WWE SmackDown Results, Grades: Sasha Banks Was Unjustifiably Robbed

WWE SmackDown took place on October 9, 2020, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on FOX.

Are you ready? Are you ready for a good time? WWE SmackDown was stacked tonight with PPV-worthy matches and thrilling draft picks. This SmackDown episode’s special edition of the WWE Draft seemed promising. The review for this episode was as follows:

On tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown, there were three scheduled matches: (1) Big E vs. Sheamus in a Falls Count Anywhere Match, (2) ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt vs. Kevin Owens, and (3) Bayley (c) vs. Sasha Banks for the SmackDown Women’s Championship.

With WWE Hell in a Cell 2020 only two weeks away from Sunday, there were quite a few rivalries to build towards as well. With that being said, it’s now time to bleed blue and recap what happened on this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown, starting with Stephanie McMahon.

Stephanie McMahon Promo: The First Round of Draft Picks

Result: The first round of draft picks were announced.

Grade: A+, No surprises with the picks here. The top stars got priority, as the draft should.

Stephanie McMahon announced that Drew McIntyre, Asuka, and Hurt Business were drafted to Raw and that Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins were drafted to SmackDown. It was smart for Raw to grab most of their champions early. Meanwhile, SmackDown did the same with the Universal Champion while grabbing Seth Rollins for the first time ever. Rollins can change his name from The Monday Night Messiah to the Friday Night Friar, perhaps?

Big E vs. Sheamus [Falls Count Anywhere Match]

Result: Big E (via pinfall)

Grade: A+, This match was a treat for the hardcore fans. Impeccable match to excite the fans about Big E’s versatile ability to be technically proficient in the ring and hardcore outside the ring as a main eventer. There’s clearly more to Big E than jokes, gyrations, and pancakes.

Big E and Sheamus went right at it to start this match, wasting no time in the ring. They took the fight to the backstage catering area, where Sheamus humiliated Big E by smother him with pancake batter and eggs. Big E began to unleash the Langston and rallied back by attacking Sheamus with a trash can and a broom stick. Like the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat, it was definitely not a clean sweep.

Big E and Sheamus took the fight to the parking lot, where Sheamus regained momentum by attacking Big E with a tire iron and delivered a White Noise to Big E through the windshield of one of the cars in the parking lot. Sheamus tried to Brogue Kick Big E in the trunk of another vehicle. However, Big E countered by power bombing Sheamus into another car and delivering the Big Ending from the top of the car through a table for the pinfall and victory.

Stephanie McMahon Promo: The Second Round of Draft Picks

Result: The second round of draft picks were announced.

Grade: A+, Naomi being drafted to Raw and Bianca Belair being drafted to SmackDown were surprising transitions. Naomi has never won the Raw Women’s Championship their singles pushes will be more 

Stephanie McMahon announced that AJ Styles, Naomi, and ShayNia were drafted to Raw and that Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair were drafted to SmackDown. Everyone knew that AJ Styles would go to Raw that Sasha Banks would remain on SmackDown. However, the other picks of Naomi and Bianca Belair were surprising but could be fresh starts for both superstars. Meanwhile, ShayNia are the Women’s Tag Team Champions, and they could have been on either brand and be fine.

Matt Riddle and Jeff Hardy vs. The Miz and John Morrison [Tag Match]

Result: Matt Riddle and Jeff Hardy (via pinfall)

Grade: D+, Broetry in Motion? No thanks. Lars Sullivan? No thanks. 

Jeff Hardy tagged in Matt Riddle for the hot tag. Riddle delivered a German Suplex, Running Knee, and Broton to The Miz. Jeff Hardy delivered a Twist of Fate to Morrison. The Miz tossed Hardy out of the ring, but Matt Riddle capitalized with a Broderick to The Miz for the pinfall and the tag victory. Lars Sullivan returned to squash all four men in the ring.

Stephanie McMahon Promo: The Third Round of Draft Picks

Result: The third round of draft picks were announced.

Grade: C-, This round of picks was the worst one thus far.

Stephanie McMahon announced that Ricochet, Mandy Rose, and The Miz and John Morrison were drafted to Raw and that Jey Uso and Rey and Dominick Mysterio were drafted to SmackDown.

Ricochet could have used a fresh start on SmackDown away from The Hurt Business, so it was questionable to keep him on Raw. Jey Uso needed to continue his rivalry with Reigns and Mandy Rose recently got traded to Raw, so those drafts made sense.

