Has the booking committee on Smackdown Live become a tad complacent, off late?
This episode of the show, leading up to TLC did little to get us excited about the pay per view. In fact, with the absence of John Cena (except for when The Undertaker and Edge are showing up on Smackdown), the lack of depth in the Smackdown roster is revealed.
There was more filler this week on the 2-hour show than in the 3-hour Raw from the night before. Let’s go to the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia and examine the best and the worst from the show!
#1 Worst: Making the WWE title a joke
The story that needed to be told is simple. Two competitors, both of whom are at the top of the food chain, are going to lay it on the line in an explosive match with tables, ladders and chairs. They will continue the legacy of legends such as The Dudleys, The Hardy Boys and Edge & Christian.
However, with Ellsworth in the picture, it just dilutes the whole mix. Today, the 1 minute backstage brawl at the end of the show did more to promote the pay-per-view than the entire Ambrose Asylum segment did.
Add the fact that Ellsworth is a weak worker, who needs someone like AJ Styles to hold his hand and guide him at every step, and it’s simply embarrassing.
Thankfully, he’s finally learned how to take a Styles Clash!
#1 Best: JBL at the booth
We don’t know if JBL has been watching old Bobby Heenan tapes or if he’s been taking lessons from Jerry Lawler, but he’s in savage mode when Ellsworth comes to the ring, every time. Even tonight, the quips about Ellsworth being a turtle without a shell were actually funny.
We commend JBL for actually going from ‘worst’ to ‘best’ in our list, in just a few months. Hopefully, David Otunga can make a transformation too.
#2 Worst: The Big Red Boring Machine
Look, it's amazing that Kane is a full-time performer at his age. But him wrestling on TV just slows down the pace of the program.
Moreover, Kane going over younger talent like Luke Harper, does no favours for the coming generation. This is precisely why talent from the past has to be brought back, for ratings to go up. With all due respect to Kane, this match was a snoozefest, and it didn't help that Harper was being extra careful with him.
Kane is definitely Hall of Fame bound, so him calling it a day now would be the best decision for everyone.
#2 Best: F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S Yes next generation
Is it just us, or is WWE becoming edgier in content each week? Both Carmella and Alexa Bliss were excellent on the microphone when they were given a chance to shine as heels.
It helps that they’ve been booked against two very popular babyfaces, but it must be said that each one of them brought their A game. While neither got a chance to rise to the top at NXT, it seems that both women have realised that Smackdown is the place to showcase that they belong at the top of the food chain.
And yes, both these women got better reactions than Dean Ambrose on the microphone during their in-ring promos. Alexa’s Asylum or Carmella’s Highlight Reel anyone?
#3 Worst: Throwaway filler show
Except for the main event, none of the other matches and/or segments had stakes of any kind. What would we have missed, if we had decided to not watch this show?
It did nothing to further storylines, plots or angles heading into TLC. Sure, American Alpha got a chance to shine in the main event and that’s always a good thing... but we felt that this show had a lot of filler littered around the main event.
Raw definitely wiped the floor with Smackdown this week, as far as the quality of the content in the show is concerned.
#3 Best: A massive push for the Wyatt family
Both Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt had seemed pretty aimless in the roster before they found one another. Together, they seem like a serious dominant unit, and they can add a new dimension of seriousness to the WWE Tag Team Championship picture.
The Wyatt family went over the hot new tag team American Alpha. But for AA, losing to Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt in the main event does more to further their push, than beating The Usos 10 times in a row (or something to that effect). Everyone benefitted this night.
#4 Awesome: Becky through the table
We’re certain that Becky Lynch and Alexa Bliss will tear the house down at TLC. Let’s hope they bring the blue brand as much prestige as Sasha and Charlotte have brought to the Raw Women’s Championship.
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