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There was much to like about this week's episode of SmackDown Live. There were hardly any weak segments and the action that transpired built wonderfully to SummerSlam. I did not think it was a perfect show, however, and have listed a few 'worsts' as well. I've jotted them down in this article for you to read!
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Be sure to leave a comment and let me know your thoughts about this week's action. For the first time in ages, Brock Lesnar was on RAW and AJ Styles wasn't on SmackDown Live. I thought that was a rather interesting tidbit, wasn't it?
So here is my analysis of this week's show. There's some good and some bad, but certainly no 'ugly' at all.
Do you believe SmackDown Live will have a better showing than RAW at SummerSlam this year?
#1 Best: Unhinged Randy Orton
Just move aside, Tommaso Ciampa. When Randy Orton is in his element, he can even make Ciampa seem saintly in comparison. This week, he took his ire out on Jeff Hardy once more, with a little help from Nakamura. After dismantling Hardy, he wiped the iconic face paint off Hardy's face.
Corey Graves, in particular, did a commendable job on commentary at this point when he discussed how Orton was intent on wiping away Jeff Hardy's very identity. Orton for his part came off as a much more devious heel than Shinsuke Nakamura, who cowered from the Viper when the two men finally came face to face. Kudos to Orton for reinventing himself so very drastically.
It is clear that both Orton and Hardy will be involved in the US Title picture as we head into SummerSlam, presumably in a triple threat match. Expect a match with one or more of these men to be announced sooner rather than later, folks.
#1 Worst: Not enough matches
When you tune in to a wrestling show, the least you can ask for are some wrestling matches. This week there were hardly any, with three matches across two whole hours of action. Two of the matches were Women's Division matches, while one of them involved the Tag Team Division. The men's singles division seemingly took a day off heading into SummerSlam.
I guess this was an anomaly but it was pretty stark nevertheless. I'm sure we'll be back to business from next week onward!
#2 Best: Samoa Joe's promo
Joe played mind games of a different nature from Orton. In my mind, they were equally as effective in building interest for their feud. Samoa Joe told AJ Styles that his family was hoping that he lost to Joe at SummerSlam when the two men squared off. This is because his family wanted to spend more time with the WWE Champion that his schedule wouldn't allow.
You know that the two men will put on a fantastic match when the bell rings. You know that the two men have fantastic chemistry from their time in TNA. Wrestling fans are in for a real treat soon.
#2 Worst: Lana getting distracted
Lana and Zelina Vega took each other on in a not very interesting contest, this week. It's what happened during the course of this match that was really interesting for me. Andrade 'Cien' Almas would come down to help his business associate out.
Aiden English stepped forward to even the odds. Lana was distracted by English's interference allowing Vega to pick up the big win. Somehow the distraction spot seemed way too forced and Lana's acting wasn't convincing enough for me.
I did not mind how the story played out this week. It's the execution that was a real problem!
#3 Best: Charlotte Flair's return
Charlotte Flair suffered a real-life injury when she ruptured an implant not very long ago. Now she's back in action and ready to dominate the women's division one more time. As she proved in the main event, she's an elite level performer and can work quite fantastically indeed. She did not seem to have missed a step in her time away.
But that leads me into the only problem with her appearance...
#3 Worst: Defeating the champion thrice on TV
Last week, Becky Lynch defeated Carmella to earn her spot at SummerSlam this year. This week, Charlotte Flair defeated her to earn her spot too. That's two weeks in a row that the champion has been defeated by women who aren't holding the title. What kind of message does that give out about Carmella as a strong champion?
So does that mean that Carmella will retain at SummerSlam?
#4 Best/worst: The Miz vs. Daniel Bryan promo
Yes, both The Miz and Daniel Bryan were fantastic on the microphone this week. Both of them built their feud up wonderfully. What I did not like were the plugs from both men. They just made their feud seem hollow.
Daniel Bryan put over his wife as part of the Women's Evolution, at first. The Miz put over his own reality show. During a feud that's supposed to be so intense and personal, this proved to be a big time distraction.
That said, I'm curious to see the two men square off soon. This match has been years in the making.
Who else missed Mandy Rose on this week's show?
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