This happens week after week. When we’re sick and tired of wrestling after a disappointing Monday Night Raw, Smackdown Live comes and blows us away every single time. This week, Smackdown Live came to us from the Legacy Arena, in Birmingham, Al, and was filled to the brim with matches that mattered, including an Intercontinental Championship match and a Number 1 Contender’s match for the tag team championship.
The main event was also a huge ‘first-time’ match, and it lived up to the hype. Let’s examine the good and the bad from this week.
THE GOOD: Here’s what we enjoyed about Smackdown Live
1- The 2-hour format passes by, like a breeze
The biggest difference between Raw and Smackdown is the pacing of either show. At merely 2 hours, Smackdown Live has a lot less filler content, and therefore, is much, much easier to watch. In fact, so much so, that after 2 hours are done, the fans are left begging for more; as was evidenced by Bryan’s announcement of next week’s main event getting greeted with boos (because the fans wanted the match right then).
2- Huge match announced for next week
What makes Smackdown Live a must watch show is the fact that championships are being defended on it. As Daniel Bryan announced at the end of the main event, Dean Ambrose gets his rematch for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, next week on Smackdown Live.
Unlike Clash of Champions, a PPV for which our excitement died after yesterday’s show, we’re actually excited about this match. We’re sure it’ll be very, very good.
3- A pay-per-view quality Intercontinental Championship match
A lot can be said about this match. In fact, an entire article can be written about this. Dolph has been squandering opportunity after opportunity at title shots, and this was his chance to finally get his moment of fame. On the other hand, the animosity between Daniel Bryan and The Miz continues to grow. Through the match, The Miz continued to rip off Daniel Bryan’s move set and irk the Smackdown General Manager.
When Maryse decided to interfere and spray Ziggler with the perfume like last week, the referee caught it. But The Miz would use the same cowardly maneuver to win the match. So many stories were told through this one encounter. It is one of the best television matches we have seen in recent memory.
4- Baron Corbin was showcased as the dominant heel monster
The difference between Braun Strowman, Bo Dallas and Baron Corbin is that he’s actually beating people of consequence, unlike the other two. He absolutely destroyed Apollo Crews in the middle of the ring, and as Corbin gets ready to feud with Jack Swagger, we can say that he’s on his way up.
5- The Usos were always meant to be heels
The Usos work far better as a heel team than as a babyface unit. This was best proved in their encounter against American Alpha, where the two of them told a great story. Chad Gable and Jason Jordan sold Gable’s injury like absolute bosses, with Jordan refusing to tag in Gable even for a hot tag.
And the two heels would take advantage of this, and pick up a victory. We can’t wait for their feud with One Man Gore now.
THE BAD: We were hard pressed to find what we didn’t like about the show. But yeah, here are some grievances.
1- The Women’s tag team match was a disaster
So, Natalya has her opponent in her finisher – the Sharpshooter. However, her own tag team partner Carmella breaks the pin to go ballistic on Nikki Bella. Well, one can argue that the match was such a cluster&*^% (we realize that it's a PG site, but one does have to use certain words to describe shockingly bad segments) because the main event was running out of time.
But even so, it brought down the quality of a near perfect show.
2- John Cena taking too many pins
Yes, we know what you’re thinking. John Cena is finally taking the 3 count, and we’ve found cause to complain. But the fact that Cena does not lose easily is what makes him a special opponent to defeat at big events. If he’s eating the pin every single week, it devalues the place that runs the place. And beating Cena clean is no longer a big deal then.
IN CONCLUSION, this was an 8.5/10 show. Alexa agrees.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
