SmackDown Live LD, April 23rd - Hips Don't Lie

[FunKay]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUT5rEU6pqM

https://media3.giphy.com/media/H3vjEpImyivtn1Kv2u/giphy.gif
Shakira, Kevin Owens, its all the same really, right?

Last week's SmackDown was.. it was alright. Highlights included Kevin Owens' hips, Paige bringing Asuka and Kairi Sane together as a tag team because of reasons* and Elias being SmackDown's biggest acquisition ever... until Roman Reigns showed up to punch Vince McMahon in the face. Speaking of which, that seems to be where we're leading off tonight - will Roman Reigns face repercussions for punching Vince McMahon in the face? What is this 2016? Seriously, please for the love of God don't do Roman versus the Authority yet again. It is redundant beyond words. Anyway there's that, and probably some build to Money in the Bank - who will Kofi's new challenger be for example? Tune in to find out!

*The reason is because they're both Japanese, and if wrestling has taught us anything its that Japanese people are super hard... until they're not

[#AbsoluteUnit]

Yes, makes sense 100%

[smarkmouth]

Odds on a guy in a mask and Violent Gentlemen sweater hitting Shane with a GTS?

[smarkmouth]

Ugh, we're gonna have to endure Shane vs Reigns.

[smarkmouth]

*Tosses mic aside*... does... does Smackdown know how to book Roman?!

[#AbsoluteUnit]

Does anyone know how to book Roman? Probably KB.

[smarkmouth]

Does anyone know how to book Roman? Probably KB.

I mean to say that I was impressed. It was awesome! Genuine Roman chants too, what a time to be alive.

[#AbsoluteUnit]

I mean to say that I was impressed. It was awesome! Genuine Roman chants too, what a time to be alive.

I got that. My response was sarcastic.

[smarkmouth]

Internet has no tone.

[smarkmouth]

Andrade is fast becoming one of my favourite people in all of wrestling.

[#AbsoluteUnit]

Andrade is better on SmackDown

[#AbsoluteUnit]

Great. These 3.

[klunderbunker]

Great. These 3.

Well they're both Japanese. What else can you do but put them together?

[BestSportsEntertainer]

The Iconics are 0-3 since winning the titles.

[#AbsoluteUnit]

Well they're both Japanese. What else can you do but put them together?

Nobody and nothing gets past you KB.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

What was the point of the Shakeup last week? Seriously Vince is trolling the fans at this point.

[#AbsoluteUnit]

Naomi's victory last night was better. Yes, I am bitter.

[smarkmouth]

This is a really good Smackdown.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Becky is destroying Charlotte

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Roman and Bayley have already been booked much better on Smackdown

[smarkmouth]

Ha! Becky can't get untangled from Charlotte's Web.

[#AbsoluteUnit]

I like this aggressive Bayley.

[#AbsoluteUnit]

Becky is destroying Charlotte

With ease.

[smarkmouth]

I like this aggressive Bayley.

Raw's writer confused Bayley's "nice and lovable" demeanor with "walk all over her". Whoever wrote Bayley these last two Smackdown's KNOWS who Bayley is.

[#AbsoluteUnit]

Raw's writer confused Bayley's "nice and lovable" demeanor with "walk all over her". Whoever wrote Bayley these last two Smackdown's KNOWS who Bayley is.

Sure! I just like seeing her in a different light.

[smarkmouth]

Oh, same sir.

[#AbsoluteUnit]

Graves: "What's left for Charlotte to accomplish?"

....The Women's tag-team championship? Anyone else with me?......anyone?

[smarkmouth]

Graves: "What's left for Charlotte to accomplish?"

....The Women's tag-team championship? Anyone else with me?......anyone?

Oh, if they signed Tessa Blanchard....

[#AbsoluteUnit]

Oh, if they signed Tessa Blanchard....

Don't give them ideas!!!!

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Can't say I want to see Becky vs Charlotte again.

[#AbsoluteUnit]

Ok that sucked

[#AbsoluteUnit]

Hey look! It's Smark!

[Fire Marshall Bill]

So I was a week early. Guess they figured it was too predictable last week.

[Fire Marshall Bill]

Shame. Wouldâ??ve liked a face KO. Just not so goofy.

