Welcome to the Smackdown Review for May 1, 2018. For both this and Raw, I will go over what the big talking points were, pick the match of the night, and look ahead to the next show
Talking Points
No Apologies
AJ Styles was not in the mood for any apologies as he came to the ring. Talking about what Shinsuke Nakamura had done in the past few weeks. Styles laughed off the idea that he had done anything wrong. Samoa Joe came out to stake his claim for next challenger for the WWE Championship. Nakamura used the distraction to hit another low blow on Styles. If you want to see how good Nakamura is at being a heel, watch his facial expressions. The man does not have to give a promo for the rest of his heel life. With the announcement from Paige that Sunday’s contest will be no disqualification, one has to wonder where the two men are willing to go
A Small Joke
Big Cass sauntered to the ring. Claming that he is better than anyone in the audience or in the back, Cass challenged Daniel Bryan to their match right now. Bryan had not been cleared since the beating he took at the Greatest Royal Rumble, the crowed popped when his music started. Out came… a midget dressed as Bryan. Cass proceeded to rattle off some short jokes before his face turned mean and he destroyed the actor. Was it cheap heat? Maybe, but the crowd was hot, the proof being the chant they directed at Cass that I cannot repeat here.
Pancakes
The Bar and the New Day are fantastic characters and some of the best in the business. Witness their entire feud being about pancakes of all things. For these two teams, they make it seem as if it is something to fight about. Xavier Woods took on Sheamus and Woods took a hell of a beating. One spot where he snapped his neck against the rope made me wince at home. Too many distractions, and overconfidence, cost Sheamus the match. The New Day and the Bar could replace Usos and The New Day for the best set of matches in the new year.
Match of the Night
Becky Lynch, Charlotte and Askua vs Peyton Royce, Billie Kay and Carmella (Lynch, Charlotte and Askua win by submission)
I love Askua a lot more since she lost the streak. Her matches are so much more interesting, and you can’t tell what is going to happen. All that being said, there was about a zero percent chance Askua would lose two weeks in a row. One of the more interesting developments is how hard Becky Lynch is taking their loss. There is something happening there, but I can’t quite figure out what it is. Carmella better do everything in her power to make sure Peyton Royce and Billie Kay are in her corner on Sunday, or we might have a short title reign.
Conclusion
Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy beat Shelton Benjamin and the Miz, but Orton hit an RKO on Hardy to remind him they have a match on Sunday. Lana might be driving a wedge between Rusev and Aden English. Cien and Vega are still not here. Paige told Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville that Absolution is dead. Time to focus on Sunday.
