WWE Smackdown Grades (9th July 2019): Grading tonight’s show, fights and moments

#4 - "Mad cow bird flu"

Up next was a video package showing the Kabuki Warriors defeating the IIconics in Tokyo a couple of weeks ago at a house show.

We then saw Paige, Asuka and Kairi Sane confronting Billie Kay and Peyton Royce outside the Women’s locker room.

Paige demanded a Women’s tag team title match for the Kabuki Warriors tonight, but unfortunately, The IIconics were ‘sick’. Billie Kay was suffering from “mad cow bird flu”.

Paige reluctantly accepted this excuse but warned that Asuka and Kairi will get their opportunity soon enough.

You would be forgiven for forgetting that either of these teams existed, as it has been a while since any of them were featured on television.

But it was a welcome segment and will hopefully lead to WWE showcasing the neglected Women’s tag team division.

Grade: C

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#5 - Can Kofi become an all-time great?

"I will take everything back that you have taken... and most importantly, I will take the #WWEChampionship!" An ominous warning from @SamoaJoe to @TrueKofi. #SDLive #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/ZVkiCKhRnC

— WWE (@WWE) July 10, 2019

There was minimal hype for the upcoming WWE Championship between Kofi Kingston and Samoa Joe, but this may have something to do with the rumoured injury to Kingston that was reported earlier this week.

Each man had a short backstage promo to build up the match. Firstly, Joe claimed that he knew Kofi would refuse his handshake last week and he only did it to show everyone the kind of person that Kofi truly is.

Kingston later expressed how he needs to beat Joe at Extreme Rules if he is to prove himself as a ‘great’ WWE Champion.

These were both fairly forgettable, generic promos and didn’t add anything to the feud heading into this Sunday’s match.

Grade: C