WWE SmackDown Live Recap, Grades & Opinion: May 7, 2019

SmackDown Live: May 7, 2019

A.K.A. The One Where Shane McMahon Got Two Segments And All The Women Combined Got One

https://twitter.com/GetDaTables/status/1125924332914511872

The Wild Card Rule Era is upon us! Who will be the four superstars from Raw to appear on SmackDown Live after Vince McMahon invented the new rule last night. Plus, what will the men’s and women’s participants in the Money in the Bank ladder matches on May 19th have to do tonight. Finally, who will get the sit-out powerbomb treatment from Lars Sullivan?

Results:

• Ali def. Andrade by disqualification when Randy Orton interfered.
• Daniel Bryan & Rowan def. The Usos to become the new SmackDown Live Tag Team Champions
• Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville def. Ember Moon & Carmella
• Kofi Kingston def. A.J. Styles & Sami Zayn in a triple threat to retain the WWE Championship

Match of the Night: Daniel Bryan & Rowan def. The Usos to become the new SmackDown Live Tag Team Champions via pinfall after Iron Claw

This match edges out the main event triple threat match by a hair. The work of the Usos here was incredible. They came out to say that Bryan and Rowan would need to earn the titles that the Usos worked so hard to make prestigious, and it gave the match even more meaning. Rowan picking up the win with the Iron Claw came after a few close falls for the Usos.

Three Thoughts:

Andrade is Dinero

Andrade has been positioned as the best possible winner of Money in the Bank from SmackDown Live. Yes, Randy Orton got upper hand in the end, but Andrade still feels like the best bet from SmackDown Live to win the briefcase. If he does, having his manager Zelina Vega carry it around while he brags will be extreme heel heat for El Idolo.

.@AndradeCienWWE le deja claro a @AliWWE quién será el próximo SEÑOR DINERO EN EL BANCO 💰💰💰 #MITB #SDLive #WWExFOX @Zelina_VegaWWE pic.twitter.com/phsLpDvsJD

— WWE Español (@wweespanol) May 8, 2019

Recycling The Tag Division

Bryan & Rowan weren’t on many people’s radar as potential champs. Here they looked really good, especially with Rowan picking up the W. He may be seen as the weak link of the team, but wasn’t here. They could be a good heel squad for a conquering babyface duo to take on, like a built up Heavy Machinery. It doesn’t feel like Tucker & Otis are really ready for that spot yet. In the meantime, what team will step to Bryan and Rowan and try to take their newly earned titles.

The 🌎 is smiling so much right now.@WWEDanielBryan & @ERICKROWAN are your NEW #SDLive #TagTeamChampions! #AndNew #TagTeamTitles pic.twitter.com/rjRTAQXjXv

— WWE (@WWE) May 8, 2019

King Kofi

The New Day’s elder statesman has asserted himself as a worthy champion. Back to back nights of solid title defenses against Daniel Bryan on Monday and Sami Zayn & A.J. Styles on Tuesday has sealed it. Some worried that Kingston would not be able to rise to the challenge of being the top guy, but has has proven it now for weeks. The story has, rightfully, moved on from celebrating Kingston’s achievement. Now he moves to defending the title he worked so hard to gain.

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Grade: B+

A better show from top to bottom compared to Monday. Having two incredible matches definitely assists. The Wild Card rule will still take some getting used to, but it did create two solid matches for SmackDown Live this week. The best, or at least most underrated part of the show, was still Matt Hardy squaring up to Lars Sullivan backstage and looking like MizDad in the process. “It’s him” is an iconic line.

#TheFreak @LarsSWWE DESTROYS @MATTHARDYBRAND and RonKillings on #SDLive! pic.twitter.com/iE1UsIKAkc

— WWE (@WWE) May 8, 2019

One More Thing:

Zelina Vega is the best manager in WWE currently. From her mic work to her interfering to help her client Andrade, there is simply no better manager going right now.

– Evan Gomes is the Managing Editor of Pro Wrestling for Full Press Coverage. Like and follow on Follow @EvanGomes_ Follow @FPC_Wrestling and Facebook.