4 things WWE got right on Smackdown Live( 12 June 2018) 

Gone are the days of labeling Smackdown Live as the "B show" of the company as the quality of their matches, the elite level of their superstars and the potential of their storytelling far supersedes Raw in almost every aspect.

It is apparent by the astounding difference the in quality of Raw and Smackdown Live every passing week that WWE is certainly putting more effort into building up the blue brand as formidable show in the company, and on this week’s edition of Smackdown Live the creative team once again accomplished their goal.

The blue brand's contribution to the build to the 2018 Money in the Bank pay-per-view was pleasantly more energetic, more exciting and more fun than anything WWE attempted on Monday Night Raw.

Therefore, the question that now stands is, did the go home episode of Smackdown Live get fans excited for Money in the Bank?

The simple answer is it did, as the creative team booked great matches that kept fans interested throughout the entire two-hour runtime, even if there were a few hiccups here and there.

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#1 A great match card

An episode that featured some stellar bouts

.One of the biggest positives from the 2018 superstar shakeup was the sight of witnessing marquee talent such as Samoa Joe, Jeff Hardy, and Asuka all move to the "land of opportunity," as every week Smackdown finds new ways to pit every one of these superstars against each other.

This week on Smackdown Live fans witnessed three marquee matches, which were Samoa Joe vs. Rusev, Daniel Bryan vs. Shelton Benjamin, Jeff Hardy vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and all those matches excelled at the story it was trying to tell.

Rusev vs. Joe was a hard-hitting affair that highlighted how agile both big men are, Bryan vs. Benjamin was a few minutes away from becoming a technical masterpiece, and Nakamura vs. Hardy was a dream match that featured some daring offense from two high octane wrestlers.

Even though these wrestlers never elevate these matches to the next level, as it is a made for TV bout, it is refreshing to witness new matches every week that keep the brand fresh and roster active.

#2 Highlighting the entire women's division

A tag team match that didn't feel frustratingly overdone, as that is due to the work put in by all of these athletes.

While the Smackdown Live 10 woman tag team match was never going to surpass the bar set by the excellent fatal four-way match on Raw, the blue brand's creative team did find a way to include every women's athlete on the roster in a match that highlighted each of them.

Kicking off the show with the focus being on the four participants in the women's Money in the Bank ladder match, WWE then slowly brought out the rest of the women’s locker room to oppose the superstars that are going to compete in the career-changing match.

While that confrontation was not anything original and innovative, it did showcase The Iconics great heel work, the tension between these superstars and painted Lana as sort of the dark horse on Sunday. Furthermore, the ten women tag match that main evented the go home show was a fun bout that almost stole the show, as every one of these superstars got ample time to shine in the ring.

WWE opening the show with the women and closing it with them did not feel forced as their interaction as a division feels more coherent than RAW's at the moment.

#3 It's Rusev Day

Rusev surprised Samoa Joe in a hard-hitting contest, which further makes a case for him to walk away as Mr. Money in the Bank.

While Rusev’s wife, Lana might be the considered the dark horse in her Money in the Bank match, nothing is holding Rusev back from receiving that attention as well. This week "the Bulgarian brute" took on "the Samoan submission machine" in an enormous singles match and if the match could not get any more exciting, Paige named The Miz as the special guest referee for the match.

Joe and Rusev traded hard hitting, high octane action for the entire match until a timely distraction from The Miz allowed Rusev to deliver a jaw-shattering Macha kick to Joe for a surprising victory.

Rusev raking up wins over the likes of Daniel Bryan and Samoa Joe in recent weeks could suggest one of two things for him, either he going to receive a big push at Money in the Bank or he was given the win cause he will not walk away with hilariously dubbed "Rusev in the Bank" briefcase on Sunday.

Whichever is the case, WWE has one more chance to create a star on Sunday, and when looking at the men in the Money in the Bank ladder match, Rusev is their best bet to create a new star. The likable big man has 'the look,' the skill and the crowd approval to warrant a win at Money in the Bank and if WWE listens to their fan base, Money in the Bank could finally be Rusev's day.

#4 Nakamura's heelish antics

Nakamura laid the Smackdown on Jeff Hardy in a cheap way, but it fitted his nonchalant character.

A match that most thought would only take place in a video game has been realized on Smackdown Live this week, as "the king of strong style" Shinsuke Nakamura took on the United States champion Jeff Hardy in a main event worthy match. The only thing that could've made this match even better is if it took place about ten years ago when Jeff Hardy was in his prime, but Nakamura's heelish antics more than covered up for any complaints.

As these two men put on a great contest which ended in a disqualification when Nakamura hit Hardy with a vicious low blow, as the main reason WWE executed that finish was to protect both Hardy and Nakamura as neither of them can lose momentum at this point.

But it further reminded fans that Nakamura is an unruly heel that does not care about winning a match that has no stakes, no benefit or significance to him as his real goal is to ride a wave of momentum into Money in the Bank kick AJ Styles ass and take home his first WWE Title.

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