Match Ratings For 11/20/2020 WWE Smackdown From Sean Ross Sapp

Opening Segment

• Gotta agree with Big E, Xavier Woods is one of the most underrated wresters in the world.
• Big E is dressed as Undertaker and surprises Street Profits.
• They talk trash to each other, but Big E says New Day are all here tonight.
• Xavier and Kofi come out to the ring and say that they were invited here.
• They pay homage to the Undertaker by sitting up. Sami Zayn interrupts.
• Zayn says Undertaker is being protected by WWE from him.
• Xavier tells Zayn he looks like a recently divorced dad who made a down payment on a 400 square foot studio apartment.
• Corbin isn’t happy that New Day are here at all. He teases Xavier about being King of The Ring.
• King of the Ring should happen every year in WWE. It’s easy programming with stakes that can launch sidebar feuds.
• Bobby Roode and Ziggler don’t like New Day either. Where is Big E?
• Xavier and Kofi pitch a tag team match, and the winners get a title match. Two of these wrestlers are Smackdown stars.
• Roode and Ziggler attack New Day instead, and Street Profits make the save. Not Big E.
• WE’VE GOT OURSELVES A HECKIN’ MATCH.

Street Profits & New Day defeated Sami Zayn, King Corbin, Roode & Ziggler
5/10

• The story of this match is the two tag team champions one-upping one another.
• Some good, fast paced, athletic work here.
• For some reason, Sami Zayn eats a pin here. The one guy on his team booked for a match ends up getting pinned. I don’t get it.
• The in-ring wrestling was good, but so much of this didn’t make sense. Why are New Day here? Why isn’t Big E there? Why is Zayn eating the pin?
• After the match, Zayn approaches Daniel Bryan backstage and yells at him for smiling at him.
• Bryan pulls his face mask up and slaps Zayn, saying he likes to practice social distancing.

Survivor Series Qualifier Match
Natalya defeated Tamina
5/10 (short)

• Before the match, Adam Pearce says that Otis (congratulated by Chad Gable) and Bayley are both added to Team Smackdown, and Natalya isn’t happy.
• Bianca Belair is on commentary. Riott Squad is watching on backstage.
• Tamina has wrestled 11 matches in 2020. Eight of them have been title matches, top contender matches, or qualifying matches.
• Natalya wins a harmless match with a Sharpshooter.
• Team Smackdown celebrates after the match

BIG FIGHT FEEL

• Roman Reigns comes out and tells Drew he’s the right guy, in the right place at the wrong time.
• Drew McIntyre says he’s not going to get mad or anything, and says he has advice for Roman Reigns.
• Reigns isn’t happy about the advice. He tells Drew he’s a secondary title holder.
• WWE fumbled big time by not having an extended build for Drew McIntyre and Roman Reigns. Smackdown champ vs. Raw Champ should be a match and build that little kids watching now remember decades from now.
• Reigns tells Drew he’ll always be his favorite number 2.
• The hilarious sound of the rip of the velcro on those title belts.

Buddy Murphy (w/ The Whole Mysterio Family) defeated Seth Rollins
6/10

• The whole goddamn family is out here with Murphy, lol.
• Seth Rollins ties up Murphy in the ropes and attacks Rey Mysterio.
• Mysterio has his eye back. HOT DOG.
• Murphy has a great tope con giro dive. Just beautiful. As is every Falcon Arrow, ever.
• Rollins hits a Curb Stomp over the second rope, but Murphy’s foot is on the ropes.
• Murphy gets a clean win with couple of B TRIGGERS.

Title vs. Title

• Sasha and Asuka come out to the ring for their face-off.
• Weird they loaded up a two-hour Smackdown instead of a three hour Raw.
• Sasha and Asuka hilariously laugh at and with each other.
• Asuka used Road Dogg’s “Oh you didn’t know?”
• Carmella comes out and attacks Sasha Banks as Asuka just watches on.

Daniel Bryan defeated Jey Uso
6.25/10

• Daniel Bryan and Jey Uso cut promos about
• Daniel Bryan has a nifty new hair cut.
• Uso Samoan Drops Bryan through a table.
• It’s great to see Jey Uso in the main event picture still, even if it’s not the title picture. He’s that good.
• Uso goes after the kidneys that Daniel Bryan is selling like crazy. His offense was outstanding.
• A huge belly to back superplex hits for Bryan.
• It looks like Uso is going to win, but Bryan counters an Uso splash and cradles Uso for the win.

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!