WWE SmackDown: Results, Highlights and Grades for Nov. 8

Sasha Banks vs. Nikki Cross

Worth noting that Bayley is at ringside on commentary while Sasha Banks comes out with new music rapped by Snoop Dogg.

The two lock up to start, but Banks settles on just clobbering Cross to the ground before slamming her head into the turnbuckle. Then a suplex in the middle of the ring before a one count. Cross shoves her away, but Banks slaps her down. She then chokes Cross across the middle rope right in front of Bayley, to the champion’s delight.Then a meteora on a sat down Cross for a two count.

Cross ducks a clothesline, then recovers with an admittedly sloppy hurricanrana. Series of arm drags and a running crossbody to set up a comeback spot. Tosses Sasha outside before hitting a baseball dropkick. Crossbody off the apron onto the floor before charging at Bayley and laying out the champion.

Back in the ring, she attempts a springboard, but Bayley grabs Nikki’s foot without the ref seeing, and Banks capitalizes with a dropkick. Both women in the ring, Cross tries to get back in with a small package for a two count.

Crossbody by Cross for a two count. Banks goes to the outside to talk to Bayley and rethink a strategy as we go to a break.

Back from the break, Banks has the heat on Cross. Kicks her into the corner, but Cross suddenly recovers with a tornado DDT for a two count. Cross kicks off a comeback spot, feeding off the energy of the England crowd. Banks reverses with a Bank Statement attempt, but Cross turns it into a pin attempt for a two count.

Banks then gets a Jackknife pin attempt for a two count. Cross goes for a swinging neckbreaker, but Banks reverses with a Bank Statement. In the middle of the ring, Banks has no choice but to tap out.

Banks leaves the ring and heads to the back, but Bayley blindsides Nikki after the match. But out of nowhere, Baszler runs in to attack Bayley, once again laying out the SmackDown Women’s Champion. Banks runs in to make the save, but Baszler hightails it without a scratch.

https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1192987979477766145

Winner: Sasha Banks

Grade: C-

Wish I could grade this higher. I was super invested in this match and I think that counts for something, but something just wasn’t clicking with these two tonight. Led to some clunky, sloppy moments as well. Super disappointing.

Backstage, Sami Zayn tries to advise Daniel Bryan backstage once again. He doesn’t think Bryan needs more time to think about his decision, so he should just say he’d rather join Team Zayn, move forward and put the Yes Chants behind him. Before Bryan can say anything, the lights go out and suddenly, once back on, The Fiend shows up behind Bryan!

Zayn bolts out the room, but Fiend passes Bryan out with a Mandible Claw. If this is The Fiend’s title match for Survivor Series, revisiting Bray Wyatt’s history with Bryan because “The Fiend never forgets,” I am all in!