WWE SmackDown Live Review: Results, Analysis and Grades for Oct. 4

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No Mercy is on Sunday! What will happen on SmackDown Live?

Lots of special things on the go-home show for No Mercy. With all of SmackDown’s titles on the line on Sunday, all of the belts will get some time to shine on the last show before their second brand specific pay-per-view.

MizTV will bless our screens tonight with a special look at a Dolph-Umentary. That would be a trailer for a documentary looking at the career of Ziggler. That’s going to be can’t-miss television.

Also in the cards for tonight is a battle between two women who are both preparing for a big match on Sunday. Alexa Bliss will battle Nikki Bella tonight before challenging Becky Lynch for the SmackDown Women’s Championship in 5 days. Carmella will surely be scouting this match as well, as her issues with Nikki Bella seem far from over.

Also in the WWE Championship picture, a face to face to face for Styles, Cena & Ambrose is promised for tonight. How will each man try to get the upper hand heading into their triple threat match at No Mercy?

The tag team division is sure to get some love too, as more and more teams begin gunning for the titles around the waists of Rhyno & Heath Slater. What will the top contenders the Usos do? And will any other teams make noise in the division tonight?

All this, and probably more VP debate references than you can shake a selfie stick at, tonight on the SmackDown Live review.

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Bray Wyatt vs Kane

Result: Kane wins by Countout

Rating: 1.75 out of 5 stars

SmackDown Live is opened this week by the man who faces Randy Orton on Sunday, Bray Wyatt. He’s looking for a win against the man he lost to at Backlash, Kane.

The match was somewhat a plodding affair until Wyatt was setting up for Sister Abigail. Then Orton appeared on the screen upside down. He told Wyatt he would turn his world upside down, and distracted Wyatt. Orton told Wyatt to come chase down his prey, and Wyatt turned into an almost chokeslam from Kane.
Wyatt was torn between fighting the battle against Kane or chasing after Orton. He decided to head after Orton, causing the count out win for Kane.

Kane was busted open in the match, and ended up looking fired up and got his pyro at the end of the segment. There was some jawing between Kane and Wyatt after the match; maybe these two’s issues aren’t going to be fully resolved yet.

Corbin Backstage

The Lone Wolf is approached by Charly Caruso about how he now has Jack Swagger’s attention. Corbin says he’s going to drop Swagger and mentions how he always gets people’s attention. Swagger approaches Corbin, and asks him to prove himself in the ring. Looks like these two will battle at No Mercy.

Up next, Bliss vs Bella!

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Wyatt’s Spooky Adventure

Wyatt is walking backstage, talking about how Orton’s time is coming. Weird.

Alexa Bliss vs Nikki Bella

Result: No Contest

Both of these women have big matches coming up at No Mercy. Bliss challengers Becky Lynch for the SmackDown Women’s Championship, her first crack at the new belt. Bella has a big match coming up against Carmella, who has been vicious in her attacks of the longest reigning WWE Divas Champion.

Carmella is on commentary, and when the match spills outside she calls Thirsty Kardashian Wannabe. That leads to Bella tossing Bliss into Carmella of course.
Nikki has Bliss up for her finisher, and Carmella  interferes. That draws out the champ, Becky Lynch to come support Nikki Bella.

Teddy Long alert: we’ve got a tag team match, playa!

Alexa Bliss & Carmella vs Nikki Bella & Becky Lynch

Result: Bliss and Carmella def. Bella and Lynch (Twisted Bliss)

Rating: 2.75 out of 5 stars

Nikki Bella gets worked over by the two women SmackDown Live picked from NXT during the draft. After Carmella misses a Bronco Buster, Bella gets the hot tag to Lynch.

Two BexPlexes catch Bliss, and a diving forearm off the apron flattens the #1 Contender on the outside.

Carmella and Bliss work to take out Lynch with a super kick, before Bella chases Carmella back to the back after a spear. Bliss hits Twisted Bliss on Lynch and gets the pinfall. She pinned the champ before No Mercy! Bliss looking strong!

