Amanda from the UK reviews WWE SmackDown that aired October 17th, 2025, a show that saw Cody Rhodes POTENTIALLY begin his heel turn.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, good afternoon, good evening. Hello, whatever time it
is with you and wherever you are. Thank you for
downloading this SmackDown review as part of the WWE podcast.
As always, it's absolute pleasure to have you listening along.
I am a Mandat, your host of this SmackDown review.
Before we get into SmackDown, let's have a real quick
look back on Crown Jewel and how predictions worked out.
(00:22):
So Cody versus Seth, So I predicted this wrong. I
went for a Cody win and what we got was
a Seth win. However, we did get the big turn
of the vision on Seth on Raw this week, and
apparently the term was brought forward because Seth got injured
in the match at Crown Jewel. Now, with it being Seth,
obviously there is an element that he might be lying again.
(00:45):
But if this is a real injury and not a
work then it really would seem to be calmer to me.
I mean, that's what you get for lying about being injured, right,
And rumor has it he will be relinquishing the title
and now with Punker's number one contender, I really hope
he finally gets his title run the match itself at
crown jewel was good. The move that led to the
(01:06):
alleged injury was a coast to coast alas Seane McMahon,
I guess, but face first, which was a weird choice
and something I have never seen them, never seen to
be done before. And it does look like he came
down on his shoulder. But as I said with Seth,
I think we need to take it with a pinch
(01:26):
of salt until we see him relinquish that title. Stephanie
versus Tiffy I called Stephanie winn and that's what we
got in what was an absolute barn stormer of a match.
Sena versus Styles. Sena win as predicted, and wow, guys,
what a match won for the ages AJ and Sena
(01:47):
both pulling out all kinds of finishers. Did you notice
one of those finishers that we got was the Walls
of Jericho, just saying seen as final match. When seeing
the did Sister Abigail and the fireflies in the crowd. Wow,
just one moment. It got a bit dusty in my
house at that point. I'm not sure about yours. We're
and EO versus the Kabooki Warriors. We had a win
(02:09):
for Rea and EO predicted, and that's what we got.
Following raw, it looks like that feud may continue, and
that's okay by me. A woman's storyline with no title
involved is what I see as a great evolution. Bronson
read versus Broke versus Roman. We had a win for Roman.
Predicted called that wrong. We got a bronze and win.
(02:33):
No returns to speak of, but a really good ply
I would say a B plus and the ESPN executives
must be letting out a massive few thank god for that.
Following on the crap that we got from Wrestl Palooser,
so well done, Crown, Jewel, Perth, good ply right, let's
(02:58):
get to it and you the SmackDown aired seventeenth of
October from San Jose. I have not been there, No,
do I know the way to San Jose? Also? No?
And on comes tonight. We've got a new voice that
I don't recognize. It's Vic Joseph and a returning Corey
Graves who is back from his assault by brock lesnar
But actually Kamella gave birth I saw on maybe Instagram
(03:22):
or Twitter or something this week, So that's cool and
many congratulations to them bringing a little Baby into the world,
and we get straight into a recap of Crown Jewel
and the Raw. After giving us a summary of the
whole turn of the Vision, we also get some playbacks
of how the events of how the Vision came about
(03:44):
around SummerSlam also happened. We start off the night with
Nick orders in the ring. He welcomes us to San
Jose and to SmackDown, and he tells us that the
fight between Fatu and McIntyre will now be a number
one contenders match, and I have to say I called
that last week, so yeah for me, and I think
(04:04):
that's brilliant. Nick brings out Cody to his usual massive pop,
and Cody comes to the ring and says this sad
here Crown Jewel Seth beat him for the Crowndule Championship.
He says that after the dance they have done in
the last few years, he thinks they don't really need
to be in the ring together again. But we all
know that's not how it works around here. He says,
(04:26):
you don't need twenty twenty Vision pun intended. I assume
to see that Seth has some issues with the Bronze
and the Oracle, and he says that Seth needs to
handle his business and he will handle SmackDown business. He says.
The business is being here tonight to watch a number
one contenders match. He asks, who will it be Drew
who gets absolutely massive booze as always, or will it
(04:50):
be Fatu who gets massive cheers as he is from
San Jose. Cody says he doesn't know who will win,
but he knows that he will be ready for whoever wins.
Quite short and sweet, a nice opening segment. Good to
have our quarterback as we as he is called now
out opening the show. Good to hear him address the
(05:11):
issues over on mow for Seth, but to keep them
separate from SmackDown, which I think is very good. And
this match between Dru and Fattou should be an absolute
slob knocker, as the Great Jr. Would say, I hadn't
realized that this was a home crowd for Fatou, so
that gives me more hope that we get a Fatoo win.
We then get Solo arriving with his MFTs and Solo
(05:35):
crashes Ray Phoenix's photo shoot backstage, tells him to get lost.
He says he's ready for his photos to be taken now.
Phoenix refuses to go, and the mft's basically make him.
There's a bit of a brawl and the rest backstage
pulled them apart. That was a bit weird and random.
I guess we're trying to make the point that Solo
(05:56):
is so big and bad now that he can throw
his weight around with anyone he likes backstage, and his
m f ts will just sort out anyone who disagrees
with him. Guys are going to be honest. I'm not
loving this angle, but I'm willing to give it a chance.
Do you think we get interferenced from the MFTs and
the Number one Contender match later? That would be a
way to get Solo some nuclear heat from the San
(06:17):
Jose crowd, Not that he needs it, he's deeply unpopular.
I do hope they're not a factor. I mean, for one,
do we need to see Drew Cody? Not really, that's
what we get if Solo is a factor, unless it's
a DQ and we get a fatal freeway anyway, getting
well ahead of myself now, but just the way these
(06:39):
two segments were back to back feels like it may
be a huge indication that we're getting some shenanigans later on,
but sometimes when Wue signpostings that strongly, that's not what's
going to happen. So first undern tonight, we've got a
women's tag match, and that's Flair and Bliss versus Soul
Rocket and Czaria. Blair still getting the rub from Bliss,
(07:02):
she gets some of the biggest cheers I have heard
for her from some time, and of course Bliss always
so over out to a massive pop. Corey tells us
that we should expect Flair and Bliss to be really
tested here, and we get a shot of Blake Monroe
in the crowd, who apparently is after Soul Lucker's title
over on NXT, so maybe she will be a factor here.
(07:24):
This one kicks off with Flair and Rooker quite well
matched in the middle of the ring and started a
lingly similar looking trading moves. Flair, though taking charge, taking
out Zaria at ringside for good measure. We get Bliss
tagged in. She's in now with Zaria and this is
a hell of a mismatch in size for sure. Zaria
(07:45):
is towering over Bliss. She hits a massive spine bluster,
which is not popular at all with the San has
a crowd and Zaria is on a charge, getting a
close cover on Bliss. Bliss manages to take out some
Rooker on the apron, but we've still got Zaria in control.
Some beautiful tag team moves from the NXT team and
(08:09):
Bliss looks to be deep in trouble here. Finally she
manages to get a much needed tag to Flare. She
comes in takes out both Salt and Zaria, following up
with the patented Flare chops to the obligatory woos from
the crowd and clearing the ring and getting back complete control.
Bliss counter Soul Rooker off the top rope into a
(08:32):
Boston Crab, which was awesome, and Soul hits the Soul Snatcher,
getting herself a super closed pin that was broken up
by Bliss. As expected in the beginning, Blake becomes a
distraction for Soul Record at ringside, allowing Flair to take
full advantage going for the knee, getting a figure four
locked in, manages to make it into a figure eight
(08:55):
and Salt Rooker taps out, making it a retention for
Flair and Bliss. This was a great match, with Flair
and Bliss doing exactly what they should do an excellent
job putting over the two NXT stars. I'm loving the
elevation that Flair and Biss are bringing to the tag titles.
Let's be honest, those tag titles needed a lift as
(09:18):
they were in the doldrums for a long old time.
Nice touch from the champs at the end, shaking the
hands with Rooker and Zaria, who themselves I think are
quite an interesting tag team. So we seem to have
soul Rooka as a face and Zaria seems to be
a heel and they're paired together, which I think is interesting,
(09:39):
not something we see a lot of. Next up, we
are backstage with Cody, who, by the way, still didn't
take his coat off. Maybe he was planning on staying long.
I don't get the impression that it is very cold
in San Jose, but who knows. Cody's met by Fatu,
who welcomes into San Jose with a load of stuff
that I didn't really care but sounded cool. He says,
(10:02):
when he's done with Drew tonight, he's going to show
Cody's all gassing, no breaks. They have a handshake and
go their separate ways, and I just really want Fattoo
to get the victory tonight. Next up, we are hearing
from Alistair Black and Zelena, and I'm super interested to
see where they go with them now. As I said
(10:23):
last week, bringing in Zelena as a manager type role
for Black could be a stroke of genius. We get
a moody looking vignette from Black, There's a snake, random
and he says that for months now he's been proud
of everything he's done. Everything has been calculated. He says
he's never felt more accomplished than with his wife by
(10:43):
his side. Zelena says it was calculated and by design.
He says, there is no one more brutal than his wife.
She says they're not in infection. They are the mirror
that shows it. He says, they are putting their cards
on the table. They are the necessary evil and the
verre and them isn't poison, it's salvation. Now, I don't
(11:04):
not like this. It's different. Well ish, I mean, we
just lost Carrying Cross and Scarlet, who were basically this
and I have no clue which couple came first, So
who is ripping off who? I don't know. It's all
a touch familiar, but still something different for as Alina
and a new angle for Black, so let's see how
it works out. No mention yet of priest or the
(11:27):
effects of the fireball, which in itself, the whole act
of the fireball was slightly weird and random. Not completely
sure where that came from. Perhaps that's going to be
Black's part of Black's new gimmick. Let's see. We get
a rerun of last week's return of Shinskaja in Sammy's
(11:47):
Open Challenge and the subsequent attack on Sammy of the
MFTs in all their Kiss tribute Bland band Glory Face
Paint going to get Mere's backstage, with Nick telling him
he wants it to be big, but what is he
talking about? I have no idea. We then get Sammy,
who is asking Nick why he isn't on the show
(12:09):
this week. Nick tells Sammy that he wanted to make
sure that Shinske got a proper rematch. Also, he says
that the NFTs need to be taken into consideration they're
already causing trouble tonight. He says that's not how it
works and he won't be bullied and hide backstage. He
says the title means something to him, means something to
the fans, and it means something to the whole locker room.
He says he's going out there for the Open Challenge,
(12:31):
and that's that. Nick, like the rest of us, looks
confused as to why miss is hanging around. He is
defo up to something. Heally could he be the challenger
for Sammy. Probably Sammy's Open challenges up next, so we
don't have to wait long to find out the plan,
and we get Missy's music. Of course, he comes out
with the mic and says to Sammy that he's so
(12:52):
sick of the Open Challenge. Before he can do any
more trash talk, Missus jumped from behind by Mellow, who
takes his turn to wreck Missus chance this time, which
I have to say I'm quite pleased about. So then
who is going to be facing Sammy? And we get
a returner. It's Iliah Dragonoff and he's been out for
an absolute age, com says, over a year with a
(13:15):
knee injury, and he is going to be Sammy's opponent
for tonight's US title shot. This should be a great
match and I have been completely blindsided. Didn't see that
coming at all. The crowd are charting welcome back, and
Ilia has a pretty big knee brace on. We start
with a handshake and then right into the action, both
guys facing off and a start that is pretty much
(13:38):
even stevens. Ilia making a great account of himself with
some awesome moves and getting himself a really close about
two point nine cover and is looking fab. Sammy then
gets a close cover of his own, and we get
another close cover for Ilia off a razor edge type
move that just about put Sammy through the actual map.
