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SmackDown Live is a very easy show to watch, in my opinion. Maybe it's the fact that it's only two hours long. Maybe it's the fact that the show is a lot more fast-paced than WWE RAW is. Maybe because it's the underdog and it's human tendency to root for the same.
How was the show before WWE Fastlane, the final stop before WrestleMania 35? I personally thought that it was an easy watch, but except for a few things, not a very notable show overall. It did not feel like a go-home show in some respects.
But was I bored during the two hours that I spent in watching all the proceedings? Not at all.
So let's begin this week's countdown with the one thing everyone's talking about right now.
Trending
#1 Best: Brand new US Champion
Last week, R-Truth somehow managed to defend his Championship against both Rey Mysterio and Andrade. This week, he held another US title open challenge. And Lacey Evans would answer first. Shortly followed by three other worthy contenders.
What a match this was, with every man bringing his A-game to the dance. Rey Mysterio and Andrade were the two workhorses during the match, but the other two weren't really dead weight either. That dive from Samoa Joe on to the outside can give children nightmares.
Ultimately it was Samoa Joe who won the Championship and I've listed the reasons for the title change in this article. Few can say that he doesn't deserve the honour of holding this prestigious championship because Joe has been a thorough professional who's excelled at every single opportunity that has been presented to him and not been rewarded for the same.
Very many congratulations to Samoa Joe and yes, long may he reign!
#1 Worst: The missing ingredients- Kofi Kingston and The New Day
The only person who is honestly happy that Kofi Kingston wasn't on SmackDown Live this week, is yours truly. I had a chance to interview Kingston and The New Day on ground during their India visit and I couldn't be happier. But I can imagine those watching at home weren't too happy. They probably wanted to hear from him after the surprising events of the past week.
Now, Kofi Kingston should be dejected and shattered that he got replaced in the WWE Championship match by one Kevin Owens. But he was pictured within an autorickshaw in India in truly jubilant spirits. I just felt like there was a disconnect in what was and what should have been.
This does not spell the end for KofiMania at all. Kofi Kingston will be just as popular when he returns at WWE Fastlane.
But it would have been cool to see him on SmackDown Live, I feel.
#2 Best: Mustafa Ali's return
In many ways, Mustafa Ali is responsible for what is being described as KofiMania by the WWE Universe. When it turned out that he couldn't compete at Elimination Chamber, Kofi Kingston stepped in and the rest is history, as they say. It is almost heartbreaking to see Mustafa Ali come so close to his dreams and then miss out.
I'm glad that Mustafa Ali was able to return on this week's episode of SmackDown Live. Ali came back to help Kevin Owens out when he was outnumbered in the battle against Daniel Bryan and Erick Rowan. The two men stood side by side in the middle of the ring and it will be interesting to see just how this situation develops.
Mustafa Ali is a tremendously talented athlete and we've only seen a glimpse of what he can do. Watch his matches back from 205 Live and you'll know just what I mean.
#2 Worst: Naomi gets squashed
So, I know that Mandy Rose has to look competitive before she heads into her match with Asuka at WWE Fastlane. I completely back WWE's decision to go over Naomi this week. I just don't get why she had to squash Naomi in no time at all.
Naomi has always been a top player and fans would have actually liked to see a longer match between the women. I mean Mandy Rose is a really improved WWE superstar and she's been getting better on every occasion. She's proved that she's a lot more than just a pretty face like many believed her to be at the beginning of her career.
By having Naomi lose in such a short amount of time, she's slipping into the Samoa Joe zone where irreparable damage could be done to her if she's not protected. I wonder if this match was rushed because WWE ran short on time.
#3 Best: Fighting on just one leg
I thought that the segment between Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch felt like filler at the start of the faceoff. But by the time it concluded, I had an idea about why it was necessary in the larger scheme of things.
Becky Lynch proved to the world that while she'll be working 'hurt' during the match, she can take Charlotte Flair down on one leg. By assaulting Flair's arm, she may have evened the odds for the WWE Fastlane match as well, making it a far more even playing field overall.
Also, how popular is Becky Lynch at this point in time? The chants of 'Becky' that echo through the arena every time she steps out and sometimes even when she's not in the ring are insane.
Who would have known that she would be the breakout star of the Four Horsewomen back when they were in NXT?
#3 Worst: R-Truth's John Cena gimmick
I liked R-Truth a lot better when he was a confused guy confusing Maryse with Carmella and wanting to take Carmella on in singles matches before this. The John Cena shtick that he's doing is not funny and is not even over with the WWE Universe really.
I think that he's a pretty naturally funny guy when he's not cutting longwinded promos and is just responding to situations in the backstage area. But when you ask him to cut a promo and feed him lines about John Cena, there's a severe disconnect in my opinion.
I just wonder if John Cena will enter the title picture next and maybe clash with Samoa Joe for the US Championship at WrestleMania next? Considering that Cena does not have any matches for WrestleMania yet, this is a very real possibility indeed.
I'm down for a Joe vs. Cena clash down the line.
#4 Best/worst: Kevin Owens as a babyface
See, Kevin Owens has been asked to play a babyface on screen. For the role that he's been asked to perform, I believe that he's doing a terrific job. But there's something about him that just screams 'heel'. Somehow, it feels like the man has been miscast and terribly so.
I wonder what Kevin Owens can do to make us forget that he used to be a mean and devious heel once upon a time. Maybe change up his attire or his look in a certain way. Right now, Kevin Owens looks and wrestles the same, minus the Stone Cold Stunner, so it's difficult to buy into the idea of him as a babyface.
Maybe he needs to be a smart babyface, with witty lines, like The Rock was. He certainly cannot be the vanilla babyface he currently is.
Even Mandy Rose agrees with me.
