The October 18, 2019 Edition of Smackdown Live was a Professional wrestling television show of the WWE's Smackdown brand which took place on October 18, 2019 at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Summary[]
Following a harsh spat on social media yesterday, Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura defended the title against Roman Reigns to kick off things on Friday Night SmackDown.
The match was as physical as could be with both Superstars looking to wear down the other in pursuit of the coveted title. As the match began to rage on, though, The Big Dog garnered an incredible amount of momentum, and after surviving a perfectly applied Triangle submission hold from The King of Strong Style, it appeared that Reigns was closing in on victory. This, of course, worried Sami Zayn at ringside, who bolted from his position at the announcer's table in an effort to distract Roman — but to no such avail. Reigns would connect with a clutch Superman Punch that seemed to be setting him up for surefire victory. However, before Reigns could connect with his signature Spear, King Corbin, who had exchanged words of his own with Reigns earlier in the day on Twitter, would bash The Big Dog with his scepter, leading to a disqualification.
Nakamura and Corbin would try to beat Roman down, but Reigns' newfound ally Daniel Bryan would dart out in efforts to help. Bryan would get the opposition reeling for a few moments, but the numbers game became too great for him to overcome, with Zayn stopping Bryan short, allowing Nakamura to strike him with a ring-rattling Kinshasa.
Following a tough loss last week to King Corbin, Shorty Gable looked to bounce back against Curtis Axel on Friday Night SmackDown.
Despite Bo Dallas lurking at ringside, Gable would come at the veteran Axel with unmatched ferocity, weathering Axel’s best and finishing him off with the Ankle Lock for an impressive submission victory.
After the match, Gable would chat with Kayla Braxton, saying that his name change was not him running from his insecurities, but embracing them, going further to rebrand himself yet again by now wanting to be known as Shorty G.
The New Day, Heavy Machinery, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode and SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Revival are just a few of the teams competing against each other in the Largest Tag Team Turmoil Match to determine the World Cup Champions at WWE Crown Jewel. However, tonight, they must co-exist as they paired up and collided in a major Eight-Man Tag Team Match.
The action was non-stop with both sides garnering momentum at points throughout the contest. However, in the critical moments, Otis began rolling, getting Scott Dawson on the ropes leading into Big E & Xavier Woods finishing him off with the Midnight Hour for the major momentum-building victory.
Joined by Sasha Banks, SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley absolutely unloaded on Miz TV regarding her drastic attitude shift last week on Friday Night SmackDown that led to her SmackDown Women's Title victory over Charlotte Flair.
The Miz went in on Bayley, grilling her on the impetus for her change, with the SmackDown Women's Champion finally explaining that she slashed her Bayley buddies last week because all those around her ever did was "take." Bayley made it clear that she believed she had lapped the pack in the Women's division and that the only inspiration she was willing to dish out these days was a simple message: "Life sucks and then you die."
Nikki Cross and Dana Brooke would quickly hear enough though, both taking major issue with Bayley's comments, ready to breakthrough by prevailing in the forthcoming Six-Pack Challenge and earn the right to challenge for the SmackDown Women's Title.
Six members of the new SmackDown Women's division looked to make an immediate statement as Carmella, Nikki Cross, Dana Brooke, Lacey Evans, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville collided in a Six-Pack Challenge where the winner would earn a future SmackDown Women's Championship opportunity.
With SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley and Sasha Banks watching on at ringside, every Superstar made a push towards victory, with a total flurry of activity happening outside of the ring. However, in the clutch, the action gravitated back towards the ring where Cross was able to rise above the melee and ultimately defeat Mandy Rose to secure an opportunity at the SmackDown Women's Championship.
Drew Gulak wanted to make a big impression prior to his debut match on Friday Night SmackDown against Braun Strowman via the return of his PowerPoint presentation.
In retrospect, maybe not the best idea by the former Cruiserweight Champion.
Strowman, who stood by as The Philadelphia Stretcher took the WWE Universe through his slides, was at first tolerable of Gulak's presentation… until it suggested that The Monster Among Men had no chance of defeating Tyson Fury in their match at WWE Crown Jewel. That set Strowman off quick, leading to Braun just straight up annihilating Gulak, finishing him off with a massive Powerslam for the win… and making a major statement to The Gypsy King in the process.
Following King Corbin and Daniel Bryan's interjection in the Intercontinental Title Match that kicked things off earlier in the night, Bryan would now pair up with the man whose aid he had come to, the new captain of Team Hogan, Roman Reigns. Together they'd take on both Corbin & Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura in the main event.
The match would see Reigns & Bryan take the fight right to their assaulters, with Nakamura & Corbin trying to implement any shortcut they could to cut off their opposition at the pass. As the match wore on, Bryan and Reigns' momentum would build, with, at one point, The Big Dog incredibly spearing King Corbin through the barricade on the outside and Bryan finishing WWE's Rockstar off with the Running Knee for the main-event victory.
Results[]
- Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.
- (c) refers to the champion(s) heading into the match.
- Dark Match: Apollo Crews defeated Kalisto
- Roman Reigns defeated Shinsuke Nakamura (w/ Sami Zayn) (c) by DQ. Nakamura retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship (11:45)
- Chad Gable defeated Curtis Axel (w/ Bo Dallas) (1:55)
- The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) (w/ Kofi Kingston) & Heavy Machinery (Tucker & Otis) defeated The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder) & Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler in an Eight Man Tag Team Match (10:45)
- Nikki Cross defeated Carmella and Lacey Evans and Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville and Dana Brooke in a Six-Pack Challenge Match to become the #1 Contender for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship (9:00)
- Braun Strowman defeated Drew Gulak (3:05)
- Roman Reigns & Daniel Bryan defeated King Corbin & Shinsuke Nakamura (w/ Sami Zayn) (9:05)
Other on-screen talent[]
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Image Gallery[]
Roman Reigns v Shinsuke Nakamura[]
Chad Gable v Curtis Axel[]
Eight Man Tag Team Match[]
Bayley & Sasha Banks made a statement on Miz TV[]
Six-Pack Challenge Match[]
Braun Strowman v Drew Gulak[]
Daniel Bryan & Roman Reigns v King Corbin & Shinsuke Nakamura[]
See also[]
External links[]
- WWE Smackdown Live #1052 at CAGEMATCH.net
- WWE Smackdown Live #1052 at WWE.com
- Smackdown #1052 on WWE Network