(14:00):
Ilia hits a superplex off the top and Sammy gets
boots up to stop Ilia getting the win with his
H Bomb. Sammy hits Blue Thunder and everyone thought it
was over, but Ilya Dragonov kicks out Sammy about to
Halluv kick to surely finish things off when Solo appears
(14:21):
at the top of the ramp but just walks away
off the distraction. We get Ilia hitting finally the h
Bomb and takes the title from Sammy. Yeah you heard
me takes the title from Sammy. Wow. What a match,
Illia dragonof take about what a return?
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Just wow.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
I didn't see that coming in a million years. I
assumed it was just going to be a really strong
return match for him, which it was, but he won,
which is awesome. I'm excited to see what WWE does
with him now. Sammy, of course will be fine. He
gives a handshake at the end, but before we get
(15:01):
the actual handshaken congratuations from Sammy, the MFTs hit the
ring and beat down on both guys. I mean, thank
god at least they didn't ruin the match, which was
absolutely phenomenal. We get Phoenix coming down to stick his
nose in to try and make the safe, but ends
up getting pummeled by the Kiss Tribute Band. And now
(15:21):
we've got Solo on the mic, who says, did you
all forget? He says, let me remind you. The MFTs
run SmackDown and they are going to get everything back
that they've lost, and he will make m FTS champions again.
At this point, the lights go down and we get
a video playing on the jumbatron and it's Uncle Howdy.
(15:42):
He says, seeking you shall find knock and the door
will be opened. He says, are you prepared for what's
on the other side? The video goes off and we
get the rest of the Wyat six appear on the
apron behind the MFTs and they face off as the
Wyats get in to the ring, the MFTs bailout and
(16:03):
my first thought is, Wow, it's kiss versus slip knot anyway,
love it. This is a rivalry I can get behind
and get on board with. It's about time something more
meat was done with the Why at six, so I
hope this program is the one. We get a teaser
for Raw, which I wouldn't normally mention on the SmackDown review,
but it says that the Bronze will speak on Monday,
(16:23):
so that should be good and hopefully we are going
to get seth relinquished in the title. Anyway, Back to SmackDown,
which is what we're all here for. Back to her show,
and I have to say it's pretty bloody good so far.
We have Tiffy backstage with Kaffe, who asks her how
she's going to move forward with her championship now. Tiffy
tells her that Stephanie is a great champion, but Tiffy
(16:46):
has been undefeated for a year, so one loss does
not define her. She says she's moving on, but she's
interrupted by Keana James, who tells her that that's all
very inspiring, but at the end of the day she lost.
She says that loss is the reason that she offered
offered her services to Stephanie, not her, as she only
(17:08):
represents premium talents like the US champion Julia. Tiffy says,
or is it because you can't? She says, those that
can do and those that can't represent youch Keana says
that she's well capable in the ring. Tiffy tails her
to prove it and face her next week. Kiana agrees
to the match, and that will be interesting, a different matchup,
(17:30):
So let's see what comes of that. I really appreciate
that we are seeing some new matchups on the women's sides.
As we've talked about before, we've looked at the roster,
the women's roster on the SmackDown side, it's very light.
So the fact that we are getting some new combinations
I'm just pleased about. So all power to their elbow
(17:51):
and let's see. Let's see how that works out next week.
It will be interesting Keiana and her handbag versus Tiffy.
We now go to the Motor City machine Guns. Be honest,
who'd completely forgotten about the Motor City machine guns? My
hands up, completely forgotten they were even on SmackDown. They
are celebrating their anniversary. They say it only took them
(18:14):
a couple of weeks when they made from when they
made their debut to in Tag Gold, and they should
celebrate their anniversary by winning the titles. Again, they're interrupted
by Lost Garzas, who are basically taking the mickey out
of the emotional moment. Oh and hey, literally seconds after
I recorded the last show, I heard that santans Escobar
(18:36):
has re signed with WWE, after me saying that I
thought he had left, so I'm a mug anyway, it
Scarza's taking the micky out of Motor City machine Guns
and telling them that since they arrived, they've gone from
a ferrari to be like lawn mowers, which is an
interesting reference, but still, you know, English not their first language,
I don't think anyway. They set up an anniversary match
(18:58):
between the two teams, saying that Lost Gazas were the
first people they beat in WWE, so they want this
to be an annual thing, and that match is up
right now. So this match kicks off and is predictably strong,
as these two teams are some of the best, Loss
Gazas starting off marginally stronger in the early stages, the
Scarsas with a close cover and a very much comedy
(19:22):
breakup from Saban taking out Angel and they both tumble
it into the cover, disrupting it. This one is pretty quick,
finishes off against the run of play to be honest,
as the Motor City Machine Guns double Team Loss Guards
lost Gazas sorry hit Skull and Bones finishing things off
for a win on their anniversary and it was short
(19:44):
and sweet. It was a good match, a bit random,
felt like a bit of a filler. Would I have
rather seen Tiffy versus Keana this week with a up
next rather than this? Now? I think was all right
with this one. This is fine. It's nice to see
the Most City machine Guns getting repushed a year into
their w W EASTNT and possibly a new bit of
(20:07):
umph behind the Tag division as. Then we go backstage
to Phraxium, who have been watching the match, and Nathan
Fraser says they have to do something. Maybe they have
to go and punch someone in the face. If you've
ever heard anything more British in your life, what should
we do? I don't know's go punch someone in the
face anyway? Axium says no, no, We'll just wait and
bide our time. Dy show up and say that since
(20:30):
they've been gone for a couple of months, and again
hands up at anyone noticed that Dy haven't been around.
Just terrible. It shows the spoils I guess the riches
of our Tag division on SmackDown anyway, Dory show up
and say that since they've been gone for two months,
nothing has changed. Street Profits have shown their absolute choke artists.
Well that's true. Why at six are running around like
(20:52):
every day is Halloween, which normally would be funny, but
it's literally two weeks to Halloween, so that's actually it's
their time of year, right and Lost Garzas are a
couple of jerks. Do I why say they want Axioms
masks for Halloween? Axioms says, if you want to see
what's behind the mask, meet me in the ring any time.
