The 08/14/18 edition of WWE SmackDown Live, out of the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, just wrapped up. We’ve got the WWE SmackDown Live results, as well as our overall thoughts on the show, for you to check out below. Let us know what you thought about episode #991 of WWE SmackDown Live by tweeting us, @TheRumbleRamble.
A Diva in the Women’s Era
ATTENTION: #SDLive #WomensChmpion @CarmellaWWE has the 🎤, and she has something to say to her #SummerSlam opponents @BeckyLynchWWE & @MsCharlotteWWE! pic.twitter.com/FAPfHSAOB7
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) August 15, 2018
The competitors of the upcoming SmackDown Women’s Championship triple threat match came to the ring to kick off the show. Carmella started by saying the only reason she was there was that the GM, Paige, forced her to be. She then got to work driving a wedge between Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch, pointing out everything that Charlotte had accomplished and Becky had not.
Charlotte didn’t need to hear anymore and told the Princess that she was all too familiar with her games and was not going to fall victim to them. Carmella was simply a diva living in the women’s era. Carmella agreed that she was a diva, but that it only made her better than both Becky and Charlotte.
Paige cut in and set a tag match between Charlotte Flair//Becky Lynch and Mandy Rose//Sonya Deville with Carmella at the announce table.
Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch vs. Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville
Stylin’ & Profilin’ all day, every day! #SDLive @MsCharlotteWWE @SonyaDevilleWWE pic.twitter.com/ay8wfZpX5t
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) August 15, 2018
In the words of Paige, Carmella spent this match doing what she does best – talking. Meanwhile, Charlotte and Becky would show her how it’s done in the ring. Despite both being involved in the triple threat match on Sunday, Charlotte and Becky remained a solid team. However, Sonya and Mandy proved themselves a real challenge for the tea spillers. In what was hopefully a preview of events to come, Becky Lynch won the match for her team with the Dis-Arm-Her.
Winner: Becky Lynch and Charlotte
The Bludgeon Brothers vs. ?? vs. ??
#TheTripleThreat barely had a chance…
Another bludgeoning is complete by @LukeHarperWWE & @ERICKROWAN. #SDLive pic.twitter.com/wABHbeFErt
— WWE (@WWE) August 15, 2018
Harper and Rowan obliterated all four of their opponents. No mercy from The Bludgeons, no resistance from the other two teams, no actual match at all, as the bell never rang. The New Day certainly have their work cut out for them at SummerSlam.
Daniel Bryan and The Miz: A History (Pt. 1)
“I realized something that night, I didn’t need @mikethemiz, but @mikethemiz needed me.” – @WWEDanielBryan
Do you agree? #SDLive pic.twitter.com/CQvmlZhyOB
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) August 15, 2018
The first episode in the mini-documentary following the backstory of The Miz and Daniel Bryan’s epic feud, this one focused on Bryan’s days in NXT as Miz’s “rookie”. Bryan won no matches while under Miz’s tutelage but beat Miz in his very first match on Raw.
SAnitY vs. The New Day
That’s one way to break up a pin! #SDLive @XavierWoodsPhD @TheEricYoung @TheWWEWolfe pic.twitter.com/AnOvyksztO
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) August 15, 2018
In preparation for their SmackDown Live Tag Team Championship match against The Bludgeon Brother’s on Sunday, The New Day took on SAnitY. Although SAnitY put up more of a fight than The Bludgeon’s opponents for the evening, The New Day was able to pull out a victory.
Winner: The New Day
Daniel Bryan and The Miz: A History (Pt. 2)
“You wrestle like a COWARD!”
“Why don’t you just QUIT and go to the BINGO HALLS?”
“You’re the ONE that WALKS AWAY! YOU’RE THE COWARD!”#TalkingSmack really lived up to its name that night. #SDLive @mikethemiz @WWEDanielBryan pic.twitter.com/lMY8De0Y5K
— WWE (@WWE) August 15, 2018
Part two of this saga featured Daniel Bryan’s retirement, along with his resurgence in the company as general manager of SmackDown Live. Miz told his side of the story: Bryan abused his power and held Miz down. At the same time, Bryan spoke of Miz’s verbal abuse of him throughout his time in management.