The Miz and Morrison lost so much momentum lately that they should not have been drafted that high, and Rey and Dominick Mysterio’s trade to SmackDown will only prolong their feud with Rollins, which is another questionable booking decision.

Bayley (c) vs. Sasha Banks [SmackDown Women’s Championship]

Result: Sasha Banks (via DQ)

Grade: C-, Why promote a big title match just to force an inconclusive finish? That’s false advertising and the slow burn for Sasha Banks in the WWE has become excessive. Very poor booking decision here.

Bayley and Sasha Banks started off the match with fast pace offense, showing how angry they are at each other. However, the match ended inconclusively once Bayley whacked Sasha Banks with a steel chair. This finish was very deflating. This match should have been in the main event and should have had a conclusive finish with Banks winning the belt.

Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods [SmackDown Tag Team Championships]

Result: Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods (via pinfall)

Grade: A-, It was questionable why Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura would lose the SmackDown Tag Team Championships to the same people they dethroned, but it was a phenomenal tag team match nonetheless. Big return win for Kofi and Woods.

Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro gained early control in the match, especially with Cesaro getting a nearfall against Kofi Kingston after delivering a European Uppercut. Kofi Kingston rallied back with a Trouble in Paradise to Cesaro. Nakamura tried to capitalize with the Kinshasa but Kingston countered with a tag to Xavier Woods and a Flying Elbow Drop to Nakamura for the pinfall and the victory. Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions.

Stephanie McMahon Promo: The Fourth Round of Draft Picks

Result: The fourth round of draft picks were announced.

Grade: C-, The fact that The New Day was drafted after the third round is disrespectful. The fact that the SmackDown Tag Team Champions were drafted to Raw is egregious. The fact that The New Day were broken up because of the draft is the worst booking decision of all time.

Stephanie McMahon announced that The New Day, Dana Brooke, and Angel Garza were drafted to Raw and that Big E and Mr. MITB Otis were drafted to SmackDown. The entire New Day situation was terribly booked. As for the other draft picks, Dana Brooke was recently traded to Raw, so that made sense. It will be interesting to see if Andrade and Tucker remain on the same brands as Angel Garza and Mr. MITB Otis respectively.

‘The Fiend Bray Wyatt’ vs. Kevin Owens [Grudge Match]

Result: ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt (via pinfall)

Grade: B+, Although Sasha Banks vs. Bayley would have been a more fitting main event, Bray Wyatt and Kevin Owens’ match was a fun main event. A decent way to close the show.

Bray Wyatt delivered a Sister Abigail to Kevin Owens on the announce table. Kevin Owens delivered a Pop Up Powerbomb to Bray Wyatt on the announce table. Bray Wyatt beat the ten-count to lock in the Mandible Claw. Kevin Owens tried to deliver the Stunner, but Wyatt delivered the Uranage and Mandible Claw to win the match via pinfall. After the match, Bray Wyatt and Alexa Bliss stared at each other to close the show.

October 9, 2020, SmackDown Results

• Drew McIntyre, Asuka, and Hurt Business were drafted to Raw.
• Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins were drafted to SmackDown.
• Big E defeated Sheamus via pinfall in the Falls Count Anywhere Match.
• Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods returned to reunite with Big E.
• Roman Reigns vs. Jey Uso will be an ‘I Quit Match’ inside Hell in a Cell.
• AJ Styles, Naomi, and ShayNia were drafted to Raw.
• Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair were drafted to SmackDown.
• Matt Riddle and Jeff Hardy defeated The Miz and Morrison via pinfall.
• Lars Sullivan returned.
• Ricochet, Mandy Rose, and The Miz and John Morrison were drafted to Raw.
• Jey Uso and Rey and Dominick Mysterio were drafted to SmackDown.
• Sasha Banks defeated Bayley via disqualification. Bayley retained the SmackDown Women’s Championship due to champion’s advantage.
• Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods defeated Cesaro and Nakamura via pinfall to become the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions.
• The New Day, Dana Brooke, and Angel Garza were drafted to Raw
• Big E and Mr. MITB Otis were drafted to SmackDown.
• Sasha Banks challenged Bayley for the SmackDown Women’s Championship inside Hell in a Cell.
• ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt defeated Kevin Owens via pinfall.