For a show that didn’t have a women’s match in sight, it sure still has a lot to still talk about. SummerSlam is starting to take shape and Stephanie McMahon dropped some news that revolves around who Bayley‘s opponent will be at that event. First, let’s get into the first woman that was shown.
Alexa Bliss was attacked by The Fiend last week to end SmackDown. After receiving the mandible claw, she hadn’t been seen or heard from since. In anticipation of what’s next to come, Bliss showed up once again in the ring with The Fiend. This time the fear in her eyes wasn’t there as it was last week.
Despite the awkward placement with Bliss just showing up in the ring, The Fiend was using her as a way to lure out Braun Strowman. He knows of their friendship and was trying to play on it to get to Strowman and the Universal Championship.
The Fiend approached Bliss much like he did last week and it looked as if we were going to see a repeat with another mandible claw. Instead, Bliss grabbed his hand to stop him and then put her hand up to his mask/face. This caused Strowman to appear on the big screen. He states that he doesn’t care about Bliss and what The Fiend does with her. The Fiend ends up receiving his match against Strowman for SummerSlam. Where will Bliss continue to fit into all of this? It is important to note that Nikki Cross did not appear on this week’s show.
Now we can get to all gold Bayley and Sasha Banks. They were interrupted by Stephanie McMahon and the duo tried to patronize their way out of any bad news the Chief Brand Officer may deliver to them. Banks was told that she will be defending her RAW Women’s Title at SummerSlam. Perhaps to Asuka if she beats Bayley this coming Monday.
Her other news was to deliver who would be Bayley’s opponent. The winner of a Triple Brand Battle Royal on next week’s SmackDown will determine who faces Bayley next. You can read further on this by clicking here.
Next, we have the continued saga of Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose. First, Deville was the guest on The Dirt Sheet with John Morrison and The Miz. She mentions that she is confused about why people are shocked about what she did to Rose last week. The prior promise that she would make Rose’s outsides look as ugly as her insides are and she feels she delivered.
Much like Alexa Bliss, Mandy Rose had also been quite silent on social media over this past week. The topic turned to Otis and the trio of Deville, Morrison, and Miz start to tear him down as well. It didn’t take long for Otis and Tucker to rush down to the ring to attack Miz & Morrison.
This led to a match between those two tag teams later on in the night as the main event. That match ended up in a disqualification as now short hair Rose rushed to the ring to attack Deville who was at ringside. The two brawl all around the ring and each male team attempts to hold back their respective woman, but that didn’t seem to be enough.
Backstage afterward the tension between the two is still high as now WWE officials are trying to keep them apart. Shortly everyone stopped as the lights went out.
The lights going out led into the new faction that was shown on RAW making their presence known. The faction is called RETRIBUTION. They run off the commentators, the cameramen, and then they attack the wrestlers in the crowd. They come equipped with bats, crowbars, and other various weapons including a chainsaw that they use to destroy the ring.
This faction includes five people. It is apparent that there are some women involved in this group. At least one that I could tell, possibly two.
Who do you think is part of this faction?
Let’s get into this week’s Winners & Losers:
WINNER: Alexa Bliss
I will admit I wanted more from this week in regards to how it left off last week. However, that wasn’t Alexa’s fault. Her acting is amazing. She gets criticism as far as her in-ring work, but most cannot deny that her acting is top notch. I am still very invested into this and if she will indeed be considered Sister Abigail.
WINNERS: Sonya Deville & Mandy Rose
That was a great brawl and the fact that they have been essentially feuding for months and months still doesn’t bother me. Maybe because they did have a small hiatus recently but I hope they have a match at SummerSlam. It has been rumored previously about the Hair vs. Hair match, so maybe they will still go that route. Either way, we need one killer of a match to wrap this feud up before Sonya goes for a title.
I wouldn’t really consider any of the women on tonight’s show on the losing end. Perhaps we could include Naomi and Nikki Cross as I found it weird that neither one was on the show. How are we supposed to rally behind Naomi when she isn’t being showcased? I can only assume we will see her next week in the Battle Royal.
The Battle Royal is a good idea if the winner to face Bayley is a fresh match. I wouldn’t mind it being someone from NXT or Naomi if she finally wins the title. Knowing the way these things work out it will probably be Nikki Cross getting her 18th shot and they still won’t give her the belt.
What did you think of this week’s SmackDown? Who were your Winners & Losers? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
