SmackDown Live - 10/23/18 - Styles & Bryan v. The Usos DAY TWO ISH

[Anybody Thrilla]

Kinda excited to be watching live for the first time in a while. Last night was an emotional roller coaster. Hopefully this show is similar without and completely awful news. Also, hoping for some Almas and Vega action tonight.

[ClockShot]

:lol:

Nice thread title, Thrilla.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I'm here for ya.

[rez]

new day..

gonna check in after this last ep of hill house

[Anybody Thrilla]

I think I might honestly like the Big Show as the enforcer for The Bar. As long as he doesn't wrestle too often.

[Savio]

I think I might honestly like the Big Show as the enforcer for The Bar. As long as he doesn't wrestle too often.

That's all it took? I thought nothing could get you to care about him.

[ClockShot]

Did that guy with the "We Want Women's Tag Champions" sign make the drive from Providence?

Could've swore I saw that same sign last night in that same spot.

[KIRA]

I'm glad new day openly acknowledges Big Show's random and numerous heel turns

[Savio]

Byron is an idiot

[Anybody Thrilla]

That's all it took? I thought nothing could get you to care about him.

So the fuck what?

[Savio]

^touchy

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[Anybody Thrilla]

Why? Because I said fuck? I'm in a great mood. Lost in text again.

[Emperor Smeat]

Well that was a waste of time. Wonder how long before WWE gets tired of pushing Big Show as a monster again.

[ClockShot]

Big Show, Cesaro, Sheamus.

I'm down with this.

They'll fill that void the Bludgeon Bros. left for a little while.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Anyway, Big Show is fine in an enforcer role. I've never liked when he's just been feuding with one person alone, though.

[ClockShot]

Huh.

I'd figure the tag rematch would be the main event.

[Savio]

Wonder if Cesaro will ever lose that tape.

[GD]

So Big Show is a part of The Bar now? Interesting.

[ClockShot]

WANT...……..RED...……..DEAD...…………...2.

Now I finally see television marketing.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Huh.

I'd figure the tag rematch would be the main event.

It'll probably be something to do with Evolution, I'm thinking.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Are they really doing another Usos vs. Styles/Bryan tag? I love how they send SmackDown live and then do a roster split so they can get ratings up, but then just run a repeat anyway.

I partially kid -- I'm sure the match will be good, will evolve from last week's and lead to Styles knocking down Bryan this time for manufactured drama. But this is not a new thing. It's just one of those tropes the company has.

[ClockShot]

Are they really doing another Usos vs. Styles/Bryan tag? I love how they send SmackDown live and then do a roster split so they can get ratings up, but then just run a repeat anyway.

I partially kid -- I'm sure the match will be good, will evolve from last week's and lead to Styles knocking down Bryan this time for manufactured drama. But this is not a new thing. It's just one of those tropes the company has.

Yeah. They are.

Keep in mind Road Dogg is calling the shots these days. It hasn't been the same for quite some time since it went live. With, maybe, last week being an exception.

[KIRA]

Did they really need to add mood music to Roman's announcement it's already super sad they should just let it stand on its own as a very somber moment.

[Emperor Smeat]

According to PWTorch, that speech by Reigns last night wasn't prepared or known ahead of time by almost everyone backstage and in Creative. Pretty much only a few people at most knew what was happening and kept everyone else in the dark to the point Reigns was meant to give a different promo instead.

[Anybody Thrilla]

According to PWTorch, that speech by Reigns last night wasn't prepared or known ahead of time by almost everyone backstage and in Creative. Pretty much only a few people at most knew what was happening and kept everyone else in the dark to the point Reigns was meant to give a different promo instead.

That's what I figured. The announcers were just bigging up the feud with Braun and Lesnar when he was walking to the ring. Clearly Graves had no idea what was coming.

[Emperor Smeat]

Knowing what happened last night, last thing either Uso needs is to win a match in honor of Reigns.

Guess on the bright side, if the Usos do split up, it would become a lot easier to tell them apart.

[KIRA]

Being next to AJ Styles makes me realize how pasty Daniel is

[Anybody Thrilla]

AJ is so damn smooth.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Nice, Usos 2-0 against two "top guys".