So a little bit clunky, but now we have got
(21:14):
the whole Tag division back facing one another in some
mini feuds again, which is cool as all the teams
in the division are exceptional. So them getting some time
in the spotlight it's fab for me and I think
good stuff. And we're about to get the main event
and we get Fatoo's music when the camera cuts to backstage.
We can hear some banging around and the trademark sounds
(21:38):
of WWE plays when it wants us to know someone's
getting beat down, and it's usually like pipes hitting the floor.
I don't know why they have so many pipes around backstage,
but this is a thing. Anyway. We hear the sounds
of someone getting beat down, and we see that Fatou
has been crushed by some like shelves and there is
a shitload of blood on the floor and what looks
(21:59):
like is teeth, which is actually pretty gruesome. So obviously
he's being attended to by Nick and the refs, the
officials and the medical and he's being sort of like
mopped up off the floor. And we get Drew's music
hitting and how he comes looking incredibly smug. Do we
think it was Drew? Are we meant to think that
(22:21):
or was it actually someone else? Cory on Comms is
telling us that surely the match can't go ahead and
that Nick Olders has a big decision to make here
Drew makes his smug way to the ring. I do
have a big problem with Drew. I don't like him.
I don't like his character anyway, Drew gets the mic
(22:41):
and he says, it seems Fatoo has gone all gas,
no brace. He tells the ref to raise his hand
of the new number one contender, which the ref thankfully
doesn't do. Nick comes out and says he doesn't know
what happened back there, but if he finds out Drew
had anything to do with what just happened, and you know,
(23:01):
potentially he's going to sign him or something. Drew cuts
him off before he can finish his sentence anyway, and
tells him he didn't do it. He's sick of jumping
through corporate hoos. He's known him for twenty years. He
knows what he's like. He says Nick should do the
right thing and make him number one contender right now.
Nick actually looks in his face like he is considering
(23:23):
Drew's request, and I was thinking, oh my god, he's
got like six minutes left on the time stamp on Netflix.
Can't possibly have that like that would just be so disappointing.
And thankfully, before Nick can open his mouth, Cody comes
flying out and says enough, he's really grumpy. He's properly
lost his rag. He says, these people don't want to
(23:45):
hear Drew talk they want to fight. Cody says, come
here and get your title match right now. They start
a brawl at ringside, and I was thinking, Okay, this
is just going to be like a pull up part brawl.
Cody's still got his coat on. And then the bell
rings and it seems we have a title match with
Cody in his suit and they're going at it in
(24:07):
the ring. Cody garaging Drew's eyes and biting the top
of Drew's head. This is just all so unexpected and
half of the blue and really really random. Drew drops
Cody with a future shot didd t and gets a
close cover on Cody. Cody hits Cody cutter and has
Drew outside the ring, but Drew stops him in his
(24:27):
tracks by pretty much just punching him in the face.
Cody wallops Drew with the belt, forcing a deky finished
but retaining obviously but clearly we're not finished. Drew goes
again for the eyes of Cody. Andrew goes to put
Cody through the announced desk, but Cody counters sets up
Drew for crossroads on the desk, but just as he's
(24:49):
about to hit it, we get security and the officials
come and break things up, and they continue to ball ringside. Well,
I mean, that was a very unexpected main event, and
as we go we have a stare down between Drew
and Cody. So questions who messed up Fatou? I'm getting
either Drew or possibly the MFT, and I think, and
(25:12):
I hope we get that answered next week. I hope
it doesn't go on and on like the Jade thing.
You know who did it? Obviously Fatu? Well, I say
obviously perhaps with missing teeth, you would assume that Fatou
is going to be off TV for quite some time,
but who knows. With Fatou, he's sold as a beast,
so maybe he'll be back. But I really hope we
(25:33):
get the answer. I got a feeling that it's Drew
did it or somebody did Drew's bidding, because I don't
think we're quite ready for Solo versus Fatu yet, although
maybe we are, so my money is on that Drew
did it, and then the next question, what's next. Clearly
(25:54):
there is major beef between Drew and Cody. I hadn't
realized that it was quite that bad. The way Cody
came out tonight was like Drew had you know, kicked
his dog or something, and he was absolutely raging. But
then where does Fatou fit in? Will we get a
triple threat for the title or are we going to
finish Drew and Cody off nicely before Fatuu is quote
(26:17):
unquote cleared and then have a one on one with
those two. Either way, this is brilliant stuff. Again, quite
new matches, quite new pairings. Cody was absolutely raging with
Drew and definitely crossed a few face heel lines. So
my other question is this the start of a Cody turn?
(26:38):
I don't think the crowd are ready for that yet,
but maybe this is a super super slow burn. Either way,
what a great show tonight, A solid A I would say,
minimal rematches, an unexpected expected title change, and a return
(26:58):
and furtherance of some significant storylines. All really really good
and I'm looking forward to RAW and next week's SmackDown.
We seem to have been you know, WW is very
much peaks and troughs. We've had a couple of months
probably of slightly crappy smackdowns definitely, and definitely some substandard
(27:20):
raws along the way as well. But following Crown Jewell
into this week's Raw and SmackDown. We definitely seem to
be going back up to a peak, so I am
very very happy. This is all brilliant stuff, no complaints
from me at all, So I'll be really interested Lee
(27:44):
watching Raw on Monday, Let's see what happens, and I'll
be listening as always to match review of Raw to
see what his feelings and thoughts are following whatever happens
this week. But all in all great stuff. I hope
you guys are enjoying it as much as me. Reach
(28:04):
out let me know what you think. I do listen
to all the other shows on ww podcast as well,
so I'm always listening to the mailbag, So if you
guys have got any anything you want to get over
there about this show about SmackDown, you know you can
always right into that as well. I'm always listening to
the Raw review. I'm looking forward to the NXT reviews
(28:27):
in the after Darks getting restarted again as well. So
an exciting week. That just about does it for this
week's show. As always, thank you so much for having
me in your ears again, and remember, guys, until next time,
be kind.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Thanks for listening to the WWE podcast. Don't forget to
subscribe on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss
a show, or head to wwepodcast dot com and for
all of these shows add free head over to Patreon
dot com slash WWE podcast. Until then, we'll see you
(29:02):
next time.
