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  • Best and worst of WWE SmackDown Live: Nikki wins for Alexa, Knock on Aleister Black's door
SmackDown Live was an okay show with no remarkable moments

Best and worst of WWE SmackDown Live: Nikki wins for Alexa, Knock on Aleister Black's door

The SmackDown Live that followed WWE Stomping Grounds left a lot to be desired. It was an okay show that moved along fast and the matches were fine, but there was a lot on the show that I did not care for.

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Whether it was a good show or not depends on your perspective of what you think constitutes a good sports entertainment show. Here is my personal assessment of the show and because I know yours can differ from mine, I invite your thoughts and views.

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The issue with SmackDown Live is that it doesn't feel like a different show from RAW and just feels like it is a sub-par RAW in many respects. Which is sad because it should be a distinct product, in my personal opinion.

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I miss the days when there were two different shows with two different rosters.

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#1 Best: Knock on Aleister Black's door

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There's nothing in the world quite like a mystery. So, Aleister Black has been calling out members of the roster to step up and play ball because he's been yearning for a challenge. And after weeks of not getting a response, someone finally knocked on his door this week, in a moment that actually shocked fans.

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I love it when WWE keeps us guessing because there's an element of anticipation that carries into the following week. Everyone remembers Negan promising to bash the skull of one of Rick Grimes' crew in, from The Walking Dead, and the longing to find out who it was. Everyone remembers the anticipation of The Night King's imminent arrival before the final season of Game of Thrones.

WWE can be so predictable at times, that there's no element of drama. The mystery of who knocked on Black's door will carry into next week and also, keep fans guessing.

See WWE Smackdown Results, Highlights of event, & more on WWE Smackdown Results page

#1 Worst: Two 2 out of 3 falls matches?

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Some of you are aware of the fact that there has been a big change in WWE programming. The live audience used to get wrestling during commercial breaks as well, but Vince McMahon has now stipulated that this won't be the case from hereon.

And as a result of this, there's been an abundance of 2-out-of-3 falls matches on television and I honestly think that this is overkill, to say it quite mildly. 2-out-of-3 matches are special attractions and should be used to tell a story, not just be inserted for no rhyme or reason.

Both Elias and The Miz, as well Kofi Kingston and Dolph Ziggler wrestled in this format this week, much to the chagrin of the crowd. I really hope that this does not become a mainstay in the weeks that follow.

Any of you liked this change?

#2 Best: Nikki Cross wins for Alexa Bliss

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Like you may have guessed by now, I love it when WWE tries to tell a story, instead of merely booking matches. Nikki Cross believes that she cost Alexa Bliss an opportunity. And to remedy this situation what she did is that she won a match against the SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley on Alexa Bliss' behalf, earning her a future title shot.

In the latest WWE NEWS, we can all see where this storyline is leading. But when the day comes that Nikki Cross turns on Alexa Bliss, the response will be absolutely thunderous. The women's division needs a new top star and Nikki Cross could certainly fill that empty spot up.

I loved the fact that Nikki Cross used Corey Graves' phone to try and call Alexa Bliss in Singapore following her big win. I just love how animated Cross is and think she could be quite awesome, down the line.

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#2 Worst: Too much Shane!

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I know that I keep repeating the same point every week, but this week is quite special. And this is because the audience began chanting 'no more Shane' when he was on. Just compare this to the reception that Shane McMahon received when he returned to action a few years ago, prior to his match against The Undertaker.

I think it would have been okay if we'd only seen him on SmackDown Live and not RAW. But the fact that he is on both shows is not worrisome and can bother even the biggest WWE fan. And like I keep mentioning in all of my reviews, sometimes an overdose of your favorite thing may not necessarily be the best thing.

And the sad part is that Shane McMahon gets so much TV time when Rusev doesn't. When someone like Ali is only showcased in vignettes.

#3 Best: Finn Balor vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the IC title

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Finn Balor and Shinsuke Nakamura had a little bit of a showdown in the backstage area where the former was part of an exclusive interview. It is very clear that the two men are headed for a clash, possibly at Extreme Rules next month.

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It is very clear that the two men needed this chance quite desperately indeed. Finn Balor may be the Intercontinental Champion on paper, but he was not even a part of the card at WWE Stomping Grounds.

Shinsuke Nakamura was teaming up with Rusev not long ago but the man has just fallen down the ranks in recent times, to the point where he is merely a shadow of his former self. He is not the same superstar whose theme song the audience sang in unison when he first debuted on SmackDown.

Let's hope this feud benefits both men.

#3 Worst: One match followed by a similar one

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I don't get why WWE books matches in this manner, one after the other. One match ends just for another one to start with even more participants.

So Xavier Woods and Big E defeated the SmackDown Tag Team Champions Daniel Bryan and Rowan this week. Rowan sported a Gojira shirt, continuing the trend of representing heavy metal bands through his shirt, which is a pretty cool gimmick (I do the opposite by wearing wrestling shirts when I go onstage with my band, Primitiv).

And then when Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn did a run-in, followed by Heavy Machinery doing another one, it became an 8-man tag team match all of a sudden. Did anyone in the audience want to see such a match take place?

It certainly did not seem so judging by the crowd response or the lack thereof at SmackDown Live.

#4 Best/worst: Kofi vs. Dolph again and again

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Honestly, I think Kofi Kingston and Dolph Ziggler should not face one another for a while after this extended feud. There is just no heat between the two men, however much they try. I read somewhere online that this was the 28th televised match between the two, and that is honestly just overkill.

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And it is for no fault of their own. Both men put on an exceptional performance and the third fall was actually quite good. Even the cage match between the men from Stomping Grounds was not a bad contest at all.

KofiMania seems to have fizzled out since WrestleMania and I think Dolph Ziggler is one of the reasons why it has. I don't want to see them compete for a while.

And now I'm going to submit this piece to my editor and watch the 365 Special on The Goddess, Alexa Bliss.

2 more stars coming from AEW to WWE? More details right here

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Edited by
Raunak J
 
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