Friday Night Smackdown 10/04/2019 - FOX premiere, Lesnar vs Kofi for the WWE title, The Rock returns

[GD]

WWE Championship Match
WWE Champion Kofi Kingston versus Brock Lesnar

https://www.wwe.com/f/styles/wwe_16_9_xl/public/all/2019/09/20190924_SD_LesnarKofi--8011c9bc80abb490ffdd125ee870a821.jpg


The Rock returns to Smackdown

https://www.wwe.com/f/styles/wwe_16_9_l/public/all/2019/09/20190930_SD_TheRock--b7527f5f05a2a8f0ce891da7a1e32169.jpg

Ladder Match (Loser leaves WWE)
Kevin Owens versus "The Best in the World" Shane McMahon

https://www.wwe.com/f/styles/wwe_16_9_l/public/all/2019/09/20190924_SD_KevinShane--a00b81f50c84e9d99a14219e9d374a3d.jpg

RAW Women's Champion Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair versus Smackdown Women's Champion Bayley & Sasha Banks

https://www.wwe.com/f/styles/wwe_16_9_l/public/all/2019/09/20190924_SD_CarmellaCharlotteBayleySasha--fcee732f035315ff6f621c36d33d1f3d.jpg

Roman Reigns versus Erick Rowan

https://www.wwe.com/f/styles/wwe_16_9_xl/public/all/2019/09/20190927_SD_RomanRowan--856a16231cf8974293318942f6c0fa3d.jpg



https://www.wwe.com/f/styles/wwe_show_logo_l/public/all/2019/09/SmackDown_2019_Vert_White--71d1835c23f07be6a46ce25f9a24a945.png

[GD]

Crap, I just realized that Smackdown is now on Fridays and not Tuesdays :nono:

[Droford]

Don't forget, 730 on for the Red Carpet show

[DAMN iNATOR]

I was gonna say, this is totally needed 3+ days out, but now I see what has happened here. All is forgiven, GD. :)

On the other hand, I can't imagine what Shisen would say if he were here.

[DAMN iNATOR]

Also, I do actually really like the new show logo. Very reminiscent of c. fall 2001 era logo.

[OverTaker]

CARD SUBJECT TO CHANGE

[DAMN iNATOR]

Also, :nono: @ another fucking Shane v. K.O. match. Why do we even need a "Loser Leaves" match? Why can't they both just fuck off for like, I dunno, forever?

[Lock Jaw]

Came home and thought "I guess I'll put on Smackdown", and opened my DVR and was all "WTF it didn't tape?" then I remembered it was on Friday.....

[Droford]

I was watching Impact on AXStv which doesn't officially start til the 29th but they're showing ppvs every tuesday

[Mr. Nerfect]

The Rock is going to blow away everything this week.

[GD]

I will lose my mind if Kofi retains...

[Emperor Smeat]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brock Lesnar? <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRock?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheRock</a>? <br>It's the premiere of <a href="https://twitter.com/WWEonFOX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WWEonFOX</a> Smackdown, you'd think we would get bigger stars. <br>Guess the Basham Brothers, Luther Reigns, Heidenreich, Kenzo Suzuki &amp; Sylvain were unavailable. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ReasonsToWatchSmackDown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ReasonsToWatchSmackDown</a></p>&mdash; WWE Creative Humor (@WWECreative_ish) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWECreative_ish/status/1180179587340406785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[ClockShot]

It's like, I want to watch.

But it's Friday. The day in television terms where shows go to die, the start of the weekend, Joker is at the movies, and a bunch of other stuff in general.

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">New <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Smackdown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Smackdown</a> Stage <a href="https://t.co/wp2T5ZESq9">pic.twitter.com/wp2T5ZESq9</a></p>&mdash; Turnbuckle Topics �� (@TT_4You) <a href="https://twitter.com/TT_4You/status/1180220604231901184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[slik]

Watching SD tonight and seeing Joker after

Prob won't usually watch SD tho

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The one question we had to ask <a href="https://twitter.com/fightbobby?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fightbobby</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/LanaWWE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LanaWWE</a> on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SmackDown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SmackDown</a> blue carpet - what is going on?!? <a href="https://t.co/SHLCtvieNO">pic.twitter.com/SHLCtvieNO</a></p>&mdash; Sky Sports WWE (@SkySportsWWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkySportsWWE/status/1180255887279218688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[slik]

Tom Phillips has joined NXTUK as a commentator

[rez]

Get. These. Robot. Hands.

[Droford]

This is rather surreal

[rez]

mm Charissa Thompson

[rez]

I wonder if she'll be masturbating behind the scenes

[Droford]

I will lose my mind if Kofi retains...

He's going to retain as a hook for the rematch on Sunday

[RP]

so Lana is getting blacked ?

