SmackDown Live offered an action-packed episode this week and it was expected after a stupendous SummerSlam PPV. It is safe to say the product has improved significantly in recent weeks. Apart from the matches, the promos were noteworthy this week.
Kevin Owens opened SmackDown Live this week, and he was confronted by Shane McMahon. While Owens was fined a big amount by Shane, he also faced Samoa Joe. Ember Moon faced Charlotte Flair this week, and the latter was victorious. Aleister Black produced another promo in his darkroom. Roman Reigns' mysterious attacker isn't Rowan as Buddy Murphy claims. Moreover, Murphy made his SmackDown Live debut against the Big Dog this week.
Here we discuss three things WWE made clear on SmackDown Live this week.
#3 The Revival might chase the SmackDown Tag Team Titles
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The Revival, who are former RAW Tag Team Champions, showed up on SmackDown Live this week. Two weeks ago, Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder lost the twin red belts to The OC in a Triple Threat Tag Team Match. They lost the belts a few days before SummerSlam, but the titles were not defended on Sunday.
The Revival closed SmackDown Live this week when they teamed up with Randy Orton to face the New Day. As a matter of fact, The Revival pinned the current SmackDown Tag Team Champions. The duo certainly made a big statement by pinning one half of the SmackDown Tag Team Champions, Xavier Woods.
The two men have been in the RAW Tag Team Championship picture for a long time, so it will be interesting to see if they target the blue belts. Apart from Heavy Machinery, the blue brand doesn't have credible challengers for the champions. Daniel Bryan and Rowan were the previous holders of the twin belts but they are currently involved in a different feud.
#2 Randy Orton will get a rematch
Even though SummerSlam was a brilliant PPV, the WWE Championship match didn't live up to the hype. While the match was decent, the outcome of the bout was disappointing. The Viper delivered an RKO but he couldn't capitalize. Subsequently, the match ended in no contest as both men failed to beat the count-out.
Randy Orton and Kofi Kingston crossed paths in a Tag Team Match on the blue brand this week. Prior to the match, the thirteen-time WWE Champion provoked Kingston into accepting a rematch at Clash of Champions. Since he teased another match with Kingston, the two men could collide next month. The Viper made a colossal statement on SmackDown Live. Orton had a sadistic persona in 2009 and it was visible this week.
Orton's team already secured a win over the New Day but the Viper decimated all the New Day members in the ring. Orton gave a total of four RKOs and Kingston ate two vicious RKOs. The feud has already garnered the attention of the WWE Universe and it is expected to get better in the next few weeks. If the rematch happens, Orton will get another opportunity to become a fourteen-time WWE Champion.
#1 Buddy Murphy has a bright future ahead
There is no doubt that Buddy Murphy's debut was one of the best moments of SmackDown Live this week. Roman Reigns, who is a top guy of the company, was the first opponent for Murphy on the blue brand. It is still ambiguous who the unknown attacker of Reigns is, but Murphy has become part of this storyline.
Since Reigns was the first opponent for Murphy, many people anticipated that the latter would get buried by the Big Dog, but it didn't happen. Though Murphy lost the bout, he made a notable first impression. Without a shadow of a doubt, it was the best match of the night and Murphy showed his proficiency in the squared circle.
There is little doubt over the dexterity of Buddy Murphy. During his tenure on 205 Live, the former Cruiserweight Champion had a memorable run as he produced extraordinary matches regularly.
After getting drafted to SmackDown Live during the Superstar Shake-up, he was away from the ring for a long time. The company is certainly aware of Murphy's immense talent and he was probably held back for the right moment. Considering the impressive debut of Murphy, he is likely to shine on the blue brand.