SmackDown Live LD, April 17th 2017 - ...In With the New

[FunKay]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJq9uqaR0aM

"By special request of Daniel Bryan, the Miz is coming to SmackDown Live?"

http://www.wwe.com/f/wysiwyg/image/2014/10/20141021_RawGOTN_v3.gif

So far, so-so. RAW drafted its selection of names in and its a middling affair. The biggest names are Bobby Roode and Jinder Mahal - who brought the United States Championship with him only to immediately lose it to Jeff Hardy - while the likes of Baron Corbin, Dolph Ziggler (with a debuting Drew McIntyre in tow), the Riott Squad and Natalya all made their way from Tuesday's to Monday's, thickening up the midcard (The Fashion Police, The Ascension, Mike Kanellis, Mojo Rawley, Zack Ryder and Chad Gable also made the jump). Oh, and Stephanie McMahon made her presence felt by rehiring Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens.

SmackDown Live now has its turn and with its midcard gutted, its in need of some rejuvenation, not to mention a midcard title. We know for a fact that Miz is coming over (per the special request of a certain Goat Faced Killah). Will the Intercontinental title follow its long term master via Seth Rollins? Or is Jeff Hardy perhaps going to bring the United States Championship back to the blue brand after only a night away? There's always the possiblity some big namers like Finn Balor or Braun Strowman can make the jump, not to mention the desperate need for fresh blood in the tag division and some fresh faces in the women's ranks. Lots of possibilities, lots of room for refreshment. Oh and maybe an NXT call up or two - El Idolo anyone?

Meanwhile, we know for a fact that SmackDown staples WWE Champion AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nacker-mura (nyuk, nyuk), Daniel Bryan, The Usos, Charlotte etc... all remain. With the major event over the last ten days (Nakamrua's turn to the dark sid, the debut of an Iconic Duo costing Charlotte her Women's Championship etc...) will we see some more events cemented for the SmackDown side of the two upcoming major shows - The Greatest Royal Rumble and Backlash? We'll just have to tune in to find out! Any predictions for the next round of the Shake-Up, put 'em down below and enjoy the show!

[klunderbunker]

"He's a con artist."

Good line.

[Skairipa]

Rusev vs AJ could be fun.

[smarkmouth]

Why do they insist on pretending Pancha and Kuzco are heels?

[BaconBits]

Why do they insist on pretending Pancha and Kuzco are heels?

Same reason they insist on pretending Roman is a face.

[klunderbunker]

Paige doesn't look homeless anymore.

[SD619]

Bryan is a permanent member of Smackdown, looks like Smackdown won the shake-up.

[BaconBits]

Paige doesn't look homeless anymore.

Business casual suits her well.

[Fire Marshall Bill]

Paige doesn't look homeless anymore.

Still canâ??t stand the bright red lipstick she overdoes. Looks terrible to me. Her old look was better.

[Lee]

This reminded me of Vince's "Stop dancing" to Teddy.

[Lee]

Eugh.

[smarkmouth]

Shelton's claiming his Twitter got hacked. He was a member of Team Angle, after all.

[Skairipa]

Well so much for my hope of Rollins to SD.

[BaconBits]

Jeff Hardy to Smackdown makes tons of sense. The US title stays on the show and SD gets some star power.

[Spidey]

Help! I've gone back 10 years into the past and Jeff Hardy is facing Shelton Benjamin.

[smarkmouth]

Jeff's red stretchers just tricked me into thinking Shelton blew up Jeff's ear.

[smarkmouth]

Help! I've gone back 10 years into the past and Jeff Hardy is facing Shelton Benjamin.

With a US Champ involved, no less.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DbBmRalU8AApZsM.jpg:small

[Lee]

This should have been a squash for Jeff.

[klunderbunker]

That was adorable. And you shouldn't look like that three weeks after having a baby.

[klunderbunker]

With a US Champ involved, no less.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DbBmRalU8AApZsM.jpg:small

I said it felt like it was ten years ago.

[Spidey]

Miz as a family man heel does things for my heart.

[smarkmouth]

Mizanin and Bryan could be a generational feud!

[BaconBits]

That was adorable. And you shouldn't look like that three weeks after having a baby.

