WWE SmackDown Results and Grades: The season premiere of SmackDown had some big returns on show.
Daniel Bryan and Goldberg were back while The New Day wrestled their last match together as a send off.
WWE was pushing for Hell in a Cell and here are the results and grades from this week’s SmackDown.
WE GOT A BRAWL!! 👀#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/rl7wHq9AMl
— WWE (@WWE) October 17, 2020
Hardy meets The Freak
The show opened with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon speaking about the new signings from the draft as all the male stars were present on the ramp.
Nobody home for @LarsSWWE!#SmackDown @JEFFHARDYBRAND pic.twitter.com/S3yAtFMAsV
— WWE (@WWE) October 17, 2020
This led to the whole SmackDown roster fighting before Jeff Hardy vs Lars Sullivan was set up.
Hardy used all the tricks in his book, including a Twist of Fate on The Freak. However, Sullivan kicked out and got the win with the Freak Accident.
Sullivan beats Hardy
Grade B
This was a much better showing of what Sullivan can do rather than him squashing stars. It was a little surprising how easily he took out Hardy but Michael Cole really got The Freak phrase in too many times.
The final day of the New Day
The New Day teamed up to take on Shinsuke Nakamura, Sheamus and Cesaro ahead of their split.
Big E stayed on SmackDown while Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston were traded to Raw.
Vintage #NewDay!#SmackDown @TrueKofi @WWEBigE @AustinCreedWins pic.twitter.com/OAzmbvxlpB
— WWE (@WWE) October 17, 2020
This was an excellent match with all six men putting on a show with hot tags that kept the action going. It was the New Day that got the win and they celebrated emotionally afterwards.
The New Day wins
Grade A
The New Day certainly was one of the success stories in terms of forming a random stable and the promo they cut was great.
This match was another great one for the books and it will be interesting to see what the future has in store for the broken up New Day.
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Daniel Bryan was back in WWE after months out and wanted to get back to action soon.
However, he was called out by new draftee Seth Rollins and the pair attacked each other after laying down some verbal barbs.
Nowhere to run, @WWERollins!#SmackDown @WWEDanielBryan @reymysterio @DomMysterio35 pic.twitter.com/SD4ccp3FHU
— WWE (@WWE) October 17, 2020
Dominik and Rey Mysterio came out to block Rollins from leaving and Bryan then left him alone. Murphy came out to suggest he was still with Rollins before he too attacked the Messiah and offered his hand to team up with the Mysterios. That was rejected by Rey, for now.
👀 👀 👀#SmackDown @WWE_Murphy @reymysterio @DomMysterio35 pic.twitter.com/1fb3b7626R
— WWE (@WWE) October 17, 2020
Grade B
Bryan returning is always going to be great and it was fun to see him with Rollins. WWE can’t give up on Rollins vs Mysterio and they continued that but Murphy ditching Rollins is good for him.
Tag team title clash
Continuing from their battle at the start of the show, Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler took on the tag champions, Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford.
👁 spy… #TheNatureBoy!!#SmackDown @RicFlairNatrBoy pic.twitter.com/Yw8Am9qvKn
— WWE (@WWE) October 17, 2020
The match didn’t work for long as the referee called it off as all four men were brawling. Ford took out his rivals and Ric Flair was shown smiling after the match.
Grade C
This was a weird way to finish the match but WWE might be teasing a match in the future.
Bayley doesn’t sign
Adam Pearce oversaw Sasha Banks and Bayley’s contract signing.
Banks signed the contract but Bayley didn’t and the pair traded barbs on how they both weren’t there for each other when they needed them.
Looks like @itsBayleyWWE isn't signing… 🧐#SmackDown #HIAC @SashaBanksWWE pic.twitter.com/C8NYX1dacU
— WWE (@WWE) October 17, 2020
Grade C
Bayley not signing the deal was something great and her being scared of Banks was there for all to see.
However, this wasn’t anything special from previous contract signings.
Reigns vs Strowman
Braun Strowman challenged Roman Reigns for the Universal Title after the pair traded insults one day back.
Reigns used a low blow to gain an advantage. The Big Dog then used a new finisher, a guillotine choke to get the win over the Monster.
Is @BraunStrowman going to tap?!?!?#SmackDown #UniversalTitle @WWERomanReigns @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/tcQQ9PlTLt
— WWE (@WWE) October 17, 2020
MESSAGE. SENT.#SmackDown #HAIC @WWERomanReigns @WWEUsos @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/etduJUBAo7
— WWE (@WWE) October 17, 2020
He then attacked Strowman with the chair before Jey Uso came out. Uso refused to attack Reigns at first before he knocked him down with a super kick and then used the chair several times.
As officials tried to get some order back, Reigns got up and his Uso with a Superman punch.
CHAOS to close out the season premiere of #SmackDown on @FOXTV!#UniversalTitle @WWERomanReigns @WWEUsos @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/7ZwX0k3tL4
— WWE (@WWE) October 17, 2020
Reigns beats Strowman
Grade A
The match could have gone for longer but it was a surprise seeing Reigns use a new finisher. It was also great to see Uso coming out and playing his mind games but Reigns still ended up with the last laugh.
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