WWE Draft SmackDown on FOX: Results, Highlights, Grades for Oct. 11

The second week of WWE TV on the FOX Network focuses on Night 1 of the WWE Draft, taking place all night on SmackDown.

After some fireworks and the opening intro crawl, we don’t waste time to figure out some WWE Draft picks. Our opening match is a WrestleMania worthy match with SmackDown’s Roman Reigns vs. Raw’s Seth Rollins with the winner getting their brand the first draft pick.

The former Shield brothers fist bump before locking up. Even match-up to start until Rollins attempts a roll-up for a nearfall. Roman to the outside. Both men dodge suicide dive and Drive-By Kick attempts. These men know each other too well.

Back in the ring, things intensify with a staredown and Roman pushes Rollins. They start trading punches.

Back from commercial, Rollins has Roman in a rest hold, which Reigns breaks out of momentarily. Rollins attempts a suplex, but gets blocked. Roman attempts the same and gets blocked. They go back and forth until Rollins hits a Superkick. He goes for the Stomp, but Roman reverses into a roll-up transitioning into a deadlift powerbomb for another near fall.

Roman attempts a Superman Punch, but Rollins catches him for a reverse STO into the corner. He sends Roman to the outside for two suicide dives, then a springboard knee. He goes to the top rope for a frog splash and nails it for a 2-count.

Rollins sets up another Curb Stomp only for Roman to side step it with two uppercuts, but Rollins responds with a superkick. He then lifts Roman up for a Buckle Bomb, but Roman bounces out the corner for a Superman Punch. Near fall.

Roman sets up a Spear, but in shades of their match from Money in the Bank 2016, Rollins counters in mid-air for a Pedigree! 1 … 2… KICK OUT!

Rollins sets up another Stomp, but alas, The Fiend appears from under the ring to jam his fingers down Rollins’ throat, and literally drag the Universal Champion to hell. Rollins slithers his way back up, though. Hell must have a step ladder.

Hell must also have a secret exit door because seconds later, The Fiend taunts Rollins from the top of the ramp.

Result: Rollins by DQ

Grade: B

Not a fan of non-finishes, but I get it in cases like this when you don’t need to beat either guy, especially when this easily could’ve been saved for a Mania match. Plus, because these dudes have such gnarly chemistry, Rollins vs. Roman was just dog gone fun while it lasted.

At the ramp, Stephanie McMahon announces who gets the first WWE Draft pick for Raw. To no surprise, the #1 WWE Draft pick for Raw is Becky Lynch and for SmackDown, Roman Reigns! In addition, in the #2 pick, The O.C. (AJ Styles, Gallows and Anderson) go to Raw while Bray Wyatt goes to SmackDown. Next, Drew McIntyre to Raw.

King Corbin vs. Shorty Gable (yes, they rebranded Chad as “Shorty” and I am appalled)

Before the match, King Baron Corbin comes out to complain and talk about how he can’t stand the crowd’s filth. To be fair, it’s Las Vegas, so he might be onto something.

Match starts with a lock-up, but because Shorty Gable is, uh, short, Baron Corbin just tosses him around. Throws him to the outside and into the barricade and ring post.

Back in the ring, Gable tries to chop Corbin down with amateur wrestling and attacking the legs, but his momentum gets shut down by a big boot. He then sends Shorty to the outside where he gets tossed into the announce table, then chokeslammed onto the table before we’re sent into a commercial break.

Back from the break, Corbin sets Gable on the top rope, but Shorty wiggles his way out. Corbin attempts a Deep Six, but Gable reverses with a bulldog. Comeback city for Gable until Corbin rolls outside, only to get dropkicked over the barricade.

Back in the ring, Gable hits a pitch perfect moonsault for a 2-count. He then attempts a Chaos Theory, only for Corbin scout it and hit a gnarly, whirling back suplex move. Hard to describe, never seen anything like it.

Corbin attempts an End of Days, but Gable wiggles out for a Chaos Theory for another 2-count. He then goes for a German Suplex. He goes for a second one, but he’s too busy selling the back to capitalize. Corbin goes for a chokeslam, but Gable turns it into a victory roll. 2-count, but he grips Corbin’s leg for an Ankle Lock. Corbin rolls onto his back, but gets a Jackknife pin attempt.

Back to his feet, Gable walks right into an End of Days.

Winner: Corbin

Grade: C-

This got a little more fun and entertaining near the end, but early on, it just felt too much like a one-sided squash. Hard to invest into when Gable’s loss felt so pre-determined. Still, both men showcased themselves well and I think this turned out just a smidge better than their HIAC match.

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In the next WWE Draft picks, we learn Randy Orton goes to Raw, Sasha Banks to SmackDown, Ricochet to Raw, Braun to SmackDown, and Bobby Lashley to Raw. We then get a video package hyping up Tyson Fury, who we then see is backstage.

In the second hour of SmackDown, new WWE Champion takes to the ring with Paul Heyman to talk about his upcoming Crown Jewel match vs. Cain Velasquez.

