facing Undertaker at the Greatest Royal Rumble next week, he probably wouldn’t be on TV at all.
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