{"id":3803,"date":"2018-05-29T19:00:32","date_gmt":"2018-05-30T01:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/?p=3803"},"modified":"2018-05-31T18:50:32","modified_gmt":"2018-06-01T00:50:32","slug":"smackdown-live-recap-review-episode-980","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/smackdown-live-recap-review-episode-980\/","title":{"rendered":"SmackDown Live Recap &#038; Review &#8211; Episode 980"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>WWE SmackDown Live<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Episode 980<\/strong><br \/>\n#SDLive<\/p>\n<p><strong>Original Air Date: May 29, 2018<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Event Date: May 29, 2018<\/strong> (aired live)<\/p>\n<p><strong>City: <a href=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/?tag=raleigh-nc\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Raleigh<\/span><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/?tag=north-carolina\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\">NC<\/span><\/a><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Venue: <a href=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/?tag=pnc-arena\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\">PNC Arena<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Commentary: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Ring Announcer: Greg Hamilton<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Ring Area<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nSamoa Joe heads to the ring. He pulls a ladder out from under the ring and sets it up under the Money in the Bank briefcases hanging overhead. He grabs a briefcase before grabbing a mic. He says he will shake SmackDown to its core after he wins Money in the Bank. Tonight, he will prove to Daniel Bryan that there are things far worse than forced retirement. Joe suggests that Bryan have Brie tell their daughter that her father will not be the same when he returns home after Money in the Bank.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel Bryan heads to the ring, saying that he wil break Joe&#8217;s leg if he mentions his wife or his daughter again. Bryan then says they don&#8217;t have to wait until later to have their match, they can settle things right now. Before they can fight, Big Cass comes out and heads down the ramp.<\/p>\n<p>Cass, on crutches, says Joe and Bryan are being juvenile. He also says that Bryan&#8217;s chance at entering Money in the Bank should be Cass&#8217;s, not Bryan&#8217;s. Cass tells Bryan and Joe that their match won&#8217;t happen tonight. Instead, Joe will face Cass to decide the last entrant in Money in the Bank. Cass then swings his crutch at Bryan but hits Joe. Bryan attacks, but Cass manages to throw Bryan into the ladder. Cass then smiles and grabs the MitB briefcase.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Backstage<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nShinsuke Nakamura practices counting to ten with flash cards.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Backstage<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nMandy Rose and Sonya Deville approach Paige. They say being in charge must be difficult, so that&#8217;s why she&#8217;s been making so many bad decisions. Such as making Asuka a title shot. Paige tells Rose that she&#8217;ll learn why Asuka is deserving of a shot when Rose faces Asuka tonight.<\/p>\n<p>Renee Young then asks Paige about what Cass said earlier. Paige says Cass is cleared to compete, but Daniel Bryan did earn a chance to qualify. Therefore, tonight&#8217;s main event will be a triple threat qualifier: Cass vs Joe vs Bryan.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Match 1<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Shinsuke Nakamura vs Tye Dillinger<\/strong><br \/>\n(referee: Jason Ayers)<\/p>\n<!-- Content Reveal v2.3.1 -->\n<div class=\"scrhead\" onmouseover=\"document.body.style.cursor='pointer'\" onmouseout=\"document.body.style.cursor='default'\" onclick=\"acr_swap_display('ran_69e73821c1a00','0','','')\">\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-content-reveal\/images\/image1.gif\" class=\"scrimg\" id=\"scrimg_ran_69e73821c1a00\" alt=\"Reveal content\" title=\"Reveal content\"\/>');<\/script> Show\/Hide Results\n<\/div>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<div style=\"display: none\" class=\"scrdiv\" id=\"scrdiv_ran_69e73821c1a00\">');<\/script>\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result: Shinsuke Nakamura wins via pinfall after Kinshasa<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Time: 8:52<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<\/div>');<\/script>\n<!-- End of Content Reveal -->\n\n<p><strong>Match Thoughts<\/strong><br \/>\nGood match. Nakamura dominated a lot of the match, and he would start counting whenever Dillinger was down. Dillinger showed heart, getting up before ten every time and asking for more, but this was definitely a showcase for Nakamura. Nakamura didn&#8217;t have much trouble here, and he looked strong. It was a good exhibition for him heading into Money in the Bank.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Ring Area<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nAfter the match, Nakamura hits Dillinger with Kinshasa to the back of the head. Nakamura counts and finally makes it to ten.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Backstage<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nDasha Fuentes welcomes AJ Styles. Styles says something has snapped in Nakamura, and he&#8217;s more dangerous than ever. A last man standing match is a good choice for a strong striker like Nakamura, but Styles always fights harder than his opponent. Styles will be the last man standing.