Smackdown Review 2021-12-21
Video package of last week events with Roman and Paul .
An unkept Paul Heyman is backstage with Kayla Braxton and having a sit-down interview, Kayla wants to give Paul a chance to tell what he happened. Paul explains that he only told the truth he explains that he was just trying to protect Roman as an intellectual property and as a champion.
He says Roman is the greatest Universal champion of all time BUT needs to be protected from Brock Lesnar, Kayla asks what next, Paul says he doesn’t know he can’t start again, and that he needs to acknowledge his career is probably over.
During this interview Paul genuinely looked as if he hadn’t slept, his beard was scruffy and not well shaved, he just looked like a wreck, Paul sold this whole interview like a dream.
We start off with the Smackdown Women’s title
Charlotte flair vs Toni storm
Smackdowns women’s championship match
We begin with a few lock ups in a row, Toni gets some uppercuts Charlotte reverses, Toni gets a nice running cross body for 1 and a basement dropkick for 1 before Charlotte goes to ringside.
Absolutely no crowd reaction so far.
Charlotte apprehensively gets back in the ring and Toni gets another cross body for 1, Charlotte gets a reversal and bounces Toni off the middle corner pad before chopping Toni and stamping on her when she dropped.
She gets Toni in a neck lock with her legs and bounces her head off the mat several times, she then puts her shoulders to the mat for a 1 count before purposely pulling her shoulders up while saying “no”,
Toni gets a bridge for a 1 count on Charlotte before she throws Toni with her legs and kips up, Charlotte disrespectfully kicks Toni on the ground before Toni gets a roll up and a headbutt, Charlotte gets a reversal big boot driving her out the ring.
When we come back Charlotte has control throwing Toni to the mat again pushing her around once she’s down on the mat disrespectfully, Charlotte then hits a clothesline for 2, Toni gets a snap suplex reversal and follows up with a corner rearview, Charlotte again reverses and hits Toni on the corner before Toni hits a German suplex and bridge pin for 2, Charlotte reverses a running corner move with a backbreaker then driving Toni onto the middle corner pad.
She then Drags Toni to the centre of the ring and steps on her as she goes up for the Moonsault and gets two, 2 counts in a row, she gets Toni up for a couple of chops in the centre of the ring, she kicks Toni in the gut dropping her to her knees before going for the natural selection but Toni blocks and counters with a German suplex.
Charlotte reverses a backbreaker into a figure 8 leg lock. Toni forces the rope break.
Charlotte hits another big boot, Toni rolls to the apron and gets another boot to the face dropping her to ringside, Toni gets a reversal pushing Charlotte into the ring post and carries on attacking at ringside and throws her back in the ring, she follows her in and Charlotte reverses a backbreaker into a roll up but Charlotte is holding the ropes, ref sees her holding the ropes and breaks the count.
There is a series of roll up reversals from both women before Charlotte succeeds with one and gets the 3 counts
Winner: Charlotte flair
There was some good in-ring wrestling in parts, but this match took a while to get going and Charlotte dominating slows any match down.
Once there was some Toni offence and it became slightly more even in the match it was good, up until the point where charlotte wins with a roll up, again another case of why not just let her hit a finisher and win.
This match made a bit of a mockery of Toni, getting disrespected throughout the match, then losing by roll up, I was sort of waiting for the Babyface comeback/ flurry of offence, but it never really happened.
We know from NXT How great she can be, if she just repeatedly loses to Charlotte and doesn’t win the title at any point it could be quite damaging to her career and take a big redemption arc to get it back.
There was almost no crowd reaction throughout this match, poorly done so although it was a good match, it was poorly done. Not really sure what they’re trying to do with Toni.
We’ve since found out that this is a non-issue, as we’ve heard Toni has left the company.
We have a video recap of last week’s Happy talk antics…. Sigh
We go backstage and The New day are discussing the antics before Drew McIntyre joins them and “The Drew day” hit a promo on the USOs and madcap moss with some weird laughing antics.
Can’t say it didn’t make me smile. But was a bit strange, some light-hearted comedy relief.
