WWE SmackDown Live: Results, Analysis, and Grades for Sept. 5

From Corey Graves joining the commentary team to the return of the Kevin Owens Show, the September 5 episode of SmackDown Live was jammed packed from start to finished.

WHAT.A.SHOW. It was announced over the weekend the Bradshaw would be stepping away from his announcing duties on SmackDown, and Corey Graves would join the broadcasting team on the blue brand. On any other week,  it may have been the most noteworthy development on the blue brand. But not this week.

From start to finish, SmackDown was must watch television. Every segment was intentional and served a purpose to drive the narrative. And the overarching single-episode storyline made it impossible to stop watching, and was reminiscent of the Attitude Era. There was no shortage of surprises this week, the biggest of which was announced minutes before the end of the episode. Though there wasn’t a whole lot of actual wrestling happening during the episode, I’m willing to give them a pass because everything seems to be building towards next week.

With the seemingly endless Jinder Mahal vs Randy Orton and AJ Styles vs Kevin Owens feuds coming to an end, fresh faces and feuds were a welcome sight as the brand aimed to set the stage for next week’s Sin City SmackDown.

Orton and Nakamura Promos

Nakamura and Orton are set to square off in the main event to determine the #1 contender for the WWE Championship.

After their tag team victory last week, Orton RKO’d Nakamura to create some tension for their matchup. This week, the veteran Orton said that he has seen many stars rise and burnout in the WWE, and that Nakamura shouldn’t for a minute be distracted.

Nakamura claims it is his destiny to capture the WWE, and he plans to inflict as much pain as possible on The Viper.

These pre-recorded promos helped build some excitement for a match that has a pretty obvious outcome.

WWE.com

Kevin Owens Takes Over SmackDown

With Carmella already in the ring, we are expecting a non-title match between Carmella and Natalya. That is until KO comes out and announces himself as special guest referee for the bout.

As KO attempts to intimidate the referee, Shane McMahon’s music hits. He tells Owens that, he needs to stop blaming other people for his failures. That on SmackDown Live, opportunities are earned and lost on the merit of each superstars’ abilities. And that KO is only upset because, he’s not being handed Universal Titles by HHH.

KO remarks that, Shane is a changed man and that he’s made SmackDown all about him because he never got enough attention from his dad. Owens bring ups the plane crash and says that Shane’s whole family, his father, wife, and kids would be better off if he didn’t survive it.

At this point, Shane snaps and starts punching Kevin Owens, throwing him over the announcers’ table. It isn’t until Daniel Bryan comes out that Shane finally backs off.

Really my words aren’t going to do this segment justice. The plane crash Shane was in was very real, and to wish his death is on a whole new level for a heel. To then say that Shane’s kids would be better off without their dad alive, is just vile… But it makes for great television!

After the commercial break, Daniel Bryan apologizes to Kevin Owens. Kevin says that he truly is going to turn this into the Kevin Owens Show when he sues Shane, Vince, and the whole WWE, and that he will make Bryan’s life a living hell.

WWE.com

Carmella vs. Natalya

Natalya def. Carmella via School-Boy Roll Up

Rating 2.5/5

I am sure that you’re reading the outcome of the match and thinking, “really a roll-up finish again!?” This time it makes sense I swear.

Coming off the heels of that fiery brawl, the two main women of the division put on an entertaining match. Probably the second best of the night. While Natalya probably isn’t first on anyone’s (other than her own) list of top female competitor on SmackDown, it’s nice to have a champion that seemingly marches head first into matches with the odds against here, and continues to be victorious. Natalya also looks like a champion. Though I expect her reign to end next week, I would say it was an overall success.

The match finished perfectly, when it appeared that Ellsworth was going to cash-in for Carmella, but accidentally dropped the briefcase. This was met by confusion by the ref, Carmella, and Ellsworth. Natalya was able to take advantage of the situation for the win.

After the match, Carmella calls Ellsworth a freak and a charity case that doesn’t even belong in the WWE, let alone in her presence. Somehow I feel bad for Ellsworth. Even though he has constantly been the worst, I can’t help but feel bad for him.  He is trying to do everything to impress a girl, but can’t get out of his own way. I think most can relate to that in some way.

WWE.com

Dolph Ziggler Re-Debuts

Ziggler doesn’t get the “Emmalina” treatment for his re-debut. He comes out, exactly as he was before and calls out the WWE Universe claiming that they aren’t looking for actual in-ring talent, they just want a flashy gimmick. Ziggler then comes out and puts on caricatures of John Cena, Macho Man, and Naomi’s introductions. After he is done, he says the crowd is pathetic.

I think Ziggler is a great performer who has been sabotaged by poor, inconsistent booking. This seems like a legitimate gripe that he has with the WWE. Hopefully, we see him delve further and further into madness. Is this Ziggler’s breaking point, or can he go any lower?

