WWE SmackDown Live
Episode 1035
#SDLive
Original Air Date: June 18, 2019
Event Date: June 18, 2019
(aired live)
City: Ontario, CA
Venue: Toyota Arena (formerly Citizens Business Bank Arena)
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton
Ring Announcer: Greg Hamilton
Ring Area
New Day heads to the ring. Xavier Woods talks about Kofi’s cage match on Sunday, and he talks about his own match later tonight with Dolph Ziggler. Big E talks about his pitch for the final hour of SmackDown, the “Freaky Hour.” As Big E explains his plans, Dolph Ziggler comes out to the stage.
Ziggler says everyone knows that Kofi Kingston doesn’t deserve to be WWE Champ. Without New Day, Kofi would be nothing. Inside the steel cage, Kofi’s New Day brothers won’t be there for him. The next time Kofi goes back to Ghana, it will be for an apology tour.
Kingston wonders if Ziggler knows where his whole WWE Title journey began. It started in the Elimination Chamber, so Kofi is fine with competing inside a steel cage. Kofi knows a lot of ways to beat Ziggler, and regardless of how it happens, Kofi will win. But that’s on Sunday. Tonight, Xavier Woods has been itching to pop Ziggler in the mouth.
Ziggler wants Kofi to pay close attention to what’s about to happen to his buddy. After tonight, Woods will never be able to help Kofi again.
It should have been Ziggler, and on Sunday, it will be him.
Backstage
Bayley walks in the back.
Match 1
Xavier Woods w/ Big E, Kofi Kingston (WWE Champ) vs Dolph Ziggler
(referee: Danilo Anfibio)
Result: Dolph Ziggler wins via pinfall with a superkick
Time: 7:57 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Woods and Ziggler were pretty even to start, but a distraction from Owens and Zayn as they attacked Kingston and Big E at ringside allowed Ziggler to take an advantage. As the match went on, Ziggler pulled further ahead. Ziggler wanted to make an example of Woods, and though he didn’t go as far as he might have, the finish to the match was quite definitive.
Backstage
Shelton Benjamin and the B-Team wait outside of Baron Corbin’s office. They all want to be his pick for referee. Matt Hardy steps out of Corbin’s office and tells Benjamin that he’s next.
Backstage
Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross go over notes for A Moment of Bliss.
Ring Area
Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross come out to the stage for A Moment of Bliss. Before Alexa introduces her guest, she wants coffee. Bayley comes out. She’s drinking coffee.
Bayley tells Nikki that she’s never said anything bad about her. Bayley says Alexa Bliss is just using Nikki. Bayley dares Alexa to say what she has to say to her face rather than behind her back. Alexa says Bayley made her feel worthless in NXT, and Bayley’s act is a lie. Bayley says Alexa is a liar. She lied to Nia Jax. She lied to Micki James. And Alexa is an entitled princess who doesn’t deserve a thing. Alexa says she’s not entitled, she’s just better than Bayley. Alexa says Bayley is a placeholder who peaked in NXT.
Bayley attacks Alexa. Nikki pulls Bayley away, and that allows Alexa to attack Bayley from behind.
Backstage
Apollo Crews tells Zelina Vega that he’s looking for Andrade. As Zelina responds, Andrade attacks Crews from behind. Andrade quickly beats Crews up, then Andrade leaves with Vega. In the background, Chad Gable is again looking at Crews and taking notes.
Backstage
Daniel Bryan and Rowan discuss things.
Match 2
The B-Team vs Heavy Machinery
(referee: Jason Ayers; guest commentary: Daniel Bryan, Rowan)
Result: Tucker Knight pins Bo Dallas after the Compacter
Time: 3:09
Match Thoughts
This was a fun squash. Daniel Bryan on commentary complaining about Heavy Machinery’s antics while simultaneously putting over their amateur skills was great.
Ring Area
After the match, Seth Rollins runs into the ring and attacks Axel and Dallas with a chair. After multiple chair strikes to both men, Rollins leaves.
