WWE SmackDown Live
Episode 1029
#SDLive
Original Air Date: May 7, 2019
Event Date: May 7, 2019
(aired live)
City: Louisville, KY
Venue: KFC Yum! Center
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton
Ring Announcer: Greg Hamilton
Ring Area
AJ Styles heads to the ring. Styles says he missed SmackDown Live. He also mentions Vince McMahon’s wild card rule. Styles wanted to be the first to use the rule on SmackDown, so here he is. The next person to take advantage of the wild card rule is Sami Zayn. Sami heads to the ring.
Sami says he is here because no one else would call Styles out on his toxic ego. Styles says Sami smells like a foot (because Strowman threw him in a dumpster last night). Sami thinks Styles is super funny. As Sami attempts to respond, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods come out to the stage.
New Day wants to be a part of the party in the ring right now. Kofi also tells Styles that this might be the house he built, but Styles doesn’t live here anymore. Upon entering the ring, Kofi asks Styles what he’s doing here on SmackDown tonight. Styles says Kofi was on RAW last night, so Styles thought he would return the favor.
Woods tells Styles to calm down. Kofi gets in Styles’ face and wonders what Styles is going to do about it. Sami Zayn interrupts. Sami tells Kofi that he loves him, so he is going to tell Kofi the truth. Sami says the fans are not happy for Kofi. They just want to see him give away title shots when he doesn’t even need to. If anyone deserves a title shot tonight, Sami says it’s himself.
Kofi says he defended his title last night because he wanted to prove that Wrestlemania was not a fluke. Kofi wants to be a fighting champ, so tonight, he’d like to put his title up against either Styles or Zayn. Regardless of who gets the match, Kofi says he will remain the champ.
Selfie Promo
In his car, Kevin Owens says it’s his birthday. Owens was supposed to open tonight’s show, but when he got to the building he realized he didn’t want to deal with doing that. So now he’s headed home. On Sunday though, he plans to beat Kofi for the WWE Title.
Match 1
Ali vs Andrade w/ Zelina Vega
(referee: Jason Ayers)
Result: Ali wins via DQ when Randy Orton attacks him
Time: 5:02
Match Thoughts
This was good, but almost all of the match happened during a commercial break (so it was seen picture-in-picture). After the break, the match was cut very short by Randy Orton. So this match was basically just a promo for the Money in the Bank ladder match.
Ring Area
After the match, Randy Orton attempts to attack both Ali and Andrade. Ali and Andrade each fight back individually, but Orton RKOs both of them in turn.
Video
A look at Roman Reigns including some career highlights and his battle with leukemia.
Ring Area
Shane McMahon heads to the ring. Before he gets to what he came out here to talk about, Shane talks about The Miz attacking him last night. The Miz didn’t get the job done, and it will be the same on Sunday in a steel cage when Shane wins again.
Moving on, Shane talks about the currently vacant SmackDown tag titles. Shane is going to crown new tag champs, and he found a worthy team. Out come Daniel Bryan and Rowan. Shane begins to hand them the titles, but The Usos come out and interrupt the proceedings.
Shane wants to know what The Usos are doing here. They explain that Roman Reigns can do whatever he wants, so they can do whatever they want. What they want to do tonight is force any new tag champs to earn their titles. Shane agrees, and he makes a title match (mostly because he wants to watch Bryan and Rowan kick the Usos back to RAW).
Selfie Promo
From Ireland, Finn Balor says he is going to win Money in the Bank on his way to becoming the IC and WWE Champ at the same time.
Match 2
SmackDown Tag Team Title Match
Daniel Bryan & Rowan vs The Usos
(referee: Mike Chioda)
Result: Rowan pins Jimmy Uso after an iron claw slam
Time: 7:52 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. I would rather have seen a tournament or at least two teams officially on SmackDown competing for the vacant titles, but I did enjoy this match. Rowan bordered on unbelievable at times when he no-sold The Usos at times during the match, but still, the action was good. I think Rowan and Bryan could be an exciting team.
Video
In an episode of Firefly Fun House (which aired last night on RAW), Mercy the Buzzard eats Rambling Rabbit.
Ring Area
Shane McMahon is in the ring again. Shane talks about the Money in the Bank ladder matches, but The Miz attacks him from behind. Miz attacks Shane all the way up the ramp where The B-Team emerges and attacks Miz. Mix fights off the B-Team, but Shane hits Miz in the back with a chair. Shane hits Miz a second time, then he leaves the stage area.
Backstage
Daniel Bryan tells Rowan they need to fix the tag titles. Heavy Machinery walks up and congratulates Bryan and Rowan on their victory.
Match 3
Ember Moon & Carmella vs Sonya Deville & Mandy Rose
(referee: Danilo Anfibio)
Result: Mandy Rose pins Ember Moon after a double underhook facebuster
Time: 2:20
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. It was very short, but what we got to see was pretty good. I wasn’t entirely happy with the result, but I understand why they did it.
Ring Area
After the match, Paige comes out to the stage with Asuka and Kairi Sane. Paige says she’s traded up now that she represents Asuka and Kairi Sane. Her team is going to beat Mandy and Sonya next week.
Backstage
Kayla Braxton welcomes Matt Hardy. Matt says Jeff underwent successful surgery and will be back. R-Truth walks up. He has something to tell Matt, but he forgot what it was. Matt helps R-Truth remember. R-Truth says Lars Sullivan’s hands are like bear traps. You get caught, you get got.
Lars Sullivan appears behind R-Truth and Matt. Matt attacks first, but he’s thrown through a door. Sullivan then powerbombs R-Truth through a table. Sullivan looks at his work and breathes heavily.
Backstage
Aleister Black is the wrath and salvation for everyone who has suffered the sins of those who came before them. Black asks forgiveness for the sins will seek absolution for in the form of victories taken from his opponents.
Match 4
WWE Title Match
AJ Styles vs Sami Zayn vs Kofi Kingston w/ Xavier Woods (WWE Champ)
(referee: Ryan Tran)
Result: Kofi Kingston pins Sami Zayn after Trouble in Paradise
Time: 13:42 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Very good match. With all the nonsense about brand switching and the wild card rule going on, at least matches like this can exist. It doesn’t excuses the nonsense surrounding it, but at least it makes parts of it entertaining. The action was very entertaining between the three guys in the match, and Kevin Owens made his presence known in a way that fuels his feud without really interfering in this match. I liked it.
Ring Area
After the match, Kayla Braxton runs over to Kofi and asks him if Kevin Owens is in his head. Kofi says Owens is not in his head, and there will be hell to pay at Money in the Bank.
Show Impressions
This was a mostly entertaining show. The wild card stuff is still dumb (and has already been broken twice in two nights), but I liked most of what I saw tonight. The only segment that didn’t really do anything for me was the Miz/Shane stuff.
Match of the Night
Triple Threat WWE Title
Very entertaining and another good step in the reign of Kofi.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/2019-05-07