Good morning, good afternoon, good evening. Hello, whatever time it
is with you and wherever you are. Thank you for
downloading this SmackDown review as part of the WWE podcast.
As always, it's absolute pleasure to have you listening along.
I am a Mandat, your host of this SmackDown review.
Before we get into SmackDown, let's have a real quick
look back on Crown Jewel and how predictions worked out.
(00:22):
So Cody versus Seth, So I predicted this wrong. I
went for a Cody win and what we got was
a Seth win. However, we did get the big turn
of the vision on Seth on Raw this week, and
apparently the term was brought forward because Seth got injured
in the match at Crown Jewel. Now, with it being Seth,
obviously there is an element that he might be lying again.
(00:45):
But if this is a real injury and not a
work then it really would seem to be calmer to me.
I mean, that's what you get for lying about being injured, right,
And rumor has it he will be relinquishing the title
and now with Punker's number one contender, I really hope
he finally gets his title run the match itself at
crown jewel was good. The move that led to the
(01:06):
alleged injury was a coast to coast alas Seane McMahon,
I guess, but face first, which was a weird choice
and something I have never seen them, never seen to
be done before. And it does look like he came
down on his shoulder. But as I said with Seth,
I think we need to take it with a pinch
(01:26):
of salt until we see him relinquish that title. Stephanie
versus Tiffy I called Stephanie winn and that's what we
got in what was an absolute barn stormer of a match.
Sena versus Styles. Sena win as predicted, and wow, guys,
what a match won for the ages AJ and Sena
(01:47):
both pulling out all kinds of finishers. Did you notice
one of those finishers that we got was the Walls
of Jericho, just saying seen as final match. When seeing
the did Sister Abigail and the fireflies in the crowd. Wow,
just one moment. It got a bit dusty in my
house at that point. I'm not sure about yours. We're
and EO versus the Kabooki Warriors. We had a win
(02:09):
for Rea and EO predicted, and that's what we got.
Following raw, it looks like that feud may continue, and
that's okay by me. A woman's storyline with no title
involved is what I see as a great evolution. Bronson
read versus Broke versus Roman. We had a win for Roman.
Predicted called that wrong. We got a bronze and win.
(02:33):
No returns to speak of, but a really good ply
I would say a B plus and the ESPN executives
must be letting out a massive few thank god for that.
Following on the crap that we got from Wrestl Palooser,
so well done, Crown, Jewel, Perth, good ply right, let's
(02:58):
get to it and you the SmackDown aired seventeenth of
October from San Jose. I have not been there, No,
do I know the way to San Jose? Also? No?
And on comes tonight. We've got a new voice that
I don't recognize. It's Vic Joseph and a returning Corey
Graves who is back from his assault by brock lesnar
But actually Kamella gave birth I saw on maybe Instagram
(03:22):
or Twitter or something this week, So that's cool and
many congratulations to them bringing a little Baby into the world,
and we get straight into a recap of Crown Jewel
and the Raw. After giving us a summary of the
whole turn of the Vision, we also get some playbacks
of how the events of how the Vision came about
(03:44):
around SummerSlam also happened. We start off the night with
Nick orders in the ring. He welcomes us to San
Jose and to SmackDown, and he tells us that the
fight between Fatu and McIntyre will now be a number
one contenders match, and I have to say I called
that last week, so yeah for me, and I think
(04:04):
that's brilliant. Nick brings out Cody to his usual massive pop,
and Cody comes to the ring and says this sad
here Crown Jewel Seth beat him for the Crowndule Championship.
He says that after the dance they have done in
the last few years, he thinks they don't really need
to be in the ring together again. But we all
know that's not how it works around here. He says,
(04:26):
you don't need twenty twenty Vision pun intended. I assume
to see that Seth has some issues with the Bronze
and the Oracle, and he says that Seth needs to
handle his business and he will handle SmackDown business. He says.
The business is being here tonight to watch a number
one contenders match. He asks, who will it be Drew
who gets absolutely massive booze as always, or will it
(04:50):
be Fatu who gets massive cheers as he is from
San Jose. Cody says he doesn't know who will win,
but he knows that he will be ready for whoever wins.
Quite short and sweet, a nice opening segment. Good to
have our quarterback as we as he is called now
out opening the show. Good to hear him address the
(05:11):
issues over on mow for Seth, but to keep them
separate from SmackDown, which I think is very good. And
this match between Dru and Fattou should be an absolute
slob knocker, as the Great Jr. Would say, I hadn't
realized that this was a home crowd for Fatou, so
that gives me more hope that we get a Fatoo win.
We then get Solo arriving with his MFTs and Solo
(05:35):
crashes Ray Phoenix's photo shoot backstage, tells him to get lost.
He says he's ready for his photos to be taken now.
Phoenix refuses to go, and the mft's basically make him.
There's a bit of a brawl and the rest backstage
pulled them apart. That was a bit weird and random.
I guess we're trying to make the point that Solo
(05:56):
is so big and bad now that he can throw
his weight around with anyone he likes backstage, and his
m f ts will just sort out anyone who disagrees
with him. Guys are going to be honest. I'm not
loving this angle, but I'm willing to give it a chance.
Do you think we get interferenced from the MFTs and
the Number one Contender match later? That would be a
way to get Solo some nuclear heat from the San
(06:17):
Jose crowd, Not that he needs it, he's deeply unpopular.
I do hope they're not a factor. I mean, for one,
do we need to see Drew Cody? Not really, that's
what we get if Solo is a factor, unless it's
a DQ and we get a fatal freeway anyway, getting
well ahead of myself now, but just the way these
(06:39):
two segments were back to back feels like it may
be a huge indication that we're getting some shenanigans later on,
but sometimes when Wue signpostings that strongly, that's not what's
going to happen. So first undern tonight, we've got a
women's tag match, and that's Flair and Bliss versus Soul
Rocket and Czaria. Blair still getting the rub from Bliss,
(07:02):
she gets some of the biggest cheers I have heard
for her from some time, and of course Bliss always
so over out to a massive pop. Corey tells us
that we should expect Flair and Bliss to be really
tested here, and we get a shot of Blake Monroe
in the crowd, who apparently is after Soul Lucker's title
over on NXT, so maybe she will be a factor here.
