Friday Night Smackdown Synopsis for 10/11/18 (WWE Draft Night One)

Friday Night Smackdown returns on what is night one of the WWE Draft from Las Vegas, Nevada at the T-Mobile Arena. Roman Reigns ushers in the night as the first entry of this upcoming matchup. There is also the announcement that the WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship between Bayley and Charlotte Flair will be up for grabs in a rematch of this past week’s Hell in a Cell pay per view.

Roman Reigns vs Seth Rollins

This match will determine who will draft first night one of the draft. Reigns and Rollins and lockup with the Universal champion having the early advantage. Rollins tries to steal one and tries to roll up Reigns with a schoolboy but he kicks out at two. Then we a stalemate between them as both men appear to know the move of the other. Reigns takes Rollins punches and returns with a clothesline of his own.

After a commercial break, we return with Rollins having Reigns in a rear chinlock. Both men blocking the others attempt at a suplex. Reigns picks up Rollins and drives him down for a powerbomb and a pinning attempt but only for a count of two! Reigns locks up for the attempted superman punch but Rollins prevents it and then clotheslines Reigns to the outside and hits two suicide dives. Rollins hits a frog splash but only for a count of two.  Both men make it to their feet and Rollins begins to tease a lead up to the curb stomp but it is blocked. Reigns then returns and hit a right on Rollins. Rollins then hits a buckle bomb on Reigns.

Reigns then connects with a superman punch. He then covers him as well but only for a count of two. Both men attempt to make it to their feet but Reigns attempts to hit a spear but Rollins counters it with a modified pedigree. Rollins then attempts to high the curb stomp when….the lights go out. At this point, the Fiend Bray Wyat came through the ring and pulled Rollins through the ring with him. Rollins returns inside the gasping for air as Wyatt peaks at him from under the ring. The lights go out again to show the Fiend standing at the top of the ramp.

Winner: Seth Rollins via disqualification

We then see the war Rooms of both Raw and Smackdown setting up Raw to have the first draft pick for them. We then are told the rules; as that for every 2 Smackdown picks, Raw will get 3. Tag teams will count as 1 pick unless Fox or USA specifically wants to pick 1 superstar from the team. Also, any undrafted superstars will immediately be declared free agents and able to sign with the brand of their choosing.

Stephanie McMahon comes out and steps up to the microphone says that on night one of the WWE Draft: Becky Lynch will remain on Raw and Roman Reigns will remain with Friday Night Smackdown. The OC will then remain on Raw and The Fiend Bray Wyatt will be moving Friday Night Smackdown. The final draft pick of the first round was Drew McIntyre will remain on Raw.

WWE Draft Night One
Photo / WWE

Renee Young, Samoa Joe, Booker T, and Beth Phoenix are all a part of the WWE Draft panel accessing the picks.

King Corbin comes out and runs down the audience and says he will face ‘Shorty’ Gable after the break. Someone thought to make Gable’s height the basis of his character when there is so much more it is disappointing.

King Corbin vs ‘Shorty’ Gable

After the break, we get Troy Aikman and Joe Buck of Fox Football sharing their take on the upcoming draft. They talk about how the Dallas Cowboys drafted him. Aikman said he’d use the piledriver to finish off his opponents. We then get the newly dubbed ‘Shorty’ Gable (I’m so worried this will end up like him having to become the Corbin Court jester). A flashback of what took place last week of Gable’s win and Corbin’s post-match attack is shown. As soon as the bell rings, Corbin is on the attack. Gable regains control and works on Corbin’s leg. Corbin then hits a big boot on Gable and regains control of the match momentarily.

Gable then brings the fight to Corbin. The King then hits a chokeslam on Gable onto the announce table as the match heads to commercial. After the commercial, Gable is resting on the top rope and hits a backflip onto his feet.  Then just as it appears as though he is going to be hit with a deep six he counters it and hits a bulldog. Gable then hits two leaping cannonballs into the corner turnbuckle. We then get Chad Gable hit a moonsault on the King makes a pin but only for a count of two. The match goes back in favor of Corbin as Gable attempts to recover.