Why does music always hit when wrestlers make the save? How on the ball are the music people in WWE?

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Wyatt’s Spooky Adventure, Part II

Wyatt is backstage looking for Orton. He finds his rocking chair illuminated by a single light. Orton lures him in, then locks him in the garage where the chair apparently was. He says “Lord, have mercy. Or not. Wyatt is shown inside the trailer/garage thing freaking out about how walls can’t hold him.

Daniel Bryan Susan G. Komen Segment

Bryan is out with breast cancer survivors, talking about their heroism and the work of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. He introduces the women and the crowd gives them a great reception.

Jack Swagger vs Baron Corbin is apparently on, and it’s on for tonight! They’ll brawl even before No Mercy!

Vaudevillains vs Hype Bros

Result: Hype Bros def. Vaudevillains (Hype Ryder)

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Neither of these teams really have a lot of momentum, so this could be a launching-off point for their potential run towards the tag team titles. Ryder and Rawley have more momentum, so they have to be considered the favourites.
Early in the matchup, the Ascension make their way out to the entrance ramp to get a closer look at this match. They may be the next challenges up for the Hype Bros.

Mojo Rawley danced the Hammer Dance in this match, so that’s a thing.

After the throwback grapplers work over Ryder, Rawley gets a hot tag and brings all his hype into the battle. He uses his strength to neutralize the Vaudevillains. They get Aiden English up for the Hype Ryder and get the victory.

The Ascension do not look impressed with the Hype Bros after the win, and will likely come after the Hype Bros in the future.

Up next, the Dolph-Umentary! Coming up courtesy of the Miz.

MizTV

Miz is in the ring as we get back, and immediately brings out the “man of the hour,” Dolph Ziggler.

The documentary is called “The Success of a Failure.” It shows everything from his caddy days with Kerwin White, to his work with the Spirit Squad. They show a bunch of humiliating things from his time, like getting knocked out by Hugh Jackman, kissing Sheamus’ ass, and losing the World Heavyweight Championship in 10 minutes.
They cut together clips of WWE stars making fun of him, and apparently, the Success of a Failure will air on WWE Network on Sunday. I’d watch it.

Ziggler talks about how he can’t quit, because he loves the magic moments. Moments with kids in the front row, or with Make-A-Wish, or his MITB cash in. He says he can’t just walk away, but if he can’t deliver he doesn’t belong here. Ziggler says he isn’t done yet.
Miz responds simply: “Yes you are.” He says he has just the thing to raise his spirits.

AND HE BRINGS OUT THE SPIRIT SQUAD. Well, 2/5 of them. Kenny Dykstra is absolutely killing it. After talking up their reunion, Miz sicks Kenny and Mikey on Dolph, but Ziggler hits a superkick on both before Miz runs to the back.

That was fantastic. This is my favourite feud in WWE right now.

Jason Jordan vs Jey Uso is happening, and it’s happening next!

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Jey Uso vs Jason Jordan

Result:Jordan def. Uso by pinfall (Victory Roll)

Rating:

1.5 out of 5 stars

American Alpha really, really, really, does not like the Usos. The newly heel Usos took out Gable’s knee, ruining their shot at the tag team championship.

Out of nowhere, Jason Jordan rolls up Jey Uso for the quick victory.

After the loss, the Usos go ballistic again. They take out Gable and run his knee into the ring steps. They chop block Jordan and are about to take his knee out too. The tag champs Rhyno and Heath Slater make their way out to make the save and prevent any further damage.

Wyatt in Confinement

Wyatt is shown just sitting and singing in his rocking chair. He’s shown hallucinating Sister Abigail. Wyatt asks her to take him home, because he’s ready to go home.

