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I don't expect much from the wrestling that I watch on a weekly basis. All I ask for is that every segment that I spend time watching be meaningful. The spate of dissatisfaction that exists in the locker room must have urged WWE Creative to pull their socks up. This week's episode of SmackDown Live had a real sense of urgency.
There was not a single throwaway segment on the entire show. From the first moments to the very last, every segment had a purpose. I'm intrigued to see where everything leads in the build to Elimination Chamber and beyond.
Chime in with your thoughts, comments, and opinions below. Let me know what you thought of the show this week too.
Also let me know whether or not you agree/disagree with my analysis.
#1 Best: The Becky Lynch phenomenon
We often accuse WWE of not pushing a star that is over. Rusev Day was a phenomenon not long ago, but WWE did not do anything with Rusev until it was far too late. The same could be said for Tye Dillinger who was misused so much that even the 'ten' chants from the audience stopped. I'm glad to report that Becky Lynch is getting the push she deserves.
I don't know if it was a goof up or WWE intended it this way. But Becky Lynch pretty much confirmed in the first segment of the show that the women will indeed main event WrestleMania 35. The fact that they started the show with her also shows just how much faith they have in 'The Man'.
It certainly does not help other superstars who have their segments hijacked by Becky Lynch chants. But I will take this over a dead crowd, quite honestly.
#1 Worst: Inserting Charlotte Flair into the title picture
Anyone who reads Sportskeeda knows that the rumours have been circulating for months now. Charlotte Flair will be a part of the WrestleMania 35 main event match. It will be Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Ronda Rousey for the RAW Women's Championship at WrestleMania. And I don't see the point at all.
Charlotte Flair is one of the most gifted superstars in WWE. Nobody can take that accolade away from her at all. I would say with what she has achieved already, she is certain to enter the WWE Hall of Fame someday.
But with regard to this match, I do strongly believe that three's a crowd. There's a lot of heat for Lynch vs. Rousey already and Charlotte's addition is certainly not needed.
What do you guys think?
#2 Best: Big Elimination Chamber match confirmed
The Elimination Chamber match is one of the most exciting matches in WWE because of the element of uncertainty involved. I'm glad to report that six of SmackDown's finest will compete in the ring for Daniel Bryan's new prize. The last man left standing will be the new WWE Champion.
This is the most exciting the WWE Championship picture has looked in months. Also, can we have a moment to commend Samoa Joe and his ability to cut promos and roast his fellow WWE superstars? He is perhaps the most underappreciated Superstar on the microphone in the entire roster.
Will the WWE Championship return to its previous format if someone else were to win it at the Elimination Chamber? Or will we continue to have a Championship made of hemp and jute irrespective of who the WWE Champion is, in the weeks that follow? I really wonder...
#2 Worst: Corey Graves on commentary
A colour commentator should know when to speak and when to stop talking to let those watching at home enjoy the action to the fullest. I used to be a huge advocate for Corey Graves but he has become insufferable these days. Graves does not know when to stop talking and takes away from the action taking place on screen.
One just needs to look back at Jerry 'The King' Lawler doing commentary to realise how important timing is. Even JBL spoke only when he needed to, and did not discuss Mandy Rose across every single match, on and on and on! It would have been funny if he'd done it once or twice, but it happened so many times I wanted to pull my hair out.
Graves also ruined the moment between The Miz and his father with his yapping! I know many across the internet felt the same.
#3 Best: Giving R-Truth a Championship
R-Truth has been one of the most under-appreciated members of the WWE roster for a long time now. It was great to see him finally get his due and become the US Champion.
I'm also glad to see that he got to pin both Nakamura and Rusev on the very same night. And both of the wins looked like lucky roll-ups, so neither of the more 'serious' superstars really lost any steam.
It is pretty clear at this juncture that R-Truth will not remain the United States Champion for a long time and is merely a transitional champion until someone else comes along. But I am still glad that he had a moment to celebrate before a crowd that loves him.
It's a much-deserved accolade for someone who's given so much to the business over the years.
#3 Worst: Turning Rusev heel again
Thanks to the kind folks at Sony Pictures Network, I had a chance to interact with Rusev last week. I asked him if he was enjoying the opportunity to play a face at long last.
Rusev countered by saying that he's never been a babyface or a heel. Just because he supported Russia once does not make him a bad guy.
Be that as it may, Rusev definitely showed some heelish tendencies when he confronted R-Truth in the middle of the ring this week shortly after he won the United States Championship. His alliance with Shinsuke Nakamura following Truth's win over both men also showcased that he's gone full heel now.
So does Rusev just conveniently forget that his wife was hurt as a result of Shinsuke Nakamura's actions quite recently? They made Elias a heel again too, and I just don't understand why they would!
#4 Best/worst: Thin tag team division
Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville announced that they would be a part of the Elimination Chamber match to determine the new WWE Women's Tag Team Champions.
Now, the biggest issue with this announcement is that unlike their counterparts on RAW, these two women did not have to compete to enter the fray. And this exposes the fact that SmackDown Live has a severely thin roster as compared to the red brand.
But at the same time, I did not mind the fact that Mandy Rose actually brought up the fact that her issues with Naomi go back all the way to when she was on Tough Enough. I like context in my wrestling and I am a big fan of telling a backstory to make a feud more engaging.
If only Graves could shut up about Mandy Rose now...