[rez]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The one question we had to ask <a href="https://twitter.com/fightbobby?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fightbobby</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/LanaWWE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LanaWWE</a> on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SmackDown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SmackDown</a> blue carpet - what is going on?!? <a href="https://t.co/SHLCtvieNO">pic.twitter.com/SHLCtvieNO</a></p>&mdash; Sky Sports WWE (@SkySportsWWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkySportsWWE/status/1180255887279218688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

:rant:

[A.J.K]

Anyone have a stream for this?

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This set is CRAZY ! �������������������������������������� <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SmackDown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SmackDown</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SmackdownOnFox?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SmackdownOnFox</a> <a href="https://t.co/23hCz7JjhC">pic.twitter.com/23hCz7JjhC</a></p>&mdash; Justin Speece (@justinmspeece) <a href="https://twitter.com/justinmspeece/status/1180266372372275200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[slik]

Anyone in the U.S. needing a stream just sign up for free for PUFFER, it will give you all the basic channels

https://puffer.stanford.edu/player/

[rez]

Anyone in the U.S. needing a stream just sign up for free for PUFFER, it will give you all the basic channels

https://puffer.stanford.edu/player/

Fuck that. Tell those cheap asses to go get a digital antenna ffs

[Emperor Smeat]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">New <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Smackdown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Smackdown</a> Stage <a href="https://t.co/wp2T5ZESq9">pic.twitter.com/wp2T5ZESq9</a></p>&mdash; Turnbuckle Topics �� (@TT_4You) <a href="https://twitter.com/TT_4You/status/1180220604231901184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Sort of a similar design template but looks much better than RAW's new stage. The entrance being centered and not awkwardly off to the side also helps.

Also makes RAW's new stage feel like it was a pre-final version of SD's new stage.

[Droford]

Lol the swagger soaring eagle distant relative made it

[rez]

That new stage is pretty slick rick.

[GD]

"Teenage" son :nono:

[slik]

Jeff Hardy has been arrested for driving under the influence per PWInsider.

[RaginRonic]

For all the long-time fans(for anywhere from 15 years or longer) in this forum, like me(started watching in March 1991), I have a question...

Doesn't all this attention to WWE lately, and the broader pro wrestling world in general, kind of make some of you feel a little awkward and maybe a bit uncomfortable?

I mean, we have WWE on network TV in the U.S. now on a weekly basis. Doesn't that kind of smell like, possibly, them attracting the wrong audience?

I feel a little weirded out by all this, and maybe scared too.

Just getting that out of me.

o.o

[Seanny One Ball]

Jeff Hardy won't make 50 if he carries on like this.

[GD]

The Rock is here :yes:

[rez]

For all the long-time fans(for anywhere from 15 years or longer) in this forum, like me(started watching in March 1991), I have a question...

Doesn't all this attention to WWE lately, and the broader pro wrestling world in general, kind of make some of you feel a little awkward and maybe a bit uncomfortable?

I mean, we have WWE on network TV in the U.S. now on a weekly basis. Doesn't that kind of smell like, possibly, them attracting the wrong audience?

I feel a little weirded out by all this, and maybe scared too.

Just getting that out of me.

o.o

Smackdown was on CW for a minute so it's not too weird. This red carpet stuff is pretty surreal though.

[Seanny One Ball]

For all the long-time fans(for anywhere from 15 years or longer) in this forum, like me(started watching in March 1991), I have a question...

Doesn't all this attention to WWE lately, and the broader pro wrestling world in general, kind of make some of you feel a little awkward and maybe a bit uncomfortable?

I mean, we have WWE on network TV in the U.S. now on a weekly basis. Doesn't that kind of smell like, possibly, them attracting the wrong audience?

I feel a little weirded out by all this, and maybe scared too.

Just getting that out of me.

o.o


Does it bother long time WWE fans that the billion dollar WWE empire is under more media scrutiny than ever before?

No.

Only the morons.

[Evil Vito]

Probably not the best idea to start your FOX debut with a high up view of the arena showing there are a massive amount of empty floor seats.

[GD]

Mr. McMahon :love:

[rez]

The weirdest thing is Smackdown as the official A show for the first time ever.

[slik]

Pretty sage to say all the people in the SD opening video will be 'drafted' to Smackdown

[Evil Vito]

lol all that work to make these show intros and they're just gonna have to change them after the draft next week

[rez]

Not a bad intro

[Evil Vito]

Pretty sage to say all the people in the SD opening video will be 'drafted' to Smackdown

Most of them were in the Raw one too.

[GD]

Pyro!

[slik]

The new set for SmackDown is the best TV show set they have ever had

[GD]

Way to kick off Smackdown with the RAW Women's Champion :lol:

[rez]

Wait..just Cole and Corey? Cole will probably quit before the night is over

[slik]

Baron Corbin and Becky kicking off Smackdown

A great choice to open with two current superstars

[A.J.K]

I'll only get the first hour due to fox now's preview pass

[Emperor Smeat]

The new set for SmackDown is the best TV show set they have ever had

Personally still lean towards Giant Fist era set as SD's best ever.

[Evil Vito]

The Man. The King. The Rock.

