Vince supposedly called this main event — which occurred on WWE Smackdown Episode 1488 (10/27/2023) — a ‘five star classic’ in advance, having already tutto-benne’d it behind the scenes. The special episode served up surprise after shocking twist, heated rivalries….and fan-favorite WWE superstars. We detail the most notable moments of this episode and analyze some key character progression and match results.
Opening Segment: The Ancestral Broken Bloodline
The night kicked off with the inevitable arrival of Roman Reigns, stealing focus as he solemnly marched down to the ring. The tension that still ran within The Bloodline was evident, the air heavy. During the latter, Reigns — fresh off of his title retention in a Triple Threat against Cesaro and Daniel Bryan at Fastlane on March 21st. Speaking to the crowd, he tried desperately to unify his people by calling out Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso too join him in ropes.
You could feel the energy when they walked in. Reigns even spoke of their downfall as a tag team, which included losses and internal feuding that threatened to tear down all they’d built over the years. He stressed the need for unity and trust and urged them to settle their differences, Sikoa with Uso. Reigns’ words carried a lot of emotional weight with the audience, who had been following the apparent tension and hinting storyline of betrayal between brothers within The Shield.
Unfortunately, though the segment was interrupted for reconciliation. Sikoa stirs Uso, tells him he is lazy with the bloodline Downhill from there, a verbal sparring match erupted between the two men which led to both sharing their feelings. Reigns then stormed off dejectedly, and the MSG crowd was abuzz about what lies ahead for The Bloodline.
Match One: Shotzi vs. Lacey Evans
The show began with a clash of styles and motivation as Shotzi hunted for the unknown around each corner, while Lacey stood strong in her white hat bigotry without exception. Shotzi, who is famous for her high-risk behavior and corresponding style of offense, was looking to carve out a spot in the women’s division. Evans, meanwhile was more of a traditional wrestler with her strength and experience.
The match began with Shotzi displaying her speed, delivering rapid strikes and high-flying offense to keep Evans at bay. The sold-out crowd was firmly in Shotzi’s corner, and she pulled out a ton of flashy moves throughout the match topped off with an extremely pretty springboard crossbody into nothing that had everyone on their feet. But Evans was nobody’s pigeon. Blatt took the offense and continued this with strong slams showing her resilience.
Halfway during the bout, things started to get more heated when Asuka appeared in ring side surprising everyone. As Evans was momentarily distracted by Asuka, this gave Shotzi an opening. After a thrilling sequence, Shotzi hit an enziguri and pinned Aliyah with the roll-up for three.
As Schotzi celebrated her well-earned win, Asuka’s appearance teases a potential feud with Evans. This move made things even more interesting in the women’s division and fans started wondering what it could mean for future storylines.
What Is Judgment Day Backstage Segment
After the match, The Judgment Day—Finn Bálor, Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio was in a backstage segment. The three talked about how they planned to take SmackDown by storm and leave an impression before the pay-per-view. Their association has been the subject of several segments over the last few weeks and this piece gave insight into what they hope to accomplish together.
The leader of the letter is Bálor, who calls on them to be stronger together. He talked about their shared mission and the need to keep themselves relevant in WWE’s competitive environment. The ambitious Kunnone nevertheless highlited his thirst for more chances to prove himself. But that simmer, seething just under the surface spoke about deeper cracks within clique
Towards the end of that segment, they threatened to get their due against their foes specifically in good company (tag team division). This laid the foundation for heated exchanges down the road and teased us that a conflict was likely brewing between Dominik, along side his equally as Judgment day members.
Champion vs. Champion — Non-Title: El Phantasmo offers Bloodline a spot in Bullet Club | Impact Wrestling Trending>Famoso lands on chefgrade exterminator and then he has to run for the ropes when Ricola makes chase, STOs are escaped so Alexander whiff kicks as per routine before getting his leg tied into LGTBQ wrist locks with both arms trapped under shoulders (or was it locked between legs).
Gunther Retains Title in Epic Battle Against Ricochet
The night kicked off with what has been one of the most highly anticipated contests on any card, as Intercontinental Champion Gunther put his gold up for grabs against high-flying title hopeful Ricochet. Styles clashed here with Gunther’s brute strength vs Ricochet agility.
When the bell rang he wasted little time in displaying his dominant size and strength advantage over Ricochet. Bodybagger came with a litany of powerful strikes and suplexes, firmly taking control. Undeterred, Ricochet replied with a snap of offense and an occasional high-risk aerial counter. He popped the crowd when he landed a crazy moonsault on Gunther, showing off his athleticism and picking up a near fall.
The action continued to intensify as the match went on with both competitors firing away at one another, also coming close to big near-falls. He hit a shooting star press and formed Rollins deep but came close only to capturing the title. But Gunther fought back and hit a huge powerbomb for the win to hold onto his championship.
It established Gunther as a monster champ and highlighted Ricochet’s ascension to the top of their division. The crowd response showed just how much respect both fighters gained through displaying excellent performances over the last few weeks.
Sling: Bianca Belair to Make Triumphant Return
As expected, Bianca Belair returned to SmackDown in a huge way Radiating confidence and charisma, the crowd erupted in cheers as she entered the ring. The Hogans let Belair take a moment to breathe in the aura before she spoke.
I want to give thanks again for all the support you gave me while I was off with my return, and claim that top slot in this division. Belair answered the call by issuing an open challenge to any challenger who would step up. This brash declaration foregrounded the inevitable rivalries to come as well advertised Belair’s resilient self spirit.
And with reinvigoration of the women’s ranks that came from her appearance, new matchups and feuds loomed. Fans were on pins and needles awaiting who would accept Belair’s challenge as she had to raise the stakes for everyone just being there.
Match 3: Tag Team Turmoil The New Day (RAW) vs Imperium
The New Day faced off against the dominant Imperium faction, featuring the formidable duo of Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser. One contrast in the match showcased New Day’s charisma and agility against Imperium’s technical prowess and ruthless efficiency.
The match began with Woods and Kaiser exchanging holds, highlighting their wrestling ability. The New Day utilized a high-energy attack, working in tandem effectively to keep Imperium on the backfoot. Kofi Kingston got that team momentum going with a leg bloodying series of kicks, and the crowd roared.
Imperium countered with their own strategy as a rough tagging Gunther started to inflict his power. Wood got his ass kicked all over the place with strikes and suplexes, a true show of why he was Intercontinental Champion. It was end-to-action at both ends as the Bulldogs impressively marked their physicality on Display once again.
All four competitors were slugging it out in the ring before a chaotic finish emerged. The New Day rebounded by connecting on their patented Midnight Hour finisher to pin Kaiser and win the match. The win gave The New Day new life and solidified their contender status to the tag team gold, while also providing a plug for any prospective showdowns against Imperium.
The feature match: Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn vs. The Usos
In the main event, The Usos faced Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in a highly anticipated tag team match. With heated tension in The Bloodline and high stakes, this match promised to be an entertaining, energetic spectacle.
The two traded hard blows to start the match, displaying their chemistry with one another working crisply in synch. The Usos aimed to make an example of them, responding with their signature high-impact offensive style. The back-and-forth action of the match had everyone in attendance near their seat.
As the match grew older, so did the intensity. Owens delivered stiff lefts and rights, while Zayn showcased his agility with impressive high-flying aerial maneuvers. The match descended into chaos as Solo Sikoa appeared ringside, allowing Kenzie and Zac Jr. to win by disqualification.
This prompted the referee to intervene, resulting in Sikoa’s disqualification and officially awarding The Von Erichs a victory by DQ. One of them sparked controversy, as Owens and Zayn were declared winners amid the chaotic events that followed. That brought Reigns charging to the ring, which only made things worse and set off an all-out brawl between everyone.
Blood spilled into the crowd as The Bloodline stood dominant, hinting at continuing rivalries and upcoming confrontations. The emotional roller coaster and intense physicality showcased WWE storytelling at its finest, highlighting rich character dynamics and drama.
Post-Match Fallout: Barca Blows Top With Offer Rejected
After the main body of action, with pandemonium still breaking out onscreen post-main event. Reigns came out and called out Sikoa and Uso, wanting to know where their loyalties lied. All the tension within The Bloodline peaked, raising questions about whether this faction was on the verge of imploding.
In backstage interviews, Owens and Zayn expressed their unwavering determination to challenge The Usos for the tag team titles. With unanswered questions and escalating rivalries, fans were left eager for the continuation of this unfolding chapter.
Conclus…NOT A CONCLUSION but a NIGHT TO REMEMBER!
By Bruce Mellway on June 13, 2020: WWE SmackDown Episode #1488 delivered another strong installment of exciting wrestling.
