Sami Zayn Was Seamlessly Inserted Into The Kevin Owens/Shane McMahon Feud On SmackDown Last Night
Welcome back to the weekly SmackDown recap. Before I get right into it, let me remind you that Jared Carrabis and I do a wrestling podcast here at Barstool Sports called From The Top Rope, and today’s episode has an exclusive interview with Charlotte Flair. We also go a bit more in depth into everything there, so these blogs only scratch the surface, really. Check it out!
Alright, into SmackDown, which is back back back.
Kevin Owens opened the show this week, which we always love, and he delivered a threat to Shane McMahon. He basically said “I like and respect your dad, Vince McMahon. If what I did last week was to somebody I like and respect, imagine what I’m gonna do to you at Hell in a Cell.”
Sami Zayn interrupted this promo, and while it was out of place, it felt right, as it always does. Against his better judgement, he tried to talk some sense into Owens, telling him to call this whole thing off before he does something he regrets forever. Sami’s seen him have peaks and valleys over the years, but he’s never seen him snap quite like this.
Owens retaliated like he always does against Sami, by bringing up his accomplishments and Zayn’s lack of, leading to one of my favorite performances of raw emotion all year.
Sami fucking Zayn, man. How are they blowing it with this guy? He’s up there with Johnny Gargano as wrestling’s best and most likable babyfaces, and his character understanding the reality of failing on the main roster only enhances that. His “My day will come, and I’ll do it my way, the right way” was so powerful. Daniel Bryan, the General Manager of SmackDown, came out before this escalated and set tonight’s main event: a singles match between the two.
Baron Corbin had another match with Tye Dillenger while AJ Styles was on commentary, and that turned into chaos when Baron threw a drink in AJ’s face. They set up the match for Hell in a Cell, and much like Carrabis, I’m super intrigued. I wanna see AJ bump like hell for Corbin to begin the rehabbing process from what Cena did to him.
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FINALLY, they’re showing us direction for this stupid Ziggler gimmick. Bobby Roode will be the one to set him straight, showing you can be both a great wrestler and have a great entrance, the two are not binary. I’m down, and so is the crowd, obviously, but why wasn’t this just his debut? Kind of a weak one for someone of his caliber, two months ago with no feud in place.
Nope. Horrible. Jinder’s the worst. Take the strap off him.
This segment was kinda dumb in concept, but awesome and hilarious in execution, and Rusev sells the HELL out of an RKO.
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Finally, the main event was upon us, and oh boy was it awesome. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn couldn’t have a bad match together if they tried. From the superkick reversal for the thread the needle DDT to the shoot style stoppage finish, I loved every second of this. Afterwards, KO tried to murder his former best friend, but Shane McMahon arrived (just on time!) and saved the day…kinda.
Still took a chair right to the kisser. They also set up New Day vs Usos in the Devil’s Playground, Hell in a Cell, so you could say I’m just as excited about that pay per view as I was for No Mercy. That’s all for WWE this week. Don’t forget to download From The Top Rope, rate, review, subscribe, that bullshit. We talk about ROH, NJPW, and 205 Live on there as well!