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There was a grandiose feeling about this week's WWE SmackDown episode. There were two title matches, and because Roman Reigns does not always defend his Universal Championship on WWE SmackDown, fans knew that this was the show to watch.
Did the show deliver? Yes, this week's episode was certainly a breeze to sit through and it was over in no time at all. It did not drag on past the sweet spot, as RAW manages to do every single week.
However, a few nagging issues about WWE SmackDown need to be highlighted in this article. These are not issues restricted to this brand alone but major grievances with the current product.
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What did you guys think of the show? Did it live up to all the hype?
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#1 Best: 4 WWE SmackDown Superstars to vie for the prestigious Intercontinental Championship
The main reason why there was no change in the Intercontinental Championship picture on WWE SmackDown is very simple. Vince McMahon and his creative team are clearly headed in a fatal four-way direction with Apollo Crews, Big E, Sami Zayn, and Kevin Owens.
It's also great to see that just because they're all heels, the bad guys in this feud are not aligned in philosophy. Sami Zayn and Apollo Crews are not friends, and neither are the good guys necessarily- Big E and Kevin Owens.
As for Commander Azeez, even though he's been given the Omos treatment, where we're going to wait a while before he steps into the ring, his very presence is impressive.
A man is known by the company he keeps and WWE SmackDown star Apollo Crews just feels like a significantly bigger star with Azeez by his side. Who do you think Crews will drop the Intercontinental Championship to?
#1 Worst: Why do current champions have to be pinned on WWE SmackDown to secure title shots?
Does WWE SmackDown star Tamina have to continue to deliver her splashes? Even though we know that her version is a tribute to her legendary father, Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka, Tamina's splashes look awkward and very poorly executed.
And that's not even the central crux of the issue here. Why did two pairs of tag team Champions- Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler as well as Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode - have to get pinned on this week's show to advance storylines along? This is an inherent issue with the booking on WWE SmackDown and RAW, where challengers earn their shots by pinning current Champions.
Some of the mystique is already lost if you've already seen the Champion get pinned! Do you necessarily want to see the upcoming WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship contest or the Women's Tag Team Championship match in that case?
It does not help that both of these Championship units seem bland and uninteresting because of shoddy booking.
#2 Best: Everything about the WWE SmackDown main event was pretty good
One of the coolest WWE SmackDown moments was the majestic sight of Roman Reigns (or rather the sound) coming out to new theme music.
Many have said that this is the end of the final component of The Shield, the trademark music that Roman Reigns used to be known for. The new song is grand and it is, for lack of a better phrase, worthy of someone who dubs himself a 'Tribal Chief'.
Also, did anyone catch the promo that Paul Heyman cut before the match? It was so good! Heyman reminded everyone watching the current WWE SmackDown product, people who may not necessarily be familiar with his work, why he is considered to be one of the greatest of all time.
As for the WWE SmackDown main event, it was a work of art. Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns told the story of two evenly matched athletes laying it all on the line for the Universal Championship. It was a great piece of business.
#2 Worst: Are we even hyped for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship picture?
Bianca Belair won the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship in the main event of WrestleMania. And ever since then, she's been treated as a side character and not the star that she truly is. Yes, she is currently embroiled in a feud with Bayley, but is this a program that's been built up like the ones in the men's division?
This is obviously not a slight towards Bianca Belair or Bayley, both of whom are exceptionally gifted. It's a knock at the booking team who should be building Bianca Belair vs. Bayley in a bigger manner than they currently are.
Bayley has incredible comedic chops and if she had been allowed to shine, imagine how cool this feud could have been!
Yes, instead of a six-person tag team match, Bayley should have been working up the ranks and earning heel heat in the process.
It would have also allowed Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan to get more TV time on WWE SmackDown, instead of awaiting their turn in the back.
#3 Best: Aleister Black's haunting WWE SmackDown promos
Now that you've caught our WWE SmackDown review here, be sure to check out what Rick, Sid, Kevin, and the living legend Dutch Mantell have to say by clicking on the video linked above.
Mantell has an outstanding sense of humor, and you're guaranteed to laugh until you get stomach cramps.
So, because this was a pretty fun episode of WWE SmackDown, let's end on a positive note. This is not a best/worst, as is our tradition but instead, we end with another 'best'. Aleister Black's promo was well made and it did get us hyped for his return.
Say what you will about the WWE SmackDown product overall, one thing is for sure. The execution when it comes to promos and video packages is simply flawless.
So, that was WWE SmackDown in a nutshell. Did you enjoy the show or are there aspects you didn't care for?
Do let us know in the comments below and also let us know what you expect on the throwback episode of WWE SmackDown?
