SMACKDOWN SEASON PREMIERE ON USA

Friday Night Smackdown opens up with a new logo, new set, and a kick off from the man behind the new era, Paul “Triple H” Levesque. It doesn’t take more than just three simple words to get this epic Season Premiere on USA Network started.  "Are you ready?"

 

The show opens with an absolutely amazing Steel Cage Match. In fact, this was one of the best and hardest hitting cage matches I’ve seen in recent memory. At times I was legitimately worried about the health of both Cody and Solo Sikoa. Go back and watch this one if you haven’t, but it took Cody multiple Cross Rhodes and a cross body off the top of the cage to win this one. 

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Post-match the new Bloodline attacks Rhodes as expected, but to the surprise of the sold out crowd in Seattle, Roman Reigns inadvertently comes to the aid of Cody to get some revenge of his own. Fun standoff between Fatu and Roman here, which could be a money match. Nice little teaser from WWE.  Regardless, we are left with Roman and Cody standing side by side in the ring. Amazing facials and feelings of conflict from Reigns.

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The next match featured Piper Niven w/ Chelsea Green taking on Michin in a squash match. Michin’s focus on Green allowed Niven to steamroll Michin, despite being busted open early. Michin hit a big top rope move on Piper, who eats the feet and takes the loss. I’m surprised how weak this made Niven look, but she and Green got some revenge with an Unpretty Her onto a trashcan by Green.  

 

Up next, A-Town Down Under take on Kevin Owens and a surprise tag team partner. That partner is indeed the 14 Time World Champion, Randy Orton. This was a really fun match with KO and RKO playing all the hits including stereo Orton DDTs off the ropes and a simultaneous Stunner and RKO finish by the babyfaces. This was a lot of fun, and you can tell that Team RKO are having a lot of fun in there as well.

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The recurring thread through the show seems to be GM Nick Aldis trying to sign off a match between Solo and Fatu against Roman and Cody. In an interesting backstage segment Cody however declines the match, stating that The Bloodline is Roman’s business now and that’s between them. I absolutely love this decision by Cody because it makes perfect sense at this exact point in time. Great storytelling here.  

 

After the backstage segment, we see a fun segment between Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, Bayley, and Naomi. Bayley and Naomi both challenge Nia to a match for the WWE Women’s Championship, but Nia proposes a tag match for next week, with a stipulation being whoever wins the match gets a shot at Nia at Bad Blood. However whoever gets pinned between Bayley and Naomi has to leave SmackDown. 

 

Match number 5 between Carmelo Hayes and Andrade takes place tonight as well. These two went all out yet again. Double moonsaults, multiple reversals and more. Great match. Post-match, LA Knight comes to the stage and announces Andrade will be the next contender for The United States Championship. 

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The final segment of the night sees Roman Reigns in the ring paying absolutely no mind to Nick Aldis’ orders of business. Roman speaks and reminds the WWE Universe that HE is the Original and ONLY tribal chief. This is his show, and this is HIS WWE. 

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Cody Rhodes responds to Roman despite his earlier statement of not wanting to be involved. Cody takes exception to Roman’s proclamation that it is his WWE by stating, “IT WAS.” Strong words from Rhodes who shares a glare with his greatest opponent until Solo and Fatu interrupt. During their entrance a blindside attack by the rest of the new bloodline ensues, but they are handled easily by Cody and Roman. Roman signs the contract presented by Aldis but does not hand it to Rhodes. Rhodes slowly approaches Roman, grabs the contract and signs it. What a moment. Again, incredible facials on the face of Roman showing possible disdain and conflict.

 

Simply put, a stellar episode of SmackDown tonight full of cameos, hard hitting action, and major storytelling moments. Moving forward expectations are high.