WWE SmackDown Review: February 7, 2020

WWE SmackDown Review: February 7, 2020 by Felix Pichler

Opening segment and “the Usos” Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso vs. Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode

The Miz and John Morrison made together their entrance and the “The Dirt Sheet” opening we saw a video package. After this little video package, on the screen a text appeared which said that they would become new SmackDown Tag Team Champions at WWE‘s Super ShowDown. Kofi Kingston and Big E came out with popcorn in their hands and acted impressed by the video package. Big E laughed about the fact that they think that they would beat them for the tag titles and Morrison and the Miz responded with their own mock laughter.

Suddenly, the Usos made their entrance what gave Miz and Morrison the chance to attack the New Day from behind. The Usos then entered the ring to run off Miz and Morrison. After that, Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode came out for their upcoming match.

In the end, the Usos performed their Double Superkick against Roode followed by the Splash from Jimmy what then led to the pinfall victory.

Opinion: Good opening match. The crowd enjoyed the fight more than the opening segment which wasn’t bad but not special at all. Anyways, the opening match of the night was really entertaining and the faces got the victory, so everything fine.

Rating: B

Backstage segments and Cesaro (w/ Sami Zayn) vs. Elias

We saw Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross in a locker room as Bliss explained to her partner that she knows that she can beat Bayley since she already did so and added that she was the first one to win the Raw and the SmackDown Women’s Championship.

After that, we saw King Corbin who entered a production truck and dragged one man out of it to throw him down the steps while he said, “Let’s see you do your job now.”

Next, Elias was in the ring to play a song, but he got interrupted by Cesaro’s music as the Swiss and Sami Zayn came out. Zayn had a mic and told Elias that now he would have to pay for what he did last week. Then, the match between Cesaro and Elias kicked off.

Logically, Zayn attacked Elias during the match when Cesaro distracted the ref. The fight was really evenly-matched as both men showed their offensive actions. In the final phase of the match, Elias performed an Elbow form the top rope for the win.

Opinion: So, is this now Elias’ new finisher or why the hell did he use the Elbow from the top rope as his final move before he pinned Cesaro. Besides, it’s extremely sad to see that these two men stuck in their roles and don’t get a real push or something like that.

Rating: C+

And the feud continues…

While Corey Graves and Michael Cole were showing discussing something suddenly Corbin came out without his entrance theme playing. He said that Roman Reigns wouldn’t have been able to get the win last week without his fellows the Usos. He added that if Reigns was as tough as he says he would have faced him one on one at the Royal Rumble and he demanded one more match against Reigns. The Big Dog came out to attack Corbin and they brawled at ringside. After beating the hell out of Corbin who flew to the back, Reigns walked into the ring with a mic and accepted the challenge for one more match and noted that it would be inside a Steel Cage.

Opinion: We had several stages in this feud when it seemed as it would be finally over (match at the Royal Rumble, the segment with the dog food) and now we are heading into another match. Anyways, the Steel Cage match makes sense as then nobody can interfere, but we’ll still see Ziggler, Roode and the Usos in any way getting involved. However, I just hope that this is the final match in this feud.

Rating: C-

The interview with Goldberg

Next, we saw Goldberg who was sitting in a garage and he got interviewed by Cole as he was connected “live via satellite”. Cole asked him who’s next. Goldberg answered that he watched the Royal Rumble and that the WWE Champion Brock Lesnar has a match with Ricochet, and then he turned his attention towards the WWE Universal Championship.

Suddenly, a Firefly Fun House News into aired and we saw Bray Wyatt sitting in an office chair in front of the usual setting as he wore a suit. He acted like a news anchor and said that “he” would accept the challenge. Goldberg said that he would take the WWE Universal Championship away from him and added that the Fiend is next. Goldberg stood up and walked away while Wyatt said his typical “let me in” before he waved goodbye.

Opinion: I’m not quite sure what I should expect from this match since I can’t imagine that Goldberg can work a good match. The Fiend worked until now just with incredibly in-ring talents like Finn Balor, Seth Rollins, the Miz and Daniel Bryan while Goldberg showed within his last matches that he’s far away from a good in-ring performer. This match will surely live from the emotions and characters, but I’m fine with that when they do it right.

Wyatt was in this segment great as always while I can’t take Goldberg serious after his matches with Lesnar and the Undertaker.

Rating: B-

Daniel Bryan vs. Heath Slater

Then, we saw Daniel Bryan in the locker room as Heath Slater approached him. Slater explained that he wanted to check on him after the beating he had to take at the Royal Rumble against the Fiend. Bryan asked Slater what he would think of the idea of meeting him in the ring.

After a commercial break, we then saw the match between these two men which logically didn’t even take two minutes. In the end, Bryan performed a Running Knee followed by LeBell for the submission win.

Opinion: I’m curious what will be next for Bryan as his feud with Wyatt seems to be over. Not much to say about this match.

Rating: B

Braun Strowman’s interview

The Monster among Men made his entrance to get interviewed in the ring by Renee Young. He talked about how happy he is to finally win his first singles championship in WWE, but then Shinsuke Nakamura’s music started to play and he came out together with Sami Zayn. Zayn asked for a rematch and Strowman said that he would defend his title any time in any place. Suddenly, Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder attacked Strowman from behind and then Nakamura and Zayn joined them in the ring to beat up Strowman.

Strowman fought back and destroyed the Revival duo and Nakamura while Zayn ran away. The Monster among Men chased him to then ran into a knee by Nakamura who stood tall in the ring with Zayn as this segment closed.

Opinion: This feud just doesn’t seem to be interesting in my eyes. Strowman definitely needs a new challenger, which he hopefully gets after defeating Nakamura for a second time.

Rating: C+

Sheamus vs. Apollo Crews

Ahead of this match, we saw a little video package in which Tucker was in the gym with Otis as he would get ready for Valentine’s Day. Then, Tucker showed him that he shouldn’t eat a steak with his hands.

After this video package, Sheamus put away Apollo Crews in less than one minute with his Borgue Kick. As the match was over, Shorty G wanted to attack Sheamus, but also just ate a Borgue Kick.

Opinion: The segment with Tucker and Otis was funny, but such squash matches are just completely senseless and bury talents like Crews (as well as Shorty G).

Rating: D

Naomi vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Carmella vs. Dana Brooke in a four-way match for a shot at the SmackDown Women’s Championship

So, it was time for the main event of this week’s SmackDown. Bayley was watching the match from ringside and she also got involved once in the match as she had a short brawl with Naomi at ringside. Naomi was clearly the Women who showed off the most offensive moves and after about 11 minutes she hit Bliss with the Rearview and it seemed as this would mean that she gets the win. However, suddenly, Carmella performed a Superkick against Naomi for the victory.

Then, Bayley entered the ring and performed her finisher against Carmella and headed to the back as the show closed.

Opinion: Basically, the crowd liked the match and you could see how much effort all four women put in, but it was still not a good match for a main event and made not much sense since none of the four women has at the moment the standing to face the champ. Besides, why the hell was Naomi the one in this match who seemed to be the strongest and then she has to take the pin?

Rating: C

Summary

This was one of the most miserable episodes of SmackDown within the last weeks and months. Goldberg gets a title shot for no reason while Reigns and Corbin continue their feud and we saw a match which was solid but surely not good enough for the main event. Besides, I would love to hear from WWE what their plans are for Bryan, Cesaro and Sheamus since I’m sure that they can’t answer that.

Rating: C