Match Ratings For Smackdown On Fox 10/18/19 From Sean Ross Sapp

Intercontinental Championship
Roman Reigns defeated Shinsuke Nakamura (c) (w/ Sami Zayn) via DQ
5.5/10

• Smackdown’s intro has already been updated to reflect the roster changes.
• I’d said that the only reason to even want to be drafted was for ego, so at least commentary brought up egos being affected.
• Sami Zayn is on commentary.
• I’m gonna take a shot in the dark and predict a DQ, with a title rematch at SANDS OF TIME.
• Nakamura throws some knees, but Reigns is motionless.
• Zayn pulls Nakamura out of the way of a Drive By and Reigns looks DUMBBBB.
• There’s a great Nakamura flying armbar that gets turned into a Reigns sitdown powerbomb.
• Reigns looks dumb again when he lets Zayn distract him. Nakamura does a sliding German.
• Nakamura kicks out of a Superman punch.
• The crowd was hot for this match, and then King Corbin causes a DQ. This happens way too much these days.
• Daniel Bryan makes the save and takes out the heels.
• Really hope they’re building to Reigns vs. Bryan at Mania. They both get laid out.

Shorty Gable defeated Curtis Axel (w/ Bo Dallas)
SQUASH

• In case you forgot that Shorty Gable was in fact short, they have a primer video for you!
• He throws Curtis Axel around with ease.
• Ankle Lock, tap.
• This was what it needed to be.
• All thing considered this was a pretty good ra-ra speech until Shorty Gable renames himself Shorty G.

New Day & Heavy Machinery (w/ Kofi Kingston) defeated The Revival, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode
5.5/10

• Did Otis just imply that he popped one off in the pancake batter or is that just me being me?
• Kofi crumbling a cupcake while he smiles through his problems is great. Kofi Kingston pretending he doesn’t have any problems and is really happy could be a great story.
• This is a preview of the Crown Jewel tag team turmoil match.
• Suplexes in stereo from Heavy Machinery. I like that Cole tried to play up Tucker/Ziggler’s amateur backgrounds.
• Xavier does a tope con hilo, then eats a spinebuster/Zig Zag on the floor.
• The crowd noise has added a lot to the viewing experience during WWE matches for me over the last month or so.
• Otis is over big, but he’s over in THIS role. It’s perfect for him.
• Midnight Hour on Dawson wins the match.

Miz TV

• Bayley is out with Sasha.
• Miz says he doesn’t need to slash Bayley buddies to be relevant.
• Bayley says the Bayley buddies and headbands defined her. She gave and the audience took, she wanted to be a role model.
• Bayley cutting a promo as Drew McIntyre every time he does a press interview, saying everyone is lazy.
• “Do you want some inspiration? Life sucks, and then you die.” – Bayley, 2019.
• Nikki Cross comes out and gets a cheap pop and has neat new clothes. She says she’ll give Bayley a big hug tonight.
• Dana Brooke has gotten herself into incredible shape. I want to see her given some chances. She gets the crowd to flex.

Six Pack Challenge
Nikki Cross defeated Mandy Rose, Carmella, Sonya Deville, Dana Brooke & Lacey Evans
5/10

• Deville and Mandy work together early.
• Carmella flies off the barricade onto everyone.
• Evans takes over and dominates.
• Dana Brooke does a nice sitdown powerbomb and Swanton.
• Carmella and Mandy slap it out. Sonya breaks up the Code of Silence.
• Carmella superkicks all around, but Nikki pins Mandy after The Purge.

Braun Strowman defeated Drew Gulak
SQUASH

• Drew Gulak brings back Powerpoint Presentations!
• Strowman kills him!

Daniel Bryan & Roman Reigns defeated Shinsuke Nakamura & King Corbin (w/ Sami Zayn)
5.25/10

• Roman Reigns is announced as the captain of Team HOGAN!
• The heels drag out stairs to use on Reigns. Bryan makes the save.
• Bryan applies the YES Lock on Nakamura, but Corbin breaks it up. 
• Reigns spear on Corbin through a barricade.
• Bryan pins Nakamura.
• Shouldn’t Reigns and Bryan be in title consideration as a team at this point?

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!