Match Ratings For WWE Smackdown 9/3/19, Podcast Notes From Sean Ross Sapp

BOSS N HUG

• Bayley gets one of the louder reactions in recent memory.
• Bayley is confused why nobody saw this coming — Sasha has always had her back. She gets boos.
• This is a really good promo. Honestly one of Bayley’s best I’ve ever heard. It’s more natural, and it fits her more aggressive main roster style.
• She trashes Charlotte and says she’ll never understand what it’s like to be a role model like her.
• Charlotte says there’s no hugging with her, and this brings out Sasha Banks.
• Charlotte is dressed like a normal person. Whoever encouraged WWE wrestlers to dress like normal humans on TV more often, good for you.
• Charlotte attacks Bayley, but gets beaten down with a chair.
• This is a hot angle. I’m really digging it.

King Of The Ring Quarterfinal
Elias defeated Ali
7/10

• I wish all of these matches weren’t heel/face.
• Ali looks like he’s leaned out in recent weeks.
• Ali gets caught and sent into the barricade and thrown around. Some really good offense from Elias.
• Suicide dive and a 450 to Elias’ arm after the break. A Crossface is also applied
• Elias goes from sitdown powerbomb to Stretch Muffler.
• They’re both on the top rope, and Elias throws Ali off, who back flips and lands on his feet.
• Elias jumps off the top and gets superkicked. This is outstanding.
• Elias works the leg and wins with Drift Away.
• Outstanding match.

Backstage Crappenings

• Rowan vs. Roman Reigns at Clash of Champions.

Fire & Desire defeated Cross & Bliss
5.75/10

• Many Rose is SLUGGING.
• I like Mandy and Sonya matching a little bit more. Techncially Nikki and Alexa kind of do.
• Nikki does a great cross body to the outside on Fire & Desire.
• Mandy screams that Nikki will never look like her. Alexa says nobody wants to.
• Alexa Bliss gets a good hot tag, which is different.
• A great high low wins it for Sonya and Mandy. This is an outstanding finisher
• Why can’t Sonya and Mandy beat other contenders? There are none.
• Make some tag teams.

Stupid

• Randy Orton calls out Kofi Kingston to a great reaction. The people love this angle.
• Kofi comes out, but is being attacked by The Revival.
• Kofi briefly fights back, but falls victim to a ShatteRKO.

King of the Ring Quarterfinals
Chad Gable defeated Andrade (w/ Zelina)
6.25/10

• Samoa Joe delivers some pretty funny short jokes to Gable and says he’s mentally weak.
• Zelina makes some of her own. This is really getting to be too much and forced.
• Gable is so smooth.
• Rest hold through the break.
• A rolling kick and neckbreaker hit for Gable, as does a wrist clutch, high crotch, chickenwing suplex.
• I don’t think I’ll ever like a Del Rio stomp spot, but this one was better. Andrade held Gable by the hair and the hand to keep him there.
• Andrade battles back, but eats a moonsault. Great crowd reaction for this.
• Chaos Theory hits, but Zelina interferes. The crowd is HOT.
• Gable eventually rolls up Andrade to a huge ovation.

Aleister Black defeated Shelton Benjamin
5.5/10 (SHORT)

• I’m done with the moody Aleister Black promos. Let’s be done with them. They’re parody now.
• Why wouldn’t Shelton just kick Black in the face when he sits down?
• Black Mass knocks Shelton out of the ring, and Shelton levels Black with a knee.
• Another Black Mass in the ring, and that’s it.

WWE 24/7 Championship
Bo Dallas defeated Drake Maverick (c) to become champion
Drake Maverick defeated Bo Dallas (c) to become champion
R-Truth defeated Drake Maverick (c) to become champion

• The Singh Brothers follow Drake and Renee into the Boiler Room.
• Metalik and others try to win the title, but Bo Dallas does it.
• Back in the ring, Drake Maverick wins the title back.
• On the ramp, R-Truth is hiding under the KOTR stuff and wins with a roll-up.
• Lets at least get a new pin.

Shinsuke Nakamura (w/ Sami Zayn) defeated Jobber
SQUASH

• Sami Zayn says Nakamura is pretending the jobber is Miz.
• The jobber hits Nakamura and gets his ass kicked.
• Zayn is calling this match over the mic. This is good.
• The 24/7 Title segment carries over to this.

Rowan

• Daniel Bryan demands an apology from Reigns for calling him a liar and spearing him.
• Reigns comes out and is attacked by Rowan.
• Rowan says Daniel Bryan didn’t do this and Bryan is worse than everyone. He’s nobody puppet.
• Rowan wants Bryan to slap him now.
• This is the longest Rowan promo ever.
• Rowan admits he did everything.
• Stairs to Reigns.
• Bryan slaps Rowan and gets put through an announce table.

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. Don’t take them too seriously, and have (and share) your own!