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One genuinely has to admit that if nothing else, WWE SmackDown is at least trying their best at this point in time. Everything on WWE SmackDown feels different and the show has an air of freshness to it, that has been missing for a while now.
Whether it's a good or a bad thing is a matter of opinion, but WWE SmackDown certainly feels like it's a show where questionable booking decisions may be overlooked because WWE has, after years, broken out of its comfort zone. So, this show gets a thumbs up from this humble reviewer overall, even though there were a lot of aspects that did not resonate in the right manner.
So, without further ado, we at Sportskeeda present the 'Best and Worst of WWE SmackDown' and invite you to chime in with your comments and thoughts in the comments section.
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#1 Best: Retribution invades WWE SmackDown
Retribution's invasion on WWE SmackDown was a lot more lethal than what they did on RAW, where they just picked up a cinderblock and damaged a glass door before they destroyed a car in the parking lot. The backstage attack and the fact that the whole WWE SmackDown roster, babyfaces, and heels united against the incoming threat made it a worthwhile watch.
The flickering lights through the course of WWE SmackDown kept reminding us that there was an imminent threat on the horizon and the fact that Retribution appeared at so many points during the show also assured us that that they are a really big deal.
Let's hope that WWE invests a lot of time and effort into this storyline because this is something with a lot of buzz. It could be a chance to introduce some new or even familiar faces to WWE SmackDown in due course of time.
#1 Best/Worst: Everything with Alexa Bliss, Braun Strowman, and The Fiend on WWE SmackDown
The way that WWE SmackDown went off the air, with Braun Strowman and The Fiend laughing for 5 minutes at a stretch wasn't the best payoff after a fantastic foundation had been laid.
One has to commend Alexa Bliss for her acting skills during the interview segment on WWE SmackDown where she said that she understood the appeal of The Fiend, comparing herself to a 'moth' drawn to a flame.
But it was really weird to see Braun Strowman pick Alexa Bliss up and inflict punishment, instead of coming to her rescue as one would have actually hoped. It is clear that some kind of heel turn is coming from Alexa Bliss very soon indeed on WWE SmackDown, but whether or not that means she's sister Abigail is just about anyone's guess.
Not everyone may feel the same way, but nothing with Bray Wyatt has worked since he got squashed by Goldberg. Everything just feels like it's overbooked and contrived these days.
#2 Best: The Monster Abyss reunites with a familiar face from TNA on WWE SmackDown
Let's start off by saying that Jeff Hardy vs. AJ Styles is not a program that anyone should have a problem with. The Intercontinental Championship needed to be elevated on WWE SmackDown and after he rid himself of his demons, Jeff Hardy should be in contention for the title for sure. Plus, everyone knows how good a prospective feud between Jeff Hardy and AJ Styles can be.
Yes, this is a match that should have happened at SummerSlam and not another episode of WWE SmackDown, but hey, if it can keep the card from getting too bloated, nobody will mind it.
But the real hero of the segment was Joseph Park, who has been working as a producer with WWE, whom you may know as Abyss from TNA. A man with impeccable comic timing and some of the best facial expressions known to mankind, he will be a very good addition to the WWE SmackDown roster in the days that follow.
#2 Worst: The Lucha House Party steals the WWE SmackDown Championships live on air
When Shinsuke Nakamura left Japan, everyone assumed that he would be a top star when he arrives at WWE SmackDown and RAW. What they did not think is that he would be taking the pin and doing to job against Gran Metalik of all people on WWE SmackDown. This isn't even a knock at Metalik, who has proved time and again that he truly is the king of the ropes, but at the way that he's been booked until now on WWE SmackDown, as someone who does not matter.
The fact that the Lucha House Party actually stole the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships really undermined their worth as serious competitors.
In turn, Shinsuke Nakamura losing to Gran Metalik pushes him further down the WWE SmackDown card, when he and Cesaro should be running through the division, at the moment. Do we really need grown adult men on WWE SmackDown to act like children in skits that nobody above the age of 4 will actually find funny?
#3 Best/Worst: Asuka wins the battle royal on WWE SmackDown
Even though one has to feel good about Asuka winning the Women's Battle Royal on WWE SmackDown, one has to wonder if it was the right call to have her challenge both Sasha Banks and Bayley. This was an opportunity to elevate someone like Shayna Baszler or Tegan Nox to the next level, and one has to feel that WWE blew it.
At the same time, from a storytelling perspective, it's not the worst decision to have Asuka win the battle royal on WWE SmackDown either. There isn't enough time to build another challenger for Bayley at this point in time, with WWE SummerSlam only days away.
In 'Best and worst' tradition, this article too shall end with a gif of Little Miss Bliss. One has to wonder what lies in store for her, in the Universal Championship picture at SummerSlam.
Speaking of the WWE SmackDown women's division, check out Rick Ucchino's conversation with Sonya Deville in the link that's been posted above, ladies, and gentlemen.
