3 Biggest mistakes WWE made on SmackDown Live this week (7 May 2019)

Following substandard ratings last week, WWE brought some unforeseen surprises this week. Vince McMahon introduced the Wild Card Rule on RAW, and it continued on SmackDown Live. AJ Styles traded brands at the Superstar Shake-Up, but he returned to his former home within just two weeks while Sami Zayn was another name to appear on the blue brand through the Wild Card Rule.

Apart from Styles and Zayn, The Usos and The Miz were the other two names to appear from the red brand this week. Kofi Kingston, who is the WWE Champion, defended the title twice this week. The champion put his title on the line against Zayn and Styles, and Kingston pinned Zayn to retain the championship. Daniel Bryan and Erick Rowan became the SmackDown Tag Team Champions after beating The Usos.

Ali and Andrade, who are part of the men's Money in the Bank ladder match, squared off on SmackDown but the bout ended in no contest after an interference from Randy Orton. The Miz assaulted Shane McMahon, but the former was taken out by the B-Team. It was an exciting episode of SmackDown Live but it could have been better. Here we discuss the mistakes WWE made on SmackDown Live this week.

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#3 No appearance from Roman Reigns

The Big Dog

Roman Reigns showed up on RAW which he left after the Superstar Shake-Up. The Big Dog was drafted to SmackDown Live two weeks ago, but he was absent from the show this week. Reigns is undeniably the biggest superstar of the company, but it was unusual to see him absent on his show.

Reigns made a colossal statement after arriving on the blue brand a few weeks ago. The former Universal Champion put his hands on Vince McMahon, and he started a new feud with Elias. In fact, Elias and Reigns will lock horns at Money in the Bank.

With the Wild Card Rule, it will be interesting to see if Reigns becomes a regular member of RAW. Reigns' departure was certainly a big blow for the red brand, and poor ratings proved it. However, Reigns' absence on SmackDown Live makes the Superstar Shake-Up irrelevant.

#2 Two RAW superstars main-evented SmackDown Live

Styles and Zayn in action

Two SmackDown Superstars closed the show on RAW this week, and we witnessed a similar scenario on SmackDown Live. Kofi Kingston defended the WWE Championship against two RAW Superstars, and the triple threat match was the main event of the night.

It is no secret that it was an attempt to get good ratings this week. The scenario of the match did not make sense as Styles and Zayn are not part of the blue brand, and the two men did not earn the right to get a title shot.

It is a damn shame that the superstars from other brands need to close the show. The Wild Card Rule is understandable, but the essence of a brand decreases when superstars from the other brand main events the show. Both brands have top-notch superstars who are competent to get the job done. Though Roman Reigns skipped SmackDown Live, other elite superstars of the blue brand could have headlined the show this week.

#1 No Charlotte Flair or Becky Lynch

The Man skipped SmackDown Live this week

WWE announced that Charlotte Flair would take part in a six-woman tag team match this week, but the match was reduced to a four-woman tag team match. Charlotte and Bayley were not part of the previously advertised match. As a result, the team of Ember Moon and Carmella took on Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville as the latter won the bout.

Besides Charlotte Flair, her Money in the Bank opponent Becky Lynch was absent from the blue brand this week. Considering the company is trying the rebuild ratings, the double champion's omission was a surprising decision on SmackDown Live. Lynch was present on RAW this week where she attacked Lacey Evans.

Since Charlotte assaulted Lynch last week, the latter was expected to avenge it this week. With just two weeks left for the Money in the Bank, the rivalry could get heated next week which could be their final face-off before the title match at XL Center.