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WWE SMACKDOWN TV REPORT
JUNE 3, 2022
COLUMBUS, OHIO AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY’S SHOTTENSTEIN CENTER
AIRED ON FOX
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee
Ring Announcer: Samantha Irvin
[HOUR ONE]
-The Smackdown opening theme aired.
-Michael Cole and Pat McAfee introduced the show as the camera panned the crowd. They previewed the key advertised matches.
-New Day made their ring entrance. Xavier Woods was back with both the trombone and a king outfit. They got the crowd interacting with them about the local university. Kofi Kingston acted surprised and unimpressed that Sheamus & Ridge Holland call themselves The Brawling Brutes now. Xavier introduced Drew McIntyre and thanked him for getting them back on the winning track last week.
McIntyre came out with his sword. He said to the fans, “We are loud tonight.” He sent a “special shoutout to someone watching at home.” New Day did owl “who” noises. He said that somebody is Big E. He said he knows what it’s like to be sitting at home all alone, thinking people have forgotten about him. He said the Big E chant that was about to break out will show nobody has forgotten about him. He said until E comes back, they can count on Big D. He was about to explain why he’s called Big D, but Xavier and Kofi interrupted him and said it’s a family show. “We walk the line, but you’re going to take it too far,” K0fi said.
Drew wore a “Kneel to the Steel” t-shirt. They asked him to explain that. He talked about how you need to get on your knees. Xavier and Kofi again cut him off. They then presented him with a colorful gift box for his birthday. Fans chanted, “Happy Birthday!” Drew held up a kilt that said “Big D” on it.
Sheamus, Ridge Holland, and Butch interrupted from the stage. Sheamus took a dig at Ohio State sports. (Yawn.) Sheamus talked about what they’ll do to them next time they fight. Butch broke past Sheamus and Ridge and attacked New Day and McIntyre. They easily threw him out of the ring where Ridge and Sheamus restrained him as they cut to a break. [c/ss]
(1) THE BRAWLING BRUTES (Sheamus & Ridge Holland & Butch) vs. NEW DAY (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston) & DREW MCINTYRE
They joined the match in progress. Kofi knocked Sheamus to the floor with a knee. He knocked Holland off the ring apron a second later. Xavier and Kofi then landed running flip dives onto Sheamus and Holland at ringside. Xavier yanked off McAfee’s headset and yelled into it as they cut to a break a few minutes in. [c]
After the break, both Kofi and Sheamus were down mid-ring. Both tagged out to Sheamus and Holland. Drew delivered a neckbreaker and then kipped up before playing to the crowd. McAfee touted that Cole has been around for 25 years and has only missed two weeks. They brawled at ringside. Butch charged Xavier in the ring, but Xavier ducked and rolled up Butch for a two count. Sheamus leaped onto the ring apron. Xavier turned and took a swing at him. Butch then took advantage of the DISTRACTED Xavier by hitting a Bitter End for the win.
WINNERS: Brawling Brutes in about 10:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: These six are going to be expected to have a good match, and they did. The promo segment before was basic stuff until the innuendo which didn’t strike me as clever, funny, or edgy.)
-They replayed the finish of Riddle & Shinsuke Nakamura beating the Usos on Raw to earn a title match tonight.
-Kayla Braxton interviewed Riddle and Shinsuke Nakamura backstage. Riddle said they’re still in the honeymoon phase as a team. He said Nakamura is no Randy, but he’s got some sweet moves. Nakamura said Riddle is no Boogs, but he’s more peaceful, quieter, and smooth. Braxton threw to a clip of Roman Reigns costing Riddle & Randy Orton the Raw Tag Team Titles and then the post-match beatdown. Riddle said the Usos and Reigns might have ended Randy’s career. He said this match isn’t about the tag team titles, it’s about vengeance for Randy. [c]
-Cole and McAfee plugged the Six-Pack Challenge match later to determine Ronda Rousey’s next challenger.
-They went backstage to Adam Pearce who was on a cell phone talking about making all the women who want a title match to have to earn it. Then Max Dupri walked in and close-talked to Pearce. He talked about finding someone for the Blue Brand who can represent WWE on all runways around the world. He told Pearce he doesn’t make the cut. Dupri said he found someone who will walk away from Instragram to the bright lights of WWE. “Who might that be?” asked Pearce. Dupri said he’ll have to wait, like the rest of the world. He said he’ll reveal it next week. McAfee exclaimed that he can’t wait.
-They went to Cole and McAfee on camera who hyped the Hell in a Cell PLE this Sunday night. They aired a video package on the Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins main event.
-Los Lotharios made their ring entrance. McAfee said he thought a worldwide pandemic might have ended things like this, but Los Lotharios keep doing the Kiss Cam. They kissed a woman in the front row. [c]
-A clip aired of Shanky irritating Jinder Mahal last week by wandering off and dancing backstage, followed by Los Lotharios beating Jinder & Shanky in a tag match, which Jinder blamed on Shanky.
-Backstage, Jinder yelled at Shanky to take things seriously tonight. When they made their ring entrance, though, Shanky danced behind Jinder, but stopped anytime Jinder looked back toward him. McAfee talked about how dancing is banned in parts of the world.
(2) JINDER MAHAL (w/Shanky) vs. HUMBERTO (w/Angel)
Shanky danced at ringside whenever Jinder got in offense. Jinder yelled at him. Humberto rolled up Jinder for a two count. Humberto then yelled at Shanky to “get down” off the ring apron. Jinder then rolled up Humberto for the win. Shanky tried to get Jinder to dance with him afterward. Jinder shot him a disapproving look and walked away. Cole said, “Don’t knock it until you try it.” Shanky then began dancing and eyeing Samantha Irvin. She smiled and then stood and joined him dancing. Cole said, “How can you not enjoy this?”
