Written by: Kevin Berge (All Images Courtesy of: WWE.com)
I'll be honest. Reviewing Monday Night Raw can be exhausting. Perhaps that is why I always enjoy taking a break to review SmackDown Live instead, in particular the pay-per-views. At Backlash 2017, SmackDown broke all the rules and crowned a new WWE Champion in Jinder Mahal.
Now they will showcase just how far the brand can go in differentiating itself from the pack with the big news for this show the first-ever women's Money in the Bank ladder match.
A contest I have honestly believed was overdue for years now, this match alongside Mahal's first title defense and a stacked men's ladder match made this an exciting show going in.
Now they will showcase just how far the brand can go in differentiating itself from the pack with the big news for this show the first-ever women's Money in the Bank ladder match.
A contest I have honestly believed was overdue for years now, this match alongside Mahal's first title defense and a stacked men's ladder match made this an exciting show going in.
The Colons' new push lasted a good two days.
The Hype Bros def. The Colons on the Kickoff Show
Overview: The Colons managed to isolate Zack Ryder early and target his repaired knee until Ryder managed to get the hot tag to Mojo. Primo and Epico had no chance to stop Mojo who set up for the Hype Ryder for the win.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was a serviceable reintroduction for The Hype Bros even if did not do The Colons much favors. It is great to see Ryder back in action, and The Hype Bros are a welcome credible team for SmackDown that should help further improve a division that is better than it has ever been.
Highlights:
- Mojo took the chops of Primo to no effect then dodged a dropkick before bodyslamming Primo to set up a running forearm from Ryder.
- Epico pulled Primo to safety from a Broski Boot only for both to take a double boot through the ropes from Ryder.
- Ryder reversed a Primo suplex into a neckbreaker.
- Mojo hit Epico with the Hyper Drive.
Analysis: This was a serviceable reintroduction for The Hype Bros even if did not do The Colons much favors. It is great to see Ryder back in action, and The Hype Bros are a welcome credible team for SmackDown that should help further improve a division that is better than it has ever been.
This is all exciting and all, but it's great a man came through to show them how to climb a ladder.
Carmella Wins the 2017 Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Overview: The power of Tamina was the focal point of this match early on, dominating everyone. As Charlotte was continually shut down by the heels from climbing, she decided to take it upon herself to eliminate both Natalya and Tamina, leaving Becky Lynch and Carmella alone. James Ellsworth managed to stop Lynch and unhook the briefcase, sending it down to Carmella.
Highlights:
Analysis: This match was proof WWE still has a long way to go before they can brag about what they are doing with the women in WWE. This match was too short, lacked major spots, and had an insulting finish. After all the build up of this match as the women's first foray into ladder matches, a man ends up unhooking the briefcase anyway. Any finish was better than this even if the story makes sense.
Carmella will be a fine Mrs. Money in the Bank and could be a solid champion. It is a shame she couldn't take down the case herself even if Ellsworth had supported her climb.
Highlights:
- Tamina quickly slammed the ladders of each woman back into them.
- Tamina superkicked Charlotte then splashed Lynch in the corner followed by blocking Carmella's superkick and hitting her with a Samoan drop before superkicking Natalya and catapulting her into a ladder.
- Lynch and Natalya fought over a ladder, using it on others, before Natalya hit her with a spinning bodyslam on the ladder.
- Charlotte pulled Natalya off the ladder to set up an electric chair drop.
- Tamina knocked both Carmella and Charlotte off the ladder into the ropes.
- Charlotte caught Natalya with a Sharpshooter before taking a Carmella superkick.
- Charlotte ripped Carmella off the ladder then big booted her followed by a quick big boot to Lynch. Tamina headbutted Charlotte off the ladder then took a Spear through the ropes followed by a second Spear into the steel steps.
- Charlotte took out Natalya and Tamina with a corkscrew senton bomb off the top rope to the outside.
- Lynch powerbombed Carmella then got knocked off the ladder by Ellsworth.
Analysis: This match was proof WWE still has a long way to go before they can brag about what they are doing with the women in WWE. This match was too short, lacked major spots, and had an insulting finish. After all the build up of this match as the women's first foray into ladder matches, a man ends up unhooking the briefcase anyway. Any finish was better than this even if the story makes sense.
Carmella will be a fine Mrs. Money in the Bank and could be a solid champion. It is a shame she couldn't take down the case herself even if Ellsworth had supported her climb.
Rating: 7.5/10
To think, we had to go over a month without Big E doing this.
The New Day def. The Usos By Count Out; The Usos Retain the SmackDown Tag Team Championships
Overview: The Usos took the fight to The New Day by focusing on Kofi Kingston; however, Big E's hot tag changed the momentum with New Day seemingly unstoppable from there, building up together to the finish. After Jimmy took the Midnight Hour, Jey had to pull him to safety with the two then escaping the match with their championships.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was a really good match with a fantastic closing sequence of offense. The finish will likely cause some frustration, but it worked for me, showcasing that The Usos were not ready for New Day. I look forward to what these two teams do next as they are clearly working at the highest levels of their careers right now.
