WWE SmackDown: Top 4 things WWE got absolutely correct on the August 20 episode

As WWE aired SmackDown Live from the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the company looked to continue to build up momentum for the blue brand before its big move to FOX later this year.

SmackDown was host to two first-round matches of the 2019 King of the Ring tournament. As the start of things on Raw the previous night had been under par, the blue brand aimed to up the ante. With Kevin Owens vs. Elias and Andrade vs. Apollo Crews as the confirmed matches, WWE had the talent to deliver.

Meanwhile, WWE Champion Kofi Kingston sought revenge on Randy Orton and The Revival following their vicious attack on his friend Xavier Woods.

Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan's compelling story continued with an unlikely hero in Buddy Murphy. WWE's Best Kept Secret would have wanted to reveal why he's a star of the future. Was he successful?

In this article, we take a look at 4 things WWE got correct on the August 20 episode of WWE Smackdown.

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#4 King of the Ring matches

Andrade fought Apollo Crews in the first match of the night, and the third match of the King of the Ring 2019 tournament. As one of the favorites to win the crown, "El Idolo" had a point to prove. And, Andrade didn't disappoint.

Andrade and Crews wrestled a solid bout. The match not only put over the impressive Andrade but also Crews' skillset and resilience. In the end, Zelina Vega and the Hammerlock DDT proved to be the difference between the two stars.

Andrade has consistently been brilliant over the last year. Now, it would be interesting to see what WWE does with this potential Universal Champion.

Later in the night, Elias defeated Kevin Owens amidst a lot of drama and interference by Shane McMahon. The match felt more like a chapter in the Owens-McMahon rivalry, but it did not harm anyone involved in the segment.

Elias won a big match, and Kevin Owens now has another reason to strike on the Prodigal Son. Owens doesn't need to be a king; he excels as the anti-authority hero. Hence, Elias rightly got the victory, though he may not advance far in the competition.

#3 Kofi Kingston's vengeance

After The Revival and Randy Orton brutally injured Xavier Woods on Raw, it was obvious that Kofi Kingston would not be in a good mood on SmackDown. Orton had made it clear for a while now that the Viper had many RKOs planned for Kingston's future. So, things had to escalate on the blue brand.

Orton started the show cutting a passionate heel promo, calling Kingston "stupid" for everything that has happened in the past. He touched on their SummerSlam match and Kingston's family, the attack on Xavier Woods, and how he has crushed the power of positivity.

Kingston answered with a sneak attack. A Trouble In Paradise to Orton, then chair shots to both members of the Revival proved that he's not only vengeful, but up for a fight.

Kingston looks good when he is angry. This was a solid segment, and made sense after Orton's and Revival's sinister attack on the New Day less than 24 hours ago.

A peeved Kofi Kingston should combine with a nasty Randy Orton to deliver compelling strorytelling as WWE moves forward to the Clash of Champions.

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#2 Shinsuke Nakamura pairs with Sami Zayn on Miz TV

Do you know how it feels when an artist and a poet can't articulate what's in his heart? Sami Zayn knows because, as stated by him, he's an artist and a poet.

Out of the blue, Sami Zayn turned all altruistic to start his path of redemption after losing matches incessantly for months. He appeared on Miz TV announcing that he'd fight for causes bigger than him; he'd help people that need his help. Shockingly, he joined forces with the Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura.

Zayn was fantastic in his promo, as he has been over the last six months. He should excel in the role. Also, Nakamura who has required a mouthpiece for a long time. Zayn's addition could do great things for his career.

Moreover, Nakamura attacked and obliterated Miz towards the end of the segment, suggesting a rivalry against the A-Lister with the Intercontinental Championship on the line. If that's the case, things look bright.

#1 Buddy Murphy

When Roman Reigns interrogated Buddy Murphy in the locker room a few weeks ago, few would have thought that the interaction will lead to big things for WWE's Best Kept Secret. Did you think he'd be Reigns and Bryan's prey before the top dogs battle each other? We did.

However, the reality has turned out to be pleasantly different. The former 205 Live superstar and Cruiserweight champion, who had struggled to find a spot on TV thus far, has now fought arguably two of WWE's biggest performers in as many consecutive weeks.

Murphy had an impressive outing against WWE's Big Dog Roman Reigns last week on SmackDown, where he came seconds close to beating the top star.

Following his brilliant performance from last week, Murphy delivered yet another show-stealing match. However, he didn't just come close to beating a top star this time. Murphy actually pinned the former WWE Champion right in the middle of the ring.

It was an outstanding match that legitimately established Buddy Murphy as a top Superstar. Now, Murphy has a top role in a major story concerning two of the company's top stars. We have reasons to expect good things for him in the very near future.

What did you like from this week's SmackDown Live? Post your thoughts in our comments section below.