[ClockShot]

No surprise there.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I wonder if that'll make the Usos number one contenders, even though they've already had multiple matches with both The Bar and The New Day.

[Anybody Thrilla]

And where the fuck is sANiTy?

[Emperor Smeat]

Bryan has been losing a lot ever since he unretired. Like his biggest win since coming back was that quick fluke over The Miz to be #1 contender.

[GD]

I don't know how I feel about the WWE Championship program losing 2 weeks in a row.

[GD]

Bryan has been losing a lot ever since he unretired. Like his biggest win since coming back was that quick fluke over The Miz to be #1 contender.

That is true. It is definitely not helping him.

[Savio]

Not gonna give their own Womens main a vid package?

[GD]

I've had enough of this PPV track.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Has a backstage interviewer ever asked anyone a good question?

[KIRA]

What is the WWE not realize how laughable the notion of Nikki Bella being remotely a threat to Rousey is?

█████

[Anybody Thrilla]

I don't know how I feel about the WWE Championship program losing 2 weeks in a row.

In tag matches. Against one of the best teams in history. No problem there.

[Savio]

poor segment.

[ClockShot]

Where's Becky to make this better?

[KIRA]

It's amazing that two guys I absolutely love can have this terrible terrible Force drama between them and make me absolutely hate the fact that they have a program together

[slik]

So little talk about Evolution

[KIRA]

I need Samoa Joe or Becky to get this bad taste out of my mouth that was horrible that was just f****** horrible

[ClockShot]

There we go.

[Anybody Thrilla]

The Mae Young Classic competitors, also asking dumb questions.

[KIRA]

I leaned on my dad's reputation

[Emperor Smeat]

Ah yes the weekly "Road Dogg is a dumbass" portion of Smackdown since they still are that stubborn with their handling of Becky and Charlotte for this feud. Them trying to shoehorn Becky as the heel still isn't working.

[ClockShot]

And all those rookies are all wearing the same thing. It's like they're being brainwashed or something.

[KIRA]

She should have said in NXT you actually get to wrestle

[ClockShot]

Last Woman Standing match is not going to settle this.

Should have been a cage match.

[Emperor Smeat]

Some quality career advice by Becky.

[slik]

Becky <3

[slik]

#BooTheWoo

[GD]

SALUTE!

[erickman]

so where was chel green everyone else was there

[Emperor Smeat]

That was some half-assed acting by Charlotte. Couldn't even bother to shed some tears.

[Savio]

Hope Bayley gets pinned.

[Emperor Smeat]

so where was chel green everyone else was there

Probably ruling over catering like her boyfriend on the main roster.

[KIRA]

I like Balor but his smile makes it look like he's trying push his skull through his skin

[Anybody Thrilla]

Does it not sound like Aiden is always talking/singing through his nose?

[KIRA]

#BooTheWoo

[GD]

That was quick.

[KIRA]

I suddenly want to see Aiden English and Daniel Bryan Feud I wonder what that's about

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/QoSBaszler?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@QoSBaszler</a> is already ahead of the rest of the class on Professor <a href="https://twitter.com/BeckyLynchWWE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BeckyLynchWWE</a>'s lesson. ��♠ <a href="https://t.co/7BACBJEoXz">pic.twitter.com/7BACBJEoXz</a></p>&mdash; TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) <a href="https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1054897407333412865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[KIRA]

That haircut is really a step down for miz is I'm sorry the longer hair looked a lot more sophisticated in douchebaggy

[ClockShot]

This better lead to Almas coming out here.

[Anybody Thrilla]

This better lead to Almas coming out here.

Doubt it. Miz is already dressed for competition.

[KIRA]

Mysterio looks great

[Anybody Thrilla]

Mysterio looks great

He was crushing on Lucha Underground. Good to see him without the knee braces.

[Emperor Smeat]

:lol: Rey thinking he was booked for Truth TV.

Does it not sound like Aiden is always talking/singing through his nose?

I pretty much sound like that whenever I talk which is why I hate hearing myself in videos.

[slik]

booyaka booyaka

six one nine

[Anybody Thrilla]

Well that was fine. Almas next, please.

