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We can unanimously agree that SmackDown Live is only a shadow of the show it was, last year. The bigger stars are on WWE RAW, and the programs on the red brand just seem a lot more important overall. That said, SmackDown Live is a brand that has plenty of talent. Through the weak writing and scripted promos, there are often glimpses of sheer excellence.
Welcome to the 'Best and Worst' of SmackDown Live. Nothing extraordinary happened in this show, on the road to WrestleMania 34. We will analyze individual aspects of the show in this article.
As always, we invite you to leave your comments in the section below. Even if you disagree with our assessment, please let us know your thoughts and opinions.
How did this show match up after the solid night of WWE wrestling that was RAW, only twenty-four hours prior?
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#1 Best: Three Fastlane matches confirmed
Whether you liked or disliked this week's episode of SmackDown Live, it is impossible to deny that this was an eventful show. Three matches were set up for Fastlane, the final SmackDown Live brand-exclusive pay-per-view before WrestleMania.
So we will finally see Charlotte Flair and Ruby Riott come to blows, after weeks of tension building up. Even though Bobby Roode, Randy Orton and Jinder Mahal are feuding over the Top 10 list, it has led to a big match for Fastlane. And finally, The New Day and The Usos will do battle, yet one more time.
All of the men and women involved in these matches are talented superstars, and the actual matches will deliver. Also, each of these matches has big WrestleMania 34 implications.
To be honest, this was pretty much the only highlight of the entire show.
#1 Worst: No Nakamura or Rusev
We've said it time and time again. While the talent on SmackDown Live is extraordinary, it is the writing that often lets the show down. How can the Royal Rumble match winner not feature on the show, except in a video package? How can the most popular star in the brand, Rusev, not be featured at all?
We won't even mention superstars such as Tye Dillinger, 'Miss Money in the Bank' Carmella and The Usos, all of whom were conspicuous by their absence. It's hard to believe that WWE couldn't find a spot for them during the course of the entire show.
#2 Best: AJ Styles
Many describe AJ Styles as the Shawn Michaels of our generation. We would have to agree. There are things he does on a weekly basis that leave us spellbound. Just check out this clip from his match with Baron Corbin.
For his part, Corbin played his role to perfection. He's improved as a performer as well. But Styles was clearly the ring general, winning the match with sheer panache.
SmackDown Live is clearly the AJ Styles show. He is definitely a worthy champion.
#2 Worst: The Top 10 List
The whole 'Top 10 List' storyline is simply not working anymore. It was weak to start off with, even when it was first conceptualized and presented to the WWE Universe. The lack of reaction from the crowd when Jinder Mahal mentioned it on air pretty much says it all. Nobody cares about the Top 10 list!
When you insert superstars of the calibre of Randy Orton, Bobby Roode and even Jinder Mahal into the mix, feuding over a silly list, it's just not a believable scenario anymore! The writing was cringe-worthy as well. Let Orton and Roode fight over the prestigious and glorious (no pun intended) United States Championship!
#3 Best: Owens vs. Ziggler
There was much to like about the match between Ziggler and Owens, this week. Both men are great performers, and they brought it all to the ring. They stole the show, and even the distraction finish played into a long-term plot, heading into the Fastlane pay-per-view. Yes, the Owens-Zayn relationship reached an interesting point during this show.
Maybe a one-on-one program between Owens and Ziggler down the line, may not be such a bad idea after all. It does help that both men are extremely gifted performers too!
#3 Worst: Extremely cheesy graphics
Need we say more? The graphics that have been seen on SmackDown Live, over the course of the past few weeks are distracting and seem quite amateurish overall. They do not add anything to the show. Except maybe an air of childishness and non-seriousness.
All WWE needs to do is look at the SmackDown Live episodes from immediately after the brand split and they'll know why ratings are falling almost on a weekly basis. RAW just seems like a far, far superior show.
#4 Best/worst: The Bludgeon Brothers
The Bludgeon Brothers seem indestructible. WWE has booked them against enhancement talent and the odd lower-card tag team thus far, protecting them. So far, they've done a pretty commendable job. Even the face-offs with The Usos and The New Day have been interesting.
It does get tiresome to only see them square off against enhancement talent. Let's hope they are put into a storyline, heading into WrestleMania 34. Bear in mind that they're not just brutes.
Both men are good wrestlers. In fact, Luke Harper may be the best big man in the company.
That concludes our post-show review, and so we'll leave you with Liv
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