WWE.com

Sami Zayn vs. Aiden English

Aiden English def. Sami Zayn  Oklahoma Roll Up

Rating: 0.5/5

Okay, this is a roll-up win you can roll your eyes at. It really hurts my heart to even write this. Somehow, inexplicably Sami Zayn, maybe the send best wrestler on your roster, is losing to English clean as a whistle. Don’t get me wrong, I love English, but Sami Zayn should be competing for championships, not for wins over a career jobber. I can’t help but feel like Zayn could easily fit somewhere in the ongoing Kevin Owen’s storyline.

Backstage New Day and the Usos

As Daniel Bryan continues to deal with the fallout from the assault early in the night, the New Day and Usos enter Bryan’s office to discuss the stipulation for next week’s title match. The Usos declare that they will defend their titles in a Sin City Street Fight.

Bryan excuses himself as he gets a phone call and heads to the ring.

An eerie silence takes over the arena, as Bryan heads to the ring with no music and no “Yes!” chanting. It was an added story telling element that created a tense atmosphere.

WWE.com

Bryan calls Shane down to the ring as well. Bryan recalls when The Miz was constantly in Bryan’s face about not being able to wrestle, and how Shane told him that he couldn’t attack the talent for the fans, for the company, and for the locker room. It was an intelligent piece of consistency for a company that sometimes lacks both.

Daniel Bryan then tells Shane that per Mr. McMahon’s request, Shane has been suspended indefinitely.

JInder Mahal Backstage Interview with Renee Young

Renee asks Jinder who he hopes wins in tonight’s main event. Jinder responded that it doesn’t matter, because it at Hell in a Cell his opponent will lay defeated at the feet of the Modern Day Maharaja. Jinder is getting pretty good on the mic, and this promo only really glanced the content of his other foreign-heel promos. Instead, he focused on being a conqueror, which more intimidating and more his character.

WWE.com

Tye Dillinger vs Baron Corbin

AJ Styles on Commentary

Corbin def. Dillinger via End of Days

Rating: 3/5

This was a great little match set up based on the events of last week. Both Tye and Corbin attempted to answer AJ Styles US Open Challenge last week, which lead to a chaotic and quick match between Dillinger and Styles. Commentators did a great job of protecting Tye by mentioning the fact that he could have won if it wasn’t for Corbin blindsiding him.

It feels like I say this a lot, but I really like Dillinger. However, he has really has been victimized by WWE’s inconsistent booking. When he first debut on the main roster he was red-hot, now crowds hardly reacts to him. But the 10 chant is still over.

The match ended when Corbin landed punch to Tye’s through when the ref’s vision was obscured, followed by an end of days.

After the match, Styles caught up with Dillinger in the back. AJ said that the US Open Challenge was only going to be open for him at Sin City SMackDown next week.

Carmellsworth Make Up and Make Out

In a quick backstage segment, Ellsworth finds Carmella in the back and begs her to take him back. After an eternity of groveling, Carmella says that she’s doing things her way. She lands a smooch on Ellsworth and then slaps him across the face, leaving him confused.

WWE.com

Main Event – Randy Orton vs Shinsuke Nakamura

#1 Contender Match for the WWE Championship

Nakamura def. Orton via Kinshasa

Rating: 2.5/ 5

With the Maharaja sitting in the skybox above, Nakamura and Orton square off for the first time. It wasn’t until the main event that I was consciously thankful to have Graves on commentary. More specifically, when Orton landed his draping DDT, no one screamed out “VINTAGE ORTON!”

The match was decent enough. Both competitors got their the signature offense in. One exception however, is that Nakamura is no longer using the reverse exploder. A match that he botched on John Cena in the weeks leading up to SummerSlam. Ironically, but not unsurprisingly, Orton was able to his back drop on the announce table spot. If you remember one of the Singh brother next nearly snapped taking that bump in a match between the Viper and Jinder Mahal.

Ultimately, Nakamura won, making him the #1 contender. Nakamura will face off against Jinder Mahal for the WWE Championship at Hell in a Cell. But if Nakamura wins at Hell in a Cell, what was the point of his loss at SummerSlam? Was it punishment for the aforementioned botch on Cena? It’ seems like SmackDown has been utilizing the reset button often on some of their main events, and it’s not something they should get comfortable doing.

As Nakamura celebrated his victory cameras cut to backstage where Daniel Bryan informs KO that Shane has been suspended and that it’s all water under the bridge. However, KO disagrees and says that now no one can stop him. Bryan then lets Owens know that next week, Vince McMahon will be on next week’s Sin City SmackDown Live!

Next: Character Consistency, Not Heat, Reason for Corbin's Failed Cash In

Could this be a return to form for

SmackDown

, or just another high point in inconsistent quality? Next week we have a huge number of title matches and you catch the review of it here!