(07:24):
This one kicks off with Flair and Rooker quite well
matched in the middle of the ring and started a
lingly similar looking trading moves. Flair, though taking charge, taking
out Zaria at ringside for good measure. We get Bliss
tagged in. She's in now with Zaria and this is
a hell of a mismatch in size for sure. Zaria
(07:45):
is towering over Bliss. She hits a massive spine bluster,
which is not popular at all with the San has
a crowd and Zaria is on a charge, getting a
close cover on Bliss. Bliss manages to take out some
Rooker on the apron, but we've still got Zaria in control.
Some beautiful tag team moves from the NXT team and
(08:09):
Bliss looks to be deep in trouble here. Finally she
manages to get a much needed tag to Flare. She
comes in takes out both Salt and Zaria, following up
with the patented Flare chops to the obligatory woos from
the crowd and clearing the ring and getting back complete control.
Bliss counter Soul Rooker off the top rope into a
(08:32):
Boston Crab, which was awesome, and Soul hits the Soul Snatcher,
getting herself a super closed pin that was broken up
by Bliss. As expected in the beginning, Blake becomes a
distraction for Soul Record at ringside, allowing Flair to take
full advantage going for the knee, getting a figure four
locked in, manages to make it into a figure eight
(08:55):
and Salt Rooker taps out, making it a retention for
Flair and Bliss. This was a great match, with Flair
and Bliss doing exactly what they should do an excellent
job putting over the two NXT stars. I'm loving the
elevation that Flair and Biss are bringing to the tag titles.
Let's be honest, those tag titles needed a lift as
(09:18):
they were in the doldrums for a long old time.
Nice touch from the champs at the end, shaking the
hands with Rooker and Zaria, who themselves I think are
quite an interesting tag team. So we seem to have
soul Rooka as a face and Zaria seems to be
a heel and they're paired together, which I think is interesting,
(09:39):
not something we see a lot of. Next up, we
are backstage with Cody, who, by the way, still didn't
take his coat off. Maybe he was planning on staying long.
I don't get the impression that it is very cold
in San Jose, but who knows. Cody's met by Fatu,
who welcomes into San Jose with a load of stuff
that I didn't really care but sounded cool. He says,
(10:02):
when he's done with Drew tonight, he's going to show
Cody's all gassing, no breaks. They have a handshake and
go their separate ways, and I just really want Fattoo
to get the victory tonight. Next up, we are hearing
from Alistair Black and Zelena, and I'm super interested to
see where they go with them now. As I said
(10:23):
last week, bringing in Zelena as a manager type role
for Black could be a stroke of genius. We get
a moody looking vignette from Black, There's a snake, random
and he says that for months now he's been proud
of everything he's done. Everything has been calculated. He says
he's never felt more accomplished than with his wife by
(10:43):
his side. Zelena says it was calculated and by design.
He says, there is no one more brutal than his wife.
She says they're not in infection. They are the mirror
that shows it. He says, they are putting their cards
on the table. They are the necessary evil and the
verre and them isn't poison, it's salvation. Now, I don't
(11:04):
not like this. It's different. Well ish, I mean, we
just lost Carrying Cross and Scarlet, who were basically this
and I have no clue which couple came first, So
who is ripping off who? I don't know. It's all
a touch familiar, but still something different for as Alina
and a new angle for Black, so let's see how
it works out. No mention yet of priest or the
(11:27):
effects of the fireball, which in itself, the whole act
of the fireball was slightly weird and random. Not completely
sure where that came from. Perhaps that's going to be
Black's part of Black's new gimmick. Let's see. We get
a rerun of last week's return of Shinskaja in Sammy's
(11:47):
Open Challenge and the subsequent attack on Sammy of the
MFTs in all their Kiss tribute Bland band Glory Face
Paint going to get Mere's backstage, with Nick telling him
he wants it to be big, but what is he
talking about? I have no idea. We then get Sammy,
who is asking Nick why he isn't on the show
(12:09):
this week. Nick tells Sammy that he wanted to make
sure that Shinske got a proper rematch. Also, he says
that the NFTs need to be taken into consideration they're
already causing trouble tonight. He says that's not how it
works and he won't be bullied and hide backstage. He
says the title means something to him, means something to
the fans, and it means something to the whole locker room.
He says he's going out there for the Open Challenge,
(12:31):
and that's that. Nick, like the rest of us, looks
confused as to why miss is hanging around. He is
defo up to something. Heally could he be the challenger
for Sammy. Probably Sammy's Open challenges up next, so we
don't have to wait long to find out the plan,
and we get Missy's music. Of course, he comes out
with the mic and says to Sammy that he's so
(12:52):
sick of the Open Challenge. Before he can do any
more trash talk, Missus jumped from behind by Mellow, who
takes his turn to wreck Missus chance this time, which
I have to say I'm quite pleased about. So then
who is going to be facing Sammy? And we get
a returner. It's Iliah Dragonoff and he's been out for
an absolute age, com says, over a year with a
(13:15):
knee injury, and he is going to be Sammy's opponent
for tonight's US title shot. This should be a great
match and I have been completely blindsided. Didn't see that
coming at all. The crowd are charting welcome back, and
Ilia has a pretty big knee brace on. We start
with a handshake and then right into the action, both
guys facing off and a start that is pretty much
(13:38):
even stevens. Ilia making a great account of himself with
some awesome moves and getting himself a really close about
two point nine cover and is looking fab. Sammy then
gets a close cover of his own, and we get
another close cover for Ilia off a razor edge type
move that just about put Sammy through the actual map.