Outside the Venue
Shane McMahon arrives in a limo. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn walk up. Zayn is upset that Rollins is here and attacking people on SmackDown. Owens says something needs to be done with the bad people. Rollins and Kingston are both bad people. Shane suggests that Owens and Zayn team up to face Rollins and Kingston in a two out of three falls tag match tonight.
Backstage
Aleister Black understands why no one has picked a fight with him. But someone will come knocking at his door. When that happens and they fight their fight, Black will change the essence of that man.
Ring Area
Shane McMahon heads to the ring accompanied by Drew McIntyre and Elias. Shane says tonight, the spotlight should be on Drew McIntyre. McIntyre says he did Roman Reigns a favor tonight. Shane wanted McIntyre to end Reigns’ career tonight, but McIntyre said no. McIntyre wants Reigns at 100% at Stomping Grounds.
The Miz interrupts McIntyre as he comes out to the stage. Miz shows a video of Reigns beating up The Revival and putting McIntyre through a table on RAW last night. The video also shows Reigns spearing Shane in the ring. Miz then shows Shane getting beat up in slow motion.
Miz tells Shane that he started as the boss on SmackDown by making it the land of opportunity, but know everyone is sick of Shane. Miz says he created Shane when he became the “best in the world,” and it’s Miz’s responsibility to end Shane. Shane says Miz didn’t create anything. Miz couldn’t get the job done, so Shane had to take over.
Shane makes a tag match for Miz, and Miz can have a partner as long as he gets one in the next ten seconds. R-Truth wanders to ringside, so Miz claims R-Truth as his partner.
Backstage
The Authors of Pain are in the back. As they walk away, The IIconics pass them by. The IIconics encounter Asuka, Kairi Sane, and Paige. The IIconics laugh at Asuka and Kairi, but Paige tells them that Asuka and Kairi have a match against them in Toyko. If Asuka and Kairi win, then they will get a tag title shot.
Match 3
Tag Team Elimination Match
Drew McIntyre & Elias w/ Shane McMahon vs The Miz & R-Truth (24/7 Champ)
(referee: Charles Robinson)
Result: Drew McIntyre and Elias win
1. Elias pins R-Truth after a running knee strike in the corner (3:58)
2. Drew McIntyre pins The Miz after a Claymore Kick (8:12)*
Time: 8:12 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. The elimination stipulation was really just a way to get the 24/7 Title chase on the show while also making sure that Miz got put into another handicap match. It was fine.
Ring Area
After the match, Shane helps Drew attack The Miz again.
Backstage
Ember Moon walks. Carmella runs by looking for R-Truth. Ember Moon finds Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville. Moon is pissed after the last few weeks, and she attacks Rose and Deville. Referees pull the women apart and take Moon away.
Backstage
Seth Rollins and Kofi Kingston talk to each other.
Video
The latest episode of Firefly Fun House is shown. Bray Wyatt gardens and talks about liars. The fun never has to end in the Firefly Fun House.
Outside the Venue
R-Truth calls for Carmella as he tries to leave the venue. When Truth gets to his car, a referee emerges from the driver’s seat. Behind Truth, Drake Maverick reveals that he was impersonating Carmella. Maverick pins R-Truth, becoming the new 24/7 Champ, and drives away.
Backstage
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn talk to each other.
Match 4
Two out of Three Falls Tag Match
Kofi Kingston (WWE Champ) & Seth Rollins (Universal Champ) vs Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
(referee: Mike Chioda)
Result: Kingston & Rollins win 2 falls to 0
1. Kofi Kingston pins Sami Zayn after Trouble in Paradise (0:09)
2. Seth Rollins pins Kevin Owens after a curb stomp (7:00)
Time: 7:09
Match Thoughts
Thus was pretty fun. The first fall didn’t matter, so this was essentially just a tag match. But as a tag match, it was pretty fun.
Show Impressions
I think the show started stronger than it ended, but I enjoyed it overall.
Match of the Night
Xavier Woods vs Dolph Ziggler
This match felt like it had the most emotion in it tonight.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/2019-06-18