WWE SmackDown: Results, Highlights and Grades for Nov. 1

Daniel Bryan vs. Adam Cole (w/ Roderick Strong) – NXT Championship

The two amateur wrestle for a bit. More or less evenly matched. Cole gets Bryan in a headlock. Bryan gets out of it with a headscissor. We reach a stalemate. More chain wrestling till Bryan locks Cole into the corner and shoves him. He slaps him as well. They trade punches until he uppercuts Cole to the ground, then chops him in the corner. Two corners, actually.

Cole kicks Bryan in the gut and chops Bryan in the chest. Another headlock until Bryan kicks him away. Bryan leapfrogs over Cole and takes him down. He jawjacks to Triple H at ringside before stomping on Cole’s wrist, then locking Cole in a Bow and Arrow. Then a knee to the face. Followed by a few uppercuts. Bryan runs the ropes, but runs right into a pump kick for a two count.

Bryan goes for a nasty suplex against the ropes and both men go flying to the floor. Both men down, leading us to a commercial break.

Back from the break, Bryan is fighting out of a crucifix pin attempt, but Cole settles on a neckbreaker. Pin attempt for a two count. Then a series of knees for another pin attempt. Bryan kicks out again before Cole locks a Figure Four Headlock.

Cole continues to get the heat on Bryan in the corner until Bryan comes back with a series of uppercuts. He mounts his classic comeback spot.

He then tosses Cole to the outside, followed by a high knee to Cole off the apron. Bryan to the top rope for a missile dropkick. He puts Cole on the top rope and goes for a hurricanrana, but Cole turns it into a sunset flip for a two count. Bryan hits a series of uppercuts, then runs right into a superkick for a near fall. Coles goes for a suplex, but Bryan turns it into a German suplex.

Cole to the outside, suicide dive attempt, and Bryan nails it. He goes for another one, but trying his luck fails as he dives right into an enzuigiri, sending us to one final commercial break.

Back from the break, Bryan nails a German Suplex from the top turnbuckle, followed by a Diving Headbutt attempt. Cole gets out the way and nails his Patella Knee Brainbuster for a near fall.

Cole sets up The Last Shot, but grabs the leg and turns it into a Single Leg Boston Crab, then turns it into his patented Achilles Lock. Triple H is fuming outside at the thought of a non-NXT star winning the top prize of his brand, but to his relief, Cole gets to the rope.

“You wanna be a champion? GET UP!” Bryan screams as he fires Cole’s leg with kicks, lifts him for a fireman’s carry, but Cole reverses for a two count, which Bryan turns into a Yes Lock. Cole won’t tap, but he yanks back Cole’s arm and stomps on his head before locking the Yes Lock back in. Cole goes to the ropes, but Bryan yanks Cole’s arm. But Cole gets his foot to the bottom rope. Frustrated, Bryan continues kicking, Cole tries to reverse, series of pin attempts from both men until Bryan kicks Cole’s head in.

He goes for Knee Plus until Cole hits a Superkick, followed by Panama Sunrise, then The Last Shot for the win. What a match!

Triple H celebrates with his NXT kids in the ring and announces Raw/SmackDown vs NXT for Survivor Series. He promises to build an army for a fight.

“This is our army! This is our fight! This is our ring!”

Winner: Adam Cole
Grade: A

Two of the very best wrestlers on any WWE brand. Nuff said. Naturally, an instant classic. Check this out as soon as you can, if you haven’t already.

Overall Grade: A-

SmackDown had a heavy load to work with, changing the show last minute due to unfortunate circumstances, but they delivered a really fun show in return that actually gets me a little more excited for Survivor Series in the process. NXT shined on a show showcased by good matches, surprising moments, and an awesome main event. Best SmackDown on FOX yet.