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Last night's show from the blue brand was what I've come to expect from it in recent weeks. It wasn't an up or down affair like this week's RAW was, but coasted steadily along, catching a gentle breeze to push it nearer and nearer to New Orleans.
But which superstars took a step closer to the big stage at the Mercedes Benz Superdome and which stumbled?
Gained momentum: The Bludgeon Brothers
WWE's love for rematches made itself felt once again last night, as we saw the Bludgeon Brothers take on the Hype Bros for the second time in two weeks. This time, the squash was even quicker, with Mojo Rawley quickly sent onto the floor while Zack Ryder got destroyed in about a minute.
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It's only a matter of time before the Bludgeon Brothers challenge for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship. The timing of it will be what's most crucial to their success - will it be in time for a prominent WrestleMania program?
Gained momentum: Mojo Rawley
The long-anticipated heel turn from Mojo Rawley happened last night, as he betrayed his tag team partner, Zack Ryder, following the embarrassing loss to the Bludgeon Brothers, ending the Hype Bros.
It's unlikely to land him anything more prominent in the long run, but he's now higher on the totem pole than his former partner.
Lost momentum: Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable
For some inexplicable reason, the current #1 contenders for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship, Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable, took a loss last night to the New Day, clean in the middle of the ring.
Thus, the challengers to the Usos, almost certainly at Clash of Champions, currently look weaker than they should be going into the last pay per view the year.
The Usos must have always been the favourites to retain at this point in time, but last night made it a lot more obvious. Good as they are, Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable are unlikely to be champions or contenders when WrestleMania comes around.
Gained momentum: Bobby Roode
My hopes from last week were realized, as last night saw the beginnings of a United States title program between Bobby Roode and Baron Corbin. While it's still nonsensical that a truly talented heel like Roode will play the role of good guy to an inferior heel in Baron Corbin, it's much-needed wind in the sails of the former NXT Champion.
Look for the bout to happen at Clash of Champions.
Lost momentum: Jinder Mahal
Things started out well for Jinder Mahal when he and the Singh Brothers rushed AJ Styles and delivered a beating before the scheduled two-on-one handicap match began.
Things went awry after that. Following the Singh Brothers' loss, Jinder Mahal once again laid out his geeks. Whether they remain loyal to him or not, the former champion now looks like less of a threat going into Clash of Champions than he looked before last night's show began.
Gained momentum: AJ Styles
Jinder Mahal's loss was AJ Styles' gain. Beating the Singh Brothers with a super Styles Clash of one onto the other, he looks to be on a role. Even the commentary team reminded us that the India show will occur with Jinder Mahal not walking into it as WWE Champion.
It was only another reminder that AJ Styles becomes more and more the favourite heading into December's pay-per-view. From there he'll move on to bigger and better things as the Show of Shows looms larger.
Lost momentum: Most of SmackDown's women's division
Much like their RAW counterparts the night before, the trio of invaders looked strong, although with less subtlety involved in the storytelling. Natalya retreated during the tag team match and Naomi had a meeting with some steel steps during the contest. In kayfabe, Becky Lynch still hadn't recovered from the attack she suffered the week before (and due to her film commitments, won't for some time).
With most of the regular women taking a backseat to the newcomers, one wonders where they'll be as WrestleMania season heats up.
Gained momentum: The Riott Squad
The silly name (don't forget that second "t") aside, they looked a real threat last night to most of SmackDown's women. While their outing wasn't quite as impressive as Absolution's was on RAW (subtlety wasn't SmackDown's strong suit last night), they carried out the job looking like a force to be reckoned with.
As 2018 dawns and WrestleMania comes nearer, their prospects look bright.
Gained momentum: Charlotte
Not all of SmackDown's women acquitted themselves so poorly in the face of the invaders. Charlotte, the champion, looked very much a threat to them, taking the fight to all of them. The numbers game eventually caught up with her, but that was the point. It took all three members of the Riott Squad to one-up the champion.
SmackDown kept Charlotte looking strong without denting the aura of the newcomers. It was a rare bit of great booking from the blue brand this year.
Gained momentum: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
The thorns in the side of SmackDown's regime got sharper last night. Shane McMahon added a few stipulations to the match that Daniel Bryan set up between Kevin Owens and Randy Orton at the end of last week's show. First, Sami Zayn would be banned from ringside. Second, the match would now be a no disqualification match.
After taking a beating, Kevin Owens retreated through the crowd, winding up at the top of the ramp. Randy Orton followed. It was there that Sami Zayn struck him from behind with a chair to his leg. Kevin Owens moved his opponent back to the ring, worked the injured leg, and finished him off with a frog splash.
Technically, Sami Zayn wasn't at ringside, so he can't be held accountable for violating the letter of Shane's law.
How Shane reacts next week is up in the air, but it all served to make Owens and Zayn even more into those uncrushable cockroaches that frustrate everyone, which is exactly where they should be at this juncture before the Road to WrestleMania.