Iâ??m sure the sunglasses were hiding some bags under her eyes. She ainâ??t sleeping much at this point.

[Spidey]

Have the Bludgeon Brothers bludgeoned anybody yet?

[BaconBits]

Naomi jogging down the ramp screaming was hilarious to me. It was so overly campy.

[klunderbunker]

Well that's a monkey wrench in the Reigns theory.

[smarkmouth]

Smackdown of Honor.

[Spidey]

Chrisley Knows Best looks like absolute garbage. I'm sure it's a hit.

[Skairipa]

YES! Joe is a nice one to move now he's the only big badass on SD rather than sharing a show with Roman, Brock, Corbin, Braun, etc.

[BaconBits]

I like this move. SD basically sent all heels to RAW, it’s only right that they get one back.

[Lee]

Chrisley Knows Best looks like absolute garbage. I'm sure it'll be a hit.

It has over 90 episodes. I thought the same last night.

[BaconBits]

Chrisley Knows Best looks like absolute garbage. I'm sure it'll be a hit.

I’ve watched it. Is mildly entertaining background noise while I play games on my phone.

[BaconBits]

Joe > Heyman.

[Spidey]

**EDIT*** nah forgot he was in IC match. Seems so weird seeing WWE give a guy so much material to talk about. Used to ppv promo, ppv, next ppv promo.

[klunderbunker]

It has over 90 episodes. I thought the same last night.

My mom, who loves low brow comedy, thinks it's hilarious.

[smarkmouth]

Joe teasing bringing the IC and Universal title to Smackdown. I so badly want them to pull the trigger.

[Skairipa]

Sanity is coming to SD too, that's a nice one.

And now Big Cass! SD is really being evened out this year.

[Spidey]

My word that SAnity clip.

[Spidey]

Sanity is coming to SD too, that's a nice one.

And now Big Cass! SD is really being evened out this year.

Are you happy, my dude?

[mooseman]

Asuka debut now?

[smarkmouth]

That SAnitY clip was great, but I hope that they're not renamed "Chaos".

[Lee]

Are you happy, my dude?

Better than last week with his non stop bitching.

[BaconBits]

Sanity is coming to SD too, that's a nice one.

And now Big Cass! SD is really being evened out this year.

I’m a Cass fan. I don’t think he works particularly well as a heel.

[Lee]

Bullet club last night, Bellabration tonight.

[klunderbunker]

White suits her quite well.

[smarkmouth]

That SAnitY clip was great, but I hope that they're not renamed "Chaos".

Although I just learned a reason that they might. The original meaning of "SAnitY" with it's capitalizations were for it's members. Sawyer Fulton, Alexander Wolfe, Eric Young, with the lower case t for Nikki Cross

Now Sawyer Fulton anymore, and who know's who's losing a first name.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

I'm gonna get crucified for this, but I think Carmella is much more interesting than Charlotte.

[Lee]

I'm gonna get crucified for this, but I think Carmella is much more interesting than Charlotte.

She's brilliant.

[Skairipa]

Are you happy, my dude?

Yes. Been a big SAnitY fan since their debut and I'm really looking forward to seeing how guys like Cass and Joe do on SD.

[BaconBits]

I'm gonna get crucified for this, but I think Carmella is much more interesting than Charlotte.

Charlotte hasn’t evolved at all.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Lol I love these two

[klunderbunker]

So......I wonder if Cena likes Nikki impersonators with an Australian accent.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Why didn't Becky save Charlotte last week?

[SD619]

If Dunn doesn't like Becky's accent, can't imagine him liking these two a lot...

[Spidey]

LayCool sound funny.

[BaconBits]

Shame they let Emma go. A three woman Aussie wrecking crew would have been amazing.

[Lee]

Why didn't Becky save Charlotte last week?

She's deaf so couldn't hear last week.

[Lee]

If Dunn doesn't like Becky's accent, can't imagine him liking these two a lot...

Her accent is awful.

[Skairipa]

Huh I thought we were getting a tag match with the IIconics and Charlotte/Becky.

[BaconBits]

She's deaf so couldn't hear last week.

Becky’s character is dumb as fuck.

[smarkmouth]

False alarm! They'll be SAnitY. The logo's there for a split second at the end.

