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I wouldn't say that there was anything particularly wrong with what happened this week on SmackDown Live ahead of WWE Stomping Grounds. But then again, while it was a fun show, I don't think anything of importance really happened during the episode.
I don't think I was bored at any point, and so, that is a win for WWE. Did you guys think that the show dragged on or did you find it to be an uneventful show?
I just think that unless there is must-see excitement for the program, people aren't going to be excited about the blue brand. As much as the world hates on RAW, if you glance at the viewership figures, it outperforms SmackDown Live every week.
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In any case, here is my personal take on this week's show.
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#1 Best: Things get very real
Listen, we all know that Bayley is one of the most gifted women 'wrestlers' in the world at the moment. The only department where she has been lacking is in her promos, because she cannot bring the fire that she shows in the ring to the microphone.
I've seen her improve week after week, to the point where I personally think that she's grown into quite the promo. Things got personal when Alexa Bliss alleged that Bayley wouldn't give her the time of day in NXT, something that may be ingrained in truth.
While the Four Horsewomen changed the face of the wrestling world from the in-ring perspective, Alexa Bliss and others like her who did not grow up as hardcore wrestling fans may have felt like outsiders in such an environment. The tension was quite palpable and it was great to see Bayley bring her A-Game. I want to see more of this Bayley now!
See WWE Smackdown Results, Highlights of event, & more on WWE Smackdown Results page
#1 Worst: The same faces on both brands
The WWE roster is more stacked than it has even been in the history of the company. Which is why there are two brands, to begin with. Can someone answer why then WWE books both brands with the very same superstars?
No disrespect to The Miz, who's great in his own right and Drew McIntyre, who by all means should be the next big thing, but there's a reason why the brand split even happened. Fans should not get tired of seeing too much of these individuals because honestly, too much of a good thing may not necessarily be a good thing.
And then, there is Shane McMahon. A man who is hardly a good wrestler but still gets more screen time than someone like Rusev.
I just wish that Superstars from one brand were just confined to one brand, to keep them fresh.
#2 Best: Return of the Kabuki Warriors
I love the fact that Asuka and Kairi Sane are back on screen once again. Even though they did not get to compete in a match, they were both far too talented to be sitting on the sidelines, while Shane McMahon hogged up all of the screen time. Let's hope that this is the beginning of many such continued appearances.
And the addition of Paige ensures that the shortcomings that the two women may face from a language perspective do not really come to the fore. The IIconics played their part well too, and it seems like they finally have a feud for the titles. If this feud kicks off, it'll be the first time that the titles have felt relevant in quite some time.
We also saw a little glimpse of the AOP during the show. I'm guessing they'll be on SmackDown Live, instead of RAW.
#2 Worst: Meaningless tag team matches
Honestly, the main event did not feel like one. Even though you had the two Champions team up to take on Zayn and Owens, one could see through it right away, I felt. It was a makeshift tag team match with no stakes or consequences at all.
The same can be said for the match that The Miz and R-Truth had with Elias and McIntyre. I appreciate the fact that WWE tried to make the two matches feel different with the tag team elimination match rule, as well as the '2 out of 3, falls rule'. But let me ask you guys a question to prove my point.
Do you guys think you would have missed anything had you skipped this week's episode? WWE's main problem right now is that the shows seem very skippable and unlike in the Attitude Era, nothing means anything anymore.
#3 Best: Drake Maverick becomes the 24X7 Champion
Drake Maverick is the brand new 24/7 Champion. Even though R-Truth managed to escape unscathed from the tag team contest that he was a part of, he got ambushed in the parking lot by Carmella for the Championship.
Only it wasn't Carmella, but Drake Maverick dressed as Carmella who pinned Truth to become Champion. And from the looks of it, both Maverick and Truth will be the central figures when it comes to this Championship, at least for the time being.
In my personal opinion, both of these men have incredible comic timing so Maverick should be just as good a Champion as R-Truth was. It will be quite interesting to see what happens to Maverick on 205 Live after he brings the title to the brand.
I am guessing the crowd will be hot and excited to see what ploy R-Truth will employ to regain his title from Drake Maverick.
#3 Worst: No Intercontinental Championship program
The Intercontinental Championship is the second most important Championship on the show or should be under usual circumstances. Unfortunately, there's not even a match for the Champion on the card.
I know that a match could be added at the very last minute, but does a throwaway match compensate for the fact that the title has been completely forgotten since Balor came to SmackDown Live after WrestleMania 35? Sure, he did have a solid match with Andrade at Super ShowDown but there was hardly any build or fanfare for the same.
And Balor could be feuding with the likes of Ali or even Nakamura for the Intercontinental Championship. Of course, if Shane McMahon did not take up all the screen time across both brands, that is.
I don't hate Shane McMahon as much as it may seem from this article, but give the full-timers some screen time!
I certainly do not hate Alexa Bliss!