[rez]

Can't start a new SD era off without the OG. Now layeth the smackdown on Borin!

[Evil Vito]

I do think that Becky getting chosen to be the first one out is a pretty good indicator that she's going to wind up being drafted to SmackDown. We'll probably know if she drops the belt on Sunday.

That would also mean Seth is also going, so either he's dropping the belt too or they're making it blue.

[Emperor Smeat]

:D Rock

[rez]

BROKE ASS BURGER KING ON CRACK

[Emperor Smeat]

:lol: at Rock's dig to King Corbin.

[GD]

Damn Becky :lol:

[Evil Vito]

“My testicles are perfectly adequate.”

Amazing.

[GD]

Becky Two Balls!

[Evil Vito]

Seeing The Rock on SmackDown makes me randomly think of Just Bring It's hilarious commentary.

BECKY LYNCH...has a great...DIS-ARM-HER!

[GD]

Damn Becky :love:

[Emperor Smeat]

Nice of King Corbin to inform the unwashed masses on the royal state of his balls despite the besmirching going on.

[GD]

Becky getting her revenge from Extreme Rules.

[Evil Vito]

Much as I might not like Corbin, I'm pretty sure The Rock hand-picks who he wants to promo against whenever he turns up. So fair play to him.

[slik]

Good opening segment

[screech]

Lumberjack match on this show? Nice.

(Have not been able to watch WWE TV in weeks, dunno if it was announced.)

[GD]

It ain't Smackdown without a Lumberjack match.

[Emperor Smeat]

That was a great and very entertaining opening segment.

Despite the new era of SD starting off with the typical WWE long drawn out talking segment, Rock still has that magical touch when it comes to making it very entertaining and not a drag or bore.

[Droford]

Lot of local ads

[Evil Vito]

Ugh, they brought back those awful 3D entrance graphics

[Droford]

Yay for commercials in the middle of a match

[slik]

Got an ROH ad

[rez]

No lame smoking commercials so there's that

[erickman]

Much as I might not like Corbin, I'm pretty sure The Rock hand-picks who he wants to promo against whenever he turns up. So fair play to him.

corbin is the best heel in wwe right now

[rez]

Are the camera angles weird, slow, and switching too much or is it just me?

[Emperor Smeat]

Yay for commercials in the middle of a match

FOX pretty much doesn't want to do the split-screen stuff so back to the old way for SD. Only bright side is FOX also doesn't want to run as many commercials so it should mean less breaks but WWE still going to be terrible when it comes to timing those breaks.

[slik]

Is it just me or are the crowd mics way better than before?

[Evil Vito]

I just love that there are WWE toy commercials again

[erickman]

Got an ROH ad

good I thought that was just a local ad

[Evil Vito]

Charlotte just submitted the champion! WHAT WILL HAPPEN THIS SUNDAY???

[Emperor Smeat]

Are the camera angles weird, slow, and switching too much or is it just me?

Its something FOX mandated to help make it feel more sports-like than RAW.

[rez]

I just love that there are WWE toy commercials again

Yeah, that's cool. Come to think of it, there's hardly any toy commercials anymore on TV period.

[Emperor Smeat]

Bayley's heel run has been a big bust and all because WWE doesn't want her overshadowing Charlotte at all after Becky managed to do so.

[slik]

Clean win for Charlotte and Bex

[rez]

Its something FOX mandated to help make it feel more sports-like than RAW.

Well, they can't keep the action centered when the match is in the ring and the action moves to the sides of the ring. Then they do the multi switch seizure shit. Not liking it

[GD]

Holy shit! Shinsuke Nakamura going to lose to Rollins again :lol:

[rez]

I just saw the first local commercial that I've noticed tonight. It was for IUPUI (Indy's combined IU and Purdue campus).

[slik]

Wish Helen Mirren would show up and give Seth Rollins a stunner

[GD]

Former RAW GMs

[slik]

Is it just me or is this NOT remotely new viewer friendly at all

[Evil Vito]

Like to imagine a whole bunch of first-time viewers being profoundly confused at the Firefly Fun House.

[GD]

OH MY GOD! They killed Ramblin'!

[Emperor Smeat]

:lol: Rambling Rabbit cosplaying as Seth Rollins.

RIP Rambling Rabbit again. Cemented his status as the Kenny of Firefly Fun House.

[Ben Rodrigues]

Shinsuke Nakamura and Samoa Joe should move back to NXT.

[Black Widow]

Seriously gonna show Hogan's entrance during a commercial?!

[Emperor Smeat]

Is it just me or is this NOT remotely new viewer friendly at all

Soo far it just feels like a regular episode of RAW/SD and not a "must see" type show outside of the start with The Rock. It has that "new" type feeling but more so because of the new network and not as in being a new experience like AEW Dynamite was.

Even worse is this is the go-home show for Hell in a Cell and they haven't built anything new this week. RAW and 1st hour of SD dropped the ball big time building up things.