[slik]

Miz vs Rey was a fun match

[KIRA]

Frankly Asuka and Naomi are being wasted

[Anybody Thrilla]

They don't gel well either.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Mandy is so fucking hot.

Also, peep the attire matching. Seems like those womens tag championships will be here any minute.

[GD]

Sonya and Mandy were really fun on the Ride Along show.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I don't care what anybody says. I love the IIconics.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Sonya and Mandy were really fun on the Ride Along show.

They really were. Billie Kay and Peyton Royce were too the episode before.

[GD]

Have they used Peyton Royce's entrance theme on the main roster?

[Emperor Smeat]

Frankly Asuka and Naomi are being wasted

Asuka's been wasted ever since WWE had Ronda overshadow her at the Rumble. Then ended her streak in order to build up Charlotte's status for a potential Ronda match. Then threw all that away because they realized they waited too long to pull the trigger on Carmella's cash-in. Then realized they didn't want Charlotte to look any more of a fool against Carmella so they had Asuka as the sacrificial lamb instead.

Basically she became the new Becky of the Blue Brand.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Have they used Peyton Royce's entrance theme on the main roster?

No, but Billie's is much better anyway.

[GD]

No, but Billie's is much better anyway.

No doubt.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Bryan has been losing a lot ever since he unretired. Like his biggest win since coming back was that quick fluke over The Miz to be #1 contender.

I was pretty emotionally moved when he came back. Now it's hard to get really enthused. There was the contract situation and all that, but the guy's been on his back and selling way too much. I know that being a fiery babyface fighting uphill was his shtick in 2013/2014, but I honestly think he should have come back and just kicked ass. Make him a deal again and remind people that he's a top guy.

I was thinking he would take the belt when he re-signed, but if the rumors of him dropping out of Crown Jewel are true, then there might be heat on him from Vince.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I'm always happy to see Zelina Vega, but what the fucking hell was that segment?

[GD]

SALUTE!

[Mr. Nerfect]

I thought The Bar vs. The Usos would be the match at WrestleMania. I thought they could keep Bar/New Day going through Crown Jewel and Survivor Series and then probably fuck around with another team before they move into The Usos in time for Mania. There may not be a logical reason to keep The Usos away from the belts now.

[Anybody Thrilla]

No doubt.

Peyton was even using Billie's theme in singles matches. I guess it's just the IIconics theme now.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Hmm I just realized that it’d be cool if every woman on the Smackdown roster sat on my face.

Except Sonya. But she wouldn’t be down with it either so it’s cool.

[Emperor Smeat]

Based on Evolution's card, Smackdown title, NXT title, and MYC Finals pretty much are carrying the show for quality.

[rez]

anything cool happen? done with hill house. so good

[Anybody Thrilla]

Hmm I just realized that it’d be cool if every woman on the Smackdown roster sat on my face.

Except Sonya. But she wouldn’t be down with it either so it’s cool.

Yeah, that would probably be fine to happen to me too. Even Sonya.

[GD]

Really excited for the Last Woman Championship bout.

[Savio]

If you smoke you will die snow boarding

[rez]

here comes the money. nice time to tune in

[Savio]

Hope Shane cuts a pro Saudi promo.

[Emperor Smeat]

They really need to rename this WWE World Cup into something else if the rest of the World is not in it.

:lol: CM Punk chants and Shane's response.

[slik]

lmao at CM Punk chant

[xrodmuc316]

"Who is gonna be the best in the world?"

CM PUNK chant... WWE bringing it on themselves nowadays.

They should call it "The American Cup to determine who is the best in the world today after that quitter quit 5 years ago" cup.

[GD]

lol at the random CM Punk chants.

[Mr. Nerfect]

lol at the random CM Punk chants.

Don't know if they're random so much as enticed by the branding of the gimmick.

[Mr. Nerfect]

If Bryan and Cena are out, it would be pretty simple to have AJ Styles Cena's spot and defend the WWE Title three times on the show and hopefully win.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Hmm I just realized that it’d be cool if every woman on the Smackdown roster sat on my face.

Except Sonya. But she wouldn’t be down with it either so it’s cool.

