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So, the festivities of SummerSlam have officially come to an end at long last. I must say that I'm pleasantly surprised at how good the week actually was. TakeOver was fantastic, SummerSlam was solid and RAW wasn't all that bad. So, did SmackDown Live live up to our expectations?
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There was certainly some good and some bad on the show. My job is to separate the good from the bad, and I've done so in this very article. I did not find SmackDown Live to be a boring show overall, but it certainly wasn't a perfect show.
What did you folks think of SmackDown Live? Would you say that it was a better show than RAW, in your opinion?
I honestly found RAW to be a stronger and more entertaining show, when I compare the two!
#1 Best: 5 Time SmackDown Tag Team Champions
Can we please have a round of applause for Erick Rowan at the start, ladies and gentlemen? Very reliable sources have revealed that he was injured at SummerSlam, while competing against The New Day, in the title match. And yet, he soldiered through the main event of SmackDown Live this week. He is not a man, but a beast.
I guess the title change was made to write him off TV for a while. But that said, I am glad that New Day have captured the tag team championships. Much like Roman Reigns did with the Universal Championship, these men could certainly make the division more competitive.
So what does this mean for the SmackDown Tag Team Division? It means that it's a new day, yes it is!
I will show myself out at this time, folks!
#1 Worst: Miscasting two central characters
I've been fortunate enough have conversed with Becky Lynch during a media teleconference ahead of the Women's Royal Rumble. Lynch comes across as a genuine, sweet and lovable person, whom one simply cannot root against at all. Those of you who read my 'Best and Worst' of SummerSlam know I said I liked the Becky Lynch heel turn. But now, I'm having second thoughts.
There is no earthly way that an audience will boo Lynch and cheer for Charlotte Flair; especially a crowd like Brooklyn. I think that while Becky Lynch's heel turn was fantastic, she will come across as the hero in this program, even if she blames the crowd for all her misfortunes.
#2 Best: First HIAC match confirmed
I got a lot of messages about leaving out The Miz vs. Daniel Bryan match from my SummerSlam 'Best and Worst' analysis. All I said in response was that it was just a placeholder match, designed to prolong the feud. And right I was, with Maryse and Brie Bella entering the picture.
I've always liked The Miz better when Maryse was by his side. Judging from the crowd response, the audience was thrilled to see Brie Bella as well. I'm really excited to see the next chapter of this feud unfold.
I don't mind seeing these two men fight all the way to WrestleMania 35. They can have their blow-off match at the showcase of the immortals.
#2 Worst: 50-50 booking helps nobody
Rusev and Lana put over Andrade 'Cien' Almas and Zelina Vega during the SummerSlam Kickoff Show, asking Aiden English to not interfere. And this time he did, during the recent rematch. I did not see the point of the match.
Why did Rusev and Lana pick up the win? It simply nullifies the match from the SummerSlam Kickoff. Neither team really did benefit from the entire process.
The Aiden English storyline has also come to a rather unfortunate halt. Will there be no payoff at all, from the whole exercise?
#3 Best: Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton
Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton simply showed how seasoned the two men are. They did not care for a win, during this match. Randy Orton attacked Jeff Hardy's ear. And Jeff Hardy retaliated with a barrage of foreign objects, followed by a Swanton Bomb up the ramp.
I could watch this GIF all day long, because of the level of finesse Jeff Hardy employs to this very day. Like fine wine, he just seems to wrestle better as he grows older.
#3 Worst: Shinsuke Nakamura's promo
I get that Nakamura is trying his best. English isn't his first language, and it is commendable how far along he's come. But at the same time, does he need to cut promos at all? He is difficult to understand and I don't think they help his character.
I think the Nakamerica approach is also trying way too hard. Nakamura should be portrayed as a serious, powerful champion, preferably one with a manager or an advocate.
#4 Best/worst: No call ups
So, RAW had no call up. And much to my surprise, neither did SmackDown Live. There is generally a call up that follows SummerSlam. It is part of the charm of watching the fallout show.
I can only guess that the rosters are far too stacked. WWE knows that these superstars would have been wasted. And that's a pretty smart call, to be fair.
That said, I'd have loved to see Shayna Baszler make her way up to dominate the roster. Perhaps even The Velveteen Dream!
#4 Best/worst: No show for SAnitY
Were SAnitY called up far too soon? There doesn't seem to be a spot for them on SmackDown Live currently. Which is a shame because of how much value they can bring to the roster.
Remember how Kevin Owens and Bobby Roode didn't even get a chance on RAW? How Jinder Mahal has no spot across a three hour show? SAnitY may be in the very same boat.
Also let me know if you can hate Becky Lynch, or if it's simply impossible!
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