WWE SmackDown Live
Episode 1039
#SDLive
Original Air Date: July 16, 2019
Event Date: July 16, 2019
(aired live)
City: Worcester, MA
Venue: DCU Center
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton
Ring Announcer: Greg Hamilton
Backstage
Shane McMahon waits for Kevin Owens with some security guards. Owens arrives, and Shane tells him that there is an open forum for the SmackDown roster tonight. Shane invites feedback, but he will not put up with insubordination. In order to prevent Owens from being insubordinate again tonight, Shane gives Owens the night off. Owens leaves.
Ring Area
The SmackDown roster is gathered on the stage for Shane McMahon’s town hall meeting. Shane asks for someone to step up and say something, so Roman Reigns steps up first. Reigns says no one respects Shane, and Shane can kiss his ass. Shane says Reigns just earned himself a fine before moving on.
Shane then invites Charlotte Flair to say what’s on her mind. Charlotte says it makes her sick that Kevin Owens would take advantage of Shane’s kindness. Liv Morgan steps up and tells Charlotte to stop being so phony. Charlotte didn’t even know that Liv Morgan still worked here. Shane shuts Luv down and moves on.
Shane invites Buddy Murphy to say something since Owens mentioned him last week. Murphy says he doesn’t need Owens’ help, and Owens should keep his name out of his mouth. Shane likes that.
Shane moves on to Apollo Crews. Crews says everyone, including himself, agrees with what Owens said. Zelina Vega suggests that Apollo should back up his words in the ring tonight by taking on Andrade.
Elias steps up and starts to talk, but New Day interrupts. Kofi says he doesn’t like Owens, but Owens did have some good points. Kofi wonders where the opportunities are on SmackDown when Shane cuts Kofi’s mic.
Shane thanks everyone for their participation and ends the town hall meeting. Everyone leaves the stage, but Cesaro has something to say. He challenges Aleister Black to pick a fight with him. Tonight. Shane makes the match.
After Cesaro leaves, Shane begins to talk about himself. As he speaks, Owens arrives and hits Shane with a stunner. Owens does Shane’s little dance before leaving through the crowd.
Match 1
Aleister Black vs Cesaro
(referee: Ryan Tran)
Result: Aleister Black wins via pinfall after Black Mass
Time: 2:49 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
This was good, but it was short. I’m not sure what the point of having this rematch was other than maybe allowing people who missed Extreme Rules to see Black in action.
Backstage
Dolph Ziggler tells Shane McMahon that someone needs to teach Owens a lesson, and it should be Ziggler. Shane tells Ziggler that if he can get Owens back to the venue, then he’ll have his match.
Backstage
Charlotte Flair walks.
Video
After Extreme Rules, Daniel Bryan ranted after losing the SmackDown tag titles. Bryan says that if he really wants to save the planet, then he has to go where Daniel Bryan has never gone before.
Match 2
Charlotte Flair vs Liv Morgan
(referee: Danilo Anfibio)
Result: Charlotte Flair wins via submission with the Figure Eight
Time: 2:24
Match Thoughts
This was very short, but I liked it fine. Liv Morgan got in a few good shots which is all anyone could really hope for.
Ring Area
After the match, Liv Morgan limps over to the announce table and rips the headset from Corey Graves’ head. Liv says that Charlotte was right, and when Liv comes back she’s going to be “real.”
Backstage
Dolph Ziggler gets a phone number from referee Drake Wuertz.
Backstage
Ember Moon walks alone.
Match 3
Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville vs Ember Moon & Bayley (SD Women’s Champ)
(referee: Jason Ayers)
Result: Ember Moon pins Mandy Rose after The Eclipse
Time: 1:36
Match Thoughts
This very short, but it was fine. The (sort of) surprise pick of Bayley as Moon’s tag parter gave them all the momentum in this match.
Ring Area
After the match, Kayla Braxton asks Bayley who her next title challenger will be. Bayley says she wants to elevate the title, and she wants to face someone who will help her do that. Bayley picks Ember Moon. Ember is excited for the opportunity.
Backstage
Sarah Schreiber congratulates Shinsuke Nakamura on winning the IC Title. Nakamura is ready to reign down chaos as champ. As Nakamura turns to leaves, Ali is standing in his way. Ali congratulates Nakamura on his win.
