'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The go-home show of SmackDown was a decent one in my opinion. Although it wasn't as tight as the last two iterations of the show, I felt it did a respectable job in building towards Money in the Bank.
We saw a preview of some of the things that could happen this Sunday during tonight's episode of SmackDown. A massive eight-man tag team match featured all the contestants of the SmackDown Tag Team Championship encounter that would take place at MITB. On the other hand, Bray Wyatt finally confronted the Universal Champion Braun Strowman.
While I do believe that WWE Creative is trying its best to put up a power-packed show each week, I still think there are several things that could've been done differently on tonight's SmackDown to make it an even compelling affair. Without further ado, let us look at the opportunities WWE missed on this week's edition of SmackDown.
#5 Suprise return for the main event of SmackDown
Daniel Bryan and Drew Gulak were supposed to face the trio of King Corbin, Cesaro, and Shinsuke Nakamura in a six-man tag team match this week on the Blue brand. Bryan and Gulak were to choose their partner for the match who would eventually turn out to be Otis but I think this window could've been used in a much better way.
I understand that having Otis involved meant that all participants of the Money in the Bank ladder match from SmackDown were involved in a hype segment for the PPV. But did it really do anyone a favor? Does the WWE Universe really care about someone grabbing the briefcase in an empty arena? The idea seems lesser plausible considering just how repetitively this year's Money in the Bank ladder matches have been branded as 'unique'.
Instead, WWE could've used this opportunity to plot a big return on SmackDown. Someone like Elias would've certainly made the headlines had he been revealed as the mystery partner for Bryan and Gulak. Him teaming up with the duo would make perfect sense as well, given that he was laid out by King Corbin himself a few weeks ago on SmackDown.
This would even leave the window open for a potential Elias interference at Money in the Bank as The Drifter would certainly want to punish Corbin for blindsiding him and in effect leaving him out of consideration for even a MITB qualifier.
#4 Better build for the Universal Championship match
Be it as The Fiend or just as his Firefly Fun House persona, Bray Wyatt is one of the best in the business when it comes to hyping up his matches. And most of his segments on SmackDown continue to be on the ball, including today where he offered Braun Strowman his black sheep mask and pleaded him to come home.
Having said that, I still don't know what to expect from the Universal Championship match at Money in the Bank. If the last few episodes of SmackDown are anything to go by, Wyatt himself – not The Fiend – will take on Strowman and such a face-off suggests only one result on paper.
The Fiend makes his presence felt on SmackDown
Having The Fiend finally make an appearance following WrestleMania would've certainly changed things. This would leave The Monster Among Men and the WWE Universe confused as to who would actually turn up to face Braun at Money in the Bank this Sunday. Subsequently, it would add more possibilities for the end result of the title match.
#3 Getting the Women's Money in the Bank ladder match participants involved inside the ring
Looking at the SmackDown side of things, the participants for the women's ladder match at Money in the Bank are not as strong as compared to RAW. The likes of Carmella, Dana Brooke, and Lacey Evans are all solid performers but they're simply not as intimidating if you compare them to Asuka, Shayna Basler, and Nia Jax.
Another women's match for this week's SmackDown
Nonetheless, the three women in MITB from the Blue brand deserved a chance to make their intentions for this Sunday clear. Yes, Evans was involved in a tag team match with Tamina but that had more to do with the SmackDown Women's Championship.
Carmella and Dana Brooke took part in a backstage interview but that really didn't make a difference in my opinion. Giving both these women separate squash matches or even a tag match where they team up to take on other competitors could work as well. In any case, having all the three women involved inside the ring was much needed on the SmackDown before Money in the Bank.
#2 Giving the fans more of the Mandy Rose-Sonya Deville rivalry
Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville finally sparred with one another on this week's episode of SmackDown. The match was more like an all-out brawl with both Mandy and Deville managing to control proceedings at some point during the match. The latter eventually won with a roll-up pin but many fans thought that given the quality displayed, the match was cut rather short.
Another backstage segment on SmackDown
WWE possibly wants a bigger stage for Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville to culminate their rivalry and hence a short match on SmackDown made sense. However, there are other ways of giving the WWE Universe more of this rivalry.
Now Mandy actually dominated the closing stages of the match before Deville escaped with a quick roll-up pinfall. Hence, it would've made sense to have her interviewed in a backstage segment where she too could chime in with a few words on the occasion.
This could also build hype for next week's SmackDown since the two women are not scheduled to face each other at Money in the Bank as of this writing.
#1 Leaving the unpredictability of Money in the Bank results untouched
It's imperative that on the go-home show of SmackDown, WWE Superstars who are meant to take part in Money in the Bank make their presence felt. That was indeed the case on the Blue brand this week where participants of most matches for the PPV were involved inside the squared circle. But some of the results just gave away what was likely to happen during Money in the Bank this Sunday.
MITB results possibly hinted at on SmackDown?
If you've watched WWE programming for long enough, you probably know that the Superstars who come out on top during go-home shows end up falling short on the subsequent PPV that follows.
Tamina pinned Bayley during the tag team match on SmackDown this week. Most fans expected the latter to retain her SmackDown Women's Championship at Money in the Bank anyway and this result kind of makes it more obvious.
Miz & Morrison also came out on top in an eight-man tag team match. The duo has taken pins in the last few weeks and a possible split between the two is on the cards. So Miz & Morrison winning a preview fixture for the exact same match at Money in the Bank hints at the fact that they won't be becoming SmackDown Tag Team Champions this Sunday.
Even King Corbin climbing a ladder and grabbing the briefcase to end the show could be a hint that he's not going to win the ladder match at WWE HQ.
I know that as of now it's speculation at best, but fans are likely to be wary.
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