[slik]

Fiend doing the job on Sunday

[GD]

Fuck WWE for booking Nakamura like this :nono:

[GD]

Also, I've CENA NUFF of The Fiend's music.

[Evil Vito]

I haven't watched anything but based on the results I've read, The Fiend has now gotten the leg-up on Rollins every time they've interacted. Normally that would mean Rollins is certainly retaining on Sunday but with the draft and the uncertainty on if they're going to put the majority of the biggest names on SmackDown, I'm not so sure.

[Emperor Smeat]

If there is one big benefit to SD's new camera stuff, it made the Fiend's attack feel more cinematic and cooler than WWE's previous style.

Also Rollins going to get booed to hell this Sunday if he goes over the Fiend. Like Roman Reigns Mania level of booing.

[rez]

Friday Night SmackDown highlights:

The preshow
The new intro
The new stage
The Rock/Becky/Corbin segment
Better commercial variety

Then it all went down from there...

[Droford]

KO gonna lose and go to nxt

[Droford]

KOwith the jobber entrance

[GD]

Poor Owens didn't even get a televised entrance

[screech]

"Can you imagine WWE without Shane?"

Wasn't he gone for like a decade? lol

[Ben Rodrigues]

Send Kevin Owens to NXT as well. Nakamura, Joe and Owens along with the current NXT roster would be excellent.

[Evil Vito]

Imagine explaining to lapsed fans the concept of Shane McMahon.

"Remember that young rich kid that used to dive off things? Yeah, now he's a weezing beetroot dad. Kinda like you."

[Emperor Smeat]

Shane is sort of a dumbass considering its a ladder match.

Had Owens motionless on a table outside the ring and had all the time in the world to just setup the ladder and climb to get the briefcase. Instead decided to just jump off the turnbuckle and crash into the table.

[Droford]

That ladder had a family

[GD]

lol @ the overtly animated fan

[GD]

Crowd being censored :nono:

[Emperor Smeat]

:lol: at the crowd getting muted for the "holy shit" chants

[Droford]

Somewhere a FOX exec is throwing a tantrum

[slik]

New 24/7 Champ, not shown on TV


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">EXCLUSIVE: THIS IS NOT A DRILL.<a href="https://twitter.com/marshmellomusic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@marshmellomusic</a> is your NEW <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/247Champion?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#247Champion</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SmackDown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SmackDown</a> <a href="https://t.co/arhS0l6WlA">pic.twitter.com/arhS0l6WlA</a></p>&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1180284727095201792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Evil Vito]

WHAT IS SHANE MCMAHON DOING IN THE IMPACT ZONE?

[GD]

Owens wins! Owens wins! Bah gawd, Shane O'Mac is terminated, King!

[Evil Vito]

"Can you imagine WWE without Shane McMahon?"

https://frinkiac.com/video/S04E21/-yG9NnaiW107ubumvXSVKZehVaI=.gif

[GD]

Shut up, Corey :nono:

[slik]

Shane vs KO was fun

[Emperor Smeat]

Bit surprised Owens actually won since his firing would have had more storyline possibilities.

Wouldn't be surprised if Shane just gets drafted to RAW next week because of some hidden terms or loophole in the contract.

[Droford]

Maybe Shane goes to NXT lol

[Evil Vito]

Fuck off, Brodus Clay

[Droford]

That's gotta be that's gotta be Brodus Clay

[GD]

Brodus Clay :lol:

[slik]

LMAO AJ an Orton no intros, came out during commercial

[GD]

Crap, Heyman said "spoiler"...you know what that means.

[Evil Vito]

AJ and Orton entering during commercials and being thrown into an "everyone hits a finisher" multi-man tag match.

[Evil Vito]

Cool, Fury's doing an angle

[GD]

Dope.

[GD]

Crowd being censored again :nono:

[Emperor Smeat]

This Tyson Fury & Strowman stuff comes off as being really lame.

Also makes Strowman come off as if he's a heel despite being a face during the whole tag match.

[rez]

Spaced out. Anything good happen?

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chaos breaks out at <a href="https://twitter.com/NY_Comic_Con?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NY_Comic_Con</a> between <a href="https://twitter.com/CodyRhodes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CodyRhodes</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/IAmJericho?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IAmJericho</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AEW?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AEW</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AEWonTNT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AEWonTNT</a> <a href="https://t.co/vFiNBXP0jt">pic.twitter.com/vFiNBXP0jt</a></p>&mdash; All Elite Wrestling (@AEWrestling) <a href="https://twitter.com/AEWrestling/status/1180244018736881669?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Evil Vito]

Britt Baker has set the bar for guest commentators this week, let's see if Daniel Bryan can beat it.

Oh, there's a full sentence, he's the new leader.

[slik]

Spaced out. Anything good happen?

no kind of boring

[Evil Vito]

This match is happening for the inevitable visual of Roman diving over the top rope onto all of the lumberjacks.

[Emperor Smeat]

Kind of funny how much WWE managed to screw up what should have been their hottest angle of the summer with this "Who Attacked Roman?" angle.

