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#3: AJ Styles successfully defended his Intercontinental Title against Gran Metalik
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This week's episode of WWE SmackDown opened with a clash between AJ Styles and Gran Metalik after the latter's surprising victory from the previous episode.
The match itself was decent, and I have to wonder if AJ Styles has been a little unmotivated after recent rumors about him being unhappy with some of WWE's backstage decisions.
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There wasn't anything too wrong with the SmackDown opener this week, but as a whole, it reminded me of Cody's current weekly TNT title challenges on AEW Dynamite.
In both cases, the matches are good, but we all know who's going to win at the end of the day. Regardless, it was a good showcase for Metalik in WWE, and it won't be the last time we will see him on SmackDown.
The Lucha House Party approached Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura backstage, and it seems like both teams will feud over the SmackDown Tag Team Titles soon. I don't know if it sounds like the most exciting program on WWE's Blue brand, but Cesaro & Nakamura may be starting off a long-term reign by defeating low-tier tag teams from now onwards.
