Well……at least it was better than Raw – Smackdown Live Recap – October 17, 2017

Smackdown Live was in Seattle last night, so in typically State of Washington fashion, we kick off with the hometown boy and leader of the Yes! Movement, Daniel Bryan…..and much like Kurt Angle being interrupted by The Shield, he too was interrupted during his opening sentiments to his people of Washington.

Sami opened, coming to the ring to discuss his recent heel turn with the GM.  Bryan seemed to be supportive of Sami, saying that he too felt the frustrations of trying to get the respect of management and the locker room.  Sami disagreed with DB claiming that at least the GM had the fans during his time in the ring, but the fans had abandoned Sami.  It isn’t that they abandoned you, it’s just that they never really saw you, so again, it’s an issue of the management poorly booking you.  Don’t put that shit on us.

Kevin Owens joins the fray, telling Daniel Bryan that he’s a sellout and he’s become everything he claimed to stand against.  Daniel Bryan vowed to find a team of guys to take them out in tonight’s main event.

Fast Forward:

The Main Event put the newly rekindled bromance between Owens and Zayn up against Shinsuke and Orton.  I wonder if they’re trying to work those two as a package for any particular reason, like a tag team title opportunity.  It isn’t like they’re adequately using the tag division beyond New Day and The Usos, and they need something constructive for two big money guys on the roster to do.

As you’re probably getting used to, the bad guys get the win here through heelish tactics, as Sami Zayn pins Randy Orton for the win following a low blow into a Helluva Kick.  It was fine.  The idea of getting to see more of Shinsuke vs KO is promising, because I’d pay to see it.

The Stuff in the Middle

• Charlotte, Becky & Naomi def. Lana, Tamina & Natalya: Yes, Smackdown continues to shove all the women on the screen at one time.  This match was fine, but relatively expected.  Charlotte got the tap out from Lana, who is in this match why?
• Sin Cara def. Baron Corbin: Before you go off on the whole “Baron Corbin is getting buried thing”, Sin Cara won by Count Out, so he’ll get obliterated in the back next week on Smackdown and probably be United States Champion within a month.
• Jinder Mahal challenged Brock Lesnar to a match at Survivor Series.  I don’t know why in the hell this would be in the cards, as that would take both top belts off the table for a PPV.  AJ Styles interrupted and issued challenges of his own to the champion, then landed a Pele Kick and Mahal fled.
• Dolph Ziggler def. Bobby Roode: As Roode attempted the Glorious DDT, Ziggler reversed into a roll up and pulled the tights to secure the pinfall and even up the score at 1-1 (both won via tights pulling roll ups).  Yes, that means we’re not done with this yet.
• The first episode of Fashion Files Pulp Fiction wasn’t one of their best, but it did give The Ascension more time to shine.  At least all four of these guys get ample TV time for something, because they sure don’t get any time in the ring.

Overall Grade

I’ll give it a B-.  It actually had some wrestling, which is a plus because it didn’t feel like Raw had any.  The promos were definitely better, even if it felt oddly similar in the way both shows started with the GMs basically being threatened by whatever top group exists on the brand.  Either way, it was a hell of a lot better than last night’s Raw.