Messed up soo badly that Bryan randomly turned face and got rid of what should have been the big money match of that feud.

[rez]

Kind of funny how much WWE managed to screw up what should have been their hottest angle of the summer with this "Who Attacked Roman?" angle.

Messed up soo badly that Bryan randomly turned face and got rid of what should have been the big money match of that feud.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII HATE LIARSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[Evil Vito]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The look of confusion of the Fox execs during the Firefly Funhouse segment <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Smackdown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Smackdown</a> <a href="https://t.co/9uz8j0AgFK">pic.twitter.com/9uz8j0AgFK</a></p>&mdash; Big B (@BTuckerTorch) <a href="https://twitter.com/BTuckerTorch/status/1180284365235863552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Evil Vito]

This match is happening for the inevitable visual of Roman diving over the top rope onto all of the lumberjacks.

[GD]

Looks like we are not getting a clean ending to the WWE Championship match.

[GD]

Since when were lumberjack matches no dq?

[slik]

this show sort of SUCKS

[Evil Vito]

Looks like we are not getting a clean ending to the WWE Championship match.

orrrrrrrrrrrrr Kofi is getting squashed relentlessly

[rez]

less than 15 minuten for the champ match.

[Emperor Smeat]

Lumberjack match was decent at best.

[GD]

orrrrrrrrrrrrr Kofi is getting squashed relentlessly

Expecting Rey Rey to interfere.

[slik]

Let's go BROCK

[GD]

Kingston pinning Lesnar in under a minute.

[Emperor Smeat]

This WWE title match is either going to be surprisingly good or be the feather in the cap of Kofi's mostly dud title reign in terms of excitement.

[Blonde Moment]

Interference by Rey

[Evil Vito]

AEW > WWE

[GD]

Are we going into overtime?

[Droford]

So much for that

[rez]

FUCK WWE

[Blonde Moment]

fuck me

[GD]

Ummm...what the fuck?

[rez]

No words. Paul likes his cuck storylines and this bullshit. Screw RAW too

[Emperor Smeat]

That was garbage.

[GD]

Cain Velasquez has arrived :eek:

[Stickman]

holy shit

[Emperor Smeat]

Velasquez's surprise appearance was cool but what a terrible way to make your new champ look.

[rez]

A champion taken down faster than a challenger from the crowd. I love WWE's disrespect!

[slik]

Cain Velasquez the new top star in WWE

[Droford]

Lol they went off 3 min early

[GD]

Poor Kofi.

[Emperor Smeat]

As far as Velasquez goes, he’s made it clear he wants to be a masked high flying super hero, but WWE is not interested in that character. They are looking for the fighter to play off the 2010 fight where Velasquez beat Lesnar to win the UFC title.

Guess WWE kept adding zeroes in order to get Velasquez to easily change his mind and sign.

[Droford]

Poor Kofi.

With the lack of matches Sunday he almost has to get a rematch

[Evil Vito]

I don't give a fuck about MMA in the slightest, so Cain does absolutely nothing for me.

I get why they're doing it. But one episode in and I can already tell I'm not going to be interested in the direction they will be taking this show.

[rez]

Oh well. Fuck it. How many of us are actually gonna watch wrestling on a Friday night regularly

[Emperor Smeat]

I don't give a fuck about MMA in the slightest, so Cain does absolutely nothing for me.

I get why they're doing it. But one episode in and I can already tell I'm not going to be interested in the direction they will be taking this show.

Between Cain and Tyson Fury, its pretty clear that WWE and FOX are desperately trying to get sports viewers on board since no way SD is hitting 3+ million expectations with the current tv fanbase WWE has.

[Evil Vito]

Kofi gets a ton of fan support that drives him to a WWE title match at WrestleMania. Wins the title. Holds it for half a year.

And within 10 seconds, it's like his reign never happened.

[screech]

I don't know or care who Cain Velasquez is, so that ending was terrible for me.

[Evil Vito]

Dominic > Cain Velasquez

[rez]

Obvi I'm gonna continue to see where AEW is going on Wednesday nights

Paul and his cuck shit doesn't make me want to watch RAW

Not going to commit to Friday Night Brock

Thursday might be a good night for me to catch up on NXT

Too bad Impact's network ....ah fuck. I just considered watching Impact

[rez]

The nightly local FOX is recapping Smackdown. ahh

[Ben Rodrigues]

I guess this opens the door to DC joining WWE after he beats Miocic.

[rez]

For all the long-time fans(for anywhere from 15 years or longer) in this forum, like me(started watching in March 1991), I have a question...

Doesn't all this attention to WWE lately, and the broader pro wrestling world in general, kind of make some of you feel a little awkward and maybe a bit uncomfortable?

I mean, we have WWE on network TV in the U.S. now on a weekly basis. Doesn't that kind of smell like, possibly, them attracting the wrong audience?

I feel a little weirded out by all this, and maybe scared too.