[Spidey]

Jesus the fivehead on Peyton

gives Sasha a run for her money.

[Skairipa]

Really!? Bilie is ALREADY losing clean?

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Really!? Bilie is ALREADY losing clean?

No way she should go over Charlotte in her first match on SD.

[Skairipa]

Asuka is here too, SD women's division is gonna be stacked.

[Skairipa]

No way she should go over Charlotte in her first match on SD.

Then she shouldn't be facing Charlotte in her first match on SD. But really why couldn't Peyton save her from tapping out? Or have Billie steal the win? Charlotte has stronger booking than Roman at times.

[Lee]

That's how you prove there's some sort of women's revolution. Show how much it's improved without banging on about it.

[SD619]

Cool, a new tag team for Bludgeon brothers to squash...

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Then she shouldn't be facing Charlotte in her first match on SD. But really why couldn't Peyton save her from tapping out? Or have Billie steal the win? Charlotte has stronger booking than Roman at times.

Does Billie Kay really need to be protected?

Edit - I do agree Charlotte has been booked too strongly, but Vinces loves his blondes. See Alexa.

[BaconBits]

Then she shouldn't be facing Charlotte in her first match on SD. But really why couldn't Peyton save her from tapping out? Or have Billie steal the win? Charlotte has stronger booking than Roman at times.

At times? She’s worse than Triple H’s reign of terror. The entire women’s division on both brands, save for Ronda, has been made her bitch. It’s fucking gross.

[Spidey]

Y'all just don't recognize the best when you see it.

[klunderbunker]

Ink in Hardy and Wyatt winning the titles.

[Lee]

Y'all just don't recognize the best when you see it.

Exactly. She's improved tons and frankly it's needed. She just beat Asuka of course she'll beat new NXT person.

[Skairipa]

Bar and Usos having a series of matches would be nice, their one Survivor Series match was pretty good.

Well here's the newest jobber to SD to make up for all the ones they lost.

[Skairipa]

Y'all just don't recognize the best when you see it.

There's nothing wrong with her being the top dog of the division, but she wins way too often.

[Spidey]

HOT DAMN IT'S R TRUTH

[BaconBits]

Oblivious R-Truth will never not get a chuckle.

[Skairipa]

Wait, Nikki Cross isn't coming up?

Almas!

[klunderbunker]

Not a bad lineup of new Smackdown names. I'm pleased.

[Lee]

OK take out Benjamin and SD! has the best for sure.

[Skairipa]

Not a bad lineup of new Smackdown names. I'm pleased.

Oh yeah the rosters are nicely getting evened out finally. Seems like WWE realized Raw was way too stacked and SD was shit partly because of having very few names. Now if Road Dogg could just stop being on SD creative and we get a lot less Shane, SD is going to be great.

[DNA 2.0]

Is anyone worth watching left on RAW??

[DNA 2.0]

With that being said the SD line up looks amazing.

[Jack-Hammer]

Overall, it looks like the blue brand came out a head in the shakeup and the rosters seem more balanced out than I can remember.

[smarkmouth]

Might be Smackdown's best roster since the Smackdown Six. Let's see if Creative can keep up.

[Jack-Hammer]

Aiden English kind of looks like a shorter, really pasty version of Cesaro.

[Jack-Hammer]

Is Taker vs. Rusev back on?

[Spidey]

There's nothing wrong with her being the top dog of the division, but she wins way too often.

I don't buy that. Asuka went years without losing, even dropping a title without giving anyone the rub. She left NXT and Raw full of people that lost to her vying for championships she proved were beneath her. Charlotte has a 57% win percentage on IWD. There's no way Charlotte wins too often when the girl she beat left divisions in worse shape than they were before she came along.

[klunderbunker]

Is Taker vs. Rusev back on?

Announced yesterday. Allegedly it was changed because Rusev called Undertaker old in a quick promo. WWE canceled the match, THEN called Undertaker to ask if he was upset by the line. "Uh, no." The match was back on.

[Lee]

So I think Joe will win the IC with Jeff losing US in Saudi.

