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I had a very difficult time sitting through WWE RAW. I thought that the show was stretched thin with top stars not appearing and way too many meaningless segments. SmackDown Live was anything but, I felt. This was one of the better episodes of the blue brand I've seen in quite a while, truth be told.
There was very little that I did not like about the show. I actually liked most of it, and the most important bit is that I was entertained from start to finish. How often can you say that for a WWE show, right?
Here's what I thought about the show. Post your own analysis in the comments below.
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#1 Best: A feel-good finish
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I admit that KofiMania has been a hit and I've been a fan of the product ever since the storyline first commenced. But truth be told, with the show ending on a negative note on every single week, I could feel me and my colleagues losing enthusiasm for the overall arc.
Well, Kofi Kingston is finally going to WrestleMania thanks to the efforts of his team- The New Day. They went through the SmackDown Tag Team Division, demolishing every single team in their path. My favourite part was when The Usos were protected, with them forfeiting the contest because The New Day had earned their respect.
I am also glad that Big E and Xavier Woods, two men who have been sidelined since the beginning of this storyline also got a chance to shine and show their skills in the main event this week. Both men are immensely talented and I'm glad they got their moment.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen...Kofi Kingston is headed to WrestleMania 35.
#1 Worst: Silly Asuka
I will get to the Charlotte Flair and Asuka match on the final page of this article, so please bear with me. I know they are the reason you guys may even have clicked on this article. But let me point out the biggest issue I had with Asuka's character. The fact that she's been portrayed as an absolute idiot.
Asuka suffered a crippling defeat at the hands of Charlotte Flair this week. But then a few moments later, she was backstage with Kofi Kingston, cheering on The New Day, seemingly having forgotten that she's no longer the Champion. Can you imagine Ronda Rousey being portrayed in this manner shortly after a massive loss?
It is clear that WWE does not see Asuka as much more than enhancement talent, really! Why else would they portray her in this manner?
I cringed as I watched this segment.
#2 Best: The 'falls count anywhere' stipulation
Yes, I know you're thinking what I'm thinking, dear reader. When Shane McMahon says that he will be part of a 'Falls Count Anywhere' match, it means that he's going to jump off something high at WrestleMania. It is because of this reason that I'm okay with this stipulation.
To be honest, had it not been for the stipulation, this would have been the toilet break match from WrestleMania 35. While there has been a build for the program, there's not been enough of a build to justify two middle-aged men fighting in a regular match. Especially when neither of them is really AJ Styles when the bell rings.
I also loved The Miz's newfound attitude and aggression. I felt like he needed to showcase this side of his to get over as a babyface for a while. The audience won't take him seriously, unless he is portrayed as a tough WWE Superstar.
#2 Worst: Cancelling the dream match
AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle was the dream match that nearly everybody was waiting for this week. I've listed a bunch of reasons why it turned out to be a no contest in another article. But the fact remains that Kurt Angle's final SmackDown match should have been a far bigger match than it eventually turned out to be.
I know that Kurt Angle is no longer in the prime of his youth and this match wouldn't have quite been like their TNA classics. But I just thought that after all of the hoopla surrounding Kurt Angle vs. AJ Styles, we deserved the semblance of a match this week. Randy Orton's interference in the contest was expected, but it came a lot sooner than anticipated.
Well, we're never going to see these two men lock up now. And it's a shame what this match could have technically been.
#3 Best/worst: The title change this week
When Charlotte Flair became the SmackDown Women's Champion, my colleague Matthew Serocki asked me if this was a best or a worst. Truth be told, I could not make up my mind. I mean the match was great and worthy of a pay-per-view contest. But at the same time, was the title change really necessary?
Also, think of the women sitting on the sidelines. Naomi, Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville and Carmella went on from being contenders for the title to being talents on the sidelines. I wonder what the plans are for Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania.
But no one can deny just how supremely gifted Charlotte Flair and Asuka are, tearing the house down during their match. Where does Asuka even go from here, if she decides to stay on in WWE, over time?
Here is a picture of Alexa Bliss for absolutely no reason at all:
