On the debut episode of Friday Night Smackdown, we usher in a new review, a new look but an old name. Welcome to the Friday Night Smackdown Synopsis. It is a star-studded affair with The Rock returning to Smackdown and Kofi Kingston defending the WWE Championship against the four-time champion, Brock Lesnar. Stephanie McMahon and Vince McMahon make their way out to the rampway welcoming history with Friday Night Smackdown on Fox. AC/DC’s ‘Are You Ready’ is the theme song that is a perfect choice as the new theme song for Smackdown. Pyro lights the sky as the announce team of Michael Cole and Corey Graves usher in this new beginning from the Staples Centre.
WWE Raw Women’s Champion, Becky Lynch makes her way down to the ring much to the delight of those in attendance. A chorus of ‘Becky’ chants begin as she addresses the new beginning on Fox. She says that she wants to repay the adulation of the fans by kicking someone’s a** that is until King Corbin interrupts. Corbin came out and just as he was about to step into the ring, The Rock’s music hits. The Rock soaks in the admiration of the fans and then proceeds to make his way to the ring.
The Rock says…
Once in the ring, The Rock shakes hands with Becky Lynch and blows off Corbin. The Rock shares how he uttered the words SMACKDOWN has become a show and an institution around the world. Rock referred to Corbin as a broke-ass Burger King on crack. Finally, The Rock has come back….home. Corbin then interrupts The Rock and then says that he is no longer the great one. King Corbin tells them to know their roles and shut their mouths. The Rock reminds Corbin that just because he dresses like a King doesn’t make him a King. A 35-year-old virgin at Comic-Con…maybe? Becky chimes in saying if she had testicles they’d likely be bigger than Corbins. This doesn’t look like it will end well for Corbin.
They call Corbin a Super Tough Dude or…STD and then they’ll call him STD to which Lynch says that will stick with him for life. Both The Rock and Becky Lynch both exchange blows beating on Corbin. Corbin rolls out of the ring as The Rock and The Man stand side by side in the center of the ring.
After the break, Trish Stratus and Lita are at ringside while Becky Lynch awaits her partner in the ring.
Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair vs Bayley and Sasha Banks
Flair makes her way to the ring followed by their opponents Bayley and Sasha Banks. Bayley calls herself a role model thus making her clearly a heel. Bayley pushes Becky that stands on the apron. Eventually, Bayley and Banks gain the advantage in the match taking the fight to Charlotte. Flair recovers and begins to hit chop after chop knocking to the floor. However, the referee doesn’t see Bayley push Charlotte off the top rope to the floor where Banks continues her attack.
Once back from a commercial break, Flair recovers and makes the tag to The Man who takes the fight to Bayley. After the brief distraction, Flair is tagged in and Becky and Banks got at it in the middle of the ring until Bayley gets involved. Soon enough all four women are involved. Becky hits a missile dropkick and then Charlotte climbs the top rope and hits a moonsault on both Bayley and Banks. Back in the ring, Bayley taps out to the figure eight.
Winners: Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch
Erin Andrews Fox Analysist interviews The New Day asking Kingston about being the underdog against Brock Lesnar. Kingston said he’ll overcome the odds like he always does. Xavier Woods says that they will not be at ringside for Kingston’s match as these are the champion’s wishes.
Seth Rollins vs Shinsuke Nakamura
After highlights of the blue carpet affair from earlier in the day, we have the WWE Universal champion come out to the ring. With Rollins in the ring, the Firefly Funhouse airs and Wyatt wants to introduce his friends to Fox too. Rambling Rabbit appears to dress just like Seth Rollins saying he’s his biggest fan. He said he wants to be him when he grows up. Rabbit then tries to warn Rollins not to get into the Hell in a Cell. Wyatt then wants to show him what will happen. Rabbit and Mercy the Buzzard battle in the cage to which stuffing goes all over the place. Rollins looks on as Wyatt says that ‘history has a way of repeating itself and they have all suffered for too long’.
Rollins looks on in shock as Shinsuke Nakamura’s music plays with Sami Zayn accompanying him to the ring. Nakamura locks in an armbar but Rollins breaks free and hits a tope suicdedo on the Intercontinental champion. Rollins hits a sling blade on Nakamura and then hits a knee off on a springboard from the top rope. Just then all the lights go down with the Fiend coming up from behind on Rollins and puts on a mandible claw and threw the Universal Champion off the stage.
Winner: N/A
Your Fired Ladder Match
Kevin Owens vs Shane McMahon
The stakes are high for this match. Michael Cole says can you imagine a WWE without Shane McMahon when we had that for nine years, didn’t we? McMahon doesn’t even get a chance to be announced with Owens going right after him. Owens sets up from the barricade to the ring apron. He then attempts to climb the ladder but Shane pulls him down and hits a side Russian leg sweep. McMahon climbs back up the ladder but Owens stops him. Owen attempts to throw a ladder at McMahon only to miss him and have it end outside. Shane then takes the ladder at ringside and hits Owens with it. McMahon clears a table at ringside and then breaks a count going back into the ring.
