From Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan this is Smackdown for episode #1201. Follow me on Twitter @johnreport. Let’s get to it. The show started with Ricochet making his entrance first followed by his opponent Happy Corbin. They showed a promo before the movie from Corbin. The commentary team was Michael Cole and Pat McAfee. Ricochet vs. Happy Corbin Ricochet with a headscissors that sent Corbin out of the ring. Back in the ring, Corbin with a dropkick, knee kicks and a standing Shooting Star Press for two. Ricochet went for a move, but Corbin stopped him with a punch. Corbin with forearms to the back. Ricochet came back with an elbow off the ropes. Ricochet went to attack, Corbin sent him to the apron and Ricochet landed on the turnbuckle Ricochet did a twist attack from the middle rope on Corbin on the floor. (Commercial) The match returned with Corbin on the floor, Ricochet tried a kick but Corbin caught him and Cole called it the World’s Strongest Slam (as did Mark Henry) on the commentary board. That was the slam. The table didn’t break. Corbin sent Ricochet into the barricade and then back into the ring with a punch to the face. Corbin sent Ricochet face first into the turnbuckle for two. When Ricochet tried an arm attack off the ropes, Corbin hit him with a forearm to the back and Ricochet was sent out of the ring. Ricochet got back into it with a counter move into a DDT. Ricochet with punches, then body kicks and a head kick sent Corbin into the corner. Ricochet with a shoulder tackle, Corbin caught Ricochet but Ricochet hit a headscissors. Corbin hit the Deep Six slam for a two count which is the usual result for this move. Ricochet with a kick that knocked Corbin down. Ricochet jumped off the top, Corbin moved and Corbin hit a boot to the face followed by a shoulder drop for two. Ricochet with a knee lift, then a superkick and a kick to the face. Ricochet went up top and hit a Shooting Star Press for the win after 12 minutes. Winner: Ricochet Analysis: ***1/4 A very good match between two guys who have worked together many times before. Ricochet was in control early, then Corbin was on the offensive for quite a bit of it, and Ricochet was able to land a few moves that led to the SSP finish for the win. It’s a credit to Ricochet, although Corbin loses often, so I don’t know if beating him is really a big deal at this point. After the match, they showed Corbin down in the ring as the announcers talked about Corbin’s slip meaning he has lost very late. Pat even used a telesoldier mocking Corbin. They showed The Street Profits walking backstage with Hit Row approaching them. They exchanged glances, then agreed and left together. There was a video about Drew McIntyre. (Commercial) Drew McIntyre’s Journey Home Video (Part 1) There was a video package covering Drew McIntyre’s career and her long journey to the UK for Clash at the Castle. Drew talked about his success in the UK, then being the FCW Champion and having a quick rise to Smackdown. Drew said he was cocky, thought he deserved it and thought he would have a Hall of Fame career, but it didn’t work out that way. (He’ll be in the Hall of Fame of course – it’s just not based on his first WWE run.) Drew said he went off the deep end when his mother died, he went off the deep end and getting fired was the best thing for him. Drew said he knew one day he would return to WWE. More will follow. Analysis: It’s a smart move to feature Drew in a video like this to tell his story and make fans relate to him even more as a superstar they want to root for. Karrion Kross and Scarlett were somewhere in the building with the lights off while the camera was on them. Kross congratulated Drew on a great story and said who knows, maybe now is really Drew’s time… or maybe not. Cross said that at any moment he can put his hand on the back of Drew’s head and all of Drew’s accomplishments will mean nothing. Cross said “tick tock” to end it. I was also a bit distracted by Scarlett. Just look at her. The Last Chance Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Match was next. They were filling in for the spot that Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne won because Gigi suffered a concussion last week. Shotzi & Xia Li made their entrance as the show went to break. (Commercial) Last Chance Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Championship Tournament: Shotzi & Xia Li vs. Dana Brooke & Tamina vs. Natalya & Sonya Deville vs. Doudrop & Nikki ASH The first pinfall or submission wins. The winners face Raquel Rodriguez & Aliyah