Highlights:
- The Usos double suplexed Kofi into the steel post.
- Kofi broke free after a sudden dropkick.
- Big E belly to belly suplexed Jimmy but ran into several kicks before fighting back with a uranage out of the corner.
- Big E Speared Jimmy through the ropes.
- Jimmy dodged Trouble in Paradise then reversed the SOS before teaming on Kofi to hit a chop block into a single-leg Boston crab.
- Jey's suicide dive was caught and turned into a belly to belly outside by Big E.
- Kofi blocked a superkick and turned it into a dragon sleeper with Jimmy breaking free only to take the SOS.
- Big E caught Jimmy mid-splash for a Big Ending with Jey forced to break up the pin.
- The Usos blocked a Big E Spear with double knee strikes then were promptly sent over the top by Big E followed by a diving crossbody from Kofi.
Analysis: This was a really good match with a fantastic closing sequence of offense. The finish will likely cause some frustration, but it worked for me, showcasing that The Usos were not ready for New Day. I look forward to what these two teams do next as they are clearly working at the highest levels of their careers right now.
Rating: 8.75/10
Lana has already mastered the heel facial expressions....
Naomi def. Lana to Retain the SmackDown Women's Championship
Overview: Naomi came out angry early in this match, only to be isolated by a few cheap shots from Lana that allowed her to take control. The beatdown of Lana continued viciously which brought out Carmella who decided not to cash-in yet but watch the match. Naomi managed to reverse a second sitout spinebuster and lock Lana in the Slay-o-mission for the win.
Highlights:
Analysis: Honestly, I may be a tad bit generous here by not rating this lower. Lana landed a few solid moves, but this was extremely sloppy with Lana failing to hit basic strikes clean. Her finisher works simply because it is the move she hits best. Naomi is not good enough to salvage a match like this with the story of Lana's surprising success not truly seen by those paying attention.
Highlights:
- Naomi tripped Lana then hit her with a running low straight right.
- Lana suplexed Naomi's leg onto the bottom rope then again on the middle rope.
- Naomi almost turned a leg wrench into a cross armbreaker before Lana struck the bad leg to force her to break.
- Naomi caught Lana with a trio of short-arm roundhouse kicks.
- Lana ran right into the Rear View, heading outside before connecting with a high kick through the ropes followed by a low boot.
- Lana connected with the sitout spinebuster for a nearfall.
Analysis: Honestly, I may be a tad bit generous here by not rating this lower. Lana landed a few solid moves, but this was extremely sloppy with Lana failing to hit basic strikes clean. Her finisher works simply because it is the move she hits best. Naomi is not good enough to salvage a match like this with the story of Lana's surprising success not truly seen by those paying attention.
Rating: 6/10
Imagine: some people still don't think this looks like a star.
Jinder Mahal def. Randy Orton to Retain the WWE Championship
Overview: With legends including Cowboy Bob Orton and Ric Flair watching at ringside, Randy Orton sent Jinder Mahal reeling early in this match, but Mahal managed to target the leg of Orton and ground him down. When Orton rallied, The Singh Brothers again got involved, distracting Orton into attacking them only to walk back into the ring right into a Khallas for the win.
Highlights:
Analysis: I understand that Mahal is WWE Champion now, but he has never had a match like this. Forcing him to go 20 minutes with Orton was too much as the contest slowed to a halt in the middle section and never recovered. The finish ultimately mirrored their first match, but the match preceding was long and plodding rather than heated this time.
Highlights:
- Orton immediately tried to RKO Mahal and sent him reeling outside.
- Orton slammed Mahal's back onto the barricade and sent him into the laps of the legends.
- Mahal slammed Orton's knee hard into the table then slammed the back of the leg into the table.
- Mahal caught Orton in the figure four leg lock as Flair watched.
- Orton landed a superplex on Mahal.
- Mahal took an RKO with the Singh Brothers slipping his foot on the rope.
- The Singh Brothers threatened Cowboy Bob Orton which got Orton to destroy both men, ending in an RKO through a table.
Analysis: I understand that Mahal is WWE Champion now, but he has never had a match like this. Forcing him to go 20 minutes with Orton was too much as the contest slowed to a halt in the middle section and never recovered. The finish ultimately mirrored their first match, but the match preceding was long and plodding rather than heated this time.
Rating: 7.5/10
Here I was thinking The Ascension got released. Nah, they just have a once-every-two-months appearance contract aka the Brock Lesnar deal.
Breezango def. The Ascension
Overview: The Ascension were revealed as the true culprits in the attacks on Breezango with the duo using their power to isolate Tyler Breeze. When Fandango got involved, he had his head on a swivel, allowing him to fight off both monsters until Breeze knocked Konnor off the top rope to set up Fandango for a small package on Viktor for the win.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was TV squash match which makes little sense when you are putting on a small card pay-per-view with some actual story behind it. The Ascension really were never made a threat here, and they may never be a threat. It is an issue that SmackDown simply has only one viable heel teams right now even with The Ascension wandering into stories like this.
