The SmackDown Files: The Go To Sleep Edition (1-16-2018)

By: Keila Cash

Date: 1-16-2018

Location: The Laredo Energy Center in Laredo, Texas

Sleep Mantra: "Enter Sandman" by Metallica

Dream Mantra: “The View from Hell is Blue Sky”

·        Jinder Mahal advanced to the finals of the United States Tournament when he defeated Xavier Woods with the Khallas in a solid match. Mahal dominated 85% of the action which didn’t make for exciting television. Woods made a nice babyface comeback, but the outcome was never in doubt. Outside of The New Day rolling their R’s when it came to pronouncing the word Maharaja, this was an uneventful way to start the show.

·        Bobby Roode advanced to the finals of the United States Tournament when he defeated Mojo Rawley with the Glorious DDT in a solid match. Once again, the heel was in control until the babyface made the comeback down the stretch. Rawley needs to add variety to his in-ring game, but he held his own against Roode for the most part.

·        After the match was over, The Singh Brothers attacked Roode from behind as a way to soften him up before his US Title Match against Jinder Mahal next week.

·        Mahal appeared on the main stage to gloat, but Roode didn’t want to wait until next week to face the modern-day Maharaja. Mahal scoffed at the notion because he was the one who determines the time and place to fight.

·        Danial Bryan came out to remind Mahal that he was in charge by booking Mahal vs. Roode for the US Title later tonight. The finals were bumped from the Rumble to next week to tonight in less than 24 hours. Best laid plans, be damned! At least the fans popped huge for the announcement.

·        The Riott Squad defeated Charlotte, Becky Lynch, and Naomi when Liv Morgan nailed Naomi with a double knee facebreaker for the win. The match was decent as Lynch played the babyface in peril until she made the hot tag to Naomi.

·        Naomi had the match won when Ruby Riott kicked her in the face behind the referee’s back which led to the finish moments later. This was a nice way for the heels to build momentum leading up to the first-ever women’s Royal Rumble match in a couple of weeks.

·        Bobby Roode is the NEW United States Champion when he defeated Jinder Mahal with the Glorious DDT in an okay match. The match was fine for the most part, but I was distracted by Roode and Mahal wearing the same color scheme. It was all blue everything from their trunks right down to the kneepads. Batista (AKA Bluetista) must be smiling from ear to ear.

·        Mahal dominated most of the action which damn near put me to sleep. Thankfully, Roode scored the pin which ended things on a high note. Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan presented the Glorious One with the United States Championship as SD Live went off the air with Roode celebrating in the ring.

·        The ending was a little surprising because I thought Mahal had the mid-card scene on lock after losing the WWE Title last November. Therefore, I am pleasantly surprised that Roode won his first major championship on the main roster.

·        He’s still miscast as a babyface, but the pickings are slim when it comes to viable challengers at the moment. Here’s hoping business picks up after the Royal Rumble because there is a lot of downtime between now and Fastlane which takes place in March.

·        Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live was boring. The in-ring action left a lot to be desired. Jinder Mahal wrestling TWICE in one night didn’t help matters, but Bobby Roode made everything better in the end.

·        The show lacked star power as the broadcast was filled with pre-taped segments and backstage promos from AJ Styles and The Usos. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn were MIA while the power struggle between Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan ceased for one night. It seemed as if WWE was doing some extra event planning for Raw 25 which might explain why tonight’s broadcast seemed thrown together on a whim.

·        This was by far the worst episode of SD Live since the 2016 reboot. It wasn’t dog shit terrible, but it was a chore to watch. Let’s hope next week’s go-home show from Washington D.C. is better because this was a piss poor effort from the E tonight.

On that note, this wraps up another edition of The SmackDown Files. I hope you enjoyed it and I will be back next week with a brand new installment of The Raw Exposé. See you later, boys and girls! 

The SmackDown Files: Like Sands Through The Hourglass, So Are The Days of Our Rusev (12-12-2017)

By: Keila Cash

Hello everyone and welcome to another installment of The SmackDown Files. Tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live emanated from the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. It’s the go-home show for Clash of Champions which takes place this Sunday from the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Every championship will be defended along with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn’s careers being on the line as they face Shinsuke Nakamura and Randy Orton in a tag team match with Shane McMahon serving as the special guest referee.