later in the show. Pat said this was “amazing”. I don’t know about that, but he’s an enthusiastic guy. Tamina kicked Natalya off the apron and Tamina attempted a pin on Deville, but Doudrop broke up the pin. Lee was legal against Nikki with a lift to the top rope. Soji tagged in with a back splash to Nikki and Tamina broke up the pin. Brooke came in with a springboard elbow, Nikki with a neckbreaker on Brooke and then they took turns getting in the ring doing moves. Many illegal actions. Natalya hit a discus clothesline on Li and she tossed Shotzi out of the ring. Brooke came back with a clothesline. Deville tagged in Brooke to make it legal and then Dana put Nikki into a pile of women on the floor. Deville was legit so she put Nikki in the ring and covered for the win. This only took three minutes. Winners by pinfall: Natalya & Sonya Deville Analysis: *1/2 This was chaotic and hard to follow with all the women entering the ring to make moves. I’m fine with the result. It was a little strange to see how they closed it like that with some women who weren’t even legitimately in the match. They did the big spot with the Brooke/Nikki suplex onto the pile of girls and Deville was smart enough to go for the pin right away. It’s Natalya/Deville vs. Raquel/Aliyah later in the show. There was a Progressive Match Flo featured with Sheamus getting a big win last week to win an Intercontinental Title to Gunther for the Clash at the Castle show. Sheamus made his entrance with Ridge Holland and Wildman Butch. (Commercial) A video shown for Shayna Baszler. It was only about a minute. It’s Baszler challenging Liv Morgan at the Clash at the Castle event on Saturday, September 3rd. Let’s hear from Sheamus Sheamus said that next week, the Brawling Brutes will be drinking pints when he becomes your new Intercontinental Champion. Sheamus said he will be the first Absolute Grand Slam Champion when he defeats Gunter. Intercontinental Champion Gunther interrupted with Ludwig Kaiser at his side and they entered the ring with Sheamus. Kaiser spoke so Sheamus told him to stop because no one knew what he was saying. Sheamus said his beef was with Gunter, who calls himself the “General of the Ring.” Sheamus said you are looking at a true ring general here. Sheamus talked about beating Drew McIntyre, Randy Orton, John Cena, Roman Reigns and even the King of Kings himself, Triple H. Sheamus said no one in this business has had bang after bang ( that means great matches) like this one. Sheamus said he sees a lot of himself in Gunther and it’s been years since he’s seen someone have the brutal qualities that Gunther has. Sheamus said it reminds him of himself. Sheamus said that Gunther loves to go to war in that ring, so there are a lot of similarities. Sheamus said he wants that Intercontinental Championship. Sheamus promised Gunther that he would take that title off his body and into the belly of the red dragon. Gunther told Sheamus that he is a man to be respected and he will give it to him. Gunther said he is the Intercontinental Champion so to protect that title he will teach Sheamus what violence really means. Gunther said not only will he retain the title, but he will chop Sheamus’ chest and break the man people think can’t be broken. Gunther told Sheamus he was going to break him. Butch chased after Kaiser leading to a brawl while Gunter continued to stare down Sheamus. Holland tripped Kaiser on the floor but Kaiser sent Holland over the barricade. Gunther and Butch brawled again in the ring while Gunther and Sheamus continued to stare each other down. Gunter left the ring with Kaiser ending it. Breakdown: A good promo between two heels who should go over each other at Clash and I can’t wait to see it. It was weird to have the three guys brawling around Gunther & Sheamus, but I think that was done to show that the two wrestlers were focused on facing each other. I think it will be a great match with Sheamus winning as a strong possibility. They’re going to hit hard and it’s going to be a lot of fun to watch. Natalya and Sonya Deville interviewed Megan Morant while Doudrop and Nikki ASH brawled in the background. Natalya said they are starting to find their groove so Aliyah and Raquel should be worried. Deville said that if their opponents make one small mistake, then Natalya and Sonya will go to the finals. The trio of Bayley, IYO SKY and Dakota Kai made their entrance to watch the women’s tag team match. (Commercial) They showed clips of last week’s Smackdown when Drew McIntyre brawled with Roman Reigns. Sami Zayn ran out there to get…
