WWE SmackDown Results and Grades: It was the dawn of a new era for WWE thanks to the debut of ThunderDome.
WWE promised to bring fans closer to the action during this pandemic, however, there were some other storylines needed to be fleshed out before SummerSlam 2020.
Vince McMahon was to start off this week’s SmackDown and we start this results and grades piece with the boss of WWE.
Retribution vs Strowman
McMahon opened the evening and was speaking about ThunderDome before The Fiend came out.
Braun Strowman came out to attack the Fiend, however, Retribution made an appearance. The Fiend disappeared and it was left to the SmackDown roster to save Strowman.
HERE WE GO!!!#SmackDown #WWEThunderDome pic.twitter.com/whFWh5f5CS
— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2020
However, Strowman attacked a few stars later on after being saved.
Grade C
It was a nice move to not have McMahon speak too much in this segment. However, too much was going on in one segment alone.
Big E impresses again
Big E continued his singles run on SmackDown and he faced off against Sheamus after getting into a quarrel.
That's why you #FearTheFella…#SmackDown #WWEThunderDome @WWESheamus @WWEBigE pic.twitter.com/va8WkDV94S
— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2020
Wrestlers were around the ring as the pair started to fight. There was a distraction as King Corbin attacked Matt Riddle which allowed Big E to get the win.
Big E beats Sheamus
Grade B
E and Sheamus put on a decent show but the distraction finish wasn’t needed. Riddle vs Corbin is a good rivalry but it will be interesting to see what is next for E.
Tag team champs in action
Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro, the SmackDown tag champions, were in action against Lucha House Party.
Word to the wise… DON'T get caught out of midair by @WWECesaro. #SmackDown #WWEThunderDome pic.twitter.com/WtlKjeBoGp
— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2020
It were the champs who got the win after some impressive moves. However, after the match, Gran Metalik had to keep Lince Dorado and Kalisto away from each other as the pair almost fought.
Nakamura and Cesaro beat House Party
Grade B
The match was decent in itself but felt extremely short, especially for a title match. The bigger talking point was seeing the members of LHP clash with one another, is the faction coming to an end?
Different Beat the Clock challenge
Sasha Banks and Bayley each face Asuka as they each defend their titles against the Japanese star. Naomi came out to challenge each star in a beat the clock challenge. The winner would go second against Asuka at SummerSlam.
.@NaomiWWE just beat @itsBayleyWWE! That means the #SmackDown Women's Champ must defend her title against @WWEAsuka FIRST at #SummerSlam! pic.twitter.com/fcUWY0hhM0
— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2020
Banks got her win in 3:39 while Bayley lost in a couple of minutes. Asuka came out and took out both her rivals after this match.
Banks beats Naomi; Naomi beats Bayley
Grade B
WWE deserves a bit of credit for trying out something different and giving Naomi the win. It also raises questions of Bayley’s mental state ahead of the clash on Sunday.
Deville vs Rose takes a new twist
Sonya Deville was back on SmackDown after the horrible ordeal from earlier this week. Mandy Rose wanted the best friends to be back together but Deville slapped Dana Brooke as the star tried to offer her sympathies.
"Disrespectful…" 👀 👀 👀#SmackDown #WWEThunderDome @SonyaDevilleWWE pic.twitter.com/LPSYHXifIY
— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2020
Deville came out on stage and laughed off the suggestion. She then turned the SummerSlam match into a No DQ one with the loser leaving WWE.
Grade A
It will be interesting to see how the match goes and if Deville gets a bit of a break from her ordeal too.
Deville has been excellent on the microphone since turning heel and she was fantastic again.
Styles vs Hardy
After last week’s madness, Jeff Hardy got a title shot against AJ Styles. Hardy was in a knee brace after Styles attacked him during the opening segment of the show.
Hardy couldn’t move much and Styles got cocky, but the knee brace came into place and the Enigmatic Charisma picked up a shock win.
.@AJStylesOrg is LIVID after losing the #ICTitle to @JEFFHARDYBRAND on #SmackDown! #WWEThunderDome pic.twitter.com/02GXhkMslM
— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2020
Hardy beats Styles
Grade B
While the match and story telling was great, it was a surprise to see Styles lose. The former champion shouted at Joseph Parks after the clash but this was an interesting turn of events.
Rumble in the Firefly Fun House
Bray Wyatt was speaking about Strowman and Alexa Bliss’ relationship. However, Strowman knocked out Wyatt in the Firefly Fun House and dragged him out in the arena.
WHAT DID @BraunStrowman JUST DO?!?!#SmackDown @WWEBrayWyatt pic.twitter.com/CaTqgujWR5
— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2020
He chokeslammed Wyatt and the medical personal had to take Wyatt away in an ambulance. However, the vehicle stopped and then The Fiend emerged from it and laughed as the show ended.
It's him…#SmackDown #TheFiend @WWEBrayWyatt pic.twitter.com/SeplekOJHV
— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2020
Grade B
Strowman has now turned completely into the monster and this was a great ending to SmackDown. The Fiend vs Strowman could be one of the best matches of the evening at SummerSlam, especially if we get a bit of storytelling in all this.
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