(14:00):
Ilia hits a superplex off the top and Sammy gets
boots up to stop Ilia getting the win with his
H Bomb. Sammy hits Blue Thunder and everyone thought it
was over, but Ilya Dragonov kicks out Sammy about to
Halluv kick to surely finish things off when Solo appears
(14:21):
at the top of the ramp but just walks away
off the distraction. We get Ilia hitting finally the h
Bomb and takes the title from Sammy. Yeah you heard
me takes the title from Sammy. Wow. What a match,
Illia dragonof take about what a return?
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Just wow.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
I didn't see that coming in a million years. I
assumed it was just going to be a really strong
return match for him, which it was, but he won,
which is awesome. I'm excited to see what WWE does
with him now. Sammy, of course will be fine. He
gives a handshake at the end, but before we get
(15:01):
the actual handshaken congratuations from Sammy, the MFTs hit the
ring and beat down on both guys. I mean, thank
god at least they didn't ruin the match, which was
absolutely phenomenal. We get Phoenix coming down to stick his
nose in to try and make the safe, but ends
up getting pummeled by the Kiss Tribute Band. And now
(15:21):
we've got Solo on the mic, who says, did you
all forget? He says, let me remind you. The MFTs
run SmackDown and they are going to get everything back
that they've lost, and he will make m FTS champions again.
At this point, the lights go down and we get
a video playing on the jumbatron and it's Uncle Howdy.
(15:42):
He says, seeking you shall find knock and the door
will be opened. He says, are you prepared for what's
on the other side? The video goes off and we
get the rest of the Wyat six appear on the
apron behind the MFTs and they face off as the
Wyats get in to the ring, the MFTs bailout and
(16:03):
my first thought is, Wow, it's kiss versus slip knot anyway,
love it. This is a rivalry I can get behind
and get on board with. It's about time something more
meat was done with the Why at six, so I
hope this program is the one. We get a teaser
for Raw, which I wouldn't normally mention on the SmackDown review,
but it says that the Bronze will speak on Monday,
(16:23):
so that should be good and hopefully we are going
to get seth relinquished in the title. Anyway, Back to SmackDown,
which is what we're all here for. Back to her show,
and I have to say it's pretty bloody good so far.
We have Tiffy backstage with Kaffe, who asks her how
she's going to move forward with her championship now. Tiffy
tells her that Stephanie is a great champion, but Tiffy
(16:46):
has been undefeated for a year, so one loss does
not define her. She says she's moving on, but she's
interrupted by Keana James, who tells her that that's all
very inspiring, but at the end of the day she lost.
She says that loss is the reason that she offered
offered her services to Stephanie, not her, as she only
(17:08):
represents premium talents like the US champion Julia. Tiffy says,
or is it because you can't? She says, those that
can do and those that can't represent youch Keana says
that she's well capable in the ring. Tiffy tails her
to prove it and face her next week. Kiana agrees
to the match, and that will be interesting, a different matchup,
(17:30):
So let's see what comes of that. I really appreciate
that we are seeing some new matchups on the women's sides.
As we've talked about before, we've looked at the roster,
the women's roster on the SmackDown side, it's very light.
So the fact that we are getting some new combinations
I'm just pleased about. So all power to their elbow
(17:51):
and let's see. Let's see how that works out next week.
It will be interesting Keiana and her handbag versus Tiffy.
We now go to the Motor City machine Guns. Be honest,
who'd completely forgotten about the Motor City machine guns? My
hands up, completely forgotten they were even on SmackDown. They
are celebrating their anniversary. They say it only took them
(18:14):
a couple of weeks when they made from when they
made their debut to in Tag Gold, and they should
celebrate their anniversary by winning the titles. Again, they're interrupted
by Lost Garzas, who are basically taking the mickey out
of the emotional moment. Oh and hey, literally seconds after
I recorded the last show, I heard that santans Escobar
(18:36):
has re signed with WWE, after me saying that I
thought he had left, so I'm a mug anyway, it
Scarza's taking the micky out of Motor City machine Guns
and telling them that since they arrived, they've gone from
a ferrari to be like lawn mowers, which is an
interesting reference, but still, you know, English not their first language,
I don't think anyway. They set up an anniversary match
(18:58):
between the two teams, saying that Lost Gazas were the
first people they beat in WWE, so they want this
to be an annual thing, and that match is up
right now. So this match kicks off and is predictably strong,
as these two teams are some of the best, Loss
Gazas starting off marginally stronger in the early stages, the
Scarsas with a close cover and a very much comedy
(19:22):
breakup from Saban taking out Angel and they both tumble
it into the cover, disrupting it. This one is pretty quick,
finishes off against the run of play to be honest,
as the Motor City Machine Guns double Team Loss Guards
lost Gazas sorry hit Skull and Bones finishing things off
for a win on their anniversary and it was short
(19:44):
and sweet. It was a good match, a bit random,
felt like a bit of a filler. Would I have
rather seen Tiffy versus Keana this week with a up
next rather than this? Now? I think was all right
with this one. This is fine. It's nice to see
the Most City machine Guns getting repushed a year into
their w W EASTNT and possibly a new bit of
(20:07):
umph behind the Tag division as. Then we go backstage
to Phraxium, who have been watching the match, and Nathan
Fraser says they have to do something. Maybe they have
to go and punch someone in the face. If you've
ever heard anything more British in your life, what should
we do? I don't know's go punch someone in the
face anyway? Axium says no, no, We'll just wait and
bide our time. Dy show up and say that since
(20:30):
they've been gone for a couple of months, and again
hands up at anyone noticed that Dy haven't been around.
Just terrible. It shows the spoils I guess the riches
of our Tag division on SmackDown anyway, Dory show up
and say that since they've been gone for two months,
nothing has changed. Street Profits have shown their absolute choke artists.
Well that's true. Why at six are running around like
(20:52):
every day is Halloween, which normally would be funny, but
it's literally two weeks to Halloween, so that's actually it's
their time of year, right and Lost Garzas are a
couple of jerks. Do I why say they want Axioms
masks for Halloween? Axioms says, if you want to see
what's behind the mask, meet me in the ring any time.
So a little bit clunky, but now we have got
(21:14):
the whole Tag division back facing one another in some
mini feuds again, which is cool as all the teams
in the division are exceptional. So them getting some time
in the spotlight it's fab for me and I think
good stuff. And we're about to get the main event
and we get Fatoo's music when the camera cuts to backstage.
