This was a good show. Almost great. It debuted a few things and got most of the character work on point. Two hours is really helping the viewer take in as much content put out and the stories are seamlessly moving ahead. Smackdown is really growing into the better brand. The live aspect, the 2-hour aspect, the aspect of having new titles and a rejuvenated women's’ and tag division is really helping the show. Also, the extra added bit is a little brand battle that is already happening with Shane McMahon on the move to settle the score with Brock Lesnar.
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Here are the 5 points to note from this week's show.
5: Talking Smack
Former WWE writer buries Judgment Day HERE
This is arguably the best promo of the week and it wasn’t even part of the two-hour Live Smackdown show. It was on the after show which Renee Young hosts with General manager Daniel Bryan called “Talking smack”Over the past few weeks, it has become a show you shouldn’t miss but this week, it became truly must – see. Daniel Bryan uttered that The Miz wrestles like a coward which led to the Intercontinental Champion give one of his best, most scathing promo ever. He said the way he wrestles has led him to be on WWE television day in and day out for 10 plus years and Bryan can’t say the same. Miz has never suffered a serious injury and he’s been there for the entertainment of the fans.
Bryan responded that if the powers that be allowed him to wrestle he would. To which The Miz indignantly retorted that if he loves wrestling so much, why depend on the powers that be in the WWE? Why not quit and go back to the “bingo halls with his indie friends”?Bryan walked out and Miz continued his rant.
This was stellar!
4: New titles
Smackdown finally took a major step forward for its women’s and tag team divisions by their respective debuting titles belts .The tag teams will face each other in a tournament to determine the new champions and the women will face each other in a 6 pack challenge at Backlash to crown the queen of the Blue Brand. Please to note that Becky Lynch is hugely favored. Will be quite apt if she wins this title since she’s the only one of the Four Horsewomen who hasn’t won the NXT Women’s Championship. She came close to winning the Women’s title but that was never to be as well. Nikki Bella is the one being rumoured to be the first woman to hold the belt with a short and transitional reign in the works.
Slater was back on SmackDown and he had to find a tag team partner to be in the tag title tournament and he needs to win the tournament to get a contract. Rhyno finally agreed to be the tag partner.
Now for the championship! Slater is just too entertaining and this has been some great storytelling to invest you in Slater and his quest for that elusive contract.
3: The Viper is in the building
Randy Orton was on the show. I repeat, Randy Orton was on the show after that controversial ending to Summerslam with the audience and some WWE performers themselves were not sure if this was a work or shoot. Orton said that he knew what he had coming in this quite literal blood feud. Bray Wyatt interrupted his promo and went about his usual mystical utterances and disappeared.
We also got to know that Lesnar was fined just $500 for his actions at Summerslam. That didn’t sit well at all with Shane McMahon who still has some unfinished business after The Beast gave him an F5.Reports suggest Shane and Lesnar may face each other soon, presumably at Royal Rumble.
They are completely moving forward with a Shane McMahon Vs Brock Lesnar feud, people!
4: His Time is Now!
Let’s just say that AJ Styles is a made man in the WWE after his spectacular clean victory of John Cena, who wasn’t present on the show. That made Styles automatically qualify to face Dean Ambrose for the WWE Championship. Styles, of course, was on a boasting spree and in his overenthusiastic and taunting spirit called Ziggler a loser. This led to them having a brawl and a match later on. If Ziggler won, he’ll be added to the championship match and make it a triple threat for Backlash. That did not happen and it is now Styles vs Ambrose. This may be the first time that Styles might become a huge favorite to win the biggest title in WWE.
5: Heel Turn?
Finally, we move on to the women’s division - WWE was aptly publicising Nikki Bella’s unexpected return and how she’s now a Smackdown superstar. She got a really great reaction from the Brooklyn crowd but worked as a heel with the heel team.
This week before her match against Carmella, Young got in the ring to interview the former Divas Champion. In retrospect, it should be noted that Carmella did not do her intro like she used to when she walked to the ring and visibly miffed she interrupted Bella’s interview by attacking her and then ended it by performing the Bella buster on the longest reigning Divas Champion.
This may just be the heel turn Carmella’s character definitely needs.
