WWE SmackDown
Episode 1057
#SmackDown
Original Air Date: November 22, 2019
Event Date: November 22, 2019
(aired live on FOX)
City: Rosemont, IL (announced as Chicago)
Venue: Allstate Arena
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves
Ring Announcer: Greg Hamilton
Backstage
Most of the SmackDown roster hangs out backstage. King Corbin stands in front of everyone with Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler beside him. Corbin tries to get everyone’s attention, but it isn’t until Reigns walks up with Shorty G and Ali that everyone shuts up.
Reigns says everyone knows RAW and NXT will be here tonight, so instead of doing something cowardly like Corbin would suggest, Reigns says they’re going to open the doors and beat up anyone and everyone that shows up. Corbin says Reigns’s idea is stupid, so Corbin and Reigns start arguing. Sasha Banks quiets everyone down. She says the SmackDown women’s division is ready to take care of business, and they’re going to do that right now. Sasha leaves with a few other women.
Intro Video
“Are You Ready” by AC/DC
Ring Area
Sasha Banks leads Carmella, Dana Brooke, Lacey Evans, and Nikki Cross to the ring. Sasha says this is their show, and they won’t be attacked from behind tonight. Sasha invites team RAW to the ring for a fight.
Charlotte Flair comes out and leads Sarah Logan, Natalya, Kairi Sane, and Asuka to the ring. Team RAW gets up onto the apron where Charlotte suggests that she and Sasha go one on one tonight. As team RAW enters the ring, women from NXT come in through the crowd.
Rhea Ripley leads Tegan Nox, Mia Yim, Toni Storm, and Candice LeRae to the ring. Rhea says the first match of the night should be a captain’s triple threat. With all three teams in the ring, a huge brawl breaks out.
Match 1
Charlotte Flair vs Sasha Banks vs Rhea Ripley
(referee: Dan Engler; outside referees: Jason Ayers, Danilo Anfibio; at ringside; Natalya, Sarah Logan, Kairi Sane, Asuka, Nikki Cross, Carmella, Dana Brooke, Lacey Evans, Mia Yim, Tegan Nox, Candice LeRae, Toni Storm)
Result: Rhea Ripley pins Charlotte Flair with a crucifix pin (while Charlotte’s legs were tied up in the Figure Eight)
Time: 6:52 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
The match was good, but the finish was brilliant. There was a lot of tension since there were so many people around the ring. Being a triple threat match, anyone could do anything they wanted to without fear of a disqualification. Thankfully, the match did not end up being a huge brawl, and the three women in the match actually got to compete and finish the match without interference. I liked the action, but really, the finish is what I’ll remember most. I loved it!
Ring Area
NXT leaves the ring area after the match. In the ring, Charlotte and Sasha exchange words and shoves. Then they fight which brings team RAW and team SmackDown into the ring for another big brawl.
Backstage
Corbin complains to Roode and Ziggler about Reigns. Corbin has a plan to let NXT beat up Reigns, Ali, and Shorty G when they inevitably attack tonight. Sami Zayn walks up, and Corbin calls him annoying. Zayn dares Corbin to call him annoying to his face in the ring.
Backstage
Kayla Braxton welcomes Bayley. Bayley says as the only woman to hold the RAW, SmackDown, and NXT Women’s titles, she is prepared to face Becky Lynch and Shayna Baszler. Bayley says Becky is too smart to show up tonight. She also dares Shayna to come out of hiding and face her tonight.
Ring Area
Sami Zayn is in the ring with Shinsuke Nakamura. Sami calls himself a “stud” and says Nakamura is even a bigger “stud.” Since Nakamura has been so studly as the Intercontinental Champ, that Sami has gotten him a gift. Zayn unveils a brand new Intercontinental Title belt and hands it to the champ.Zayn then talks about the upcoming triple threat between Nakamura, Styles, and Strong, but neither Zayn nor Nakamura claim they remember Strong’s name.
The Undisputed Era comes out and heads to the ring. UE stares down Zayn and Nakamura, so Zayn calmly leads Nakamura out of the ring. Adam Cole reminds everyone of his name and Roderick Strong’s name. Cole says NXT will wipe the floor with RAW and SmackDown at Survivor Series.
Big E and Kofi Kingston come out and walks towards the ring. Kofi is glad the Undisputed Era is here right now. That means New Day and UE can settle things right now. Strong likes the idea of four on two, but New Day has some partners: Heavy Machinery.
Match 2
Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly (NXT Tag Champs) & Roderick Strong (NA Champ) & Adam Cole (NXT Champ) vs Big E & Kofi Kingston (SD Tag Champs) & Heavy Machinery
(referee: Danilo Anfibio; watching from the stage: Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura)
Result: Roderick Strong pins Tucker Knight after a jumping knee strike
Time: 12:10 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Very good match. I really enjoyed the clash between the fun and skilled teams of New Day and Heavy Machinery versus the teamwork and skill of Undisputed Era. UE were the better four-man unit by far tonight. New Day and Heavy Machinery each did well as tag teams, but as one large team they had issues. UE was able to capitalize on those issues with fantastic teamwork and relentless attacks.