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Backstage<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nRusev and Aiden English give Lana a pep talk.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Ring Area<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nAiden English raps and sings as he and Rusev introduce Lana. All three of them head to the ring. Naomi heads to the ring next, and she is joined by The Usos.<\/p>\n<p>Everyone is in the ring for a dance off, and Lana goes first. Lana is pleased with herself. Naomi goes next. She is also pleased. Lana then suggests that they dance together, so they do. They seem friendly, but Lana uses their dance as an excuse to hit a neckbreaker and attack Naomi. Lana slaps Jimmy Uso which causes a brawl. The Usos quickly eliminate Rusev and English from the ring, and Naomi hits Lana with a Rear View.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Backstage<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nMr. Bootyworth brings a tray of pancakes to New Day.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Backstage<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nThe Bar tosses pancakes at The Miz who is attempting to chop them out of the air while blindfolded.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Match 2<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>New Day vs The Bar &amp; The Miz<\/strong><br \/>\n(referee: Charles Robinson)<\/p>\n<!-- Content Reveal v2.3.1 -->\n<div class=\"scrhead\" onmouseover=\"document.body.style.cursor='pointer'\" onmouseout=\"document.body.style.cursor='default'\" onclick=\"acr_swap_display('ran_69e73821c1b15','0','','')\">\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-content-reveal\/images\/image1.gif\" class=\"scrimg\" id=\"scrimg_ran_69e73821c1b15\" alt=\"Reveal content\" title=\"Reveal content\"\/>');<\/script> Show\/Hide Results\n<\/div>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<div style=\"display: none\" class=\"scrdiv\" id=\"scrdiv_ran_69e73821c1b15\">');<\/script>\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result: Big E pins The Miz after a Big Ending<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Time: 8:19<\/strong> (1 break)<\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<\/div>');<\/script>\n<!-- End of Content Reveal -->\n\n<p><strong>Match Thoughts<\/strong><br \/>\nVery good match. There was a commercial break early in the match, but after that was out of the way, this got very good. After a while, Woods got a tag and created a great sequence where he was all over the ring and attacked all of his opponents. From there, the match was a series of huge moments and big moves. This was a lot of fun and ended up being a dominant performance from all three members of New Day.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Backstage<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nRenee Young welcomes Karl Anderson &amp; Luke Gallows. They say they&#8217;ll do whatever it takes to take the tag titles from the Bludgeon Brothers. As they talk, Harper and Rowan appear on a monitor behind Anderson and Gallows. The Bludgeon Brothers tell the good brothers to prepare.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Backstage<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nAsuka puts on her makeup and her mask.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Match 3<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Mandy Rose vs Asuka<\/strong><br \/>\n(referee: Danilo Anfibio; guest commentary: Carmella)<\/p>\n<!-- Content Reveal v2.3.1 -->\n<div class=\"scrhead\" onmouseover=\"document.body.style.cursor='pointer'\" onmouseout=\"document.body.style.cursor='default'\" onclick=\"acr_swap_display('ran_69e73821c1b4f','0','','')\">\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-content-reveal\/images\/image1.gif\" class=\"scrimg\" id=\"scrimg_ran_69e73821c1b4f\" alt=\"Reveal content\" title=\"Reveal content\"\/>');<\/script> Show\/Hide Results\n<\/div>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<div style=\"display: none\" class=\"scrdiv\" id=\"scrdiv_ran_69e73821c1b4f\">');<\/script>\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result: Asuka wins via submission with an Asuka Lock<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Time: 5:36<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<\/div>');<\/script>\n<!-- End of Content Reveal -->\n\n<p><strong>Match Thoughts<\/strong><br \/>\nPretty good match. Sonya Deville attacked Asuka on her way to the ring, so this match was essentially an extended comeback for Asuka. For that, I liked it.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Ring Area<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nAfter the match, Carmella enters the ring and holds her title up in front of Asuka. After a few seconds, Carmella moonwalks away and leaves the ring.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Backstage<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nCharlotte tells Becky Lynch that she thinks Asuka is going to win the title at Money in the Bank. That will allow her to cash in on Asuka and take her title back. Becky Lynch says nothing will stop her from getting the contract this year, not even Charlotte. Charlotte says she needs to win, so she will. Becky disagrees.