WINNER: Mahal in 4:00.
-Ronda Rousey made her ring entrance. She smiled and slapped hands on her way to the ring.
-Racquel Rodriguez came out first. Then Shotzi. When Aliyah’s music played, she didn’t come out. They cut backstage and she was locked in a locker room banging on the door. (Rooms do not lock from the inside.) [c]
[HOUR TWO]
(3) RACQUEL RODRIGUEZ vs. SHOTZI vs. ALIYAH vs. NATALYA vs. SHAYNA BASZLER vs. XIA LI – Six-Pack Challenge to determine no. 1 contender for Smackdown Title
Cole said they are trying to find the key to unlock her. Baszler made her entrance. Xia Li came out next. And finally Natalya made her entrance. A few minutes in, they went into a series of each wrestler hitting key moves. Natalya opportunistically covered Shotzi for the win after Rodriguez hit her finisher on Shotzi. Cole said Natalya would get a title match against Rousey “down the road.”
WINNER: Natalya in 6:00.
-Afterward, Rousey entered the ring and got in Natayla’s face. Cole said they’re both submission specialists. Cole said Rousey wants to be a fighting champion and she’ll have her work cut out for her.
(Keller’s Analysis: I like that they’re going with this match. Natalya has worked out with Rousey and helped her learn the ropes of pro wrestling, so it should be a special match for both of them.)
-They went to Cole and McAfee who commented on clips of Happy Corbin injuring Madcap Moss.
-A soundbite aired with Corbin threatening Moss last Friday that if he showed up this week, he should get on his knees and beg him for his job back.
-Moss made his entrance out of the back of an ambulance. He was all business with just black trunks and a snarl on his face. No suspenders. [c]
-A vignette aired promoting Lacey Evans wrestling on Smackdown next week. Cole called her inspirational.
-Madcap Moss walked to ringside, took a deep breath, and entered the ring. He played to the crowd. Cole said being a court jester is in his past. McAfee said he’s too good to be some stooge for a bigger stooge. McAfee said he’s very pumped about this. Moss looked around as fans chanted “Welcome back!” He said three weeks ago he had a chair wrapped around his neck and a gigantic trophy smashed over him. He said Corbin thought that’d be the end of Madcap Moss. He said he was right. He said that man is gone. He said the man who would take his crap and laugh it off is gone. “I buried him,” he said. He called Corbin to the ring.
Corbin walked out to ringside. He told Moss that if he’s there to beg for his job back, he’ll consider it. Moss said the only thing he wants from him is for him to enter the ring so he can kick his teeth down his throat. Corbin said he’d love to enter the ring and teach him another lesson in humility, but not tonight. He said he’d hate for Moss to throw away his entire career because he’s emotional. “It’s a bad idea,” he said. (Was that another dog whistle comment aimed at Sasha Banks, Naomi, or even MJF?) Pearce walked out and said he likes the idea of a match between them. The crowd cheered. Pearce said the match is official. [c]
(4) MADCAP MOSS vs. HAPPY CORBIN
Corbin grabbed a chair at ringside early. Moss grabbed it from him and jabbed him in the gut with it. The ref DQ’d Moss.
WINNER: Corbin via DQ in 1:00.
-Moss bashed Corbin with the chair in the ring and then let out a big yell. Moss brought the steps into the ring. Officials ran out and separated them.
(Keller’s Analysis: It’s great to see Moss has dropped the suspenders and the bad jokes.)
-Braxton interviewed the Usos who bragged about how they’re going to make Roman proud and retain their tag titles tonight. [c]
-Corbin limped over to Pearce and told him to tell him that Moss has been suspended for what he did. Pearce said the opposite is true because he’s booked them in a No Holds Barred match at Hell in a Cell on Sunday.
-Cole and McAfee announced that Ricochet would defend his IC Title against Gunther next week. A soundbite aired with Ricochet who said Gunther will learn to respect his abilities on his so-called sacred mat and he will keep the belt over his shoulder. A soundbite aired with Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser.
-Riddle and Nakamura made their ring entrance. As Riddle’s music played, Cole hyped the Hell in a Cell line-up. The Usos then made their ring entrance. [c]
(5) THE USOS vs. RIDDLE & SHINSUKE NAKAMURA – WWE Tag Team Title match
Riddle tagged in a few minutes in and scored a near fall on Jey. Riddle went for a top rope move, but Jimmy knocked him off balance. Jimmy tagged in and scored a near fall after a stereo superkick. Nakamura broke up the cover, then tossed Jey into the ringside steps. He went for a running knee, but Jey moved. The Usos then doubled on Nakamura and kicked his knee. Trainers tended to Nakamura and helped him to the back. Riddle was left to fight alone. They cut to a break after Riddle cleared the ring of the Usos. [c]
The Usos had control of Riddle after the break. When Riddle made a comeback, Cole said this would be the upset of the century of Riddle won. Riddle then hit a draping DDT. He played to the crowd and set up an RKO. As Riddle was about to hit a top rope RKO, Reigns’s music played. Riddle hit the move anyway, but Jey blind tagged in during this sequence and landed a top rope splash for the win.
WINNERS: The Usos in 13:00 to retain the titles.
-They cut to Sami in the production truck celebrating, revealing he was the one who played Reigns’s music. Sami joined the Usos on the stage and celebrate. Riddle saw what happened on the big screen and ran to the stage and went after Sami. Referees pulled them apart
Max Dupri. What a waste. This man is, in the words of Wade Barrett, a “mega star” who should be headlining Wrestlemanias, not doing the Smackdown version of Robert Stone’s NXT gimmick. Not one bit surprised Vince and Company have no clue what to do with him.