Back from break and Orton is coming to unlock Wyatt. He opens it, and Wyatt’s gone! Orton smashes the rocking chair, and that’s it? Strange.
They show the clip from Talking Smack last week where Cena says Ambrose doesn’t like Cena, but Cena doesn’t care about Ambrose. Ouch.

Curt Hawkins has an announcement – at No Mercy he’ll be stepping into the ring for the first time on SmackDown Live. That’s a fact!

Jack Swagger vs Baron Corbin

Result: Swagger def. Corbin by submission (Patriot Lock)

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

These two have been sizing each other up ever since Jack Swagger made his debut on the blue brand. Corbin doesn’t seem to like anyone, so he’s, of course, willing to brawl with Swagger. The former World Heavyweight Champion, however, is looking to make a name for himself on Tuesday nights. Taking out a hot prospect like Corbin is a good way to start.

Early on, Swagger uses his wrestling prowess to get the upper hand. A cheap shot when the referee is not looking gets Corbin the advantage back.

During the break, Corbin hit a Deep Six on Swagger but only got a two count. Swagger would end up catching Corbin in a Patriot Lock in the middle of the ring. Corbin is reaching for the ropes, and while he’s doing that the ref calls for the bell.

Corbin is livid; he was reaching for the ropes, not tapping out to the Patriot Lock. Swagger gets the win, but under shady circumstances. Corbin goes ballistic at ringside, knocking the ring steps around and ruining the announce table.

Next: Main Event Showdown

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Main Event Face-Off

Styles talks about being in the land of opportunity on SmackDown Live. He says he’s going to prove himself again at No Mercy.

Ambrose interrupts, and calls Styles the Chump. He attacks Styles for taking the low road to get the biggest title of all. Ambrose says Cena should thank him for bringing the title to SmackDown in the first place so he can have a shot at Ric Flair’s record at all.
That, of course, brings out Cena. Styles doesn’t even let Cena speak, because he says he knows what Cena is going to say. Styles says Cena doesn’t deserve to break the record, and doesn’t belong in the same conversation as Ric Flair. He says Cena chases history, Styles makes history.

Cena gets interrupted again, this time by Ambrose. He paraphrases what Cena’s speech will be about, which will be spinning last week’s situation into something that will help Cena politically. Ambrose says Cena undercuts everyone in order to benefit himself.

Ambrose runs down Cena’s Hustle, Loyalty, Respect motto saying he represents it more than Cena. He tells Cena he never wanted Cena’s respect because he doesn’t need it. Ambrose will be real, and Cena can keep being the guy who plays John Cena on tv.

Cena simply says “talk is cheap” and the three men start to brawl. Cena AA’s Ambrose, Styles retreats to the outside.

Styles jumps Cena from behind, avoids an AA and hits a Phenomenal Forearm. Styles starts retreating to the back with his title and his music playing, but Ambrose catches him. Ambrose hits a Dirty Deeds on the entrance ramp, and it’s Ambrose who stands tall to end SmackDown Live.

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Final Thoughts

When SmackDown Live has been hitting it out of the park consistently, even a double can come across as a letdown.

That’s exactly what this episode was for the blue brand. A solid effort, but not up to par with their best stuff.

The show had some high points, including the Ziggler-Miz segment. Week to week this continues to be the hottest rivalry in the WWE. It has completely rejuvenated the Intercontinental Championship, and both men look better each week. Plus, it’s good to see the Spirit Squad come back in what was a legitimate surprise.

The main event picture continues to be a shining star, and not in the same way as that terrible RAW tag team. All three men have clear motivation, the verbal skills to back it up, and will put on a tremendous main event at No Mercy.

Curt Hawkins is on the other side of the coin. His gimmick is confusing, and I doubt he will have much of an impact on SmackDown Live at all.

The women’s and tag team divisions are flaunting their depth, but the segments fell somewhat flat this week. A Hype Bros-Vaudevillains match is bathroom break material, but could be built up in the future.

What did you think of SmackDown tonight? Are You watching No Mercy? Let us know in the comments below!

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