SmackDown Live capped off a long three day stretch of live WWE shows that thankfully kept getting progressively better. Even though the main event scene has become a constant tweaking of the “No really, who’s facing Bray at Mania?” storyline, an excellent match closed out this episode to finally answer that question with certainty. Also on the show was some quality as always Miz heel work and a women’s tag match that was pretty solid. Overall, this was a good show.
Transitioning away from the good to what this article is really about, there were several moments worth dissecting in scrutinising detail. There were a couple of instances of less than accurate memories by Shane McMahon and Becky Lynch, a whiffed kick by Natalya, and an endearing tag team sequence that proves that we can all rise above hate once and for all.
So sit back, relax, and put on your favourite pair of jorts, fitted caps, and wristbands while snuggled up next to your fearless lady. It’s time for the 5 botchiest and most outrageous moments from this week of SmackDown Live.
5. Shane tells a fib
So Shane McMahon claimed that no superstar has ever abdicated their Royal Rumble privilege of main eventing WrestleMania before? That’s not exactly true.
In 1999, Shane’s own father Vince McMahon won that year’s, Royal Rumble. Since Corporate Rock had the title and Vince successfully screwed Steve Austin out of the win, he abdicated his future Mania Match. The Commissioner at the time, Shawn Michaels, then enacted a rule which awarded the spoils of the Royal Rumble to the first runner-up, the Texas Rattlesnake.
If that same rule would’ve been enacted this year after Randy told Bray Wyatt that he refused to face him at WrestleMania, the runner-up for this year would’ve been Roman Reigns. That would’ve been a fun turn of events.
4. A romance for the ages
On a scale of 1 to Macho Man and Elizabeth reuniting at WrestleMania 7, just how romantic would you consider this match ending?
Nikki Bella joined along with John Cena’s signature taunts and performed a tandem Five Knuckle Shuffle. She then nailed the updated version of her Rack Attack while her man nailed an AA. The adorable duo then locked on synchronised submissions, earning a tap out victory.
There was even an attempt at a celebratory mini-makeout session but The Miz & Maryse stopped that with some physicality.
3. Can the forklift go any lower?
Dean Ambrose went looking for Baron Corbin backstage, wanting to fight him wherever he could find him. The Lone Wolf jumped the Lunatic Fringe by hiding and throwing a security guard at him.
The climax of this brawl came when Ambrose was lying underneath a forklift. Corbin lowered the lift on the machine, crushing his opponent underneath. The only problem here is that it didn’t look good, not at all. Dean could clearly move around while pinned and would later also moves an arm in and out of the trap. And when the refs tried lifting the thing off of Ambrose, the very first one that tried did so without even straining.
2. Becky did not beat Mickie twice last week
As the SmackDown women were trying to sort out who exactly was going to face Alexa Bliss for her Women’s Championship, Becky Lynch took offence that Mickie James might possibly be given the honour. Lynch had good reasoning for why James should be behind her in line, even if it is an embellishment.
Becky claimed to have beaten Mickie twice the week prior, but that’s not entirely true. She won by being the first to score 2 falls in a 2 out of 3 falls match, but nobody would count that as 2 victories. The announcers even pointed out this fact after the promo had concluded.
1. Totally missed Alexa’s head
During the “Holla Holla Tag Match,” as Daniel Bryan called it, Natalya went for a kick to the face against a seated Alexa Bliss. The problem here is that Nattie’s feet and Alexa’s head looked like they were nowhere near each other.
Even with Bliss throwing her hands up, there still ended up being a very noticeable gap. Perhaps the production team should’ve chosen a quick cut to a different camera instead of the zoom.
Regardless if feet connect to heads or not, Alexa Bliss now faces off against every available women’s wrestler at Mania.
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