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Let's just say that WWE went all out for SmackDown's debut on FOX, sparing no expense for the show. In a sense, I would even go so far as to say that they went overboard because the show felt rushed.
My colleague, editor extraordinaire Alan Jose John suggested that the show would have been ideal had it been three hours long. Honestly, I would have to agree with his assessment because the show just felt strange and cobbled together in many ways, falling far short of the intended promised land.
In this article, I shall explore 5 things that could have happened on SmackDown had the show been an hour longer than it was. I know that it wasn't possible with the time slot that was allocated, but this is mere speculation and I invite you to join in for the ride.
We know that when WWE has enough time to tell stories, they tend to do a far better job overall.
#5 WWE legends would have been used in a better way
You don't just call Superstars like Kurt Angle to the season premiere of SmackDown on FOX and have them do nothing. I suppose there were angles planned at one point but because of the time crunch, WWE had to rush through things. And so, WWE Hall of Famers like Kurt Angle and Mick Foley, who should have been involved in storylines found themselves as spectators in the audience, just waving aimlessly at the camera.
Many predicted that The Fiend would have choked Sting out setting up a feud for somewhere down the line. Many even predicted that Goldberg could have had an altercation with someone like Braun Strowman. WWE disappointed a lot of souls during the show!
#4 Kofi Kingston would have put on a competitive showing for the title
I know that most of our readers are divided about whether or not Kofi Kingston was a good WWE Champion. The verdict is so split down the middle that a fair number of people actually wanted him to lose the title to someone, even Brock Lesnar. But the manner in which KofiMania ended rubbed many people the wrong way, in my estimation.
Had the show been an hour longer, we would have still seen the same result, but I'm guessing that the match would have lasted a lot longer than 10 seconds. Kofi Kingston is someone who rose to prominence and claimed the Championship upon the urging of the fans, and this is something that fans felt robbed of, with this result. It was almost like Kofi Kingston became an afterthought because of the immense star power that Cain Velasquez and Tyson Fury brought to the table.
Not only was this an injustice in many ways, but it also does not bode well for the roster if this is a sign of the things to follow under the FOX banner, where full-time performers are swept aside for prominent names from the MMA/combat sports world.
#3 More matches would have been confirmed before Hell in a Cell
It is very easy to forget that there is a pay-per-view coming our way this very weekend with two big Hell in a Cell contests and yet only four matches have been announced. I suppose that everything was put on the backburner by WWE because all their energy was consumed by SmackDown on FOX.
Had this been a regular episode, I am certain that we would have had a lot of matches announced for this weekend's big show, including some big title matches. Nakamura went up against Seth Rollins in what was a throwaway Champion vs. Champion match and I do believe that had it been a regular episode, we would have seen a feud between him and someone else from the roster.
I know that this is the very last stop before the WWE draft comes our way and even that wasn't really addressed during the course of this week's show. Everything just felt haphazard and confused.
I don't even necessarily think that Tyson Fury and Cain Velasquez will be in competition at WWE Hell in a Cell, and their appearances could have been held off for a little while, I do suppose.
#2 The 24/7 Championship change would have happened on TV
My colleague Nishant Jayaram buzzed me midway through SmackDown and asked if he could cover the fact that there was a new 24/7 Champion called Marshmello. When I approved his piece, his next question was whether a DJ qualifies as a musician or not. Always remember that while you may commend WWE for using AC/DC in their SmackDown theme song, they also put the title on a DJ on the very same night.
In any case, I digress. Carmella lost the 24/7 Championship and won it back on the same night in a WWE.com exclusive, which should have ideally been on television, because the Championship is a great break of sorts between the serious segments and reinforces the idea that pro wrestling is, after all, a variety show. The fact that WWE was so very cramped for time would lead them to do the title change in a website exclusive with R-Truth involved in the fracas too.
It's always a shame that WWE can make time for Tyson Fury and Cain Velasquez and not the actual roster that slogs day and night on the road. It is what it is.
#1 Members for Team Hogan & Team Flair would be picked from the roster
We all know that Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair were in attendance at SmackDown, but unfortunately, because of time constraints, they did not get the time to show up and pick their candidates for the match at WWE Crown Jewel. It would have been a great rub to Superstars like Ali and Aleister Black, had Hulk Hogan picked these underdogs to be a part of his team.
Similarly, Ric Flair could have gone hunting for talent among the heels of SmackDown Live and possibly have handpicked the likes of Sami Zayn and Andrade. Andrade, in particular, has lost a lot of the momentum that he once had and needs the rub from someone like Ric Flair.
Believe it or not, there was a huge viewership spike when Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair appeared on-screen during RAW, which still proves that the audience wants to see these two men in the ring. Unfortunately, they cannot go anymore and picking their candidates is the next best thing they can do, I do suppose.
This was a missed opportunity for WWE.
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