WWE Smackdown Live Match Ratings And Podcast Notes For 3/20/18 From Sean Ross Sapp

Daniel Bryan is back
10/10

  • Daniel Bryan is out to a giant ovation, and says that Shane McMahon is hurt, but he wants to talk about something else. 
  • He runs down the history of his injuries and how his wife, Brie Bella, encouraged him to fight for his dreams. A huge "Thank you Brie" chant broke out. Brie Bella number one babyface. 
  • Bryan gets more aggressive and says that if you fight for your dreams, your dreams will fight for you. He thanks the WWE doctors for treating him as a person instead of as a wrestler first and foremost, then thanks Brie.
  • Daniel Bryan doesn't know when he's getting back in the ring, but looks at the WrestleMania sign. When he asks if that sounds like a good idea, and the crowd explodes. 
  • Backstage Bryan is looking for Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, but finds Dolph Ziggler instead. Ziggler welcomes Bryan back and says he can't wait to beat him.
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Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Rusev (w/ Aiden English)
5.25/10

  • AJ Styles is at ringside as Rusev Day are in the ring. Huge Rusev Day chants ring out across the arena. 
  • Rusev works over Nakamura, who looks to be in much better shape ahead of WrestleMania.
  • After a commercial, Rusev lands a kick that has been finding a home with regularity these days. 
  • A flying armbar from Shinsuke Nakamura leads to an exchange of pins until Nakamura wins.
  • Rusev Day attack Nakamura. AJ Styles gets up to help, but Nakamura ends up fighting back and fending off both members of Rusev Day as Styles looks on.
  • Backstage, Nakamura trolls AJ Styles with his "knee to face" promo.

Baron Corbin defeated Tye Dillinger
4/10

  • This is the third Smackdown Live match for Tye Dillinger in five and a half months.
  • Dillinger connects with a bicycle kick and hits another kick outside the ring.
  • There was a sloppy End of Days spot and they run it back shortly after. Yikes. 

Natalya defeated Charlotte Flair
6.5/10

  • Natalya is excited to see Charlotte lose to Asuka, and takes exception to Charlotte saying it will be her toughest challenge. If I were Natalya, I'd bring up that she beat her in minutes in her first main roster match.
  • Charlotte's go behind out of the corner isn't all that great, but her bridge is. Also, Natalya is as athletic as ever.
  • I'm glad Charlotte brought back the head scissor roll. An underrated move.
  • Natalya slams Charlotte into the turnbuckle.
  • I just realized Charles Robinson is supposed to be watching for Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn to get to the arena, but he's reffing this match. Also, he should never ref a Flair match ever.
  • Nattie has one of the better powerbombs in WWE. She follows up with a Sharpshooter, but Charlotte Flair makes it to the ropes.
  • Charlotte hits a sick spear on the outside and applies a Figure Four.
  • Carmella comes out to try to cash in, but eats a boot. Natalya rolls up Charlotte and gets a pin. Wow. 
  • Can't pretend I understand that one.

Luke Harper (w/ Erick Rowan) defeated Jimmy Uso (w/ Jey Uso)
5.25/10

  • The Usos cut another strong promo. Nothing new or groundbreaking, but they are still really strong.
  • Jey Uso gets sent outside the ring, and Jimmy battles it out with Harper.
  • There's an awesome spot where Harper eats a drop toe hold into the boards and it breaks one of the LEDs. 
  • Jey interferes and almost helps give Jimmy a victory. One of the first senses of vulnerability during the Bludgeon Brothers' run.
  • Luke Harper wins the match with a discus lariat that was used in the middle of a match ten minutes before.

 

JinderRoodeOrton

  • Jinder Mahal is still really, really bad. According to Gisberto Guzzo, Mahal hits the crowd with "you people" five times.
  • There aren't a lot of promos I could be less interested in than Bobby Roode and Randy Orton joining the fray, which they do. MAGA Orton showing Mahal how it's done or something.
  • Mahal tosses Sunil Singh to the wolves and he gets beat up. He takes a Glorious DDT as well as anyone, and Orton/Roode face off after countering each other's moves. The end of this was pretty good. If the segments are that short, I can deal with Orton/Roode/Mahal. 

Becky Lynch & Naomi defeated Riott Squad (w/ Ruby Riott)

  • Logan cracks Becky with a great knee. Lynch's counters are on point during this match.
  • Naomi hit Liv Morgan with her ass so goddamn hard. Lynch taps out Logan.

Bryan, KO, Zayn

  • Daniel Bryan is out, followed by Owens and Zayn. They say that they're happy for Bryan and would have been there much sooner, but they got pulled over by a dumb cop. 
  • They say that they want to team with Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania, but Daniel says that he's not there for that.
  • He plays the footage of Shane getting attacked, and says this is a serious deal. Daniel Bryan then fires both Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. 
  • Zayn and Owens attack Daniel Bryan, but he fights back, and nails some pretty tough dropkicks. Eventually Zayn and Owens gain the advantage and Helluva Kick him. Owens then hits a powerbomb on the apron.
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