Match Ratings For WWE Smackdown Live 8/20/19, Podcast Notes From Sean Ross Sapp

POSITIVITY

• Randy Orton hits the ring, and goes to explain why he did what he did to Xavier.
• He says Kofi is stupid, over and over again. Every time Orton gives him a chance, Kofi fails.
• Kofi’s music hits, and Kofi shows up behind Orton and lands Trouble in Paradise.
• Kofi goes to Pillmanize Orton, but Revival come out and eat chairs instead.
• WWE is doing a disservice to this angle if they don’t mention The Revival broke Kofi’s leg years ago.

King of the Ring Opening Round
Andrade (w/ Zelina) defeated Apollo Crews
5.75/10

• Apollo Crews cracks Andrade with a big clothesline and catches him with a mid-air dropkick.
• Andrade got double knees and sent Apollo into the stairs.
• During the commercial, they go back and forth. We’re welcomed back with a pop-up gutbuster for Apollo, though.
• There’s a strike exchange that gets the crowd hot for Apollo’s standing star press. He is not 50 or 60 pounds heavier than Ricochet as commentary claims.
• Zelina interference and Andrade Hammerlock DDT get it done.
• This almost hit recommended viewing because the crowd got hot, but too much was in a commercial.

Moment of Bliss

• Charlotte Flair asked to be on the show and jokes that the throne is more fitting for her.
• Charlotte trashes Bayley.
• Bayley comes out with a pretty mediocre promo.
• Charlotte says she has to clean Bayley’s mess and win the title at Clash of Champions. Bayley accepts the challenge.
• Bayley pushes Charlotte off her chair.
• I’m fine with Bayley and Charlotte, but they really have to make some more top stars that can work and treat them like stars.

Buddy Murphy defeated Daniel Bryan (w/ Rowan)
6.75/10

• Reigns wants to know if Murphy is telling the truth or not, and Murphy THOUGHT he saw Rowan. Reigns say she’ll kick Murphy’s ass if he’s lying.
• Bryan calls Murphy a liar and isn’t happy with him.
• Murphy immediately cracks Bryan with the big knee.
• We go to commercial, and we really shouldn’t have this early.
• LeBell Lock applied after a dropkick. Murphy struggles, but gets out.
• Buddy counters Yes Kicks with a wheel kick, but falls victim to a tree of woe. A belly-to-back superplex follows. It’s a mean one.
• Murphy turns things up with a Cheeky Nandos kick and running powerbomb that spices up the match.
• Murphy backslide, knee and kick to the face and brainbuster ALMOST get it done, but Bryan’s foot is on the ropes.
• Murphy kicks Rowan and hits Murphy’s Law on Bryan for the win!
• Another great one out of Buddy Murphy.
• Bryan and Rowan attack Murphy backstage and Claw Slam him.

The Revival defeated Heavy Machinery
5/10

• The Revival cut a promo about New Day being cowards. I think they do well, but I don’t like the “all you people” aspect of it.
• The Revival challenge New Day to a Smackdown Tag Team Title match.
• Heavy Machinery come out and take over pretty early. Another match, another commercial
• The Revival take over during the commercial until Otis gets the hot tag.
• They capitalize on the distraction and Revival pick up a roll up win.
• Harmless tag match that establishes Revival as contenders.

Backstage Crappenings

• Chad Gable says he understands why he’s the underdog in the tourney. Shelton Benjamin is behind him and puts a “short joke” sign on the door.

King of the Ring Opening Round
Elias defeated Kevin Owens
5.5/10

• Elias finds Drake Maverick and John Cone, and shows Drake that the 24/7 Title rules have been suspended so he can focus on King of the Ring. Elias is so good.
• Shane McMahon brought Kevin Owens into his office to say what’s on his mind. Owens tries to level with Shane McMahon about what $100,000 means to him.
• I’m glad WWE is making money a factor in a storyline. For too long, “Superstars” would be portrayed as above worrying about money. Which makes you wonder why so many people are working in the first place.
• Shane tells Owens to apologize, which Owens does.
• New Elias theme? What the hell is this?
• Owens hits a Cannonball and German Suplex, and Shane McMahon comes out. What da hail.
• We come back to see Elias get a big knee.
• This crowd is dead. They didn’t need a chinlock at 9:55 PM EST.
• Elias impressively hits a spinning sitout powerbomb and gets his knees up on a senton attempt.
• Shane McMahon trolls KO again, and reveals he’s wearing a ref shirt.
• Owens almost runs into Shane, who fast counts him.

Miz TV

• Sami Zayn comes out and says he doesn’t care about this show but needed TV time.
• Zayn brings out Nakamura, who he is apparently managing now.
• Sami Zayn managing Shinsuke Nakamura is something that I didn’t realize I needed.
• Zayn says Nakamura is an artist who is tired of being misunderstood, and that won’t happen anymore.
• They attack the Miz, and a new partnership is born.

KIDNAPPING OR SOMETHING.

• Backstage, Rowan and Daniel Bryan bring some guy with a hood over his face backstage.
• After they beat down Murphy, they harass the dude again.
• Roman is backstage with them at the end of the show.
• Bryan reveals a guy who looks just like Rowan as the person who attacked him. This was kinda hilarious.

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!