Best & Worst of SmackDown (September 13, 2024): Roman Reigns coerced; charismatic debut; star absent; HUGE heel turn?

WWE SmackDown's Season Premiere kicked off with the first 30 minutes being commercial-free. The company took full advantage and initiated the Steel Cage match, which saw Cody Rhodes retain the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Andrade defeated Carmelo Hayes to earn a shot against LA Knight for the United States Championship. Nia Jax proclaimed she would put her WWE Women's Championship on the line at Bad Blood, with her opponent yet to be decided.

Let's take a look at what worked and what did not at the season premiere of WWE SmackDown:

Worst: No surprise as Randy Orton teamed up with Kevin Owens on SmackDown

Kevin Owens had a mystery tag team partner against Austin Theory and Grayson Waller. A guy KO introduced as 'Ricky' initially entered as A-Town Down Under and WWE Universe scrunched their faces.

KO indulged in details, claiming that his original tag team partner had some travel issues that prevented him from being present at the arena. Before the bell rang, a member of the production team informed Owens that his OG partner had arrived and was revealed to be Randy Orton.

The Viper's return to the brand after a scathing feud with Gunther was imminent. How it was booked was deemed pitiful, given that KO and Orton seem to be running around circles after losses at Bash in Berlin. Fans were elated by Orton's presence on SmackDown, but a few seemed unpleased by the predictable decision.

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Best: Triple H kicking off the show; WWE legends in appearance

Triple H had many jaw-dropping and unforgettable matches on SmackDown in his WWE career. The Game started with a thank-you to the fans and introduced the Steel Cage Match.

Many WWE legends and Hall of Famers who were proactive in SmackDown's growth through the years were in the crowd. These included Rob Van Dam, Vickie Guerrero, Ron Simmons, Teddy Long, William Regal, Michael P.S. Hayes and Bobby Rhoode. RAW stars Damian Priest, Gunther, and Ludwig Kaiser were ringside for the show.

During SmackDown, WWE showed photos of iconic moments on the brand that left a mark on fans. The images evoked nostalgia and hinted at similar legendary moments that could be expected from the show.

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Worst: Neither Jimmy Uso nor The Rock showed up

With it being the season premiere and 25 years of SmackDown, fans anticipated a mega return planned for the night.

The Rock was present for the last season premiere in 2019 and coincidentally appeared on the blue brand around the same time last year. Given his involvement in The Bloodline story, his comeback for a square-off against Roman Reigns would have intensified the Bad Blood rivalry. It would have also provided a platform to set up a potential Team Rock vs. Team Roman Reigns at Survivor Series: WarGames. This would happen if Rock commanded and controlled Solo Sikoa's leadership of the current group.

On the other hand, another name that was scrutinized by WWE fans for a return was Jimmy Uso. He was kicked out of the group after WrestleMania XL and has been absent since. His brother, Jey, is doing well for himself on RAW and could challenge for the Intercontinental Championship soon.

The premise of SmackDown's rich televised history and legacy set the stage for a memorable return. While it could happen in the coming week, its impact would have definitely been one for the ages if it had been on the season premiere.

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Best: Roman Reigns and The Bloodline standoff; Cody Rhodes team up to force his heel turn?

Roman Reigns made a statement when he encountered The Bloodline preying on Cody Rhodes after the steel cage match. Jacob Fatu attempted to confront Reigns, only for Solo Sikoa to pull him out.

Later, Nick Aldis claimed Sikoa approached him with an intimation for a crucial match at Bad Blood. It seemed the acting Tribal Chief and Fatu were ready to square off against Reigns and Rhodes.

The former Undisputed WWE Champion addressed the matter on the main event, claiming it was still his ring and company and that he owned everything around him. The American Nightmare interrupted him, and the two engaged in an intense confrontation before The Bloodline sneakily attacked him. This led to Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes signing the contract for the tag team match at Bad Blood 2024.

While the two still have unfinished business, a forceful alliance could propel their company's future. Rhodes' initial hesitation could lead him down the dark path of turning heel and pushing Reigns as the babyface of the brand (and company) again.