Daniel Bryan wasn’t thrilled with McMahon inserting himself in the match which might cause Bryan to make some power moves of his own in order to seize control from his boss. Is Bryan on the verge of joining the dark side of the force or will he find his moral compass in the nick of time? The answer to that question can be found throughout this blog. Without further ado, let’s dissect tonight’s show in no particular order.  

·        Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn wearing “Yep! Yep! Yep!” t-shirts in the style and vein of Daniel Bryan’s vintage “Yes! Yes! Yes!” shirt is awesome.

·        The Singh Brothers offered their professional services to AJ Styles after Jinder Mahal beat them up two weeks ago when they failed to beat Styles in a 2-on-1 handicap match.

·        The Singh Brothers talked about how Mahal mistreated them when it came to subpar flight/hotel accommodations, confusing them for being identical twins by forcing them to wear the same clothes and kissing his smelly feet.

·        Styles did a great job egging them on as he revealed a photo of Singh One and Singh Two still pledging their allegiance to Mahal during a live event in India this past week. He saw through their ruse and proceeded to kick their ass as Mahal looked on from ringside. Styles invited Mahal to get in the ring, but the modern-day Maharajah backed down to check on his minions as the opening segment came to an end with the Phenomenal One standing tall.

·        This was a fun way to start the show. The Singh Brothers were entertaining on the mic while Styles did a great job no-selling their sob story. The creative team taking the comedic route five days before Styles’ WWE Championship title defense against Mahal was an interesting choice, but it was harmless for the most part. Here’s hoping their feud culminates with a Styles win on Sunday because the Mahal Experiment was more miss than hit despite him getting more comfortable as a main eventer in recent months.

·        Charlotte vs. Ruby Riott ended via disqualification after Natalya clotheslined Charlotte at ringside. The Riot Squad continued their attack on Charlotte and was about to slam her face first underneath the steel steps when Naomi made the save. Naomi delivered an insane double dropkick to Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan before going after Riott with a series of sick forearms before laying her out with The Rearview.

·        The Riot Squad tried to escape, but they were greeted with a sneak attack from Carmella, Tamina, and Lana which tips the scales heading into the SmackDown Women’s Championship Lumberjack Match between Charlotte and Natalya at Clash of Champions.

·        Baron Corbin and Dolph Ziggler ended via disqualification when Bobby Roode dropped Ziggler with a Glorious DDT. Corbin suffered the same fate as this was a nice callback to Ziggler doing the same thing to Roode and Corbin last week. This was an okay way to the hype their Triple Threat Match for the United States Championship at Clash of Champions.

·        The Bludgeon Brothers destroyed the team of Colin Delaney and Joe Monroe when Harper pinned Delaney with the Double Chokeslam. The highlight of the match was Monroe’s outstanding facial expressions and high pitched scream when Harper dropped him with a Powerbomb. I think WWE has found the next James Ellsworth. They need to sign that man to a contract. Stat!

·        Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn’s Yep Movement paid dividends when Daniel Bryan announced that he would be the second special guest referee in Owen and Zayn’s match against Shinsuke Nakamura and Randy Orton. With Shane McMahon vowing to fire KO and Zayn if they lose, will Bryan tip the scales of power by willing his former buddies to victory? We shall find out soon enough.

·        Aiden English and Rusev defeated The Usos when English pinned Jey Uso with a DDT in a solid match. English and Rusev are riding a wave of momentum heading into Clash of Champions as they face The New Day, Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin, and The Usos in a Fatal 4-Way Match for SmackDown Tag Team Titles. This could be a show stealer if everything goes according to plan.

·        Jinder Mahal attacked AJ Styles backstage and warned Styles that he wouldn’t overcome the odds on Sunday. Based on Styles staring at the lights five days before a PPV, booking suggests that he retain the WWE Championship on Sunday. I think…

·        Kevin Owens defeated Shinsuke Nakamura with a Popup Powerbomb in a very good main event match. However, the night ended on a controversial note when Daniel Bryan inserted himself in the match to count the pinfall. Owens inadvertently knocked out the first ref which caused Bryan to intervene down the stretch. Nakamura had Owens pinned for the win, but Bryan took a pregnant pause before getting in the ring to make the count.

