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From surprise returns to a Vince McMahon appearance, this week’s edition of WWE SmackDown featured many contrasting moments.
Although both RAW and SmackDown before Payback were rushed to a certain extent, the Blue brand put on a slightly better and more newsworthy show than this week's WWE RAW.
Even though the episode as a whole featured an experimental format last night, it led to some minor setbacks when the in-ring product is taken under consideration. Without a doubt, some plot threads from this episode may lead to major consequences in the future.
Which show was better this week, RAW or SmackDown? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Here are the five biggest news stories from this week's episode of WWE SmackDown (August 28, 2020).
#5: Alexa Bliss teased a character change after her storyline with The Fiend
WWE fans were a bit confused when Alexa Bliss didn't play a major part in Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman's main event match at SummerSlam 2020.
Leading up to the pay-per-view, both Wyatt and Strowman used her as bait to lure the other in several instances. Now, the fallout of that particular angle is felt across the Blue brand when it comes to Alexa's WWE character.
This week, Bliss showed up in a backstage segment with Nikki Cross. The former seemed cheerful despite what happened to her a few weeks ago. But that must have been a facade to some extent, as Alexa Bliss immediately snapped when Cross implied that her best friend's appearance reminded her of The Fiend.
As Sportskeeda's own Tom Colohue stated in his tweet, Alexa's appearance is somewhat reminiscent of Abby The Witch, a popular puppet in Bray Wyatt's Firefly Fun House.
If Abby The Witch was to become a real person on WWE SmackDown, the puppet could manifest itself as a new personality of Alexa Bliss.
#4: Sami Zayn returned and crashed the Intercontinental Title scene on the Blue brand
This week's WWE SmackDown was booked in such a way that Sami Zayn's unexpected return is not the top news story from this episode.
Jeff Hardy put his Intercontinental Title on the line in an open challenge last night. AJ Styles joined commentary as Shinsuke Nakamura answered Hardy's call for an impromptu Intercontinental Championship Match.
The bout itself was fine. But the fact that Hardy may have used a heel tactic to retain his gold in WWE seemed a bit unusual.
Just when Hardy was walking down the ramp, Sami Zayn's theme music hit as the returning Superstar brought out his own IC title that he never lost in the ring. Superstars holding two similar titles at the same time has become an overdone trope during the pandemic. But Zayn's return overshadowed this issue on WWE SmackDown.
Zayn also attacked Hardy and left the scene, as The Charismatic Enigma and The Phenomenal One argued for a while to end this post-match WWE segment. Whether they like it or not, the Intercontinental Title scene in WWE just became more interesting with Zayn's return to the fold.
#3: Sheamus turned his back on The Miz and John Morrison during the main event
The character of Sheamus has embarked on an unusual path since facing Jeff Hardy in a Bar Fight on WWE SmackDown.
Recently, The Celtic Warrior had some differences with King Corbin when the latter introduced a King's Ransom against Matt Riddle. This week, Sheamus teamed up with The Miz and John Morrison to take on Heavy Machinery and Big E in a six-man Tag Team Main Event.
Six-man Tag Team bouts generally progress in a standard manner, and so did this one. However, Sheamus spent most of the match not being tagged in, which frustrated The Celtic Warrior to a point where he left the match midway.
Big E secured a pinfall victory for his team, but Sheamus with his actions seemed a bit unusual as well. It seems as if he can't even fit in with the heel crowd over on WWE SmackDown.
WWE also introduced some unusual tension between Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro this week, which is unnecessary because another team (Lucha House Party) on WWE SmackDown was booked to do the same.
These examples show that uncharacteristic booking may not always work if done quite often, especially when it is executed several times on the same episode.
#2: WWE producer Adam Pearce was tasked with an important job by Vince McMahon
The major reason why WWE SmackDown's format felt quite experimental this week revolves around Adam Pearce's arc throughout the night.
Many fans may have spotted Pearce frequently in backstage segments or WWE brawls. He is a WWE producer in real-life, and this week, Pearce was handed a huge arc on SmackDown.
To kick-off the show, Vince McMahon tasked Adam Pearce with obtaining three signatures from Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt, and Braun Strowman for the Triple Threat Universal Title match at WWE Payback.
Usually, contract signings happen in the ring, but this situation seemed different. Pearce managed to find Wyatt's Firefly Fun House in an entertaining segment. It was Bray Wyatt who signed the contract on behalf of The Fiend.
Approaching Braun Strowman at the moment is an intimidating task, but Adam Pearce managed to get his signature anyhow. The only catch behind why it took some time is that Strowman was involved in a temporary subplot with Drew Gulak.
Strowman would only sign the contract after squashing Gulak in a singles match.
The Big Dog's absence seemed mysterious on last night's WWE SmackDown, but we finally got to know why that was the case towards the very end of this episode.
#1: Roman Reigns formed an alliance with Paul Heyman heading into WWE Payback
The ending of WWE SmackDown was one that almost no one saw coming. Roman Reigns has found a new attitude ever since he returned at this year's SummerSlam event.
WWE fans speculated that an eventual heel turn for The Big Dog was finally going to happen. And on this week's SmackDown, WWE's creative team gave the audience an answer in the form of Paul Heyman. But in return, this plot point has created more questions at the same time.
Roman Reigns has been one of Brock Lesnar's fiercest rivals, so for The Big Dog to join forces with Lesnar's advocate is definitely intriguing.
It's almost as if WWE are holding back an important development from their audience, one that would explain what motivated Reigns in recent months to change his mindset as a Superstar.
After SummerSlam, some fans also speculated that Reigns could be related to RETRIBUTION. Even though the faction wasn't featured on SmackDown this week, it seems unlikely that The Big Dog would be a part of it now that Paul Heyman has entered the picture.
Regardless, the Universal Title scene has become the most newsworthy aspect of WWE at the moment. And the cliffhanger to SmackDown was definitely an interesting way to get fans excited for this Sunday's Payback event.