Paul Heyman talks about what a normal human being does when they’re afraid, but Brock Lesnar only fears reliving Oct. 23, 2010 when Cain Velasquez beat him in UFC.

But instead, Brock embraces and conquers his fears and will do the same to Velasquez 9 years after their last UFC encounter.

Seconds afterwards, Rey Mysterio comes out with Cain Velasquez by his side. Rey replays footage of UFC 121 where Cain bloodied Brock to a pulp. Mysterio and Cain (in Spanish) promises the same will happen at Crown Jewel.

Grade: C

Eh, it’s a mixed bag. On one hand, A+ Paul Heyman promo. Most of his promos are great. Sometimes in promos these days, he gets too repetitive, but it was on the money this time. On the other hand, this did not sell me on the PPV, which is typically the point of a promo, but when that PPV is Crown Jewel and in Saudi Arabia, it’s hard for a lot of people to get jazzed about that to begin with. By the same sword, it was a better promo before Mysterio came out, so him and Cain weren’t really needed.

Afterwards, The New Day are out to award two breast cancer survivors. Then, onto their next match.

The New Day vs. The O.C.

Gallows takes out everyone on the New Day to start. The O.C. have the advantage to send us to a commercial.

Back from the break, Karl Anderson and Xavier Woods make the hot tags to Kofi and AJ Styles. Kofi starts off hot like a house of fire. Boom Drop then a shot to Gallows. Kofi to the top with a crossbrody to AJ. Karl breaks it up, and Big E takes him out. Gallows takes E out, Woods takes everyone out with a dive.

In the ring, Kofi evades a Phenomenal Elbow, then AJ avoids an SOS. Counter for counter until Kofi hits a Trouble in Paradise for the win.

Winners: New Day

Grade: D+

Not a bad match, but we didn’t see enough of it. Went to commercial just as it was starting and came back with two minutes of hotness. Not much to speak of. If nothing else, it’s a basic, by the numbers tag match that I wish I could speak more of. With the talent involved, this could’ve been amazing, but it was a nothing match.

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Stephanie’s back at the podium for Round 3 of the WWE Draft. Next, we learn Alexa Bliss goes to Raw, Lacey Evans to SmackDown, and Kevin Owens to Raw with The Revival on SmackDown. Finally, the third round of the WWE Draft ends with us learning that Natalya goes to Raw.

Back from the break, we go into the fourth Round of the WWE Draft with Viking Raiders to Raw, Lucha House Party to SmackDown, Nikki Cross to Raw, Heavy Machinery to SmackDown, and the final pick of the night, Street Profits to Raw.

With the WWE Draft parts of the night out of the way, we move on to the main event of the evening:

Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Bayley – SmackDown Women’s Championship

Before the match, Bayley took her ponytail out and murdered the inflatable Bayley Buddies (fka wacky wavy inflatable arm flailing tube men) on live television. If anyone was confused about whether or not Bayley was a heel, that confusion should be gone now.

Immediately at the bell, we get an aggressive Bayley throwing punches and slaps until Charlotte runs her off with a neckbreaker. On the outside, Bayley gets thrown into the barricade, but Bayley gets the advantage back before we go to break.

Back from the break, Bayley is controlling offense over Charlotte. It works until Charlotte gets an opening by pushing Bayley out the ring, then diving onto her from the apron. Comeback Charlotte is in the house before setting up the Figure Eight, but Bayley gets to the ropes. In retaliation, Charlotte big boots Bayley out the ring. There, she climbs the barricade and moonsaults onto Bayley.

She rolls Bayley back in the ring for a 2-count. Eventually, Bayley hits a Bayley to Belly out of nowhere for a near fall. Charlotte gets back into this by sending Bayley into the turnbuckle. She then goes for another moonsault, only for Bayley to evade it, but Charlotte recovers with a high angle boston crab till Bayley wiggles out of it.

Bayley nails Charlotte into the turnbuckle with a nail, then attempts a Macho Man Elbow and nails it. Charlotte kicks out. Bayley jaw jacks with the ref, but gets caught with a Natural Selection. Charlotte attempts Figure Eight, but Bayley pulls Charlotte’s hair into a roll-up for Bayley to win. Bayley then closes the show to tell the fans “Screw all of you.”

Winner (AND NEWWWWWWW): Bayley

Grade: B+

I really love how this match was booked. Bayley attempted all her main moves, they failed, but it took her going out of her usual happy/respectful element to beat Charlotte by cheating (pulling her hair into a roll up). That is a great way to set up a character change.

Speaking of, a lot of folks are going to hate Charlotte losing the title days after winning it, but again, if it was done to progress Bayley’s character development, then it’s smart. Remember Bayley moping “Why does this always happen to me?” as their HIAC match ended? Well, she figured out why, and now, she’s made a change. Anxious to see how this plays out in the coming weeks.

Overall: B

Much better, cleaner, and better condensed/timed show than last week. Opened and closed with great matches that can forgive some not so great ones in the middle.