Ring Area
After the match, Roderick Strong walks up the ramp to confront Nakamura. While Strong and Nakamura face each other, AJ Styles appears in a blindside attack on both of them. Styles gets in some shots, but Sami Zayn uses a chair to take down both Styles and Strong. Zayn and Nakamura make their escape.
Backstage
Daniel Bryan walks.
Ring Area
The OC stands beside the stage. Styles says Chicago is depressing and wouldn’t know entertainment if it slapped them in the face. Styles says The OC isn’t going anywhere, and they’re going to stand there for the rest of the night to remind people who they are.
After a while, Daniel Bryan comes out and heads to the ring. Bryan shows video footage of the brief history between himself and The Fiend. Back in the ring, Bryan says he is here to summon Bray Wyatt. The lights go out, but when they come back on no one has appeared. Bryan again calls Wyatt to the ring, but The Miz comes out instead. Bryan says The Miz is the only thing worse than The Fiend.
Miz says he can’t wait to see The Fiend tear Bryan apart. He says he was trying to help Bryan by pointing out his flaws, but that didn’t work. So instead, Miz slaps Bryan.
Match 3
Daniel Bryan vs The Miz
(referee: Ryan Tran)
Result: the match ends in a No Contest when The Fiend appears
Time: 5:33 (joined in progress)
Match Thoughts
The action was pretty good, but this was more of a story segment than a match. Bryan and Miz went at each other for a few minutes, and that built up to Daniel Bryan looking like he was going to start a “Yes” chant. As Bryan raised his hands for the first “yes,” the lights in the arena went out. Red lights came on, and The Fiend had replaced The Miz in the ring. The Fiend attacked Daniel Bryan with the Mandible Claw, and the lights went out one more time.
Ring Area
Shayna Baszler heads to the ring. Shayna calls Bayley to the ring. Bayley attacks Shayna from behind which starts a brawl. Bayley tries to escape through the crowd, but Shayna pulls Bayley back to ringside with the Kirifuda Clutch. Bayley manages to escape the hold and leaves up the ramp. Shayna looks pissed.
Match 4
Ali & Shorty G & Roman Reigns vs Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler & King Corbin
(referee: Jason Ayers)
Result: King Corbin pins Ali after Deep Six
Time: 6:02 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. If felt like it could have been a bit longer, but it was kept shorter because of the post-match shenanigans. At least we got a finish before the building erupted into the expected pre-Survivor-Series chaos.
Ring Area
After the match, Corbin tries to attack Ali, but Reigns spears Corbin. With Reigns in the ring, Seth Rollins leads the RAW roster (consisting of the Viking Raiders, the Street Profits, Ricochet, Curt Hawkins, Zack Ryder, The OC, and Drew McIntyre) to the ring. Rollins enters the ring and stares at Reigns for a few seconds. Rollins strikes Reigns first, and that’s the signal for RAW to attack.
Braun Strowman runs out leading the SmackDown roster (consisting of Drake Maverick, Cesaro, Heath Slater, New Day, Drew Gulak, the Lucha House Party, The Revival, Apollo Crews, and Heavy Machinery). SmackDown clears the ring, but backstage we see NXT arriving with a jeep similar to the one D-Generation X used when they stormed WCW many years ago.
Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and the Road Dogg lead the NXT roster (consisting of Pete Dunne, Raul Mendoza, Isaiah Scott, Undisputed Era, Angel Garza, Lio Rush, Matt Riddle, Keith Lee, The Forgotten Sons, Walter, Fabian Aichner, Marcel Barthel, the Singh Brothers, Killian Dain, Tommaso Ciampa, Ariya Daivari, Tyler Bate, Jack Gallagher, Dominik Dijakovic, Damian Priest, and Tyler Breeze) to the ring. The brawl is gigantic. Keith Lee takes the ring, but Braun Strowman challenges him. Strowman and Lee come together and throw hands in the ring as the show comes to an end.
Show Impressions
This was a fun show. I appreciated that the RAW and NXT invasions didn’t really disrupt any of the matches tonight (the only match that ended with a non-finish was one that only involved SmackDown superstars). I expected this show to have a number of big brawls, and it sure did. It was a fun final stop before Survivor Series (and WarGames, though that wasn’t really addressed on this show).
Match of the Night
New Day & Heavy Machinery vs Undisputed Era
This was great fun. I hope this was a minor sort-of preview of the fun the triple threat tag match will be like at Survivor Series.
Official Results: https://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/2019-11-22