·        Randy Orton and Sami Zayn brawled inside the ring as Bryan gave them leeway to fight it out. Zayn poked Orton in the eyes at ringside and tried to distract Nakamura when he had Owens in position for the Kinshasa. Nakamura pushed Zayn off the ring apron, but the diversion gave Owens enough time to hit his finisher for the 1-2-3.

·        SD Live went off the air with Owens and Zayn celebrating on the main stage while Byron Saxton proclaimed that the fix was in heading into the PPV on Sunday with Bryan in KO and Zayn’s back pocket.

·        Saxton was pushing the narrative that Bryan was stepping on Shane McMahon’s toes by naming himself with second special guest referee without talking to his superior first. Bryan downplayed the issue by noting that WWE is in the business of doing the unexpected and vowed to work with McMahon during the week to determine how they’re going to officiate the tag team match on Sunday.

·        Saxton was relentless towards Bryan on commentary which means only one thing…Swerve Alert! When WWE tries to hammer an angle to the point that the outcome is damn near academic, expect the opposite to happen. Bryan has been hinting at joining the dark side of the force in recent weeks. With Saxton accusing Bryan of being corrupt based on his actions during the main event, one can assume that Bryan is poised to turn heel at Clash of Champions.

·        However, WWE history suggests that it’s usually the other around when it comes to heel turns. Shane McMahon has been power hungry as of late. His thirst for revenge might ring true, but he’s a McMahon which makes inherently evil by default. Is there a greater scheme at play? Will Saxton’s conspiracy theory about Bryan come to fruition? The answers to these questions can be found on the WWE Network this Sunday. It should be an interesting night, to say the least. Get your popcorn ready!

·        Overall, I thought tonight’s episode was middling at best. The go-home show for Clash of Champions featured good hype for the key matches, but it didn’t make me more excited for the PPV on Sunday. The in-ring quality was so-so with two matches ending via disqualification in consecutive segments. It made sense from a storyline standpoint, but it lacked creativity in the grand scheme of things.

·        The main event salvaged saved the show which makes me excited for the tag team match featuring Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn with Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan serving as special guest referees. I highly doubt that Owens and Zayn are going to be fired from WWE which means one of the special refs is going rogue. Based on what happened tonight, my money’s on Shane-O-Mac to do the honors. We shall see how it all plays out, but expect a jaw-dropping conclusion that will leave the wrestling world buzzing.

On that note, this wraps up another edition of The SmackDown Files. I hope you enjoyed it and I will be back next week with a brand new installment of The Raw Exposé. See you later, boys and girls! 

The SmackDown Files: The One Where The Riott Squad Copied Off Absolution's Homework (11-28-2017)

By: Keila Cash

Hello everyone and welcome to another installment of The SmackDown Files. Tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live emanated from the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. After sparing Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn’s jobs last week, did Daniel Bryan face disciplinary action from Shane McMahon? The answer to that question can be found throughout this blog. Without further ado, let’s dissect tonight’s show in no particular order.

·        SD Live kicked off with Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan working through their managerial differences when it came to Bryan not firing Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn last week. Bryan believed in second chances and didn’t want to send their two top stars to Monday Night Raw. McMahon disagreed and listed their various crimes and misdemeanors over the past few weeks.

·        Bryan wanted Shane to trust his judgment when it came to Owens and Zayn because he knows what it’s like to be fired. Shane-O-Mac agreed and co-signed Daniel’s decision to book KO vs. Randy Orton for later tonight. However, Shane raised the stakes by barring Zayn from ringside and making the match no disqualification as the opening segment came to an end.

·        This was an okay way to start the show. Seeing Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan playing out a backstage skit in front of the live crowd was a bit tedious, but the message of them being on the same page clicked for the most part. However, I have a feeling that their business relationship is still on shaky ground.

·        The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) defeated Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable when Woods pinned Benjamin with the UpUpDownDown in a good match. The action was fast-paced and crisp throughout which kept the crowd hyped from start to finish.

·        The Usos were entertaining on guest commentary as they put over both teams before reminding the audience that they still had the tag team division on lock. The win puts The New Day back in title contention, but Benjamin and Gable will have something to say about that because they are due a SmackDown Tag Team Title rematch against The Usos due to their first match ending via count out a few weeks ago in Manchester, England.