We can hear some banging around and the trademark sounds
(21:38):
of WWE plays when it wants us to know someone's
getting beat down, and it's usually like pipes hitting the floor.
I don't know why they have so many pipes around backstage,
but this is a thing. Anyway. We hear the sounds
of someone getting beat down, and we see that Fatou
has been crushed by some like shelves and there is
a shitload of blood on the floor and what looks
(21:59):
like is teeth, which is actually pretty gruesome. So obviously
he's being attended to by Nick and the refs, the
officials and the medical and he's being sort of like
mopped up off the floor. And we get Drew's music
hitting and how he comes looking incredibly smug. Do we
think it was Drew? Are we meant to think that
(22:21):
or was it actually someone else? Cory on Comms is
telling us that surely the match can't go ahead and
that Nick Olders has a big decision to make here
Drew makes his smug way to the ring. I do
have a big problem with Drew. I don't like him.
I don't like his character anyway, Drew gets the mic
(22:41):
and he says, it seems Fatoo has gone all gas,
no brace. He tells the ref to raise his hand
of the new number one contender, which the ref thankfully
doesn't do. Nick comes out and says he doesn't know
what happened back there, but if he finds out Drew
had anything to do with what just happened, and you know,
(23:01):
potentially he's going to sign him or something. Drew cuts
him off before he can finish his sentence anyway, and
tells him he didn't do it. He's sick of jumping
through corporate hoos. He's known him for twenty years. He
knows what he's like. He says Nick should do the
right thing and make him number one contender right now.
Nick actually looks in his face like he is considering
(23:23):
Drew's request, and I was thinking, oh my god, he's
got like six minutes left on the time stamp on Netflix.
Can't possibly have that like that would just be so disappointing.
And thankfully, before Nick can open his mouth, Cody comes
flying out and says enough, he's really grumpy. He's properly
lost his rag. He says, these people don't want to
(23:45):
hear Drew talk they want to fight. Cody says, come
here and get your title match right now. They start
a brawl at ringside, and I was thinking, Okay, this
is just going to be like a pull up part brawl.
Cody's still got his coat on. And then the bell
rings and it seems we have a title match with
Cody in his suit and they're going at it in
(24:07):
the ring. Cody garaging Drew's eyes and biting the top
of Drew's head. This is just all so unexpected and
half of the blue and really really random. Drew drops
Cody with a future shot didd t and gets a
close cover on Cody. Cody hits Cody cutter and has
Drew outside the ring, but Drew stops him in his
(24:27):
tracks by pretty much just punching him in the face.
Cody wallops Drew with the belt, forcing a deky finished
but retaining obviously but clearly we're not finished. Drew goes
again for the eyes of Cody. Andrew goes to put
Cody through the announced desk, but Cody counters sets up
Drew for crossroads on the desk, but just as he's
(24:49):
about to hit it, we get security and the officials
come and break things up, and they continue to ball ringside. Well,
I mean, that was a very unexpected main event, and
as we go we have a stare down between Drew
and Cody. So questions who messed up Fatou? I'm getting
either Drew or possibly the MFT, and I think, and
(25:12):
I hope we get that answered next week. I hope
it doesn't go on and on like the Jade thing.
You know who did it? Obviously Fatu? Well, I say
obviously perhaps with missing teeth, you would assume that Fatou
is going to be off TV for quite some time,
but who knows. With Fatou, he's sold as a beast,
so maybe he'll be back. But I really hope we
(25:33):
get the answer. I got a feeling that it's Drew
did it or somebody did Drew's bidding, because I don't
think we're quite ready for Solo versus Fatu yet, although
maybe we are, so my money is on that Drew
did it, and then the next question, what's next. Clearly
(25:54):
there is major beef between Drew and Cody. I hadn't
realized that it was quite that bad. The way Cody
came out tonight was like Drew had you know, kicked
his dog or something, and he was absolutely raging. But
then where does Fatou fit in? Will we get a
triple threat for the title or are we going to
finish Drew and Cody off nicely before Fatuu is quote
(26:17):
unquote cleared and then have a one on one with
those two. Either way, this is brilliant stuff. Again, quite
new matches, quite new pairings. Cody was absolutely raging with
Drew and definitely crossed a few face heel lines. So
my other question is this the start of a Cody turn?
(26:38):
I don't think the crowd are ready for that yet,
but maybe this is a super super slow burn. Either way,
what a great show tonight, A solid A I would say,
minimal rematches, an unexpected expected title change, and a return
(26:58):
and furtherance of some significant storylines. All really really good
and I'm looking forward to RAW and next week's SmackDown.
We seem to have been you know, WW is very
much peaks and troughs. We've had a couple of months
probably of slightly crappy smackdowns definitely, and definitely some substandard
(27:20):
raws along the way as well. But following Crown Jewell
into this week's Raw and SmackDown. We definitely seem to
be going back up to a peak, so I am
very very happy. This is all brilliant stuff, no complaints
from me at all, So I'll be really interested Lee
(27:44):
watching Raw on Monday, Let's see what happens, and I'll
be listening as always to match review of Raw to
see what his feelings and thoughts are following whatever happens
this week. But all in all great stuff. I hope
you guys are enjoying it as much as me. Reach
(28:04):
out let me know what you think. I do listen
to all the other shows on ww podcast as well,
so I'm always listening to the mailbag, So if you
guys have got any anything you want to get over
there about this show about SmackDown, you know you can
always right into that as well. I'm always listening to
the Raw review. I'm looking forward to the NXT reviews
(28:27):
in the after Darks getting restarted again as well. So
an exciting week. That just about does it for this
week's show. As always, thank you so much for having
me in your ears again, and remember, guys, until next time,
be kind.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Thanks for listening to the WWE podcast. Don't forget to
subscribe on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss
a show, or head to wwepodcast dot com and for
all of these shows add free head over to Patreon
dot com slash WWE podcast. Until then, we'll see you
(29:02):
next time.
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