Wrestling

Match Ratings For 9/18/20 WWE Smackdown From Sean Ross Sapp

SeanSeptember 19, 2020

Dirt Sheet

Miz and Morrison waste a few minutes on The Dirt Sheet before talking about Mandy.
Miz says that he got Mandy sent to Raw so that Otis could focus on his contract.
When Otis threw that chair, I instinctively worried about fans.
Otis runs off Morrison, and Tucker throws Miz in the ring.
Otis smashes Miz. Good! We don’t need an 11th match between Miz/Morrison and Otis then.
Otis goes right back after Miz even after his music hits.
Miz is wearing tighy whiteys. Okay. This will be a gag then, I guess. Morrison can’t believe it.
Ah. Lawsuit angles. Those always rule! Otis is served. They want him to forfeit the Money in the Bank contract or go to court.

Cesaro (w/ Shinsuke Nakamura) defeated Gran Metalik (w/ Lucha House Party)
5/10

Kalisto and Lince Dorado have a discussion over who should be coaching Metalik.
Pretty early in the match, they both get sent to the back and Metalik subsequently does better.
There’s a really nice jumping super huracanrana.
Back from the commercial break, and Cesaro waited forever to catch Metalik. Eventually he wins with a Neutralizer.
This is a match that would have really been helped a lot by not having commercials.

Other stuff

There’s a Matt Riddle bro promo where he says it conveys emotion via bro.

Moment Of Bliss

Alexa and Nikki hug.
Alexa Bliss asks how this will this be different from all the other times Bayley beat Nikki. Nikki said Sasha Banks isn’t there anymore.
Nikki Cross isn’t happy about Alexa hitting her with Sister Abigail last week and leaving.
Lacey Evans comes out and trashes Nikki. Cross blows her nose on her HANKY and they brawl.

Nikki Cross defeated Lacey Evans
4.75/10

Alexa Bliss is on commentary, cheering on Nikki Cross.
Lacey Evans is dominating the match and working over Nikki’s arm.
Lacey Evans is rubbing hand sanitizer in Nikki Cross’ eyes. Michael Cole reasonably has a cow wondering how that is legal.
Tornado DDT into the Purge gets the win for Nikki.
Standard WWE babyface wins after selling 90 percent kind of match.
Just fine, but painfully formulaic.
Lacey Evans is mad at Alexa Bliss. Alexa does Sister Abigail and stares as she wanders off.

Sasha Banks

Really hoped they wouldn’t have Sasha on TV to help sell the angle and Bayley would come out mocking her. Nope.
Sasha banks says her piece, only to be attacked by Bayley.
Sasha Banks got Pillmanized for ten minutes two weeks ago. Why did she need to be on the show!?

AJ Styles defeated Sami Zayn
5.25/10

Sami Zayn is upset he isn’t introduced as the IC Champion, and Styles attacks him.
This is Zayn’s first match since March 25.
Styles uses Zack Ryder’s suplex neckbreaker.
They trade kicks, and Zayn gets caught holding the tights.
Styles does the same and wins.
Not the 20 minute classic it could have been, but I’m okay with that considering the circumstances. Zayn’s first match back.
Zayn attacks Styles and wants to be announced as the champion.
Jeff Hardy attacks Zayn and drags out a table, a ladder and chairs.
Zayn vs. Styles vs. Jeff Hardy TLC or ladder would be fun.

PRELUDE

Paul Heyman narrates an amazing video about the Samoan wrestling family.
Jey Uso says Reigns has been throwing his weight around since they were little, but they’re not little anymore.
Sheamus is talking trash, and someone tells him his car is towed.
Big E is there and beats up Sheamus, then the guy that set him up. Belly to Belly on the car window, then he throws dude in the truck.
WWE would have had Hunter Red back on TV two weeks after New Jack stabbed him nine (14) times.

Samoan Street Fight
Jey Uso & Roman Reigns (w/ Paul Heyman) defeated King Corbin & Sheamus
6/10

Corbin does a Deep Six on the floor. Such a great move.
Reigns is out here for the full match, he also gets thrown over the announce table.
Jey Uso gets put through a table.
Reigns Samoan drops Sheamus through a table and spears him through the barricade.
Uso hits Corbin with the title. Spear, splash, win.
Reigns and Uso hug.

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 that may change upon a second viewing, or sitting on the match for a period of time. Don’t take them too seriously, and have (and share) your own!