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I haven't watched NXT yet, of course. Still, I can safely say that the two hours of SmackDown Live I just witnessed trump both Backlash and RAW. It wasn't the best show that WWE has put together, but I'll still take it. Especially considering how lackluster the other shows have been.
The Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore boasted a hot crowd. SmackDown Live benefits from having babyfaces that the crowd actually roots for and heels that the audience roots against. In other words, it benefits from not having Roman Reigns in the main event.
And therefore, I feel fresh and energized as I write the review. The show also benefits from only being a mere 2 hours long.
Here's my review of the show that just transpired.
#1 Best: No speak English
The promos on this week's show were absolute gold, in our opinion. Except for the one by the Bludgeon Brothers (more on that later). Shinsuke Nakamura, in particular, is really hitting it home every single week with the 'no speak English' promos. He's showing far more character as a heel than he did as a white meat babyface.
You could not have missed the use of the word 'nuts'. As silly as punning is, saying the right pun at the right moment is sometimes what the doctor ordered. And Nakamura's promo was certainly something that extends his feud with AJ Styles in the best possible manner.
Kudos also to Carmella who cut a fantastic promo about her Mellabration in London. She's a natural on the microphone and that is perhaps her best attribute as a worker.
#1 Worst: Not scary but goofy
Look, I respect what WWE is trying to accomplish with the Bludgeon Brothers promo they aired this week. It just came across as cheap horror instead of creepy horror, in my opinion. The action figures certainly did it no favours at all. Some other 'broken toys' could have done the trick in a far better manner, in my opinion.
It's probably the fact that Harper and Rowan don't quite have the acting chops that Bray Wyatt does. Somehow, while the intention was great, this promo just did not work for me.
#2 Best: Charlotte's path to redemption
Charlotte took on Peyton Royce in one of the better matches of the night. Despite interference from Billie Kay, Flair would pick up the win. She has qualified for Money in the Bank. She has a chance to reclaim all the momentum she's lost over the past month.
Charlotte Flair ended Asuka's streak at WrestleMania 34. She lost her Championship soon after, when Carmella cashed in her Money in the Bank contract. And then Carmella defeated her comprehensively at Backlash.
Flair will add a lot of star power to the women's Money in the Bank match. She may even win the match...who knows?
#2 Worst: Jobber Lynch
It's always a shame when a talented superstar is relegated to jobber status. Such was the case with Becky Lynch. She did not even put up a real fight against The Golden Goddess, Mandy Rose this week.
It seems like Lynch has slipped into the Ziggler role in the Women's Division. She's almost like the gatekeeper, the first opponent for new women in the roster. I can't even remember the last time she won a really important match.
And yet the audience continues to chant for her. That probably spells volumes about how much they believe in the Irish Lass Kicker, doesn't it?
#3 Best: A natural fit
It's a tragedy that Paige cannot wrestle anymore. At the same time, she's doing a fabulous role as the General Manager of SmackDown Live. Her timing is much better than Kurt Angle's is and she plays off other performers in a far more exciting manner as well. She was born to rule the screen.
It's a really good thing that WWE has given Paige an opportunity to reinvent herself. It's also great that Paige is making the most of it!
#3 Worst: No selling the Swanton Bomb
The Miz and Jeff Hardy had a fabulous match at the start of the show. This is until the very end of the same match. Hardy delivered a Twist of Fate and a Swanton Bomb to The Miz. The Miz no-sold it and rolled up Jeff Hardy for the pin.
I honestly thought that Rollins kicking out of multiple 'Skull Crushing Finales' was a terrible deal. I feel the same way about how weak The Miz made The Swanton Bomb seem.
#4 Best/worst: Rusev's win
Daniel Bryan seemed to have the Money in the Bank qualifier match in the bag. And then, out of nowhere, Rusev won it. I wonder if it was the right move to have Daniel Bryan lose this early. At the same time, I'm happy for Rusev.
Rusev definitely needed the win more than Bryan did. He will go on to the big match at Money in the Bank now. I wonder if Bryan has another singles tussle with Big Cass at Money in the Bank.
I also didn't like the lack of continuity. Where was Lana to split up Rusev Day?
What I did wholeheartedly like however, was Mandy Rose!
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