Gable gets out of an end of days counter and hits a rolling German suplex roll through. He eventually hits an ankle lock on the King’s ankle. Gable walks into the end of days and a three count win.

Winner: King Corbin

After the match, the NFL on Fox panel shows up and turns back the clock with their picks for who they’d draft. We then get Stephanie McMahon making the second-round draft pick announcements on night one of the WWE draft. Raw will get Randy Orton, Sasha Banks is going to Smackdown, Ricochet remains on Raw, Braun Strowman now moves to Smackdown and Bobby Lashley remains on Raw. The flashbacks of the war room are amusing as they really seem staged. Someone somewhere is likely laughing just not sure if it’s at them or with them. A flashback of last week’s premiere on Smackdown on Fox with Tyson Fury at ringside.

WWE Draft Night One
Photo / WWE

This week, we have Strowman and Fury going coming to blows this past Monday on Raw. Backstage both Strowman and Fury have been announced to face each other.

After the commercial break, we get a flashback of Cain Velasquez’s appearance on Smackdown followed by Brock Lesnar coming to the ring with Paul Heyman. Heyman gets on the microphone and shares Lesnar’s past with Velasquez. He says that Brock conquers his fears. That he will conquer his fears that are nine years in the making. As soon as Heyman says that this isn’t a prediction but a..spo..at this point Rey Mysterio’s music plays and outcomes both Cain Velasquez with Rey Mysterio. Mysterio translated Velasquez’s comments saying he was going to give Brock a matching scar to go with the one he has on the right side of his face.

The New Day vs The OC

Before the match, we see how WWE has once again partnered with the Susan G Komen foundation as October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. They present commorative championships to twin sisters. After the New Day make their way the ring, The OC follows. Early on in this match up the OC manages to get the advantage as they go to commercial. After the return, Woods makes the tag to Kofi Kingston to get back in the match.

Kingston hits a crossbody but only for a count of two as the remaining OC members break up the pinning attempt. Kingston and Styles remain in the ring and Styles set up for the Phenomenal forearm. However, that is countered with a couple of moves. Eventually, trouble in paradise. He covers them for a count of three.

Winners: The New Day

After highlights over earlier on in the evening, Stephanie McMahon returns for round three of night one of the WWE draft. Raw selects Alexa Bliss, Smackdown selects Lacey Evans, Raw selects Kevin Owens, Smackdown selects The Revival and Raw selects Natalya.

Photo / WWE

After the commercial break, Stephanie McMahon has the fourth and final round of night one of the WWE draft. Raw selects the Viking Raiders, Smackdown selects Lucha House Party, Raw selects Nikki Cross, Smackdown selects Heavy Machinery, and Raw selects Street Profits.

WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship Match
Charlotte Flair vs Bayley

A flashback of last week’s match between the two women are shown. Flair captured the title defeating Bayley just a few days ago. The Music stops and she picks up a pick and bashes the inflatable people slashing them to shreds. With a new hair cut, she comes to the ring with a metamorphosis in character. She comes to the ring and the match goes to the outside. Bayley is being tossed from pillar to post. Charlotte is then caught and Bayley maintains the attack on her foe.

A back and forth affair takes place between the two. Bayley maintains control with a side headlock. Flair then regains control with a series of chops and drops Bayley to the main. She hits a scoop slam and then drives her to the floor. Flair appears to have a bloody nose and then hits a moonsault on Bayley. Bayley hits a Bayley to Belly and a pinfall attempt but only for a count of two.

Charlotte attempts a moonsault but counters Bayley’s counter and puts her in a Boston Crab. Eventually, Bayley sets up Charlotte for a top rope elbow but the champion kicks out at two. Charlotte hits a natural selection and then Bayley counters with a small package roll-up for a three-count pin.

Winner: And New WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion

Bayley has new music upon her win after the match which is much darker than before. She says to the fans ‘bi***es’ and ‘screw all of you’. The heel turn is definitely complete.