·        The Bludgeon Brothers defeated The Hype Bros when Rowan pinned Zack Ryder with a Double Chokeslam. Harper and Rowan looked impressive once again as they handled their business in two minutes or less. They have the potential to get over as a top tag team if they are booked properly.

·        Meanwhile, the Hype Bros are finished as Mojo Rawley attacked Zack Ryder from behind during a post-match interview with Dasha Fuentes. It appeared that Ryder was primed to turn heel when he returned to in-ring competition earlier this year, but Rawley is now positioned as the bad guy. This might be for the best because Rawley’s hype persona is very annoying which might’ve turned him heel by default.

·        AJ Styles defeated the Singh Brothers when Styles hit Samir Singh with a Styles Clash from the second rope while landing on his brother Sunil to somewhat soften the blow. It wasn’t enough as The Phenomenal One squeaked out the win after Jinder Mahal jumped him from behind before the 2-on-1 handicap match got underway.

·        Incensed, Mahal hit both Singh Brothers with the Khallas which might come back to bite him in the ass in the not too distant future. Just a hunch…

·        Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, and Sarah Logan are now known as The Riott Squad. The name is meh at best…

·        The Riot Squad defeated Charlotte, Natalya, and & Naomi when Ruby Riott pinned Charlotte with the Riot Kick in a one-sided match.  Natalya bailed early on while Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan took out Naomi when they slammed her into the barricade and steel steps. The upped the violence by slamming her head against the steps while she was trapped underneath them for good measure.

·        Charlotte tried to make a comeback, but the numbers game caught up to her down the stretch. Riott, Morgan, and Logan were impressive in the ring, but their attack on Naomi didn’t generate a lick of heel heat. This faction is too similar to Paige’s crew on Raw which makes this version come off as low rent which sucks considering the talent involved. Here’s hoping both groups differentiate themselves from each other because fans shouldn’t be catching a case of déjà vu every week.

·        I have a sad announcement to make. The Fashion Files has officially jumped the shark. As I mentioned a couple of months ago, season two was in danger of falling into the dreaded sophomore slump and that theory was proven right based on tonight’s weak parody of Saw. At least The Ascension still makes me laugh from time to time.

·        Kevin Owens defeated Randy Orton with a Frogsplash thanks to an assist from Sami Zayn. Despite being banned from ringside, Zayn took full advantage of the no disqualification stipulation as he hit Orton in the leg with a steel chair towards the end of the match.

·        The referee was powerless to stop Zayn because of the DQ rule as he continued to attack Orton with the steel chair. Owens’ guardian angel made a hasty exit as Owens took advantage of the situation. Orton made a brief comeback as he nailed KO with a Draping DDT. He went for the RKO, but Owens delivered a chop block to Orton’s injured leg which set up the finish moments later.

·        The match itself was very good as Orton went after Owens once the bell rang. He hit KO with some stiff Kendo Stick shots, but Owens returned the favor as he got back on offense before the obligatory commercial break.

·        Orton regained control when he dropped Owens with a Superplex from the top rope followed by a Belly-to-Back Suplex on the announce table. He went for his finisher, but Owens rolled out of the ring and escaped through the crowd. Orton chased him down and brought the fight to the main entrance ramp which gave Zayn the opening he needed in order to save his best friend.

·        How will Daniel Bryan respond to Zayn’s latest act of defiance? Will Shane McMahon step in to make another unilateral decision that creates more friction between him and Bryan? Most importantly, how will Zayn and Owen take advantage of the situation as they pit their bosses against each other? So many questions, so little time!

·        Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live was solid for the most part. The Lexington crowd was hot early on, but their enthusiasm tapered off during the second hour despite the in-ring action being up to par most of the night.

·        Clash of Champions is a little over three weeks away and one match has been officially announced for the PPV so far. AJ Styles vs. Jinder Mahal for the WWE Championship is set, but WWE needs to flesh out the rest of the card between now and next week’s show in San Diego, California.

·        Bobby Roode vs. Baron Corbin for the United States Championship appears to be a lock while the Tag Team and Women’s Title bouts are in a state of flux due to a lot of moving parts wreaking havoc over the past couple of weeks. Here’s hoping the creative team can sift through the chaos and finish the year strong by putting on an entertaining PPV. We don’t need another Battleground on our hands…

On that note, this wraps up another edition of The SmackDown Files. I hope you enjoyed it and I will be back next week with a brand new installment of The Raw Exposé. See you, later boys and girls!

