5 winners and losers from this week's episode of SmackDown Live (2 October 2018)

WWE SmackDown Live delivered a strong show this week. While it was great, it still had some very serious downs.

Some wrestlers were highlighted, some properly used, and some utterly let down by the WWE Creative. We saw the hidden potential of Orton as a sick heel, the burial of Alma, and much more.

In this article we take a look at the biggest winners and losers from this week's SmackDown Live!

#1 Loser: Andrade 'Cien' Almas

Enter — Hasn't had the best main roster run, has he?

When Alma was called up from NXT, hopes were high understandably. He was coming off of contesting a 5 star match against Gargano, and we couldn't wait to see him mix it up in the big leagues.

So when he lost to Styles and Bryan in uber competitive contests, we still had hopes. But this week's SDL squashed all those hopes.

This week, Alma and Vega lost to R-Truth and Carmella. Let that sink in. How are fans supposed to believe in a performer who loses to a 40+ year old guy who has next to no credibility, and his screaming inexperienced partner?

Creative has displayed an ability to trash the superstars from NXT in spectacular fashion.

#2 Winner: Randy Orton

Tye Dillinger begged Paige for a match against Orton. After some hesitation, she granted it. Dillinger attacked Orton from the very start, the momentum shifted soon.

Orton did what he does best, annihilate. In another sickening display of violence, he put Tye's finger between the turnbuckle and twisted it around.

This Orton is a dangerous, deranged man. This Orton is what's best for business. The Viper was spinning wheels as an uninteresting babyface. The heel turn has brought out a new fire in him.

#3 Winner: Shelton Benjamin

Shelton Benjamin had been begging for a match on Twitter. When he was awarded one, he did not disappoint. He had a great match with Bryan, as The Miz looked on from the commentary table.

Sure, he got the win due to a distraction from The Miz, but a win is a win. Whether this results in a mid card push is to be seen, but we'll settle for a win for now.

#4 Loser: Tag Team division

This week the tag team division served us an absolute stinker, which is a surprise because the blue brand has been widely praised for its portrayal of tag teams.

The New Day is an entertaining gimmick, but their comedy skits are a hit and a miss. This week was a big miss.

Everything, from the food to the banter pointed to one thing - The Bar would interfere, and these things would somehow be used in the melee that would follow.

And it happened exactly like that, for no logical reason. These are two highly skilled sets of wrestlers, they should be having weekly blinders, not this. Lets hope the situation improves soon.

#5 Winner: The SmackDown Live Women's Division

If you need to know how valued the female superstars are, the main event spot was given to a Becky Lynch promo segment. And she did not disappoint. Cutting one of the best promos of her entire career, Lynch was on fire throughout.

The fans were also strongly behind her, constantly chanting her name as she echoed their voices about her underutilised potential.

Charlotte came out, and a brawl broke out, with The Queen gaining the upper hand after a spear. She closed out the show with a 'Woo!' amid huge boos.

One of Samoa Joe's colleagues had harsh words for him HERE