WWE Smackdown Match Ratings, Podcast Notes For 11/13/18 From Sean Ross Sapp Of Fightful.com

Opening Segment Numero Uno

• We see a highlight of last night’s invasion, including Becky Lynch looking bad ass.
• They show Nia Jax punching her — not even trying to throw a working punch. That punch wasn’t even an ATTEMPT at a worked punch. They put the blame fully on Nia, and are going to send a ton of heat her way as a result. It’s deserved, though.
• Becky Lynch is out of the match. 

Opening Segment Numero Dos

• AJ Styles is in the ring and he’s interrupted by Paul Heyman.
• Heyman says everybody and Brock Lesnar really wanted him to face Daniel Bryan.
• Styles says he’s been getting better since last year, and he respects Bryan, but this is his spot.
• Bryan interrupts and says he’s been looking for a reason to punch AJ Styles in the face, and if Styles mentions him without reason, he’s going to do that.
• AJ says his name, and a brawl breaks out. Shane McMahon interrupts it.
• They have to be broken up, but it continues backstage in a really well done pull apart in the office. Shane McMahon makes a WWE Title match for tonight’s main event. 

Jeff Hardy defeated Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas (w/ Zelina Vega)
5/10

• Welcome back, Zelina!
• During the commercial we get house show type arguing between Jeff Hardy and Zelina. 
• Hardy gets caught up in the tree of woe and falls victim to that incredibly dumb Del Rio stomp. Almas’ double knees aren’t dumb though.
• This is a really average match that Almas works hard to fire up. 
• Twist of Fate and a Swanton for the Hardy win.
• The Miz picks Jeff Hardy to replace Daniel Bryan on Smackdown’s Survivor Series team, and tries to kick out Rey Mysterio. Paige says Miz will have to beat Rey to make that happen.

If Mysterio Loses, He’s Off Team Smackdown
Rey Mysterio defeated The Miz
5.75/10

• The pace of this is pretty incredible from start to finish.
• Miz lands a really nice slingshot sitdown powerbomb for two!
• Miz catches Rey in a wheelbarrow hold and teases the Skull Crushing Finale, but is sent into a 619 instead.
• Mysterio flies into knees on a frog splash attempt, but cradles Miz for the win.
• This was good stuff. Miz and Mysterio have great chemistry. Always look forward to them working together.
• Randy Orton shows up and tries to attack Mysterio, but settles for an RKO on Miz instead!

 Survivor Series changes

• Paige brings out the WWE Smackdown Women’s division and says Becky Lynch can’t compete Sunday, so she’s picking her replacement.
• Becky brings up what happened last night and gets a great ovation from the crowd. 
• Becky says she can’t finish what she started yet. Ronda isn’t the baddest bitch on the planet, she’s the luckiest. 
• She looks around and picks Charlotte Flair. If this were Taboo Tuesday, Asuka’s getting that match.
• Lynch tells Charlotte to tap out Rousey like she was going to.
• Howling at the IIconics not getting in on the group hug, just giving thumbs up and patting instead.

Backstage Crappenings

• The Colons apparently just stand around awkwardly half naked all the time. The Usos rally them, Sanity and The Good Brothers for Sunday.
• Nakamura cuts a bad promo on Rollins.

The Bar defeated New Day
5.5/10

• This is a six man tag, and The Bar really control things.
• There’s a really good double backbreaker that takes out Kofi. Big E is sent into the barricade.
• Xavier Woods hits a missile dropkick, but Kofi Kingston highlights things for New Day with his hot tag.
• Big Show sends Xavier into the announce table outside, and Kofi almost gets 3 on an SOS.
• Kofi is caught with a KO punch and The Bar win.
• Big Show was acting like a user-controlled tag partner on WWE 2K.

WWE Championship
Daniel Bryan defeated AJ Styles (c) to become WWE Champion
6/10

• We go to commercial after a Styles flying forearm to the outside. 
• We come back to see Styles working over Bryan’s leg, but Bryan knocks Styles off the top roe. 
• Bryan punts AJ Styles’ arm!
• Jesus, two commercials in this match already? We literally saw five minutes of action between the two!
• We come back from another commercial to see Bryan get a dropkick and super Frankensteiner.
• Bryan belly-to-back superplexes Styles off the top rope, but narrowly escapes a Styles Clash himself. 
• Styles gets two on a victory roll, but hits a Pele Kick.
• Styles gets knees on a springboard 450 and is put in the Yes Lock! He gets the to ropes.
• A flying knee is countered into a dropkick by Styles, but Bryan turns the Calf Crusher into an Armbar! 
• Styles gets out of that and hits one of the best catapults ever. Styles flies into the ref and Bryan kicks Styles RIGHT IN THE PENIS.
• Flying knee and win for Bryan! Bryan kicks Styles in the head after!

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.