Backstage
Daniel Bryan and Rowan walk.
Ring Area
New Day heads to the ring. Xavier Woods says Kofi Kingston is a Demolition Man after dismantling Samoa Joe at Extreme Rules. Kofi celebrates Big E and Woods’s win to become tag champs. Kofi says they are like three African American leprechauns with all the gold they have. Big E says he knows what Daniel Bryan is going to announce tonight, and New Day accepts his challenge for a tag title rematch.
Daniel Bryan and Rowan come out to the stage. After staring down at the ring for a few seconds, Bryan and Rowan leave. They quickly come back out though, and Daniel looks like he’s about to speak. He says nothing and walks away again. Bryan and Rowan come out for a third time. Bryan holds up a mic, drops it to the ground, and walks away again.
With Bryan and Rowan gone, Samoa Joe comes out to the stage. Unlike Bryan, Joe wants a title shot right now. Before Kofi can respond, Elias comes out to the stage. Elias says Joe already had his chance, and the person who really deserves a title shot is Elias. Randy Orton comes out next. Orton says it’s been a while since he’s had the title, so he’s just going to take it.
Elias says they can’t all have title matches tonight, but the three of them can send a message to New Day. Woods understands that Elias is suggesting a six man tag match, so New Day accepts. Orton isn’t interested though, and he starts to walk away. Kofi wonders if the Viper has gone limp. That gets Orton to head to the ring.
Match 4
Xavier Woods & Big E (SD Tag Champs) & Kofi Kingston (WWE Champ) vs Samoa Joe & Elias & Randy Orton
(referee: Drake Wuertz)
Result: Randy Orton pins Kofi Kingston after the RKO
Time: 7:27 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. This was a lot of fun throughout. New Day had some great teamwork early, but the aggression of Elias started to turn the match around. Joe and Elias worked on Big E and Woods while Orton and Kingston fought in the ring. I think this is definitely setting up some title situations heading towards Summer Slam.
Backstage
The Kabuki Warriors walk with Paige.
Backstage
Carmella searches for R-Truth in an oddly dark and shadowy hallway. R-Truth was hiding in a washing machine and got stuck. Carmella helps R-Truth get free and tells him he should hide out at Comic-Con. R-Truth tells her not to call him a con, but Carmella explains what she means and convinces R-Truth to leave with her.
Match 5
Women’s Tag Team Title Match
Kabuki Warriors w/ Paige vs The IIconics (Women’s Tag Champs)
(referee: Jason Ayers)
Result: The Kabuki Warriors win via Count Out, The IIconics retain the titles
Time: 1:28
Match Thoughts
This match had barely gotten started before The IIconics realize they could just get counted out and retain their titles. So that’s what they did. Hopefully there will be a rematch.
Ring Area
After the match, Asuka and Kairi Sane attack The IIconics. Royce gets kicked by Asuka and takes the Insane Elbow from Kairi Sane.
Backstage
Andrade and Zelina Vega walk.
Match 6
Andrade w/ Zelina Vega vs Apollo Crews
(referee: Danilo Anfibio)
Result: Apollo Crews wins via pinfall with a crucifix pin
Time: 0:52
Match Thoughts
This was another very short match. It was less than a minute, but I liked the idea behind it.
Backstage
Dolph Ziggler walks.
Match 7
Dolph Ziggler vs Kevin Owens
(referee: Ryan Tran)
Result: the match ends in a No Contest when Kevin Owens runs away to avoid a mob of superstars sent by Shane McMahon
Time: 6:07
Match Thoughts
This was good, but there was no real finish. This was more about the story line between Shane and Owens than about a match between Ziggler and Owens.
Ring Area
After the match, Kalya Braxton asks Shane McMahon or a word. Shane says Owens is going to pay.
Show Impressions
There were a lot of matches tonight. Most of them were super short and were more about story than wrestling, but there were a couple matches with some good action. For the most part I was entertained by this episode. It seems clear that they’re quickly pushing out new stories for Summer Slam, and I’m fine with that.
Match of the Night
New Day vs Elias & Samoa Joe & Randy Orton
It’s no surprise that New Day made the best of the time they were given tonight. This was the only match that I thought had any real substance to it.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/2019-07-16