I think Sonya's gorgeous.

[xrodmuc316]

I think Sonya's gorgeous.

I agree, very beautiful woman.

[KIRA]

anything cool happen? done with hill house. so good

final lesson made me tear up a bit

[GD]

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; ██████████ relative; padding-bottom: 100.000%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/xgip1/gzfqvp" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; ██████████ absolute;"></iframe></div>

[Supreme Olajuwon]

I think Sonya's gorgeous.

That’s cool man. Live your best life. No judgment here.

Maybe one day while Mandy Rose is farting in my mouth I will look across the room and see Sonya and the Noid going to town on her pizza box 🤙

[GD]

Wish Orton hadn't used the RKO on Big Show.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I'd need to shave first and hope that her policies aren't exclusive to women.

[Mr. Nerfect]

https://i.redd.it/8tcv0y1wd9811.jpg

*Insert Tommy Dreamer comment*

[GD]

Jesus, Noid

[Mr. Nerfect]

How's Sonya looking in the ring. I haven't seen her in ages, but her gimmick felt rather forced last time. I know she's got a real fighting background (at least on an amateur level), but it just felt very ham-fisted.

[GD]

I guess they'll get rid of the white ropes once they stop taping the Mixed Match Challenge.

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">When Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy just had a blowoff match inside Hell in a Cell last month and are wrestling again for some reason... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SDLive?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SDLive</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ii5Gk2v79A">pic.twitter.com/Ii5Gk2v79A</a></p>&mdash; Blake Oestriecher (@BOestriecher) <a href="https://twitter.com/BOestriecher/status/1054913464446189569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[Emperor Smeat]

Wonder if Jeff regrets ever getting his ears pierced.

[GD]

Randy's fingering Jeff Hardy again.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Road Dogg is a pretty shit booker. Like, he's not Russo shit, but if he was given the book during the Attitude era, I think he'd probably make things at least as frustrating as Nash did.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Generally like both Orton and Jeff in the ring together, but neither feels "en vogue" right now. Well, they didn't at the start of their program. How was their Hell in a Cell?

[Emperor Smeat]

Ouch at Jeff's back

[rez]

:roll: :-\oh, jeff...

[GD]

Whoa! They redid the finish from their Royal Rumble WWE Championship match :eek:

[KIRA]

Remember when Randy Orton was kind of sort of feuding with Tye Dillinger neither does Smackdown live

[Mr. Nerfect]

Is Jasper Orton still in developmental? I can't find him on the WWE roster wiki page, but he is mentioned on the pro-wrestling wiki. His Twitter still says "WWE" but he hasn't posted in, like, 3 years.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Remember when Randy Orton was kind of sort of feuding with Tye Dillinger neither does Smackdown live

Didn't he just beat him up because he was a geek?

[Mr. Nerfect]

Wait, was this a World Cup match? Both guys are in the World Cup. Why wouldn't this be a World Cup match?

[Anybody Thrilla]

Orton's brother who does stand up keeps popping up in my suggested friends on Facebook, but I haven't met him yet.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Wait, was this a World Cup match? Both guys are in the World Cup. Why wouldn't this be a World Cup match?

Because in the WWE Universe, the World Cup is simply a one night tournament featuring 8 Americans, not a round robin.

[Emperor Smeat]

Wait, was this a World Cup match? Both guys are in the World Cup. Why wouldn't this be a World Cup match?

Because reasons that may or may not include them being that dam lazy when it comes to booking matches for shows.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Orton's brother who does stand up keeps popping up in my suggested friends on Facebook, but I haven't met him yet.

I don't know why, but it's odd to picture Orton with a funny brother. Does he look like Randy?

Because in the WWE Universe, the World Cup is simply a one night tournament featuring 8 Americans, not a round robin.

Even if it were single-elimination with brackets, wouldn't Orton/Hardy make sense as a first round match?

[Mr. Nerfect]

Because reasons that may or may not include them being that dam lazy when it comes to booking matches for shows.

Ding, ding, ding.

[slik]

clean win for randall keith

[Anybody Thrilla]

I don't know why, but it's odd to picture Orton with a funny brother. Does he look like Randy?