<\/p>\n<p>Paige walks up. She likes the competitive spirit being displayed. She does the &#8220;tea time&#8221; thing Becky and Charlotte do, but Becky and Charlotte just look confused and annoyed. Paige walks away.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Backstage<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nSin Cara greets his friend Andrade &#8220;Cien&#8221; Almas, but Zelina Vega does not approve. Vega does not want &#8220;the future of SmackDown Live&#8221; associating himself with a &#8220;nobody.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Match 4<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/?tag=triple-threat-match\">Triple Threat <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/?tag=money-in-the-bank-qualifying-match\">Money in the Bank Qualifying Match<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Samoa Joe vs Big Cass vs Daniel Bryan<\/strong><br \/>\n(referee: Mike Chioda)<\/p>\n<!-- Content Reveal v2.3.1 -->\n<div class=\"scrhead\" onmouseover=\"document.body.style.cursor='pointer'\" onmouseout=\"document.body.style.cursor='default'\" onclick=\"acr_swap_display('ran_69e73821c1b84','0','','')\">\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/simple-content-reveal\/images\/image1.gif\" class=\"scrimg\" id=\"scrimg_ran_69e73821c1b84\" alt=\"Reveal content\" title=\"Reveal content\"\/>');<\/script> Show\/Hide Results\n<\/div>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<div style=\"display: none\" class=\"scrdiv\" id=\"scrdiv_ran_69e73821c1b84\">');<\/script>\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result: Samoa Joe forces Daniel Bryan to pass out to the Coquina Clutch<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Time: 13:17<\/strong> (2 breaks)<\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">document.writeln('<\/div>');<\/script>\n<!-- End of Content Reveal -->\n\n<p><strong>Match Thoughts<\/strong><br \/>\nGood match. Big Cass definitely acted like a spoiler in this match. I think everyone wanted to see Joe and Bryan go one on one, but the addition of Cass allowed both Joe and Bryan to look strong with taking anything away from each other. I&#8217;m sure we&#8217;ll see Bryan and Joe in a singles match at some point, but this was alright for what they needed to get done. Someone qualified, and the feud between Cass and Bryan was advanced and will (unfortunately) continue.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Ring Area<\/em><\/span><br \/>\nAfter the match, Big Cass hits Daniel Bryan with a big boot.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Show Impressions<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\nThis was an okay show. Taking away the promised Bryan versus Joe match makes sense, but it&#8217;s still a little disappointing regardless of any valid reasoning. In other segments, the dance of was fine for what it was, Nakamura&#8217;s beating of Dillinger worked, Asuka defeating Rose also worked, and the six man tag was very entertaining. So yeah, kind of a mixed show.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Match of the Night<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>New Day vs The Bar &amp; The Miz<\/strong><br \/>\nThe action was big and exciting in this one. Definitely a fun match.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Official Results:?<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wwe.com\/shows\/smackdown\/2018-05-29\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\">https:\/\/www.wwe.com\/shows\/smackdown\/2018-05-29<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Even though certain promises were broken, was was an alright episode of SmackDown with a very good six man tag match.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3804,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[297,10,622],"tags":[476,234,850,556,633,832,494,1690,438,537,495,493,527,535,2043,272,546,668,536,1946,516,446,445,610,151,452,824,979,515,843,1980,460,517,1754,358,2042,2041,451,1947,632,170,183,614,332,563,898,1263,1825,564,444,570,797,672,7,482,1675],"class_list":["post-3803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-show-results","category-smackdown","category-wwe","tag-aiden-english","tag-aj-styles","tag-andrade-cien-almas","tag-asuka","tag-becky-lynch","tag-big-cass","tag-big-e","tag-bludgeon-brothers","tag-byron-saxton","tag-carmella","tag-cesaro","tag-charles-robinson","tag-charlotte","tag-corey-graves","tag-dance-off","tag-daniel-bryan","tag-danilo-anfibio","tag-dasha-fuentes","tag-greg-hamilton","tag-harper","tag-jason-ayers","tag-jey-uso","tag-jimmy-uso","tag-karl-anderson","tag-kofi-kingston","tag-lana","tag-luke-gallows","tag-mandy-rose","tag-mike-chioda","tag-money-in-the-bank-qualifying-match","tag-mr-bootyworth","tag-naomi","tag-new-day","tag-north-carolina","tag-paige","tag-pnc-arena","tag-raleigh-nc","tag-renee-young","tag-rowan","tag-rusev","tag-samoa-joe","tag-sheamus","tag-shinsuke-nakamura","tag-sin-cara","tag-smackdown","tag-smackdown-live","tag-sonya-deville","tag-the-bar","tag-the-miz","tag-the-usos","tag-tom-phillips","tag-triple-threat-match","tag-tye-dillinger","tag-wwe","tag-xavier-woods","tag-zelina-vega"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3803","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3803"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3803\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3807,"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3803\/revisions\/3807"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3804"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnjradio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}