The SmackDown Files: How AJ Styles Became The Honorary King of England (11-7-2017)

By: Keila Cash

Hello everyone and welcome to another installment of The SmackDown Files. Tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live emanated from the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. Due to WWE breaking major news earlier in the day, I am not doing my weekly teaser for this week’s blog. The headline pretty much says it all. Without further ado, let’s dissect tonight’s show in no particular order.

·        The opening segment of SD Live was a mirror image of what happened last night on Raw with one major exception. The crowd was hyped from start to finish. Shane McMahon, The New Day, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn were entertaining on the mic which prevented the opener from being a total bore to watch.

·        Owens and Zayn playing the dual role of Debbie Downer provided laughs while The New Day threw a few zingers that popped the crowd as well. In order to teach Zayn a lesson in respect, McMahon booked him in a match against Kofi Kingston which took place after the commercial break.

·        Kofi Kingston defeated Sami Zayn with a cross body in a solid match. The bout featured a nice blend of mat wrestling and high flying action which complimented both men’s respective in-ring style.

·        Kingston didn’t get a chance to celebrate the win because Owens went on the attack until Big E and Xavier Woods made the save. Something tells me that The New Day, Owens, and Zayn have some unfinished business that will be resolved during the go-home show next week. Just a hunch.

·        The final spot on Team SD Live on the men’s side is still up for grabs as Randy Orton defeated Rusev with an RKO in a decent match. Rusev dominated the action for the most part, but The Viper hit his finisher out of nowhere for the win. It should be noted that the Bulgarian Brute had his fair share of fans as they cheered him on during the match.

·        In a Battle of the Sexes, Becky Lynch made James Ellsworth tap out to the Dis-Arm-Her in a serviceable match. You read that right, ladies and gentleman. I am usually not a fan of intergender matches, but this worked in terms of Lynch schooling Ellsworth in the ring. The in-ring action was clean and inoffensive for the most part.  WWE shouldn’t do this on a regular basis, but this was a fun way to make Ellsworth look like a fool in the best possible way.

·        After the match was over, Carmella nailed the Chinless One with a Superkick in a surprising moment that popped the crowd. I guess she overheard Ellsworth’s comments about women having no place in the ring. Famous last words…

·        Natalya’s hopes of representing Team Blue at Survivor Series as SmackDown Women’s Champion is in jeopardy because Shane McMahon booked her in a title match against Charlotte next week. One championship has already changed hands in the past 24 hours with Sheamus and Cesaro winning the Raw Tag Team Titles from Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins. Will there be another switch leading up to Brand Wars 2017? We shall find out soon enough.

·        The SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match featuring Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin vs. The Usos ended via count-out after Jey Uso failed to get back in the ring before the count of ten thanks to a nasty chop block from Chad Gable. The announcers reminded viewers that The Usos did the same thing to Gable last year which prevented American Alpha from competing in the Tag Team Title match at the Backlash PPV last year. Karma bit The Usos in the ass at the wrong time heading into the Survivor Series next Sunday.

·        Here’s hoping the copout finish was just for show because there have been unconfirmed reports that Jey Uso suffered a legit injury which caused the match to end abruptly.

·        In a shocker, AJ Styles defeated Jinder Mahal with the Phenomenal Forearm to become the NEW WWE Champion. This is not a typo or misprint. Styles has earned the right to face Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series in a Champion vs. Champion match that should be great if Lesnar wrestles longer than five minutes.

·        As for the match itself, this was Mahal’s best showing to date. Styles tend to bring out the best in his opponents and tonight was no exception. Mahal’s power was on full display as he asserted his dominance early on. Styles did a great job selling the impact of Mahal’s offense which gave the title bout an extra touch of physicality.

·        The Singh Brothers got involved down the stretch when they pulled Mahal out of the ring after Styles hit him with the 450 Splash. Styles neutralized Singh One and Singh Two and was about to nail Mahal with the Phenomenal Forearm until The Modern Day Maharaja caught him in midair and hit the Khallas for a near fall. Mahal tried to hit a Super Khallas from the top rope, but Styles countered by slamming Mahal’s face against the ropes which led to the aforementioned finish moments later.