Just getting that out of me.

o.o


I now see where you were coming from. The local FOX channel just spent 20 minutes talking wrestling..during the news.

[Evil Vito]

Only shitty thing about trying to watch NXT on Thursdays is that Hulu only puts up a one hour version. So I’d have to go back to the Network if I wanted to see the whole thing. Ugh.

[Emperor Smeat]

Only shitty thing about trying to watch NXT on Thursdays is that Hulu only puts up a one hour version. So I’d have to go back to the Network if I wanted to see the whole thing. Ugh.

Supposedly WWE is already considering extending the delay for uploading new episodes to the Network in response to AEW's success this week.

Being speculated that the 1-day delay is hurting more than its helping for NXT's numbers these past 2 weeks and WWE already made it clear they have no problems hurting the Network if it means more tv revenue.

[Evil Vito]

Supposedly WWE is already considering extending the delay for uploading new episodes to the Network in response to AEW's success this week.

Being speculated that the 1-day delay is hurting more than its helping for NXT's numbers these past 2 weeks and WWE already made it clear they have no problems hurting the Network if it means more tv revenue.

Guess it'll be DVR for me, then.

[#1-norm-fan]

I don't give a fuck about MMA in the slightest, so Cain does absolutely nothing for me.

I get why they're doing it. But one episode in and I can already tell I'm not going to be interested in the direction they will be taking this show.

I’m in the same boat on MMA and Cain. But I’m also all for guys with legit fighting backgrounds. I like Kofi but they HAD to get the title off of him and onto a legit star if they wanna appeal to the mainstream and succeed on Fox. And with the history Brock and Cain have, it SHOULDN’T be difficult to make me care.

Just... build up some fucking homegrown stars for once while this storyline is taking place, Goddammit.

[#1-norm-fan]

Also, I tuned in just in time for The Rock segment. It was terrible. I can’t imagine potential new fans who tuned in and saw The Rock came out of that segment wanting to see more.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

I didn’t catch the show, but I did log onto the Internet and saw a gif of the entire main event.

So I’m pretty glad I didn’t watch.

[#1-norm-fan]

Oh yeah, hopefully they build something out of Kofi being brave/dumb as fuck, too. While I don’t think he has mass appeal as champion, there were hopefully new viewers who now know him as the guy who Brock took the title of in hilarious fashion. He has a secondary story already that they’d be stupid not to build on in SOME way.

[Volare]

Poor Kofi.

[Gerard]

A main event that lasted about 10 seconds, quality wwe.

Maybe when lesnar's contract comes up next time he can negotiate just having Heyman talk the opponent into a pinfall so his "client" has even less to do than he currently does.

[mike adamle]

Can I just say I'm happy they took the belt off of Kofi and his reign was boring as fuck?

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Remember Goldberg’s son? This is him now. Feel old yet? <a href="https://t.co/zpNwYooFM4">pic.twitter.com/zpNwYooFM4</a></p>&mdash; WWE Trivia TO (@WWEtriviaTO) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWEtriviaTO/status/1180334564293652480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: After he jumped the guardrail on Friday Night <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SmackDown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SmackDown</a>, WWE will offer <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyson_Fury?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tyson_Fury</a> an open mic THIS MONDAY on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Raw?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Raw</a>. <a href="https://t.co/uQNRqtQj8i">https://t.co/uQNRqtQj8i</a></p>&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1180336479421243392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Droford]

If they didn't take 20 minutes to embarrass Baron Corbin into irrelevance I think having him and Fury would have made more sense since Corbin at least has a boxing background

[Stickman]

Can I just say I'm happy they took the belt off of Kofi and his reign was boring as fuck?

[Droford]

People are fickle

[Vastardikai]

The title change buried the ENTIRE locker room.

If WWE were a territory, it would be dead right now.

[Outsider]

I stayed up until 3am to watch that absolute horseshit.

[Evil Vito]

The title change buried the ENTIRE locker room.

If WWE were a territory, it would be dead right now.

Virtually the entire midcard and undercard went straight to Twitter after the show to tweet out support for Kofi.

So yeah, pretty clear they all saw this as a massive fuck you.

[Mr. Pierre]

Would it have hurt to make it a 4 minute match? Just wrong.

[Jordan]

I enjoyed the show with the exception of Becky whom I find quite false especially in her ring work. She misses much... She's not a worker, she's a performer trying to be a worker. Same with Shane, just pretending to work, no actual talent in either one of them aside from emmulating.

Rock was great, Corbin made me laugh. Bray was fantastic, Jake Roberts level promo.

Roman and Rowan was eh whatever.

I really like Tyson Fury and never saw that coming so that has my interest for sure.

Main event was shit booking I'd have like to have honered Kofi with some legit offense.


Cain coming in was a shock, I didn't think they would ever pull that off. That match has me very excited. Crown Jewel will finally be a must watch.

[Sepholio]

The title change buried the ENTIRE locker room.

If WWE were a territory, it would be dead right now.

For sure. 100%.

[slik]

3.87 million viewers btw

Demos were over 1 million, so that's good

Week 2 will drop of course, it does for all shows - but how much or how little be interesting

[Seanny One Ball]

I guess this opens the door to DC joining WWE after he beats Miocic.


Stipe Miocic is a beast man. DC isn't beating him ever again.

[Seanny One Ball]

I didn’t catch the show, but I did log onto the Internet and saw a gif of the entire main event.

So I’m pretty glad I didn’t watch.



Can you hook us up with the gif?

This sounds funny.

[Triple A]

Kofi is unbelievably boring and makes the WWE title seem like shit imo... Really glad his reign is finally over

[Gerard]

The "fix your teeth Brock" sign in the crowd was a highlight...

[BigCrippyZ]

Didn't watch this, but what's hilarious and pathetic to me is instead of actually using and building up their own stars, (because they can't) they continually beg (and rely on bringing in) outside mainstream stars and actual athletes to come in and headline and draw in viewers with feuds WWE didn't ever really start or even write themselves.

It shows how totally inept Vince and WWE is at actually creating quality content. Instead just write big enough checks and rely on the money to bring in the talent that will bring in viewers. 1999 Vince would be rightfully embarrassed and probably criticize and bash what has become today's 2019 Vince (who is essentially 2019's equivalent to Bischoff/Turner) in terms of their creative talent and dedication.

[Seanny One Ball]

Are you talking about the 1999 Vince that had just spent untold millions in the 80's and 90's bringing in mainstream stars to sell his product further?

[Ben Rodrigues]

Stipe Miocic is a beast man. DC isn't beating him ever again.

I disagree. If DC pressured him throughout the fight with takedowns; he would've won, retired and it would be DC taking on Brock in Saudi Arabia. DC will ragdoll Miocic this time around.

[Ben Rodrigues]

This is also an excellent move for Tyson Fury considering he is not drawing well in the US. Given that he is ultra charismatic, he will easily win over fans who will follow him into his rematch with Wilder.

[Simple Fan]

Like the new set a lot more than Raws. Cain was a surprise. Didn't know he was done with AAA. Glad they got the championship off Kofi as well.

[Triple A]

Meltzer being weirdly defensive about people saying that Cain Velasquez's body looks like shit, esp next to Lesnar

[Emperor Smeat]

According to the Observer, SD's debut was actually lower than what FOX did last year during this same week.

SD reached 4.22 million as the peak viewership during the Rock's segment and dropped by 360k for the women's tag match. Also suffered a 222k drop during the 8-man tag and Tyson Fury stuff.

Smackdown did a 2.4 rating and 3,888,000 viewers for an average minute. It was down five percent from what FOX did in the same time slot one year ago for its Friday season openers of Last Man Standing, The Cool Kids and Hell's Kitchen. But all things considered, that isn't bad, and did triple of what FOX was doing in September with rerun programming in the time slot ...

Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair vs. Sasha Banks & Bayley lost 360,000 viewers, which sounds bad but really isn't. About 600,000 people turned off Raw on Monday after Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair's segment.

Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and the angle with The Fiend lost 133,000 viewers.

The Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon ladder match gained 235,000 viewers.

The eight-man tag match and Tyson Fury angle lost 222,000 viewers.

The Roman Reigns vs. Erick Rowan match lost 3,000 viewers.

The Brock Lesnar vs. Kofi Kingston match and Cain Velasquez angle gained 105,000 viewers.

[Emperor Smeat]

Also seems the crowd was not happy when they got baited with an expected live Austin appearance and it didn't happen. Same for a bunch of WWE's locker room rallying behind Kofi after how badly he was treated at the end of the show.

Before they went live, they ran a Steve Austin pre-tape for the crowd ...

We heard from a few people that the crowd was not happy when the show went off the air. The crowd started chanting for Austin, who didn’t appear. If they expected Austin live, I get why they were ticked. The end of the show was pretty abrupt but at least Rey Mysterio showed up after what happened on Monday.

They aired an XFL commercial, which got booed, during a break.

[BigCrippyZ]

Are you talking about the 1999 Vince that had just spent untold millions in the 80's and 90's bringing in mainstream stars to sell his product further?

Sorry. You're right. That's fair. I guess I meant more of 2000-01 Vince who had the guts and creative ability to find and build stars (Rock, Austin, Jericho, Kurt, HHH, Foley, etc.) that weren't truly popular or successful elsewhere before coming to WWE.

At the very least, no one on WWE's roster since Cena in 2003, whether they got their start in WWE or elsewhere, has gone on to actually be more well known than the WWE stars that came before them as a result of being involved in WWE and the "guts and creativity" of Vince/WWE.

[Seanny One Ball]

This is also an excellent move for Tyson Fury considering he is not drawing well in the US. Given that he is ultra charismatic, he will easily win over fans who will follow him into his rematch with Wilder.