[Lee]

Announced yesterday. Allegedly it was changed because Rusev called Undertaker old in a quick promo. WWE canceled the match, THEN called Undertaker to ask if he was upset by the line. "Uh, no." The match was back on.

He didn't even call him old, TMZ ran with the headline. Even whats her face Mrs. Taker forgot her name said on Twitter that TMZ were stupid.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Is anyone worth watching left on RAW??

Well there's a certain Big Dog... and uhh... Maharaja?? Yeah Raw is gonna be a mess.

Edit - Don't forget Bacon's favorite wrestler

[smarkmouth]

I feel like they only told Road Dogg about the Shakeup half an hour into tonight's show.

[Skairipa]

I don't buy that. Asuka went years without losing, even dropping a title without giving anyone the rub. She left NXT and Raw full of people that lost to her vying for championships she proved were beneath her. Charlotte has a 57% win percentage on IWD. There's no way Charlotte wins too often when the girl she beat left divisions in worse shape than they were before she came along.

Personally I thought Ember should have ended Asuka's streak before she came up, so I get your point. But Asuka had very few booked to be on her level in NXT and on the main roster the only people she really beat that could have realistically made sense to beat her were Bayley, Sasha and Bliss. I don't include Nia because Nia lost to her 3 or 4 times in NXT.

Charlotte however is already what? A 5 time champion? And has beaten every single person she's faced on the main roster at least once including Asuka. And when Asuka came up against Charlotte not only did she lose but she basically kissed her ass after the match.

[smarkmouth]

Is anyone worth watching left on RAW??

I'm honestly very intrigued by Chad Gable as a singles star, but I also worry they'll just have him treading water until Jordan returns for an Alpha reunion.

[Skairipa]

He didn't even call him old, TMZ ran with the headline. Even whats her face Mrs. Taker forgot her name said on Twitter that TMZ were stupid.

Hey the Titus Mile Zone is not stupid.

[Spidey]

She recognized the best.

EDIT: Not to fuck with social politics when watching wrestling, but when a guy kicks everybody's ass and becomes a 5 time champion of something, it's usually not a negative. Why it is for Charlotte is something I don't follow.

[Jack-Hammer]

Man...Nakamura loves him some balls.

[klunderbunker]

I love Nakamura being all about the groin shots.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

EDIT: Not to fuck with social politics when watching wrestling, but when a guy kicks everybody's ass and becomes a 5 time champion of something, it's usually not a negative. Why it is for Charlotte is something I don't follow.

Everyone complains about Roman. Everyone complained about Cena. How is it different for Charlotte?

[Skairipa]

Aiden English kind of looks like a shorter, really pasty version of Cesaro.

The two of them have joked about it on twitter, there's some older picturess of Cesaro that really look like Aiden.

[klunderbunker]

She recognized the best.

EDIT: Not to fuck with social politics when watching wrestling, but when a guy kicks everybody's ass and becomes a 5 time champion of something, it's usually not a negative. Why it is for Charlotte is something I don't follow.
Wrestling fan logic: "WE WANT INSERT WRESTLER HERE!

Insert wrestler here is awesome and wins a lot.

Wrestling fans: ENOUGH ALREADY! WE WANT SOMETHING ELSE! THEY'RE NOT THAT GOOD!

[Jack-Hammer]

With the "no speak English" catchphrase and the nutshots, Nakamura's becoming a genuinely good heel.

[Spidey]

Everyone complains about Roman. Everyone complained about Cena. How is it different for Charlotte?

Because Charlotte simply hasn't won as much as was previously stated?

[Lee]

There are better heels that do nut shots.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Wrestling fan logic: "WE WANT INSERT WRESTLER HERE!

Insert wrestler here is awesome and wins a lot.

Wrestling fans: ENOUGH ALREADY! WE WANT SOMETHING ELSE! THEY'RE NOT THAT GOOD!

Those wrestling fans also wanted Bayley and Sasha.

And both of them were made to look like crap due to Charlotte's push.

How is this any different than Roman Reigns?

[Skairipa]

Wrestling fan logic: "WE WANT INSERT WRESTLER HERE!

Insert wrestler here is awesome and wins a lot.

Wrestling fans: ENOUGH ALREADY! WE WANT SOMETHING ELSE! THEY'RE NOT THAT GOOD!