·        The fans lost their shit as they witnessed the WWE Championship change hands outside of North America for the first time in history. Mahal went ballistic at ringside as he laid out The Singh Brothers while the fans continued to celebrate with Styles as SD Live went off the air.

·        This was a great way to end the show. Styles is a much better opponent for Lesnar at Survivor Series, but I am tempering expectations because The Beast has let me down in recent years when it comes to showing up big on PPV. With the exception of his matches against The Undertaker and Goldberg, his singles matches have been short and repetitive in nature over the past couple of years unless he’s involved in a multi-person match.  Styles is an elite performer who deserves better than eating a bunch of German Suplexes and an F5 in five minutes or less. Here’s hoping the booking team gives Lesnar and Styles some leeway when it comes to delivering an entertaining match despite the outcome being damn near academic.

·        However, nothing is set in stone until the go home show next week. Mahal could regain the WWE Title which puts him back in The Beast’s Lair. Here’s hoping the Powers That Be shows restraint and give the people what they want instead of reverting back to the status quo. Fingers crossed!

·        Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live was solid. The show was light on in-ring action, but the main event over-delivered in terms of shock and awe as AJ Styles became a two-time WWE Champion.

·        Next week’s go-home show is equally stacked as two more titles are up for grabs as Charlotte challenges Natalya for the SmackDown Women’s Championship while Sin Cara goes one-on-one against Baron Corbin for the United States Title. The entire complexion of Survivor Series might change once again which will add a whole new dimension to Brand Wars 2017.

·        Most importantly, will Raw lead an ambush on SD Live as a final parting shot heading into Survivor Series? The red brand has been made to look like a bunch of punks over the past couple of weeks and one can only assume that they want their pound of flesh with five days to spare before the PPV. Expect pandemonium as the show emanates from Charlotte, North Carolina next week.

On that note, this wraps up another edition of The SmackDown Files. I hope you enjoyed it and I will be back next week with a brand new installment of The Raw Exposé. See you later, boys and girls! 

The SmackDown Files: The Let Go My Uggo Edition (10-31-2017)

By: Keila Cash

Hello everyone and welcome to the Halloween Edition of The SmackDown Files. Tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live emanated from the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. Daniel Bryan found himself in the middle of Brand Wars 2017 as he tried to broker a peace deal with Kurt Angle last night on Raw. Angle didn’t bite as he gave Kane the ok to chokeslam Bryan straight to hell in the proverbial sense. How did Shane-O-Mac respond to Angle’s counterattack as the march towards Survivor Series continues? The answer to that question can be found throughout this blog. Without further ado, let’s dissect tonight’s show in no particular order.

·        Shane McMahon delivered an impassioned rah-rah speech about how SD Live was always viewed as the lesser brand in the WWE hierarchy. Despite going live and appointing Daniel Bryan as General Manager, the blue brand was still viewed as an inferior product. In order to change that perception, McMahon held a team meeting and formulated the perfect plan to invade Raw last week.

·        Kurt Angle retaliated by luring Daniel Bryan in a trap which resulted in Kane chokeslamming Bryan in Angle’s office while the lights were turned off. Shane vowed to make Raw pay by naming himself the team captain for the Men’s Traditional Interbrand 5-on-5 Survivor Series Elimination Match as the opening segment came to an end.

·        This was a fine way to start the show. Shane McMahon had the crowd in the palm of his hand during his promo. When the “Under Siege” hashtag gains traction amongst fans, WWE must be doing something right when it comes to the promotion of this year’s Survivor Series. I can’t knock the hustle when the company’s marketing strategy is clicking with the masses.

·        Bobby Roode defeated Dolph Ziggler with the Glorious DDT to secure a spot on Team SD Live at Survivor Series. The 2 out of 3 falls match between Roode and Ziggler was good. This was Roode’s best showing since his debut a couple of months ago. Ziggler stepped up his in-ring game which was nice to see as well. His gimmick still sucks, but I digress…

·        Sin Cara and Baron Corbin’s latest match ended via No Contest after Sin Cara tackled Corbin over the announce table and continued to kick his ass after the referee tried to restore order. Corbin disrespected Sin Cara when he attempted to rip his mask off several times during the match. One can only assume that both men will face off for the United States Championship next week as the show emanates from Manchester, England.

