While Raw has good weeks and bad ones, Smackdown continues to deliver. To be honest, we have very few gripes from this week’s show and several compliments for the brand in blue. Not only did storylines move along at quite a good pace, most of the matches in the show had stakes attached to them.
All in all, Smackdown Live proved why fans cheered for the brand over Raw, during the Survivor Series face off. Kudos to the creative team and in-ring roster for a good showing once again. Here’s what we liked and disliked from this week’s Smackdown episode.
#1 Worst: Randy Orton breaking character
Randy Orton was stagnating in the main roster until he decided to become a Wyatt. This is one of the most interesting characters he's played in quite a while. As a Wyatt, we have many questions surrounding the decisions that he will make, and the path that he will follow.
However, this is 2016 and kayfabe is dead. All through this episode of Smackdown Live, The USA Network kept mentioning how Orton was a part of Shooter, a brand new TV thriller. Seeing Orton sitting next to show star Ryan Phillippe, with the latter talking about what a great guy he is; is a sure shot character killer.
Here’s hoping wrestlers take kayfabe more seriously!
#1 Best: Pun-tastic episode
Looks like whoever’s been scripting Smackdown Live has been hanging out far too much with Becky Lynch, a woman who’s notorious for her puns. Not only did AJ Styles say that James Ellsworth has a serious case of Chin-fluenza, when he asked Daniel Bryan for protection, he was asked to visit the pharmacy by Bryan.
Moreover, Alexa Bliss referred to her jobber, Deonna Purrazzo as Jane Ellsworth during her in-ring segment. Surprisingly, Becky Lynch did not crack any puns this week.
#2: Worst: Missing an opportunity to push stars?
Right now, it is pretty obvious that despite the great shows on a weekly basis, Smackdown Live suffers from a thin roster in the singles division. The fatal four-way would have been the ideal platform to push someone to the top like Apollo Crews or Baron Corbin.
Also read: WWE Smackdown Live – 13th December 2016: Best Twitter Reactions
While it was heartening to see Luke Harper claiming the spot, these two stars could also have been in the mix. Moreover, many believe that American Alpha is losing steam by not being booked as the top tag team on Smackdown Live.
This week could have been a great way to elevate them and push them to the moon! Apollo Crews did not need a segment with a stand-up comedian.
#2 Best: Setting up secondary feuds
Sure, we have two new number one contenders after hard-hitting contests this week. The good news is that; that wasn’t all that happened on the show. WWE used the Battle Royal and the Fatal Four Way elimination match to set up secondary feuds as well.
The elimination of Rhyno by Heath Slater is enough to further tensions between the two former tag team champions and close allies. This could really lead to a very interesting feud, and maybe even elevate Slater as a singles star. The return of The Miz in the Fatal Four Way main event cost Dean Ambrose a big opportunity as well.
This could very well build up to a feud for the Intercontinental Championship between these two men.
#3 Worst: Years or hours?
While the commentary was completely on point tonight, with even David Otunga picking up his game; Tom Phillips, our favourite NXT play by play announcer made a surprising botch.
While advertising the WWE Network, Mauro Ranallo mentioned that now, subscribers could get 7000 hours of original content. JBL chimed in and said that if one was to watch 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; it would take 1 year to watch everything.
Tom Phillips added that, if one were to watch 1 hour of content every day, it would take 20 ‘hours’ to watch everything. He managed to compose himself and correct his botch in time. But honestly, it seems like mathematics was never Phillips’ strength in school.
#3 Best: No James Ellsworth
Even though we love watching AJ Styles wrestle, we are glad that the much-publicised Styles vs. James Ellsworth match did not happen in this episode. This gave us an opportunity to watch four real wrestlers battle it out for a spot they deserve.
Thankfully, the result was a very entertaining main event. One that wasn’t ruined by Ellsworth’s interference. Give him backstage skits with Gabriel Iglesias, not Crews!
This was a brilliant 8/10 show. Right, Alexa?
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