He's mentally ill so he will do very well in America

[Mr. JL]

I have no idea why they decided to just bury Kofi Kingston after the year he has had; other than utter stupidity. I would have been fine with the outcome had there been a competitive match. And it would have served some justice to Kofi's reign and year except WE HAVE CAIN VELASQUEZ! FUCK EVERYTHING... CAIN VELASQUEZ!!! CAIN VELASQUEZ!!!!!

[XL]

Dunno who Cain Velasquez is other than a UFC guy. Don’t know anything about his history with Lesnar, although I can infer from the exchange they had. I will say Cain should have kept his top on, bigger love handles than I’ve got. He looked like shit, having seen pics of him from his UFC days I felt that he’s never been a body guy.

[GD]

Dunno who Cain Velasquez is other than a UFC guy. Don’t know anything about his history with Lesnar, although I can infer from the exchange they had. I will say Cain should have kept his top on, bigger love handles than I’ve got. He looked like shit, having seen pics of him from his UFC days I felt that he’s never been a body guy.

You know how wrestling fans complain about Vince’s preference for bigger muscular men? Yeah, I see why he has that mindset now. All of you bitching about a legit fighter who’s probably in better conditioning than majority of the WWE roster.

[XL]

I have no doubt he’s in great shape. He still looks like shit.

[Ben Rodrigues]

Dunno who Cain Velasquez is other than a UFC guy. Don’t know anything about his history with Lesnar, although I can infer from the exchange they had. I will say Cain should have kept his top on, bigger love handles than I’ve got. He looked like shit, having seen pics of him from his UFC days I felt that he’s never been a body guy.

That scar on Lesnar's left cheek bone is courtesy of Mr. Velasquez.

[Ben Rodrigues]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eJXbiuOsumE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Fignuts]

You know how wrestling fans complain about Vince’s preference for bigger muscular men? Yeah, I see why he has that mindset now. All of you bitching about a legit fighter who’s probably in better conditioning than majority of the WWE roster.

https://i.imgur.com/wPK4Q0X.png

[GD]

https://i.imgur.com/wPK4Q0X.png

Like CM Punk, Baron Corbin, Foley, Owens etc.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Punk didn’t look like shit and the other three wear shirts when they wrestle.

Really bad take, Daveed.

[GD]

Punk didn’t look like shit and the other three wear shirts when they wrestle.

Really bad take, Daveed.

Darn it, you're right. But I do feel that folks are being a little too harsh with respect to Cain's physique.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Brock beating Kofi is good. Cain being in is good. Tyson Fury is good. There’s plenty to dislike about WWE, but those things aren’t among them.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The show looks amazing.

[Stickman]

The title change buried the ENTIRE locker room.

If WWE were a territory, it would be dead right now.

The terribly uncharismatic talentless talent in the locker room is what buried the locker room.

[XL]

That scar on Lesnar's left cheek bone is courtesy of Mr. Velasquez.

And I hope they tell the story of that.

I’m also fully aware that he’s not been brought in for me (a wrestling fan), he’s been brought in to try to draw interest from MMA fans.

[Mr. Nerfect]

He’s a star. FOX would like them having stars.

[XL]

He’s a star to a certain audience - an audience that WWE want to court no doubt - but to 90% of people he’s nobody.

[screech]

I didn't recognize him at all. But if he gets more eyes on the show, then it's good for everyone I guess.

[Stickman]

Too bad Cain doesn't look like he lifts. Lesnar looked jacked and more belieavable (even though IRL Cain is probably more badass).

[XL]

Lol screech

I thought the same; “fuck Dominic looks HUGE!”

[Fignuts]

Darn it, you're right. But I do feel that folks are being a little too harsh with respect to Cain's physique.

https://i.imgur.com/2GK3Tcp.png

[Mr. Nerfect]

I do find it interesting that people are really on the dude about his physique. Aesthetics are important, but everyone knows this guy is bad-ass and can believe it. If he were an unknown out of the PC, I would understand it more.

[Seanny One Ball]

If they think he looks like shit wait till they see Tyson Fury with his shirt off

[James Steele]

I'd never heard of Tyson Fury until Friday.

[Seanny One Ball]

That's a respectable brag.

[Bad News Gertner]

Tyson Fury is soooooo fucking awesome

[Bad News Gertner]

So in the past week or so I've had three people who I didn't know were even liked wrestling ask me when Smackdown comes on.

My 92 year old grandmother is one of those people.

[Lock Jaw]

Warning: Incoming Meme

Warning: Incoming Meme

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EGIl6PUXkAUXuiC.jpg

[Vastardikai]

Seriously, what is it with WWE hiring four people who look exactly fucking alike?

I still can't tell Mike Kanellis apart from Curt Hawkins, That dude Alexa Bliss is with, and on a really bad day, Heath Slater.

[Seanny One Ball]

They don't look remotely alike, at least not in that picture.

[Vastardikai]

They don't look remotely alike, at least not in that picture.

It's the jaw more than anything else.

Walter does resemble Kozlov, to be honest. But if I had to pick, I'd rather get chopped by Kozlov.