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Not long before this show aired, it was reported that Vince McMahon pretty much rewrote the show from the start to finish. Not much of the difference was felt during the show, because it did feel rather dull, to be quite honest.
Except for the big revelation at the end, which was the moment everyone was waiting for, the rest of the episode was a by-the-numbers show, in my opinion. There was little to like except for the points I will mention in the 'Best' column.
It does seem like Vince McMahon still has his claws entrenched into the product. Feel free to voice your thoughts about the show in the comments section below and I'll be glad to read them.
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After all, why I do have this space to air my thoughts, everyone wants different things from a sports entertainment show...
#1 Best: The Goldberg imitation
When Goldberg's music hit this week, the whole arena erupted. Instead, it was Dolph Ziggler who came out to Goldberg's music, surrounded by the entourage that Goldberg is usually known for. He even performed the same kind of histrionics up the ramp, kicking and screaming as the WCW legend was known to do in his prime.
It was a little moment to augment the feud but it went a long way in making the match at SummerSlam a lot more interesting. Despite the taunts that have been thrown Goldberg's way by Ziggler, this does seem like a match that came out of nowhere at all.
This went a long way in correcting the same and actually building some amount of heat for the contest to come. It also tied in with the fact that Ziggler has been imitating WWE Superstars, past and present, for some time now.
See WWE Smackdown Results, Highlights of event, & more on WWE Smackdown Results page
#1 Worst: The strange storyline with Shelton Benjamin continues
It is pretty clear from the question that was asked that Shelton Benjamin will be a part of the 24/7 Championship picture going forward. I only want to ask Eric Bischoff and his team of writers one simple question- how is this segment funny at all?
Shelton Benjamin has never really been Santino Marella or R-Truth in terms of having great comedic timing. The fact that he rolls his eyes for no rhyme or reason week after week is not just a waste of his genuine athletic talent, but also of screen time, I feel.
This same screen time could have been given to Rusev who's been on the sidelines for a long time. Nakamura wasn't even on the show and he's the Intercontinental Champion.
I would just have this whole storyline with Shelton Benjamin scrapped for good, and insert him into the Intercontinental Championship picture again.
#2 Best: Roman Reigns finds out who's been attacking him
This was clearly the biggest talking point to emerge out of SmackDown Live this week, and the internet will be buzzing about it for a really long time, I suppose. Buddy Murphy was confronted in the backstage area by Roman Reigns and was urged to spill the secret about who'd attacked him. It took some persuasion but Murphy finally told the truth.
It was Rowan who was behind the forklift attack on Roman Reigns. Murphy was a bystander and an onlooker at the scene and he spilled the beans, all at once. In making him do so, Roman Reigns became the tough guy we always wanted him to be, and not the ever-smiling babyface.
I don't really know what the big match at SummerSlam is, but Reigns and Bryan could be a really compelling clash indeed. Maybe even a great drawn-out program!
#2 Worst: The Trish-Charlotte face off
Perhaps it's the fact that you can only do so much in a scripted environment without coming across as fake and hokey. Perhaps it's the unfortunate reality that WWE's PG scripting does not allow for anyone to really be disrespectful, as one would be in real life. Whatever the case may be, I wasn't sold on the Trish Stratus vs. Charlotte Flair face-off.
I'd go so far as to say that because this segment kicked the show off, it soured the action to follow for me. Charlotte seemed like she was struggling to not laugh at more than one point. Trish Stratus lacked any sort of fire and enthusiasm in her promo.
What should be a dream match seems like a tepid one at best, according to me. I suppose the sad part is that the women did not have a real story to build upon and had to rely on ineffective promos like these.
#3 Best: The main event match (well, until it lasted)
I wonder if it's even possible for The New Day to have a bad match. When they faced off against Daniel Bryan and Rowan in the main event, it was absolutely bonkers indeed.
It was an extremely well worked match, and my only criticism is just how short it was because obviously, the objective was to get from this match to the Roman Reigns segment in the backstage area. Rowan brought the match to an end by introducing steel chairs.
I really do wonder where The New Day will go from here, and potentially want to see them take on the likes of the Street Profits for the tag team titles. They will certainly benefit from having new blood to work with, I feel.
Plus, I've interviewed Xavier Woods and he's told me how much he enjoys watching The Street Profits.
#3 Worst: No stakes added
If SmackDown Live could be summed up in the words of Shakespeare, it would be 'much ado about nothing'. I wrote the SmackDown Preview earlier today, and the way that the Kevin Owens show was hyped up, it did seem like it was going to be a very big deal.
After all, you had two SummerSlam opponents square off in the middle of the ring. The way that things were shaping up, I assumed that Shane McMahon would be putting his career on the line in what would have been a match with tremendous stakes.
But now, it's only Kevin Owens who's put his career on the line. After much coaxing and taunting, Shane McMahon did not cave and the stipulation for the match at SummerSlam will remain what it has always been.
Can anyone explain why this uninteresting segment even took place, during the show?
#4 Best/worst: Giving away a SummerSlam match too early?
Sami Zayn vs. Aleister Black was exactly the kind of match that we expected it to be from two Superstars with their athletic prowess. It was quick, it was hard-hitting and it was over in no time, resulting in a win for Black. I loved the match and even loved Black's entrance.
I wonder if SummerSlam would have been a better stage for the match. After all, more eyes would be on SummerSlam as compared to SmackDown Live. But for what it was, I wasn't all that dissatisfied with the way that things unfolded on screen.
So, this is the final 'Best and Worst' until SummerSlam weekend comes around. I'm really looking forward to doing one for TakeOver, although it's impossible to write anything bad about most NXT TakeOvers.
I leave you with an image of The Goddess and the Twisted Sister of WWE, holding their prizes aloft.
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