When it gets to be super booking is when it's too much for some.

[BaconBits]

She recognized the best.

EDIT: Not to fuck with social politics when watching wrestling, but when a guy kicks everybody's ass and becomes a 5 time champion of something, it's usually not a negative. Why it is for Charlotte is something I don't follow.

Dominant guys typically donâ??t have wins over literally everyone else in the division.

[Lee]

She beat someone who's just been called up. It makes sense to do that. It doesn't make sense to have her tap but fuck people have to lose.

[Spidey]

Dominant guys typically don’t have wins over literally everyone else in the division.

...what?

[Lee]

The fact I need to explain booking to you:
- Charlotte beat someone on a 2 1/2 year streak (wouldn't it be good if you did that?)
- Iiconics debuted and kicked the shit out of her causing her to lose the title
- Charlotte wanted her title back so confronts Carmella
- Iiconics interupt and kick the shit out of her, again.
- Deaf girl saves
- Long match that pushes charlotte to the edge whilst the commentators point out how furious charlotte is and this has riled her up
- Aftermatch Charlotte is beaten again

But yeah Charlotte is getting pushed too much.

[Lee]

Genuine question Matrix, do you even like wrestling? You shit on it every week and fail to understand the basics.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

The fact I need to explain booking to you:
- Charlotte beat someone on a 2 1/2 year streak (wouldn't it be good if you did that?)
- Iiconics debuted and kicked the shit out of her causing her to lose the title
- Charlotte wanted her title back so confronts Carmella
- Iiconics interupt and kick the shit out of her, again.
- Deaf girl saves
- Long match that pushes charlotte to the edge whilst the commentators point out how furious charlotte is and this has riled her up
- Aftermatch Charlotte is beaten again

But yeah Charlotte is getting pushed too much.

You're talking about tonight and ignoring the last 2 years.

[Spidey]

Go look up Charlotte's win-loss record. Now go look at Bayley's. Come back to me with a straight face and tell me how Charlotte wins too often.

[Skairipa]

Genuine question Matrix, do you even like wrestling? You shit on it every week and fail to understand the basics.

I shit on it but I also praise what I like about it. Same as any other fan. I fully understand the basics.

Edit: I complained about one thing tonight, and praised basically everything else tonight. And I'm over critical?

[Lee]

You're talking about tonight and ignoring the last 2 years.

Yes because that's where the argument started that she shouldn't have won tonight.

Fucking hell.

[klunderbunker]

Smackdown
Date: April 17, 2018
Location: Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence, Rhode Island
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton

It’s the second half of the Superstar Shakeup and that means we’re likely to see some of the same people that we saw last night. The only confirmed move to Smackdown is the Miz, meaning we’re counting down the days until Miz vs. Daniel Bryan, which should be a major match on a big stage. Let’s get to it.

Click on the link below for the full review.

Load The Wrestling Shows With The Interesting Pieces (http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/04/17/smackdown-april-17-2018-load-the-wrestling-shows-with-the-interesting-pieces/)

[klunderbunker]

Those wrestling fans also wanted Bayley and Sasha.

And both of them were made to look like crap due to Charlotte's push.

How is this any different than Roman Reigns?

Charlotte has gotten the desired reaction more than twice.

[klunderbunker]

The fact I need to explain booking to you:
- Charlotte beat someone on a 2 1/2 year streak (wouldn't it be good if you did that?)
- Iiconics debuted and kicked the shit out of her causing her to lose the title
- Charlotte wanted her title back so confronts Carmella
- Iiconics interupt and kick the shit out of her, again.
- Deaf girl saves
- Long match that pushes charlotte to the edge whilst the commentators point out how furious charlotte is and this has riled her up
- Aftermatch Charlotte is beaten again

But yeah Charlotte is getting pushed too much.

I read the end of that first and thought "he's smarter than this." Thank you for proving me right.

[Spidey]

No seriously though when it comes to dominant guys not having wins over everyone in their division ...what?

[Lee]

"Is he going to be ok?"
"no"

[SSJPhenom]

You know the women's revolution is working when the most entertaining segment of either show this week was the women's segment on Smackdown which started with the "Mellabration". It was brilliant.