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WWE Super Show-Down is now officially history and as always, WWE produced yet another mixed bag with quite a few positives and a bit of negatives too. The show ran for five hours, but it was an entertaining show as a whole.
The mega-event saw Triple H defeat The Undertaker in a match that was billed as 'The Last Time Ever'. The Shield overcame the despicable trio of Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler and Drew Mcintyre in a six-man tag match. Ronda Rousey and The Bella Twins successfully dispatched The Riott Squad.
AJ Styles defeated Samoa Joe to retain his coveted WWE title. Daniel Bryan vanquished his arch-foe, The Miz, to become the number one contender to the WWE title. The IIconics defeated Asuka and Naomi in their hometown, Becky Lynch walked out as SmackDown Women's champion due to a DQ finish, Buddy Murphy won the Cruiserweight Title and The New Day retained the SmackDown Tag Team Titles over The Bar.
Now, let's critically analyze the show and see what went down right and what went down wrong.
Up: A night of great in-ring action
WWE Super Show-Down delivered a lot in terms of in-ring quality. Majority of the matches were on par or above par and the crowd enjoyed most of the action that took place.
The six-man tag match between The Shield and Braun Strowman's pack was one of the most entertaining bouts of the year. Roman spearing Braun through the barricade, Seth flying all over the place and Ambrose acting crazy just like he always does made the match all the more entertaining. It was a back and forth contest and Strowman and company looked strong even in defeat.
Samoa Joe and AJ Styles worked yet another classic and managed to retain the crowd's interest throughout the long match. Joe and Styles gave us a solid, brutal and praiseworthy match.
The Undertaker and Triple H was a mediocre affair, but that was due to their increasing age and decreasing ability.
Down: Many stars were left out
It's understandable that WWE has an extremely vast roster, but that doesn't mean that it leaves out a quarter of its talented roster.
Finn Balor was nowhere to be seen, in spite of his immense popularity. Randy Orton couldn't make the card regardless of the mean streak he is on. Jinder Mahal couldn't weave his way into a spot on the card. Bobby Roode is too busy treading water to even make it to any pay-per-view's main card. WWE Super Show-Down was one of the saddest Rusev Days in history. Baron Corbin and Paige were absent too. Bayley wasn't present in Melbourne as well.
WWE could've done a battle royal or something of the sort to give these talented individuals a spot on the card.
Up: Dean Ambrose at his best
In the lead-up to the six-man tag match between The Shield and Braun Strowman's pack, Dean Ambrose's betrayal of the Shield was brought up. Strowman and his pack goaded Ambrose into joining their stable, but Ambrose was committed to his brothers.
At WWE Super Show-Down, Ambrose played his role to perfection. The crowd was red-hot for The Lunatic Fringe and Ambrose delivered the goods. When Roman Reigns accidentally knocked him out with a Superman punch, it looked as if the Shield would implode. Ambrose encircled the ring with Strowman's pack only to attack Strowman and assist his brother get another win.
Given that his heel turn has been teased so heavily, Ambrose might turn sooner rather than later.
Down: Not the best night for the women's division
The women didn't shine as bright as they usually do in Melbourne, Australia and all three women matches under-whelmed and disappointed fans.
The IIconics winning in their hometown was a good moment for the duo and it looks as if WWE is really high on the Australian duo, but their victory came at the expense of two of the most talented women on the roster, Asuka and Naomi who have struggled to find their footing on the blue brand lately.
The multi-woman tag match was a fun affair, but WWE focused too much on Ronda Rousey throughout the match. WWE is trying to make her look invincible at the expense of a very talented women's division. The Bella Twins struggled to work smoothly once again and Ronda once again buried the women's division by running roughshod over the Riott Squad.
Charlotte and Becky Lynch are in the midst of a deeply personal rivalry and WWE gave us a throwaway match between the talented women. A DQ finish is always a bad thing and one at a mega-event like Super Show-Down is even worse.
Up: Daniel Bryan finally wins the big one
Daniel Bryan's return from retirement has been a let-down thus far. He was stuck in a boring feud with Big Cass for two months, then proceeded to have an unsuccessful pursuit of the SmackDown tag team title and is now in the midst of a feud with The Miz.
The Miz was the favorite heading into WWE Super Show-Down as he already owned two victories over Daniel Bryan. However, Bryan, being the ultimate underdog, dug down deep into his arsenal and finally won over The Miz with a roll-up of his own in under three minutes. Bryan really looked himself at WWE Super Show-Down and the WWE Universe is ecstatic to see him back in the WWE title picture.
AJ Styles is going to face his biggest threat till date in the form of Daniel Bryan in what will be a dream match for the ages.
Down: The Bar and Samoa Joe lose again
The Bar has fallen way down the pecking order in the tag-team division. They were right at the pinnacle on Raw's tag-team division and it's been the exact opposite for them on the blue brand.
The New Day has been on top of the Smackdown tag-team division for too long now, it's time for them to give way to other tag-teams to make a name for themselves in the hierarchy of WWE. It was The Bar's first major opportunity on the blue brand and they squandered it.
Samoa Joe has been the best thing about SmackDown Live. He has all the tools to become a huge force to be reckoned with as WWE Champion, but WWE just isn't doing him justice. Joe deserved to win the title, but it wasn't meant to be.
Up/Down: The Brothers of Destruction turn heel?
First of all, The Undertaker and Triple H worked a fine match and any botches were due to their ages. Triple H needed a victory to redeem himself, but at the same time, The Undertaker couldn't afford a loss so late into his career.
It wasn't the match that confused me, but it was the aftermath that left me appalled. After Triple H pinned The Undertaker following a Pedigree, the four legends raised each other's arms and soaked in the adulation of the crowd, only for the Brothers of Destruction to snap and viciously assault Triple H and Shawn Michales. They were the last men standing, but their tactics were certainly questionable and have raised quite a few eyebrows.
I'm fine with the idea of watching the Brothers of Destruction vs DX, but I really don't think that The Undertaker and Kane would have had to turn heel for this feud.
