5 things WWE got right on Smackdown Live this week-14 August 2018

This weeks episode of Smackdown Live was all about narrative building, and while that may slightly bore you after Raw produced an unforgettable final moment on Monday night, the blue brand took the steady road to Summerslam. While it would have been better if the superstars of Smackdown Live fired on all cylinders this week, its understandable from a bookers point of view to see why WWE took this conservative route.

However, for the first time in many weeks, Smackdown Live did not get everything right with its booking and matches, but the writers did get enough right to keep the blue brand's hot streak intact. Which lead to a great overall episode that built on past tensions, kept certain superstars in the limelight and elevated a programme above the rest. This is what Smackdown Live got right this week.

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#1 The Smackdown Live Women's Title match reaches its peak

The favorite vs the underdog vs the diva.

The Smackdown Live Women's Title match has been built up extremely well over the last few weeks, and this week it finally reached its peak. Opening the show, Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch and Carmella had a war of words on what their match at Summerslam would mean to each one of them, and many important plot points were well defined in this opener.

The subplot of Becky's frustration of sitting in Charlotte's shadow was highlighted. The point that Charlotte is always the favorite to win in any match she is out in and the fact that Carmella is a 'diva' wrestling in an era she cannot keep up with.

Those points have given this match the definition it truly was working to build up in the last few weeks, as it is the underdog in Lynch taking on the favorite which is Charlotte taking on the diva centric wrestler Carmella. Good writing by WWE to give this match a backstory, a motive, and a definition.

#2 Andrade "Cien" Almas stays in the spotlight

WWE is keeping this man relevant.

Andrade "Cien" Almas is a future World Champion, and yeah it has been said several times, but that is because it is true. Almas and Zelina Vega is money and WWE continued to realize that this week, as the narrative between Almas and Rusev was once again defined by one man-Aiden English. English has been at the forefront of Rusev and Almas' feud, costing his best friend matches everytime he got involved, but this time he took on the man that has been responsible for the cracks in Rusev Day.

While Almas vs English is a match that no one expected to steal the show, it did do one good thing on Smackdown Live this week; it kept Almas in the spotlight. As we have seen many NXT superstars like Sanity, Asuka, and countless others fade into the background, but Almas has been a [roioty for WWE every week and its good to see that continue this week.

#4 The rivalry between Jeff Hardy, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Randy Orton is highlighted

Two heels that are doing a fantastic job right now.

The rivalry between Jeff Hardy, Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura once again was the centerpiece of the broadcast this week, as Jeff Hardy took on Shelton Benjamin in singles action while Nakamura and Orton lurked in the shadows. While it was disappointing to see WWE let Hardy beat Benjamin in such a quick manner, as Shelton is much more than a jobber, Hardy did gain the momentum he needed after being rag dolled for weeks by Orton and Nakamura.

Hardy's night did end there, as Shinsuke tried to assault Hardy while he was caught off guard but this time the former US Champion got the upper hand on Nakamura and delivered a beautiful Swanton Bomb, while Orton looked on from behind the curtain. Its great to see WWE keeping Orton TV after the whole "handshake" incident, as Orton is too hot to be left in the background right, while Nakamura and Hardy have put the finishing touches on their programme and surely will tear the house down at Summerslam.

#4 Samoa Joe delivers the final blow

A personal assault from Joe.

There is no better superstar on the mic than Samoa Joe in the WWE today, as the legendary wrestler is just so damn good on the stick he can make anything the writers hand him sound believable, and this week Joe had to use his powers of persuasion to make the material he was handed sound real.

Styles and Joe went to a verbal war this week when Joe read Styles a letter from his biggest fan, and his fan said that she was disgusted with Joe's promo about Styles' family, but she was disgusted cause she knew it was the truth.

It would later be revealed that fan is AJ Styles wife, now we all know that letter is probably Joe's way of playing games with the WWE Champion before Summerslam and Styles took the bait, as Styles would later confront Joe backstage.

And in this backstage confrontation, Joe proved why he is the best-realised character in the WWE when Styles told him he promises that he is going to kick Joe's ass at Summerslam, to which Joe replied "you promise to kick my ass at Summerslam, you couldn't even promise your wife", if Joe had a mic in his hand that would have been a good time to drop it.

This feud between these two career rivals has been built up well. but with a little more time it could have hit its peak, but good work from both men involved.

#5 The Miz vs Daniel Bryan is gold

There is no way this rivalry concludes at Summerslam.

The Miz and Daniel Bryan 's feud is the best rivalry WWE have produced in almost half a decade, and that could be because this rivalry has bee building for almost ten years. And this week in Smackdown Live these two men didn't beat each other up or insult each other face to face on Miz TV but they were involved in a really well put together package highlighting their involvement in each other careers over the last decade.

From the early days of NXT to the main roster, WWE's three-part promo package was excellent, has it perfectly balanced both sides of these men's glaring opinions of one another, why they dislike one another and how they want to finally end this grudge match between them. It was well thought of at every turn and WWE shouldn't end this feud at Summerslam but let it have its true conclusion at Wrestlemania 35.