Shane hit Owens with everything he could to his advantage. With Owens laid on a table, McMahon climbs to the top rope and hits an elbow to the chest KO wiping out both of them.
After a commercial break, Owens has McMahon resting on the ladder and he hits a frog splash onto Shane through the ladder! The fans are very much into this match. Owens makes his way into the ring first bringing with him another ladder. Owens sets up the ladder and attempts to climb it but is struck by steel chair repeatedly. Shane sets up a ladder and hits coast to coast on Kevin Owens. Shane sets up the ladder but Kevin Owens comes in and stops him powerbombs him through another propped ladder. Owens climbs the ladder and grabs the briefcase!
Winner: Kevin Owens
After highlights of 20 years of Smackdown history sponsored by Snickers, Brock Lesnar is interviewed prior to his match with Kofi Kingston for the WWE Championship. Kayla Braxton interviews Paul Heyman while sharing the footage of Rey Mysterio beating down both father and son on Raw. Heyman says that Mysterio was in Lesnar’s way and he got rid of him and then says the same thing about Kingston being in his way. The plan is the get rid of him apparently too according to Heyman.
Braun Strowman, The Miz and Heavy Machinery vs. AJ Styles, Randy Orton, Dolph Ziggler, and Robert Roode
An interesting combination for this eight-man tag. Ziggler and Miz begin the match with one another. Dolph almost immediately hits a zig-zag but then is caught with a DDT at the hands of The Miz. Strowman is tagged in and takes the fight to Ziggler clubbing him until Roode comes in and gets involved. The remaining members of both teams get involved knocking everyone to the floor. Strowman then comes out and runs down the opposing team’s members on the outside. Tyson Fury and Braun Strowman give each other a staredown but Ziggler is whipped into Fury at ringside. Strowman is then caught with a superkick but recovers to hit a power slam on Ziggler for the 1….2…3!
Winners: Strowman, The Miz and Heavy Machinery
Fury then comes over the barricade and security start to pull him away. Fans begin to chant let them fight as both Strowman and Fury exchange stares and verbal jabs at one another.
Gemini Man appears to be a sponsor as youth and experience are poised against one another with past wrestling personas and current ones. We get a shot of DJ, Marshmellow bumping into Carmella who lost the 24/7 title earlier in the day on their YouTube.
Daniel Bryan is at ringside as Roman Reigns is introduced as part of the upcoming match up.
Lumberjack Match
Roman Reigns vs. Erick Rowan
Bryan shares his thoughts on whether or not he believes this match will remain in the ring. Daniel shares how he was lied to by Rowan and that is something he despises. Roman falls out of the ring and is swarmed by everyone and then thrown back in the ring. The same happens to Rowan as well. The only difference is that Rowan attacks all the lumberjacks as well. Then we have all the lumberjacks taking the fight to one another.
After a commercial break, we see Rowan driving his fists into the side of temples of both Roman Reigns. Reigns eventually makes it back to his feet and began to hit clubbing fists, a back elbow and repeated clotheslines in the corner. After hitting a Samoan drop, Roman Reigns makes a pinfall attempt but only hits a count of two. Erick Rowan then blocks a superman punch but then hits a secondary one.
With everyone battling outside, Luke Harper makes his way to the ring and Daniel Bryan attempts to take the fight to him. Reigns then hit a plancha over the top rope knocking out everyone at ringside. Once back in the ring, Bryan gets involved, Harper gets involved and Roman Reigns eventually hits a spear taking out Rowan. The big dog makes a cover for the count of three.
Winner: Roman Reigns
After the match, a reluctant, Roman Reigns shakes the hand of Daniel Bryan in anticipation of their tag team match this Sunday.
It’s time for the main event.
WWE Championship Match
Kofi Kingston vs. Brock Lesnar
With a little over ten minutes left in the evening, we get the Brock Lesnar challenger and champion, Kofi Kingston come out for this championship match. The discussion is about how a fairytale could be coming to an end. Will this be Kingston’s last night as champion? Just as Brock Lesnar is about to be announced, Paul Heyman takes the microphone away and announces the challenger. against Kingston Within seconds, Lesnar hits an F5 and pins Kingston becoming the new WWE champion. It couldn’t have hit 10 seconds from bell to bell. Lesnar defeats Kingston in record time.
Winner: And new WWE champion Brock Lesnar
In what had to be record fashion, Lesnar came out the winner over Kingston. However, Rey Mysterio’s music hit and he came out with Cain Valesquez! Valesquez is the man that defeated Lesnar for his UFC Championship. Valesquez attacks the new champion and brings the fight to the beast. After beating pummelled, Lesnar looks afraid and retreats up the aisleway. Brock appears to be on a collision course with former UFC Heavyweight champion, Cain Valesquez.