·        Speaking of Manchester, the city will also host a SmackDown Tag Team Championship match featuring The Usos vs. Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable. Gable’s rap had me cracking up once again. He is such a gem inside and outside the ring.

·        AJ Styles defeated Samir Singh with the Styles Clash, but the Phenomenal One didn’t get a chance to celebrate because Jinder Mahal attacked him from behind. Mahal and Sunil Singh put the boots to Styles as the fans showered them with boos.

·        Mahal slammed Styles back first against the ring post and added insult to injury by stretching Styles’ body like a Gumby humanoid.

·        Mahal finished him off with the Cobra Clutch Slam and delivered a second one for good measure as the segment came to an end.

·        Jinder Mahal’s promo on Brock Lesnar was pretty blah, but his attack on AJ Styles was very good. Mahal will get his comeuppance, but the WWE Champion should be perceived as a legit threat heading into his match against Lesnar at Survivor Series. I don’t believe Mahal has a snowball’s chance in hell of beating The Beast, but I give WWE credit for giving it the old college try nonetheless.

·        Rusev defeated Big E with a Superkick in a solid match. Aiden English provided the distraction down the stretch as he climbed on top of the announce table to serenade the crowd. Xavier Woods countered by playing a ditty on his trombone only for English to attack him from behind. Kofi Kingston made the save by chasing the balladeer in the ring.

·        Big E dropped English with the Big Ending, but the diversion allowed Rusev to pick up the tainted win moments later. The action was hard-hitting throughout, but it was hard to take the match seriously due to E’s Halloween costume and the antics taking place at ringside.

·        Shane McMahon booked Rusev vs. AJ Styles for next week with the winner earning the right to join Team SD Live at Survivor Series. Sounds good to me.

·        Stranger(er) Things was a total camp fest. Tye Dillinger saying that he was Ten instead of Eleven was clever, but rest of the spoof was pretty lame until Breezango and The Ascension got jumped in the dark. Was it The Bludgeon Brothers or another evil force lurking in the shadows? Hmm…

·        Shinsuke Nakamura is the fourth man to join Team SD Live at Survivor Series as he defeated Kevin Owens with the Kinshasa in a very good main event match. Owens and Nakamura woke up the Norfolk crowd and ended the night on a high note as they had maximized their minutes to the fullest.

·        The highlight of the match was Owens delivering a beautiful Swinging Fisherman Superplex to Nakamura from the top rope. It was a great spot that popped the crowd something fierce. Sami Zayn caused a little mischief down the stretch when KO ordered him to tear apart the announce table so they could finish off Nakamura.

·        Randy Orton threw a monkey wrench in their game plan when he dropped Zayn with a sick Belly-to-Back Suplex on the announce table which distracted Owens long enough for Nakamura to hit his finisher for the win.

·        SD Live went off the air with Nakamura celebrating in the ring while Owens cried out for his best friend who was taking a nap on the announce table.

·        This was a hot way to end the show. Nakamura and Owens delivered the goods in the ring while Orton ruined any chance at Owens being added to Team SD Live by screwing him over in epic fashion. I have a strange feeling that KO and Zayn are going to make Orton pay at Survivor Series which will leave Shane McMahon a sitting duck for Team Angle to maim and destroy at their own discretion. Shane rejecting their olive branch will come back to bite him in the ass in the worse possible way. You can take that prediction to the bank. Just make sure the check clears first. Just saying…

·        Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live was solid. The show was bookended by two strong matches as Dolph Ziggler and Bobby Roode blew off their feud with the Glorious One picking up the win to earn the third spot on Team SD Live while Shinsuke Nakamura secured slot #4 by defeating Kevin Owens thanks to an assist from Randy Orton. AJ Styles and Rusev will face off next week to determine who will round out the lineup at Survivor Series. The Men’s Traditional Interbrand 5-on-5 Elimination Match is shaping up to be a great one despite Brand Wars 2017 not being my cup of tea. If the in-ring action is top notch, I have no room to complain. For now…

On that note, this wraps up another edition of The SmackDown Files I hope you enjoyed it and I will be back next week with a brand new installment of The Raw Exposé. See you later, boys and girls!