Match Ratings For 11/13/2020 WWE Smackdown From Sean Ross Sapp

Opening Promo

• Roman Reigns comes out and says that he changes careers and points to Jey Uso going from the brother nobody knew to main event Jey.
• He doesn’t even think about Randy Orton.
• Drew McIntyre comes out and says that Reigns is facing him at Survivor Series, not Orton.
• Drew says Reigns just disappeared and left everyone high and dry at WrestleMania and he stepped up.
• Reigns tells Drew that nobody even knows who he is anymore since Reigns came back.
• There aren’t a lot of people who tower over Reigns like that. not just in a physical sense. Reigns has a way of making people look smaller than they really are.
• Jey Uso comes out and gets in Drew’s face. He asks why Drew is even there. Jey says he’ll take care of Drew like he did Owens and Daniel Bryan.
• I’m usually a stickler for the brand split, but it seems kinda trivial right now.
• Backstage, Roman Reigns is screaming at Jey Uso. Reigns raising his voice is rare and really adds gravity to the situation.

WWE Intercontinental Championship
Sami Zayn (c) defeated Apollo Crews
SQUASH, KIND OF

• If Apollo Crews wins this title and faces Lashley again, I’ll snap.
• Sami Zayn wins by countout after untying the ring apron. Wow. I liked that finish.
• It doesn’t do anything for Apollo, but a good finish.

Sasha

• Sasha Banks comes out and puts the women’s division on notice.
• Apparently the division has put her on notice, too.
• Bayley comes out, and Carmella attacks from behind.

Otis defeated Dolph Ziggler (w/ Robert Roode)
SQUASH KIND OF

• Ziggler and Roode make fun of Otis backstage and say Mandy still texts Dolph.
• Otis kicks out of a Zig Zag and wins with a Vader Bomb.
• There’s not a lot to break down here. This was crazy short and they both got their finishers in.
• Otis has some NASCAR 98 music.
• Chad Gable wants to coach Otis, and gives him an Alpha Academy pamphlet. I’m all about this.

No DQ
Rey Mysterio (w/ Mysterio Family) defeated Seth Rollins (w/ Buddy Murphy)
6.5/10

• The whole Mysterio family are backstage, and ringside for this match. Huh bro!?
• Murphy is with Rollins.
• Rey does a modified sunset flip bomb into the barricade by the table. A nice twist.
• Rollins hits a great backbreaker and teases running Mysterio into a chair.
• Rollins can’t get a stomp into the stairs, but Rey does the baseball slide splash onto them. I’m always happy to see an innovative spot.
• Rollins super powerbombs Rey through a table.
• Murphy pretends he’s gonna help Rollins, then VAN DAMINATORS him.
• Mysterio wins with a frog splash on the 15th anniversary of Eddie Guerrero’s passing.
• There were some timing issues in the Mysterio-Buddy Murphy post-match, as they went to a replay before Rey shook Murphy’s hand. Rey had started to walk over before. Aalyah hugs Murphy, and he’s a part of the family.
• Rollins is livid, and is yelling at Adam Pearce. He demands a match with Murphy.

Survivor Series Qualifier
Liv Morgan defeated Tamina, Natalya, Chelsea Green
5.25/10

• Natalya isn’t happy about not just being named to the Survivor Series team, and bugs Adam Pearce. Chelsea Green shows up after she leaves.
• Tamina only shows up for qualifier, top contender or title matches. I respect it.
• Chelsea Green is added to the match. Thankfully they’re using her name and not the shit I heard they were using this afternoon.
• Man, Liv Morgan is so good. I love that she’s using the floatover DDT.
• This match is primarily Liv Morgan and Natalya. Morgan tosses out a couple of codebreakers and gets the pin.
• What a weird way to debut Chelsea Green. She shows up, doesn’t say anything, debuts, and is out of the match after a minute.
• Very odd finish. Something seems off.

Unsanctioned Match
Drew McIntyre defeated Jey Uso
6/10

• Adam Pearce tells Drew that the match tonight has to be unsanctioned since he’s not on SD.
• It’s good to see Jey Uso continue to be competitive with top stars like this. He earned it. They gave him a chance to step up to the main event scene and delivered repeatedly.
• Drew McIntyre alters a Sky High with a pop-up. A nice twist.
• Reigns comes out and his music distracts McIntyre. Nothing screams “this guy main evented WrestleMania, beat Lesnar and went unbeaten for a year” like being distracted by music.
• Reigns wants Uso to make Drew understand.
• Drew hits a Claymore and gets the win.
• Drew asks Reigns if he understands. Reigns says Drew needs a title first.

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!