5 of the good, the bad, and the ugly segments on this week's SmackDown LIVE

By Michael McClead
Modified Oct 05, 2018 22:40 IST
W
WWE Champion AJ Styles

#2 The Good - Samoa Joe and AJ Styles

Samoa Joe a
Samoa Joe about to read a devastating letter on SmackDown LIVE

SmackDown GM Paige did all but beg both Samoa Joe and WWE Champion AJ Styles. The two were to do everything in their power to preserve their SummerSlam bout and avoid physicality.

Paige undoubtedly beside herself with worry, never received a straight answer from either man, and to add insult to injury - the brutally violent Samoa Joe promised only unpredictability.

As Styles began to talk about a recent conversation he had with his wife Wendy, Samoa Joe interrupted him, but this time Joe's method of warfare wasn't violence. Samoa Joe came armed with psychology in the form of a letter. Joe claimed that the letter was from a fan and Joe read aloud like a master orator.

The fan claimed,

"I used to be the biggest AJ Styles fan in the world; but, now its clear, AJ never wanted children. Maybe he never wanted a wife either and that's why AJ is such a great champion because he'll do anything to stay away from his family.
At SummerSlam, I pray you win so that AJ can know the feeling of losing the thing he loves most because I lost him a long time ago."

Samoa Joe then revealed that it was AJ Styles' wife Wendy who wrote the letter as SmackDown came to a close.

The move hearkens to the old days of professional wrestling when heels frequently brought up their opponent's families, but Samoa Joe has such command over the microphone that his verbal assault was authentic and believable.

Styles portrays himself as a man of faith, and a family man, so Samoa Joe's tactical assault strikes at Styles' baby face vulnerabilities.

This feud is receiving an old school heated build, and Samoa Joe is proving to be a ruthless and despicable heel. Things are as they should be.

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