[smarkmouth]

I spent about 10 seconds trying to justify Kevin missing Shinsuke with that superkick even though he was already well on the ground.

[klunderbunker]

Smackdown
Date: April 23, 2019
Location: Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, Nebraska
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton

We’re officially into the new era of Smackdown after last week’s brand split and believe it or not, Roman Reigns is the focal point of the show again. Last week saw Reigns attack Vince McMahon, which has started off rumors that he might be fired. In other words, it’s McMahon time again and that’s likely to be the case for the time being. Let’s get to it.

Click on the link below for the full review.

Maybe It Is Corbin (http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/04/23/smackdown-april-23-2019-maybe-it-is-corbin/)

[Jack-Hammer]

I agree that some of the booking decisions are questionable but, again, it's Vince calling the shots so just be happy most of what we got is coherent.

I really dig that they aren't just immediately shoving Roman Reigns back into main event territory. It's coming, make no mistake about that and maybe it'll be something that's actually tolerable this time around. As for a program with Elias, I couldn't care less. In all honesty, I'd be more into seeing him face off with Shane as Elias, to me, is a one trick pony who's one trick has long since ceased to be amusing.

I like Charlotte Flair but WWE is getting dangerously close to making Becky vs. Charlotte the next Cena vs. Orton in that it's the program of a million matches. That's probably how it'll be for their entire careers in WWE off and on, but I think it's time to lay off them for a while. Bayley would've been a perfectly fine opponent for Becky, yet you just have to sense that there's a very real possibility that Becky drops the blue strap back to Charlotte because Charlotte is the one Vince keeps going back to constantly. Becky also has Lacey Evans at MITB but Lacey most definitely isn't ready to be champion. I know Vince is enamored with attractive blonde women, but Lacey needs more time, seasoning and experience. Even if Becky manages to win both matches, it'll surprise me if she walks out of MITB with both titles as the women's MITB winner will be waiting in the wings.

Owens turning on Kofi was coming and it's probably best WWE got it out of the way as soon as possible. In NXT, they could easily have dragged this out for months and made it feel epic when Owens finally turned, they might've even had people convinced that Owens was on the up and up if enough time had passed but I don't have faith in Vince's long term attention span. Owens is a fine first title feud for Kofi and while it's possible he wins, I don't see it going down that way. After all the build up and emotional investment people have put into Kofi, I don't see him losing his first WWE Championship feud.

The Women's Tag Team Championship is pretty much a joke already. The IIconics are quite probably the two least talented women on the WWE roster; I mean, they're at the bottom of the barrel and it becomes more apparent every match they have, yet they're the female tag champions. WWE is probably going with a formula in which they lose very singles match or non-title tag team match but manage to retain their titles when they're on the line

[Fire Marshall Bill]

Not sure what the problem with Reigns/Elias/Shane. People got tired of Reignsâ??s continued push in the main event. Now heâ??s clearly down the card, but they canâ??t stop complaining. Typical. You can say his main event run is inevitable, and Iâ??d agree with you, but to complain that heâ??s right where he should be if thereâ??s ever a hope of him working as a face is dumb. Iâ??m hoping Reigns isnâ??t back near the main event until the end of the year at the soonest. With the Fox deal starting around then that would be my guess.

And Elias has almost never had a chance to do anything outside of his schtick. He almost did during a brief face run, but they stopped it abruptly. I say give the guy a chance. Shane is there to at least help the feud become interesting. It also leaves doubt whoâ??ll win the match, since Shane interfering seems a definite possibility.

Oh and I wish Bayley wouldâ??ve won. Charlotte doesnâ??t need the title right now. Iâ??m hoping Becky wins both matches. Iâ??m still betting she drops the Smackdown title right after beating Charlotte, assuming that happens. It splits them up and letâ??s Charlotte work with someone different.

[klunderbunker]

Not sure what the problem with Reigns/Elias/Shane. People got tired of Reigns’s continued push in the main event. Now he’s clearly down the card, but they can’t stop complaining. Typical. You can say his main event run is inevitable, and I’d agree with you, but to complain that he’s right where he should be if there’s ever a hope of him working as a face is dumb. I’m hoping Reigns isn’t back near the main event until the end of the year at the soonest. With the Fox deal starting around then that would be my guess.


Shane. The problem is Shane.