Match Ratings For WWE Smackdown 7/17/20 From Sean Ross Sapp

Winner Picks Extreme Rules Stipulation
Cesaro (w/ Shinsuke Nakamura) defeated Big E (w/ Kofi Kingston)
6.25/10

• Smackdown kicked off with a whole lot of really shitty backstage promos. They include AJ Styles, Matt Riddle, Cesaro & Nakamura, Braun Strowman, New Day, Miz and Morrison. The latter had the best ones.
• Cesaro and Big E are knocking the hell out of each other. I dig the falling body slam that a lot of wrestlers have been doing in WWE.
• The Belly-to-Belly suplexes in succession and the big splash work so well for Big E.
• There were some really incredible spots in this match. It didn’t seem nearly as long as it was, and it hit HARD.
• Cesaro wins with a Neutralizer that SLAPPED.
• Cesaro and Nakamura went after a table but Kofi did a great tope con hilo.
• This segment ruled. The heels scamper off before being put through tables.

Golden Role Models defeated Nikki Cross & Asuka (w/ Alexa Bliss)
6/10

• Alexa Bliss has Nikki Cross there, who thinks she’s the guest on Moment of Bliss.
• Bayley interrupts with Sasha Banks. There’s a funny spot where Bayley yells at a cameraman, and then Nikki Cross tells her not to do that.
• Bayley and Sasha cut a promo, but Asuka is the special guest. A letdown from the tease of a special guest.
• I’m not a big fan of this. Asuka just shows up wherever she wants and brands should matter. The brand to brand invitational is not mentioned.
• Just let these people wrestle at the PPV/special event you’re promoting. Everyone doesn’t need to wrestle each other before the actual match.
• You know the work will be good here, and these four are among the best acts in WWE.
• Asuka is a great hot tag, and uses Nikki Cross’ apron beatdown.
• They dance together on a table before a commercial.
• Nikki Cross rules. She’s feeling it right now. She also does a tornado DDT to the floor.
• Bayley cheats with her feet on the ropes and pins Nikki.
• Bayley and Sasha are backstage bragging, while Nikki is doubting herself. Nikki attacks Bayley and Alexa pulls her off.

Braun Strowman defeated John Morrison (w/ The Miz)
SQUASH

• Bray Wyatt cuts a pretty good promo from the swamp. He says once you come there, you never really leave. The monster he created has been scratching, waiting to come home.
• Braun Strowman yells and screams a lot about needing to beat Bray Wyatt, and it’s not bad. The best promo they’ve had him do in a long time.
• Braun Strowman crushes Morrison, and uses his old head and arm choke.
• Powerslam. Pin.
• That ten minutes of Bray Wyatt, the Braun Strowman promo and squash have been the best booking of either man in months.
• The Miz and Morrison doing Braun some favors there. Their sell of that beatdown was nothing short of great
• Probably wouldn’t have had Lacey make light of it right after though.

Lacey Evans defeated Naomi
5/10

• Lacey cuts a promo about that dogshit segment last week. They probably should have just pretended it didn’t happen.
• Naomi almost spiked herself on a huracanrana.
• A creative finish as Lacey ties Naomi’s hair in the ropes and hits her with the Woman’s Right.

JOONKIE

• Jeff Hardy says you can’t run or hide from addiction. Sheamus attacks him and says he’ll cleanse him. They’ll face each other on Smackdown. I’m glad they’re keeping the Sheamus/Hardy thing on Smackdown. Keep the infection isolated and amputate it.

Intercontinental Championship
AJ Styles (c) defeated Matt Riddle to retain the title
6/10

• Baron Corbin cuts a completely pointless promo about Matt Riddle’s win meaning nothing.
• We see Daniel Bryan cutting promo from his yard.
• This is a great match. Bro 2 Sleep, Powerbomb into a knee from Riddle. Styles does an inverted powerbomb.
• Styles has great gear.
• He applies a Calf Crusher and it goes into the Bromission.
• Styles ends up getting the quick roll up win.
• Styles goes to shake Riddle’s hand, but Corbin attacks and hits him with End of Days.

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!