Even if it were single-elimination with brackets, wouldn't Orton/Hardy make sense as a first round match?

He does sorta look like Randy.

And yes, it would be fine as a first round match, but the real tournament is one night, and that one night is Crown Jewel. This (and the Miz/Mysterio match from earlier, as they are both in the tournament) were just...I dunno, tune ups, or whatever. I doubt they'll see each other in the real first round, but the brackets haven't been revealed.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Oh, I thought we all agreed they were lazy. I thought you were legit asking, because I know you don't watch.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Oh, I thought we all agreed they were lazy. I thought you were legit asking, because I know you don't watch.

Oh no, I was. But I do think it's lazy to have guys in a tournament fighting each other just before the tournament. I had no clue if it was a World Cup match or not. It might have made sense, because making someone work three matches after being jet-lagged and on edge needing to hold themselves together in front of a mass murderer at dinner may not be the best idea.

I appreciate you explaining it, but I just think it's pretty poorly planned out. Can you imagine the guys in King of the Ring fighting each other the week before? That probably legitimately happened, haha.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Yeah, they could have easily had the participants go over Tye Dillinger or something instead.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Generally like both Orton and Jeff in the ring together, but neither feels "en vogue" right now. Well, they didn't at the start of their program. How was their Hell in a Cell?

I thought that match was great. Real gruesome stuff. It's the opener of that show if you're looking for it.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I thought that match was great. Real gruesome stuff. It's the opener of that show if you're looking for it.

Thanks for that. I heard Jeff did a splash from the top of the cell or something. Crazy bastard. When those guys are on, they're really good. There's just so much congestion with all the guys they have at the moment.

[Sixx]

Just read the results. Why exactly do they make AJ look so clumsy hitting Bryan all the time?

[Sixx]

OH, and Rey Mysterio could just fuck off already.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Just read the results. Why exactly do they make AJ look so clumsy hitting Bryan all the time?

Last week it was Bryan that hit AJ, I think. It's just their obtuse and obvious storytelling.

I'm so glad Rey is back. He could have good matches that I might watch in isolation. I wish they brought him back with hype videos and the like instead of just having him stand around and talk in a segment.

[Anybody Thrilla]

They did have hype videos, then he returned in a match with Nakamura.

[Sixx]

Last week it was Bryan that hit AJ, I think. It's just their obtuse and obvious storytelling.


Wow, so an UNEXPECTED feud between the two next week?

[Mr. Nerfect]

They did have hype videos, then he returned in a match with Nakamura.

That was like the week before, wasn't it? I mean like explain his history and what he means to wrestling. Show him in ECW, WCW, WWE and what you can negotiate of Mexico, show him leaving his family, have talking heads explain exactly what he means. Not just a "Booyaka, Booyaka -- next week" thing. They could have gone through all the periods of his career with his entrance themes, going through ECW, WCW, early WWE and then "main event" WWE.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Wow, so an UNEXPECTED feud between the two next week?

Yeah, lots of manufactured drama. Before they all hug and make up because they all deserve it.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Cearashow.

[Droford]

Go hom shows for the women's historical ppv and neither show had women in main event lol

[xrodmuc316]

They did have hype videos, then he returned in a match with Nakamura.

WWE in general doesn't have special moments offer.

Last one I can think of was Mania 33 when the Hardys returned.

To be fair with Rey though, he had a good surprise return in the Rumble this year, but they should have made it bigger that he returned.

[Emperor Smeat]

Similar to RAW the week after RAW 25, Smackdown suffered a huge drop this week after Smackdown 1000. Unlike with RAW, Smackdown's drop caused it to generate a Top 5 all-time low for the Live era.

Tuesday’s episode of SmackDown Live drew 2,087,000 viewers on USA Network, down a lot from last week’s SmackDown 1000 episode, which drew 2,545,000 viewers.

That’s the 4th lowest number in SmackDown Live history. The lowest was 1,921,000 for the November 8, 2016 episode, which was the night of the US presidential election ...

This time last year, the October 24, 2017 episode of SmackDown Live drew 2,699,000 viewers. The October 25, 2016 episode drew 2,127,000 viewers.