Highlights:
- Konnor threw Breeze right into a jumping knee from Viktor.
- Fandango repeatedly chopped Konor then hit a spinning heel kick.
- Fandango hit a diving forearm to knock Viktor off the apron but ran into a Konnor spinebuster.
Analysis: This was TV squash match which makes little sense when you are putting on a small card pay-per-view with some actual story behind it. The Ascension really were never made a threat here, and they may never be a threat. It is an issue that SmackDown simply has only one viable heel teams right now even with The Ascension wandering into stories like this.
Rating: 6.25/10
Screw all your indies. That's a true champion.
Baron Corbin Wins the 2017 Men's Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Overview: Baron Corbin assaulted Shinsuke Nakamura as Nakamura headed to the ring, taking Nakamura out of the match early on. He returned late to stop Corbin as he began to ascend the ladder alone. However, Nakamura was ultimately sidetracked by a war with AJ Styles that allowed Corbin to knock both off a ladder and take the briefcase.
Highlights:
Analysis: This was the quality car crash that you would expect if a bit long with Styles especially on fire at every turn. Zayn and Owens often looked ready to destroy themselves to make an impact which might have been a bit much. The only real disappointment was Nakamura basically sitting the tough part of this match out.
Ultimately, Corbin winning was the right move and sets up an immediate feud of Corbin and Nakamura while Corbin can build toward a WWE Championship reign down the line. He has always been an underutilized star-in-the-making who will finally be tested in the coming months.
Highlights:
- Ziggler and Corbin rand over Styles with a ladder then Ziggler superkicked Corbin.
- KO stabbed Styles then Zayn with a ladder then blasted Ziggler and Corbin off the apron with it only to take a drop toe hold into the ladder from Styles.
- Zayn threw KO off the top rope back-first onto a ladder. Ziggler Zig Zagged Corbin off the ladder.
- Zayn sent Ziggler to the floor from atop the ladder with a sunset flip powerbomb.
- Styles Phenomenal Forearmed Zayn off a ladder. Styles dived at Corbin right into a Corbin chokeslam on a ladder.
- Zayn kicked Ziggler away as he started climbing then was knocked off and lowe blowed by KO.
- Styles hit KO with a fireman's carry slam on a ladder.
- Ziggler pulled the ladder out from under Styles then Styles held onto the chain, eventually falling.
- Nakamura headed back to the ring and began brawling with Corbin.
- Nakamura took out Zayn with a Kinshasa then gave another to KO when he tried to keep the ladder out of the ring.
- Styles and Nakamura battled until Styles turned a Kinshasa into a jumping forearm.
Analysis: This was the quality car crash that you would expect if a bit long with Styles especially on fire at every turn. Zayn and Owens often looked ready to destroy themselves to make an impact which might have been a bit much. The only real disappointment was Nakamura basically sitting the tough part of this match out.
Ultimately, Corbin winning was the right move and sets up an immediate feud of Corbin and Nakamura while Corbin can build toward a WWE Championship reign down the line. He has always been an underutilized star-in-the-making who will finally be tested in the coming months.
Rating: 9/10
Who knew Maria was such a big star she actually could allow the former Mike Bennett to skip NXT when Samoa Joe and Bobby Roode could not?
Final Notes: Lana was interviewed before her match, making clear she had learned much from Rusev. On the latest Fashion Files, Fandango checked the forensics from the boys downstairs to figure out who attacked Tyler Breeze, getting a video tape where the culprits promised to appear if they came out to the ring tonight.
Maria Kanellis made her return to WWE alongside her husband Mike Kanellis with Maria promising that the two would educate everyone on the power of love.
Conclusion: This show should have been much better than it was. The talent came to perform, destroying themselves for some great matches. Even the non-ladder matches had a spark to them. It was just a Raw-esque scenario where booking took away from the talents' performances.
The whole night was loaded with unclean finishes and unsatisfying moves that hurt each match. The timing of the whole night was also flat out off with the main event matches too long while the women got too little time in the opener.
There were certainly straight bad moments. Naomi vs. Lana was a mess of an experiment, and Breezango vs. The Ascension was a squash. However, ultimately it was just a matter of poor booking that SmackDown will need to recover from going forward.
Maria Kanellis made her return to WWE alongside her husband Mike Kanellis with Maria promising that the two would educate everyone on the power of love.
Conclusion: This show should have been much better than it was. The talent came to perform, destroying themselves for some great matches. Even the non-ladder matches had a spark to them. It was just a Raw-esque scenario where booking took away from the talents' performances.
The whole night was loaded with unclean finishes and unsatisfying moves that hurt each match. The timing of the whole night was also flat out off with the main event matches too long while the women got too little time in the opener.
There were certainly straight bad moments. Naomi vs. Lana was a mess of an experiment, and Breezango vs. The Ascension was a squash. However, ultimately it was just a matter of poor booking that SmackDown will need to recover from going forward.