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SmackDown Live was certainly a fun show. The brand did not fare too well at Money in the Bank. With the event in the rearview mirror, the blue brand was red hot tonight. I did not think there was a dull moment through the show.
This has certainly been a good week for wrestling. Everything feels a lot fresher in terms of booking. We're seeing a lot of contests that we haven't seen in a while, or in some cases, ever.
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SmackDown Live was built around a gauntlet match, but that's not all I'd like to talk about in this particular review. I invite you to leave a comment and let me know what you thought of the show overall.
Now that introductions are out of the way, let's talk about the best and worst of SmackDown Live.
#1 Best: Rusev gets his moment
So many fans have been waiting for this big moment, haven't they? When booking was not kind to Rusev, they took it upon themselves to chant 'Rusev Day' in unison. And now, at long last, Rusev has his moment in the sun. He is the well-deserved number 1 contender for the WWE Championship.
AJ Styles has spoken about wanting to face Rusev in the past. It feels like a fresh feud and because both men are great wrestlers, I'm sure that the contests will be good. Styles decked Aiden English at the end of the segment and so it remains to be seen what role he plays in this particular championship feud.
After weeks on end, it is finally Rusev Day. The world can rejoice and celebrate the fact that WWE heard their request for Rusev's push!
#1 Worst: Daniel Bryan vs. The Bludgeon Brothers
No babyface in wrestling, across any promotion, invokes the kind of reaction that Daniel Bryan does. And yet, somehow I feel that he's not being booked in the position that he should be.
This man beat a career-threatening injury to return to wrestling and was booked in a meaningless feud with a man who was released at the conclusion of their recent contest. Two nights later, he put on incredible clinics with Big E and Samoa Joe. Yet, he's being booked in a feud with the Bludgeon Brothers, going forward?
Somehow, I feel like that's a step down for him. What does it say about WWE's faith in their specialist tag team units?
I hope this is setting the stage for Kane's return but I think it's unlikely because Kane is very heavily involved in politics now.
#2 Best: Daniel Bryan vs. Big E
When you look at the results, Big E suffered a loss. But he hung in there with one of the best in the world and put on a really good show this week. Big E and Daniel Bryan had the match of the night, during the course of the Gauntlet Match.
Every time Daniel Bryan steps into the ring, we are reminded of just how good he is. How fluid is his motion? Bryan is an intelligent man and his wrestling is a reflection of the same.
Is this setting the stage for a Big E singles run very soon? Only time will tell, honestly!
#2 Worst: Yet another opportunity?
Gallows and Anderson had a chance at the SmackDown Tag Team Championship at the Money in the Bank Kickoff Show. The former Bullet Club members lost the big match. And then suddenly, they had another shot on SmackDown Live? This does not make any sense from a storyline perspective.
In my opinion, this match was only set up to have the Bludgeon Brothers stare down with Daniel Bryan. After all, the results were the same as the Money in the Bank title match.
#3 Best: SAnitY's absolutely perfect debut
Usually, whenever a monster team debuts on WWE, they pick up a decisive win. This was not the case with SAnitY. They are not a unit that wants to win. They thrive merely on chaos.
I love how SAnitY destroyed The Usos before the opening bell even rang. This sets them apart from every other tag team in their division. Move aside Ambrose...the real lunatics have finally arrived on SmackDown Live.
#3 Worst: Ruining Asuka's aura
Asuka is no longer the monster she was during her NXT run. During that time, she would have taken both Ellsworth and Carmella out with utmost ease. Now, she's just another woman in the roster. One who falls to the simplest of mind games.
It was pretty sad to see Asuka laid out once again, after losing her match at Money in the Bank on Sunday.
#4 Best: The charismatic enigma returns
Jeff Hardy with facepaint just looks super cool. I loved the fact that he reverted to his old persona once again. This is the Jeff Hardy that fans have always gravitated towards.
His feud with Nakamura should be pretty interesting too. The two men had a fantastic contest last week. Could Nakamura become the next US Champion? I certainly think so.
#4 Worst: The IIconics
I don't know if it's because of the promo material they've been given. I don't know if they were called up before they were ready. I don't know if they're just too shrill. Somehow, the IIconics are just not 'happening'.
Maybe they'll grow better with time. Maybe NXT's booking was better. Maybe they just haven't had the right feud yet.
Maybe Becky Lynch's win this week will actually mean something. I certainly hope so for her sake!
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