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SmackDown Live was an okay show, that won't exactly bring back viewers in droves. I really think that for the show to take off under FOX and do massive numbers, WWE needs a complete reboot and revamp of the show.
In any case, here's my assessment of the two hours of wrestling we were served. There was nothing particularly wrong with it, but to use a restaurant analogy, if it wasn't a place I visited on a weekly basis, I am not sure if I'd return for another serving.
Please let me know what you thought about the show and jot down your feelings in the comments section. Do you think that SmackDown Live was a better show than RAW this week?
Personally, I thought that both shows were very ordinary indeed.
#1 Best: Ali vs. Buddy Murphy
See, when we first heard that Ali would be taking on Buddy Murphy in a singles match on SmackDown Live, we knew that the match would be a very good one indeed. And it lived up to every expectation, even though I fully expected Murphy to win it.
But that's not necessarily a bad decision because Ali deserves everything he can get, because of his immense wealth of talent. His push was halted because of an unfortunate and untimely injury that led to what has been called KofiMania and it is a great thing indeed to see Ali return to where he belongs once again, at the top of the mountain!
I don't really know if Ali will go all the way in the tournament but even a first round victory goes a long way in elevating the man, considering he wasn't really doing much. Do you want to see King Ali?
#1 Worst: A massive gap in logic
I have enjoyed a lot of the skits and programs that have happened since the 24/7 Championship was first introduced. I can say with certainty that Elias is the worst thing to have happened to the title by a long shot.
WWE did him no favors by having Kevin Owens stun him and not go after the 24/7 Championship, which pretty much diminished the value of the title quite significantly indeed. The narrative is that Champions earn more when they hold the gold, and doesn't Owens need money after the fine was imposed upon him?
But I was more miffed at the fact that even though we learned that Elias was in Shane McMahon's room, nobody went to pin him. Where is the urgency around the title that had made it special?
Elias should stick to the King of the Ring tournament in my personal opinion because his 24/7 Championship stint was awful.
#2 Best: Drake Maverick as 24/7 Champion
Like I've outlined in the previous point, I believe that Drake Maverick winning back the 24/7 Championship from Elias is the best thing that could ever potentially happen to the title. Some of you may argue that R-Truth is a better Champion than he is. At this point, anyone defeating Elias for the title would have been welcome.
There's obviously a storyline with Renee Michelle that's yet to be explored on screen. Moreover, Maverick's victory brought in a sense of urgency to the title that had been missing over the past few months.
I love Rockstar Spud as a performer and I also think that he's one of the funniest human beings alive, but he's never really going to be Roman Reigns. It seems like the title was made for him and Maverick is excelling in elevating the prestige of this not-so-prestigious green title.
#2 Worst: Another massive gap in logic
All of us know that sports entertainment is scripted but we still maintain a level of respect for the performers in the ring, because what they do is not easy at all and in my case, because it has been a source of entertainment for over two decades. Unfortunately, there are moments where the actions of certain performers ruin the whole charade for me, reminding me that what I'm watching is definitely not real.
Big E vs. Orton was a fine match, but did he really have to do his entrance, reminding the town to not be sour considering that Orton had attacked his best friend sometime back? I liked that he walked out with a serious expression but soon slipped into his New Day persona.
Performers can make or break a storyline. This wasn't Big E's best work.
The match was not bad though.
#3 Best: Chad Gable gets a chance to showcase his talent
I seriously doubt that Chad Gable will go all the way in the King of the Ring tournament this year. I do hope that he does but you know that WWE may not really see him in the same light that the WWE Universe does, which is a very unfortunate thing!
In any case, he is through to the second round of the King of the Ring tournament and this is a big step up for Gable, considering how he's been booked thus far.
He scored a victory over Shelton Benjamin, who may not be the biggest star in the WWE locker room, but a victory is nevertheless a victory and always welcome.
I personally hope that this means that he can insert himself into the mid-card down the line. I think he can be a great hand in the roster, personally.
#3 Worst: Bryan slaps Rowan
I just found the entire reveal of who the culprit was to be very disappointing. I hope there's more to the storyline over the next few weeks and that we learn more about who convinced Rowan to attack Roman in the weeks that follow.
I just didn't like the visual of Daniel Bryan slapping a monster like Rowan around, though we can assume it probably signaled the end of their long-standing alliance for good. It just made him look unintimidating and pretty much diluted a man who should have been a pretty big deal as a man that could take Roman Reigns apart in a brawl.
I didn't like the fact that Roman Reigns ended the night with a spear as well, because it is obvious that Daniel Bryan was involved in the attacks as well. I love this storyline but I just think the execution could have been better.
Let's hope that the following week sees an improvement in the quality of content.
#4 Best/Worst: Bayley vs. Lacey Evans
Listen, I'm genuinely glad that Lacey Evans is in the mix once more. She had a great start with her feud against Becky Lynch, where she did seem a tad green but then again, she did show flashes of promise during the program. But I just wonder if she's still ready for the big time yet.
Her match against Bayley had a lot of weird and awkward-looking moments and you know that it wasn't Bayley's fault since we know that she is silky smooth in the ring. The match also went on for far too long, and let's just say that the two Superstars did not put on a match that was worthy of the extended time slot.
But then again, let's give WWE the benefit of the doubt and hope that they can eventually build Evans as a top star because she has all the tools needed to ascend to the top.
Does The Goddess agree?
How did Ric Flair spend $1500 at a pizza place? More details here