Paige Confronts Samoa Joe
Sorry @RealPaigeWWE, @SamoaJoe is keeping his plans for tonight under wraps. You, and the @WWEUniverse, will just have to see what happens… #SDLive pic.twitter.com/ORmlY2a4lD
— WWE (@WWE) August 15, 2018
Paige approached Samoa Joe backstage to discuss his recent unpredictable actions. She pleaded with him to control himself and not risk ruining the main event of SummerSlam. Joe responded by reminding the GM that she chose him for his killer instinct, not his ability to follow rules, and would, therefore, continue to do whatever he wanted.
Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Aiden English
There’s no doubt @WWEDramaKing is looking to redeem himself in the eyes of @RusevBUL & @LanaWWE, but @AndradeCienWWE is here to make sure that doesn’t happen… #SDLive pic.twitter.com/qfuCnstUel
— WWE (@WWE) August 15, 2018
English made his entrance first, grabbing a mic and begging for Rusev and Lana’s forgiveness through song. He said (sang?) he would make it up to them by defeating Andrade Almas in their honor.
Unfortunately for Aiden, Almas proved to be a little more than he could handle and he quickly fell victim to Andrade’s La Sombra.
After the match, Andrade and Zelina said that Sunday would mark the end of Rusev Day, at which point Rusev and Lana stepped onto the stage, declaring that this was nothing but a fantasy.
Winner: Andrade “Cien” Almas
Paige Gives it Another Shot
Family comes first for @AJStylesOrg. He made a promise to his wife to be civil with @SamoaJoe tonight. Sunday is a different story… #SDLive @RealPaigeWWE pic.twitter.com/WLb7GK8l5j
— WWE (@WWE) August 15, 2018
Things didn’t go so well with Samoa Joe, so Paige gave the same speech to the champ, AJ Styles. He accepted the request more graciously than Joe, saying that he made his wife a promise and he intended to keep it.
Although he didn’t disclose the promise, so it could have been one to destroy Joe.
Daniel Bryan and The Miz: A History (Pt. 3)
8 years in the making, and it all ends this Sunday. #SummerSlam #SDLive @mikethemiz @WWEDanielBryan pic.twitter.com/zd1vOXptEW
— WWE (@WWE) August 15, 2018
In the final minisode, we saw Daniel Bryan’s return to the ring and what it meant for the volatile rivalry between Bryan and Miz. Bryan said that he returned to pursue his passion, not to fight The Miz, but that since he was back, he would be happy to beat Miz down once and for all at SummerSlam.
This was excellent storytelling, excellent editing, whoever made these deserves a raise.
Jeff Hardy vs. Shelton Benjamin
With THESE ✋🤚 @JEFFHARDYBRAND defeats @Sheltyb803! Will THESE
✋🤚be holding the #USTitle at #SummerSlam? #SDLive pic.twitter.com/c8RWPQUd8C— WWE (@WWE) August 15, 2018
Jeff Hardy made relatively short work of Shelton Benjamin, but this was a fun match all the same. Afterward, Shinsuke Nakamura came to the ring with every intention of attacking Hardy while he was fatigued from the action, but was instead taken down by a Swanton Bomb.
Randy Orton was shown lurking in the shadows, watching the events unfold. He didn’t strike this time, but we’re sure he was planning something devious.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
Styles Has Words for The Destroyer
.@SamoaJoe promised he’d be unpredictable, and he lived up to his word. #SDLive #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/3PemtZIvkz
— WWE (@WWE) August 15, 2018
The Phenomenal One cut a promo about what it means to be WWE Champion and how difficult it is to maintain that role. Everyone wants to be the champion, particularly Samoa Joe, who stabbed him in the back before stabbing him in the heart and making him emotional. So much so that he wanted to rip Joe’s head clean off his body, but his wife talked him down, reminding him to stay focused on his goals.
Joe came to the stage with a letter from a member of the WWE Universe. The letter read that Joe had shown them the light, they were no longer a Styles fan and hoped that Joe beat him at SummerSlam. In the ultimate swerve, Joe revealed that the letter was written by Styles’ wife, Wendy.
What letter grade would you give tonight’s show? #SDLive
— Rumble Ramble (@TheRumbleRamble) August 15, 2018
