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The slug-fest named SmackDown Live continued its build to Fastlane(and WrestleMania) this week. SmackDown Live is slowly and gradually becoming the B-show of old, with everything on SmackDown Live feeling inferior to its red compatriot.
The cheap graphics stolen from MS Powerpoint 2003 were once again a disturbing sight and WWE's decision to continue some nonsensical booking made the show a tough two-hour watch. Few bright moments like the Usos and New Day stood out, but apart from it, the show was tiresome.
We look at five takeaways from yet another disappointing episode of the B-show, and by B I do mean blue!
#5: Seriously, when will it stop?
The whole saga involving Styles, Owens-Zayn and Shane-Bryan was kind of intriguing at first, but it has gone on way too long now! Kevin Owens and Shane McMahon have been at each other's throats for eight months! Long-term storytelling is all good, but if the story isn't great, no one will be interested.
WWE are teasing Daniel Bryan's return to the ring way too hard now. He is never bound to get cleared from the WWE medics, and thus this feud seems rather futile. Shane and D-Bry are never going to have a proper endgame to their rivalry.
Trust WWE to ride a horse to his death, and the prolonging of this storyline is precisely that!
#4: A bright light in a mess!
The Usos gave an earth-shattering promo for the second week in a row and continued to prove why they are probably the best team in the whole world today. Their charismatic personas coupled with their tweener characters have made them a force to reckon with.
The Usos are currently not feuding with any team, but a future confrontation with the Bludgeon Brothers is being heavily teased. The Bludgeon Brothers have done absolutely nothing since their debut around two months ago, and its time they move on to a real battle.
Usos are a great part of SmackDown Live right now, so expect them to be traded to RAW immediately after WrestleMania.
#3: Rusev Day is over, so let's not capitalize on that!
Rusev has become one of the biggest superstars not just on Smackdown Live, but on the entire roster of WWE. He is getting pops which are better than some of the main-event level guys, but WWE is somehow failing to realize that.
WWE had a great chance on their hands to either give Rusev a big win over Bobby Roode and establish his overdue push or have a nice little double turn and turn Rusev into the biggest babyface on the roster. But, WWE ended up giving him a loss and brought in good ol' Randy Orton to give some RKOs for a good measure.
#2: Dolph Ziggler is returning. YAY!
WWE gave Dolph Ziggler a major title win in a great PPV in Clash of Champions. He relinquished it on the episode of SmackDown Live immediately following the PPV, leaving in a mystical manner. He returned as No.30 in the Royal Rumble match and was eliminated in three minutes after a superkick party.
A month-long absence and a tremendous return at No.30 led to nothing. Dolph Ziggler has become a boring character over the years, and WWE are doing a fine job making the audiences not give a damn about him.
He is returning next week, and will probably have something for the US Champion Bobby Roode. Let's hope its something refreshing.
#1: Great Match ends in shambolic fashion.
The ending of the main-event could have been predicted by almost everyone, but the manner in which it ended was quite disappointing. AJ Styles is always presented as a street-smart guy who knows how to get the job done, right? And then he goes in to disrupt a match between two guys, leading to Bryan announcing a triple threat match for Fastlane.
AJ Styles has carried SmackDown Live on his back for a long time and now even he is being booked in a questionable fashion. Styles is one of the highlights of SmackDown Live every week, but some atrocious promos and actions in recent weeks are not doing any good for him or the show.
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