'%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,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQb/2gAIAQEAAAAAEmP/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAG/9oACAECEAAAAEv/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAF/9oACAEDEAAAAGv/xAAjEAABAwMCBwAAAAAAAAAAAAACAQMEAAUGERIHExQhMqGi/9oACAEBAAE/AMfvhPZFCn44HSBNBtkjeQeYLgCiqqdvFR+l1qbw3saTH0ckXDehlu1IS91//8QAGxEAAgEFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQMEABESIcH/2gAIAQIBAT8AjRlOyLBffBX/xAAZEQACAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAwABESH/2gAIAQMBAT8AWsXdOtn/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
I missed writing up last week’s episode of SmackDown Live due to personal issues, but I’m back this week. I didn’t really miss much to write about, because it was the same show as always, with some average wrestling, and not much to advance the story. They actually did a big of story advancement this week. With the WWE Fastlane main event getting finalized and a three-way feud established for the United States Title, there’s a little bit of movement happening on the way to the last PPV before WrestleMania.
The Usos cut the same promo for the third week in a row (good, but nothing new) and it’s irritating how slowly they are moving with the tag team scene. They made it clear last week that the Bludgeon Brothers were going to be the next challengers when they emphasized the word “brothers” in their promo, and this week they did it again, with the BB smashing the television screen that they were apparently watching the promo on, just to really deliver the message in the most ham-handed way possible.
Harper and Rowan are great as a team and the Bludgeon Brothers gimmick is just stupid. But as long as they have good matches (which they have already proven they can, especially against the Usos), I’ll deal with the bad gimmick. In any event, that’s some of what happened this week. We’ll get more into this week’s episode while predicting what might happen next week.
#5 Ruby Riott pins Charlotte in the six-woman tag match
The direction for the SD Women’s Championship is pretty clear. Ruby Riott is going to be challenging Charlotte for the title at Fastlane. They could go for a big match with a bunch of women in it, but they are already doing it for the WWE Title match with the 5-way. I have a feeling that the other six women on SmackDown are going to find themselves in a match to determine the #1 contender for Charlotte’s title at WrestleMania, since it appears that Ronda Rousey will be doing something not related to either Women’s Title at WrestleMania, and Asuka is going to be challenging for RAW’s Women’s Title (expectedly).
Either way, this match will see Ruby pin Charlotte, which will lead to her getting a title shot on March 11. Charlotte already has her sights set on Ruby, as she has already defeated Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan.
#4 Corbin vs Zayn and Ziggler vs Owens take place
This week on SD Live, Dolph Ziggler made his return to SmackDown Live. He was supposed to wrestle Baron Corbin, but Owens and Zayn took out both men before the match could happen. This led to Corbin facing Owens and Ziggler taking on Zayn, with the two men who were going to wrestle each other for a spot in the WWE Title match now possibly both making it into the match. Indeed that was the case, as Owens and Zayn both took clean pinfall losses to Corbin and Ziggler. The reaction to Baron Corbin was particularly interesting; he got a big reaction from the crowd, who popped big when he defeated Kevin Owens. Corbin is usually met by lethargy from the crowd. Is it just because the crowd really wanted Owens to lose, or did California really enjoy Corbin?
Even more confusing is Dolph Ziggler’s alliance. Is he a good guy? A bad guy? Does he even care? Why should we care? I hope WWE addresses this next week. It seemed like they were trying to book him like a good guy who is just excited to get another opportunity, but why should we cheer for him after how much he complained about and attacked the fans? They cheered him this week, probably because they were against Sami Zayn, but we really need to find out what they intend to do with Dolph.
I don’t really expect that answer next week. They’re either going to do Ziggler vs Corbin next week to tie up that loose end, which could also help paint Ziggler as a babyface. I think they’ll probably just reverse things and do the opposite matches from the ones they did this week. Nothing on the line, but just to keep it 50-50. It’s a bad idea, which is why I think they’ll do it.
#3 No real advancement in the tag team division
SmackDown has an amazing crop of tag teams, but instead of utilizing them to their fullest capability they are just squandering an insane amount of talent. They appear to have fallen back into the old standby of the champions and one set of challenges, and nobody else matters. The New Day and Benjamin & Gable had a silly segment and a disappointing match this week, and it didn’t do anything for either team. Benjamin and Gable are unimportant after being within inches of winning the titles, and The New Day didn’t need to beat them if they aren’t getting a title shot anytime soon. They’re strong. Let the team who needs to keep up some momentum win, because otherwise, they could fall apart.
I expect the Bludgeon Brothers to win another quick squash match, and The Usos might actually cut a promo directed toward them instead of just a general “we’re the best” spiel. The other tag teams will do nothing of importance. I bet they end up doing either Benjamin or Gable in a one-on-one match against a member of The New Day (probably Kofi) just because they have no idea what they are doing and to kill some time.
#2 Rusev Day is cancelled for the second week in a row
I understand that Rusev and Lana were on Mixed Match Challenge this week, but Rusev wasn’t fit into the show in any way this week. Last week the guy had a very hotly contested US Title match with Bobby Roode, and this week he wasn’t even part of the equation. I have a feeling that WWE is going to waste another golden opportunity and squander something potentially huge with English and Rusev.
They’re happy selling some Rusev Day t-shirts and calendars. They could sell 10 times as many and get people to buy tickets to see shows and get hotter crowd reactions if they actually pushed the guy behind the merch. But they won’t. He’ll probably end up in the Andre Battle Royal, and he won’t win. If Goldberg is in it, though (which is dumb, but whatever, it’s a rumour), maybe Rusev can be eliminated last so Goldberg can win!
#1 Randy Orton beats Jinder Mahal
This won’t be a match for the number one contender for the United States Championship. Bobby Roode will continue doing his Open Challenge for another few weeks, and I’m sure Jinder will end up taking him on and failing soon enough. Next week, though, Orton and Jinder will clash based on their scuffle from this week, while Bobby Roode will successfully defend his title in another open challenge match. Against Zack Ryder, maybe? Probably not, but I can dream.
As I said, Jinder will probably end up answering the challenge in the weeks to come and fail, and Orton will challenge Roode in a couple weeks to defend the title at Fastlane, so we’ll get that match then. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Orton win the belt either. If they do that, I would LOVE to see a SummerSlam rematch with Rusev getting revenge on Orton by beating him at WrestleMania for the US Title. Pipe dream, I know.
Send us news tips at [email protected]
