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All of Team Sportskeeda kept scratching our heads to remember whether go-home shows are generally good or bad through the course of SmackDown Live. We recalled the Reigns vs. Lesnar 'tug of war' and came to the conclusion that they are usually quite bad. This would pretty much explain the events of the week past. RAW and SmackDown Live were not good shows at all.
I mean I'm guessing that WWE did not want to give too much away before WrestleMania 35 came around. I'm also guessing that they didn't want their top superstars to work long matches and injure themselves before WrestleMania, in light of all of the John Oliver backlash. And therefore this week's show did not deliver.
There was some good, but way more bad I felt. What did you think of the show?
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I thought it may have just killed off any excitement I had for WrestleMania at all.
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#1 Best: KofiMania in full swing
It took the entire duration of the show to finally feel like WrestleMania was truly upon us. Kofi Kingston and Daniel Bryan met in the middle of the ring and the crowd was absolutely electric. I had goosebumps for this segment based on the electricity from the people in the audience, something you don't hear every single week.
Daniel Bryan was absolutely perfect in his role as the heel Champion, comparing his own situation from just a few years ago to that of Kofi Kingston's. There are many parallels to what is described as KofiMania to what was once known as the 'Yes!' movement.
Kofi Kingston played the part of the underdog babyface to perfection, signing his name on the dotted line. This feels like a match with stakes.
I can't wait for it.
#1 Worst: The burial of SAnitY
The Miz clashed with all of the members of SAnitY in a match that was set up by his former tag team partner, a certain Shane McMahon. Midway through the match, McMahon interfered and stipulated that this match would be a 'falls count anywhere' contest.
I actually thought the match in itself was quite fun and it established The Miz as someone who can be quite a formidable babyface. But he buried SAnitY in the process of looking like a star.
SAnitY has not been on TV and had The Miz succumbed to three men, in the process of competing in the match, it wouldn't have diminished his value at all. I mean Kofi Kingston is the hottest babyface in the company and he lost to The Bar in a handicap match not long ago.
I don't know how SAnitY can ever recover from this embarrassing defeat.
#2 Best: Getting his heat back
It's crazy that a Champion would need to score a victory to reclaim his heat. But as a Champion, he has not been booked strongly at all. I mean he had to lose to Rey Mysterio for the WrestleMania match to be made and then he had to lose to Kurt Angle as part of his ongoing farewell tour.
But I thought that the match was Ali was just what it needed to be. It allowed Ali to show off his incredible athletic prowess and it also allowed Samoa Joe to squash the man in almost no time at all. It's a testament to Samoa Joe's ability as a worker, just how good he can make a man look even in defeat.
I am not a fan of Rey Mysterio losing against Baron Corbin ahead of the US Title match. It shows how little Vince McMahon thinks of the United States Championship.
#2 Worst: The fall of Asuka
I just spoke about how badly Samoa Joe has been booked as Champion. I honestly believe that Asuka is perhaps an even worse example of WWE not knowing what to do with their talents. I mean her run as the SmackDown Women's Champion as to be among the worst travesties in WWE history.
She won the title with much fanfare when Ronda Rousey helped her on the big stage. But she stagnated soon after and eventually lost her Championship to Charlotte Flair. And tonight she was in the 18-person tag team match to showcase the women's battle royal.
In just a matter of weeks, she has gone from being one of the featured stars on the blue brand to becoming a completely worthless piece of the puzzle. Some may say that WWE booked her well by having her stand tall in this segment, but this match in itself was silly.
#3 Best: Kevin Owens moderates a debate
What's there to not like about the opening segment between AJ Styles and Randy Orton? The two men traded some harsh words back and forth, taking personal potshots at one another, on the Kevin Owens show.
I loved the fact that when things got heated, Kevin Owens made a hasty exit right out of the ring, letting the two dangerous men fight. And of course, the Phenomenal Forearm into the RKO was a thing of absolute beauty.
The match between Styles and Orton hasn't been publicised as much as some of the other matches on the card have been, but I really think that it has the potential to be the dark horse match that steals the whole show. Both men are legends in their own right and even though there is no title on the line, the stakes are high.
This is awesome!
#3 Worst: The IIconics' promo
I remember when this promo came on, I went into the kitchen to grab a bite. I came back and read the official Sportskeeda Live Card to catch up on all of the action and my colleague Rohit Nath had just updated the following- 'Oh no, another IIconics promo!'
I caught up with this particular segment on WWE's Twitter feed and my life doesn't feel any more enriched or enlightened as a result of the same. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that had the promo not happened, I'd be a lot more excited for the Women's Tag Team Title match.
Honestly, I'm not hating on these two women because they're pretty good in the ring and live their gimmick too. But the quality of the verbiage they are provided is so poor, that I feel disconnected from anything Kay or Royce have to say.
Also, what did you think of The Goddess making matches?
