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After the eventful show that RAW was, SmackDown Live felt like a real dampener. Somehow, it seemed like nothing was in place, no story needed to be told. The show had no sense of urgency at all. It felt like everything was in place for Evolution and Crown Jewel, and they were just killing time.
In fact, I would have to say that overall, I'd give the show a thumbs down review. It was impossible to care, because the writers did not seem to care either. And I say this as a fan of the show and the talent that is on the show, every week.
In any case, I will elaborate on why I did not particularly enjoy the episode in the comments below. Let me know if you echo my thoughts or disagree with me.
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In either case, I'd like to hear your views.
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#1 Best: The Performance Center altercation
I do not think that it's likely that Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch will get to main event Evolution. But in my opinion, these two women have made the SmackDown Women's Division relevant again, after Carmella's reign as Champion.
Nothing against the woman herself, because Carmella only did what was asked of her. But Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch are the true embodiment of the term- Evolution, in every sense of the word. I loved the fact that this week, the altercation between the women did not take place in the ring like SmackDown 1000, but at the WWE Performance Center instead.
The change in setting just made things a lot more interesting, to me. It was great to see some of the NXT talent get SmackDown air time.
Shayna Baszler was grinning in the background, biding her time till she gets called up.
#1 Worst: The battle royal preview
Every time WWE has to promote a Battle Royal, they carry out an angle like this. And somehow, it does not get me excited for the actual match.
This is because just throwing a mass of bodies in the ring and having them slug it out is not exciting at all. I'd rather have different stories leading up to culminate in a big match.
I did like the fact that it was Asuka who got the last laugh in this segment when all was said and done. It must mean that WWE has faith in her to be a top performer yet again. But then again, does winning a battle royal with no reward really mean anything at all?
I did pop for Carmella doing the whole 'dance break' routine at one point.
#2 Best: Sadistic Randy Orton
Remember how irrelevant Randy Orton seemed to be when he was the babyface champion on SmackDown Live, feuding with Jinder Mahal? Somehow it's absolutely impossible to imagine Orton in that role anymore, following his recent change of character. Orton is a sick and twisted individual, especially when he wrestles against Jeff Hardy.
The two men had an okay match this week, I thought. What I particularly enjoyed about the match however, is Orton going to the ear again. It just seems like these two men have created an iconic rivalry for the ages, much like The Miz and Daniel Bryan managed to do.
This week's main event did not particularly excite me as it just seemed completely meaningless. What makes me happy is knowing how much character work SmackDown Live's creative is putting into reinventing Randy Orton.
#2 Worst: Pinning the WWE Champion
The WWE Championship matches at most pay-per-view events are the third/fourth from the top. This is because of how AJ Styles has been booked thus far. If you compare how bulletproof Lesnar and Reigns seemed, Styles has seemed like a chump and not a champ.
I do not understand why two men competing for a title needed to team up before the big match in any case. Anyway, they competed to take The Usos on and because all of the four men are pretty good workers, actually worked a pretty decent match. As one would have expected, there was a miscue resulting in The Usos picking up a win.
I do not think under any circumstances you should pin a Champion on TV unless it's by a top/dominant performer. This match certainly did Styles no favors at all.
#3 Best: Rey Mysterio
Rey Mysterio was the special guest on Miz TV this week, and like all guests on the show, was booked for a match against him immediately afterward. Mysterio proved once again why he is simply one of the greatest superstars to ever step into a WWE ring, with his wide array of exemplary moves.
The Miz held his own, though Mysterio just seemed like a class apart. Much like fine wine, Mysterio shows absolutely no sign of aging at all, really. Every time he steps into the ring, he reminds me of the athlete who dominated WCW's Cruiserweight Division.
I can't wait for him to compete at Crown Jewel and hopefully win the whole World Cup tournament because he would stand to gain the most out of the whole thing, I think. He deserves it!
#3 Worst: No explanation given
From the smallest guy in the roster, let's move on to the largest. At SmackDown 1000, we saw a huge title change. The Bar challenged The New Day to a huge tag team contest, and with the help of The Big Show, they are now the SmackDown Tag Team Champions of the world. This week, we longed for an explanation from Big Show for his heel turn.
One of my colleagues joked in our Writer's Chatroom that The Big Show just turns, without offering any explanation. Much to my surprise, that is exactly what transpired this week. While The Big Show took on Kofi Kingston, he did not offer an explanation for his turn at all.
Also, can I say that The New Day need new jokes? Most of them just fall flat these days.
Overall, this was a disappointing segment, in my opinion.
#4 Best/worst: Rusev's victory
They split up Rusev Day so that Rusev could win a match on SmackDown Live in a matter of mere minutes? I had expected a more drawn out feud with a lot more heat, quite honestly. But the Aiden English vs. Rusev feud just proves that WWE views Rusev as a much bigger star than they do Aiden English.
And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Maybe the company will get behind Rusev and launch him straight to the top this time, with his lovely wife by his side again. Only this time, Rusev would be a babyface and not a heel.
But I wonder if this is the end of the road for Aiden English. Will he still have a future in WWE after his tenure with Rusev is done?
I certainly do wish him all the very best.