Next up
12 days of Christmas Gauntlet match
For
An Intercontinental Championship Match
Angel Garza vs Mansoor
A lock up in the ring. Mansoor gets a reversal followed by a dropkick, Angel gets a reversal and pulls Mansoor’s legs out from the top rope dropping Mansoor then hitting him with a dropkick to the face while Mansoor is down. Mansoor gets up to hit a step up enziguri and goes to the top rope, he goes for a move off the top rope, Angel hits a superkick to Mansoor who is in mid-air before hitting the wing clipper for the 3 count
Winner: Angel Garza
Gauntlet Match #2:
Angel Garza vs. Erik
It’s Erik of the Viking Raiders. Angel met him with a kick while on the floor. Angel went to the middle turnbuckle and went for a moonsault, Erik caught him and hit a body slam on the ringside.
Erik was in control using his power with a knee to the face followed by a German Suplex for two and a pin fall for 2,
Angel avoided a charge by Erik, he sent Erik to the mat and Angel hit the Wing Clipper for the pinfall win.
Winner: Angel
Gauntlet Match #3:
Angel vs. Shanky
Angel attempted to start quick with a dropkick, but Shanky came back with a clothesline then a chop to the chest along with a hip toss across the ring. Shanky with a slam off the shoulders that looked similar to the wasteland that Wade Barrett used to use, Shanky pinned Angel for the 3 count.
Winner: Shanky
Gauntlet Match #4:
Shanky vs. Ivar
Ivar charged with a shoulder tackle, but Shanky came back with a clothesline. Ivar with corner clotheslines and a running splash against the turnbuckle. Ivar went up top and hit a Viking Splash on Shanky for the pinfall win.
Winner: Ivar
Sheamus made his entrance as the next man in the match.
Gauntlet Match #5:
Ivar vs. Sheamus
Sheamus took it to Ivar with punches, but Ivar came back with punches to knock Sheamus over the top to ringside.
Back from the break and we have a neck breaker for 1 count, Sheamus was in control with a chin lock. Ivar broke free with two shoulder tackles, Sheamus got a boot to the face and Ivar hit a sidewalk slam followed by a running cross-body block on a seated Sheamus. Ivar did the “Raid” chant with the crowd and wanted a slam, but Sheamus countered with an elbow and Ivar sat on Sheamus while near the turnbuckle. Ivar went up top but Sheamus with punches, then Ivar fought back, Sheamus missed a clothesline with Ivar ducking, but then Sheamus with a Brogue Kick on the return for the pinfall win.
Winner: Sheamus
Gauntlet Match #6:
Sheamus vs. Drew Gulak
As soon as Gulak got into the ring, Sheamus hit him with a Brogue Kick and pinned him. Oh Drew….
Winner: Sheamus
Gauntlet Match #7:
Sheamus vs. Cesaro
Cesaro had his ribs taped up because of attacks from Sheamus and Ridge Holland in the previous weeks.
Sheamus didn’t wait around and attacked Cesaro they brawled in the aisle a bit, then into the ring and Cesaro hit a cross body block off the top. He goes for the swing, but Sheamus gets a reversal with kicks before hitting a rolling Senton, Sheamus hit a belly to back suplex on Cesaro. Sheamus with forearms to the back where Cesaros bandages are. Cesaro tried to get back into it with a boot to the face followed by a missile dropkick off the middle ropes. Cesaro applied the Cesaro Swing to Sheamus then with a running uppercut and a discus clothesline. Cesaro went for the neutraliser, but Ridge Holland was on the apron to distract, Sheamus with a kick to the ribs of Cesaro and followed up with a Brogue Kick for the pinfall win.
Winner: Sheamus
Gauntlet Match #8
Sheamus vs Ricochet
Ricochet was next with Sheamus greeting him with punches, but then Ricochet hit a cross body block over the top to the floor. Ricochet followed up with a springboard moonsault off the top rope onto a standing Sheamus.
The match came back from break with Ricochet charging right into Sheamus, who caught him with a backbreaker. Sheamus with a chin lock leading into a powerslam for two. Sheamus hit the 10 beats of the bell, Sheamus went up top, he jumped off looking for a clothesline, but Ricochet turned it around with a DDT for two. Ricochet sent Sheamus into the middle turnbuckle followed by a springboard crossbody block. Ricochet went for a springboard moonsault, but Sheamus got the knees up to block and got an inside cradle for two. Ricochet sent Sheamus’ throat into the top rope, then hit a jumping kick followed by a springboard splash, knees up by Sheamus and a roll up for 2, Sheamus went for 10 beats again, Rico with a reversal before getting a kick from the apron and a springboard clothesline from the apron, Ricochet hit a standing moonsault for a two coun