Match Ratings For WWE Smackdown Live 9/17/19

New Day defeated The Revival & Randy Orton
5.75/10

• Might as well do this one while they’re killing time until Fox, I guess.
• Randy Orton truly doesn’t care now.
• New Day starts dominating as we go to commercial. They are on fire.
• We come back to some great heel work, where Revival and Orton work over the previously injured leg of Woods.
• Orton tosses Xavier over the top rope, then Singh Bombs him. This move doesn’t get old to me.
• Things come unglued and Orton and Revival try the ShatteRKO, but can’t do it. Instead, Xavier flying elbow drops Dash.
• Kofi hits Dawson with the Trouble in Paradise for the win.
• This was a good match, but far too much of it was during the commercial.
• BROCK LESNAR’S music hits.
• Kofi sends New Day away.
• Brock Lesnar vs. Kofi Kingston for the WWE Title on the FOX Debut of Smackdown. That’s huge.
• Kofi Kingston accepts the challenge and eats an amazing F5 along the way.

ROWAN

• This Erick Rowan interview is so fake.
• Michael Cole says Rowan tried to kill Reigns.
• “YOU SEE”
• Rowan says he’s not a background player. The contents of this interview are good, but the delivery is hideous

Ali and Zayn

• It was clear they were killing time for something. It’s Kevin Owens
• Sami Zayn tells Ali that he actually likes him and what he stands for.
• Nakamura and Zayn then attack Ali. The ref is tending to Ali.
• Kevin Owens comes down through the crowd.
• Corey Graves channeling his Eric Bischoff on the first night of Nitro saying “GET THE CAMERA OFF HIM.”
• Shane McMahon is served papers.
• Shane says the papers are for a $25,000,000 lawsuit.
• Owens says Shane attacked him when he was an official.
• Owens is gonna sue Shane, and then FIIIIIIIIIIIIRE HIM.

Charlotte Flair defeated Sasha Banks (w/ Bayley) via DQ
5.5/10

• Sasha’s promos are a lot better as a heel, but she should eliminate “you see” from them, because that takes a ton of reality out of them.
• Offset introduces Charlotte Flair, very cool. Ric Flair is there to support her as well.
• Charlotte starts out strong, and Sasha comes back, but after the commercial break, it’s right back to Charlotte taking over.
• Bayley looms outside the ring.
• Charlotte Flair hits a nice Exploder and turns a huracanrana into a Boston Crab.
• Charlotte moonsaults outside onto both women.
• Charlotte and Sasha Banks both roll through and a Figure Four is applied.
• Bayley attacks. This would hit rec’d viewing if it had an actual finish.
• Carmella comes out and makes the save but DOESN’T attack Bayley.
• Bayley’s bump off Carmella’s nudge was hilarious.
• Sasha Banks is gonna need to beat some people up on these shows soon

CORONATION

• I love how much Graves worships Corbin in this segment.
• Corbin has a pinky ring.
• It’s so corny that he uses all the terminology.
• Corbin busts out a bunch of short jokes on Gable, who he brings out.
• Gable tackles Corbin through the throne. He tears the robe and smashes the scepter.
• Well that’s one way to get rid of all the KOTR gimmicks. Gable smashes the crown.
• Gable got over without winning King of the Ring.

Heavy Machinery defeated B-Team
SQUASH

• This is basic, quick and harmless.
• I appreciate Heavy Machinery getting some wins over actual tag teams here and there to keep them strong. They’ve gotten a lot better in the ring and can go in and out of comedy and serious tag matches.
• Compactor gets the win.
• If you’ve seen one Heavy Machinery match, you’ve seen em all.

FRIENDSHIP

• Daniel Bryan says a lot of the people chanting his name thought he attacked Reigns.
• He treated Rowan as an equal and as his friend, because Rowan is his friend.
• Rowan comes out and said Bryan wanted him to be a puppet.
• Bryan says there’s nothing physically worse than ending their friendship and challenges Rowan.
• Harper attacks from behind.
• Roman Reigns makes the save and kicks asses.
• It doesn’t last long, and he’s laid out.
• Security is thrown on the exposed floor.
• Reigns is hit with a barricade, and an Bonsoir through an announce table for Bryan.

Rating guide

10- Perfect, 9- MOTY Territory, 8- Excellent, 7- Great, 6- Good, 5- Average to above average, 4- Slightly below average, 3 or below: Poor

Each match starts at a 5 and slides up and down based on entertainment, execution, time, environment, reaction and stakes. The ratings are in no way an indication of a “star rating,” which is a completely different system. A standard, non-offensive “TV match” lands at a 5. The gap between 5.75-6 is generally the largest, with anything reaching 6 being recommended viewing.
These are opinions, and incredibly inconsistent ones. Don’t take them too seriously, and have (and share) your own!