Best and worst of WWE SmackDown after Crown Jewel- NXT invasion, Top stars missing 

By Riju Dasgupta
Modified Nov 02, 2019 10:21 IST
How surprising was it to see Adam Cole on SmackDown?
How surprising was it to see Adam Cole on SmackDown?

This was supposed to be a massive episode of SmackDown with The Fiend on Miz TV and Roman Reigns vs. King Corbin. It turned out to still be a massive episode of SmackDown, just not the kind we assumed it would be.

All said and done, I thought that it was a pretty good show from start to finish. There was very little to dislike and I must commend WWE on making the show happen, without most top stars in attendance.

So, let's have a glance at what happened on this week's show in a nutshell, and rate the events as best or worst. As always, my opinion is my own, and hence, I'd love to hear what you guys have to say about what transpired on this week's show.

Don't be afraid to voice your comments even if they differ from mine, in the section right below.

#1 Best: A dream match delivers

Adam Cole and Daniel Bryan are two men who could main-event an NXT TakeOver and also be a part of any main roster pay-per-view card, if there is a compelling enough storyline leading up to the big match. But we got to see this dream match on SmackDown and it was exactly as advertised. This was a great match.

What I especially loved was the fact that Daniel Bryan allowed Adam Cole to pick up the big win because NXT needed the win to establish the fact that they're at par with RAW and SmackDown on FOX. It'll be cool to see if The Undisputed ERA shows up next week, and maybe The New Day can face off against them or even The OC!

This was a great match. It was an even better contingency plan.

#1 Worst: Another dream match disappoints

I loved it when Ciampa got in Miz's face setting up the big match on SmackDown on Miz TV. Very clearly, it was going to be a loyal SmackDown soldier in The Miz taking on someone who has been the anchor for the NXT brand in recent times- Ciampa.

But the face-off was sloppy with The Miz botching a few words here and there and with Ciampa not showcasing the same kind of fire that one would expect him to when confronted by The Miz. The two men also had no chemistry when the bell rang, and it was not the best match I have watched.

I guess had the two men been given more time to prepare they could have had a far better showing. It was a great moment that honestly, did not live up to my personal expectations.

What did you think?

#2 Best: Brock Lesnar goes to RAW

There are far more benefits when it comes to Brock Lesnar moving to RAW than staying on SmackDown. For one, Paul Heyman can script for him, and we all know that the two men have shared a mutually beneficial lifelong partnership. And most importantly, nobody needs two World Champions on the Blue brand.

By shifting to RAW, Brock Lesnar can also face off against The Fiend at Survivor Series, in a dream clash. Adam Cole may also be embroiled in this match, but whatever the case may be, this is a match that will certainly be difficult to call.

How do you determine whether an unstoppable beast will win or a monster who only seems to operate under red light in a titanic, superhuman clash? Brock Lesnar going to RAW is a very wise move and this allows for Bruce Prichard to sink his creative claws into The Fiend and make something of him.

#2 Worst: Not being able to continue the Crown Jewel momentum

All said and done, Crown Jewel was a successful event and the men and women of WWE deserved a chance to carry the momentum forward with a power-packed show. While this week's show was a great proxy episode, the original plans were pretty great as well.

I am still curious to see how Bray Wyatt would have behaved on Miz TV after winning the Universal Championship. Thus far, we've only seen him in the Firefly Fun House and it would have been interesting to see him react to a live audience on Miz TV. Also, the deep red of the Universal Championship on the Blue brand would have looked interesting.

In any case, everything should be back in place by next week's episode of RAW, when we can get back to our regularly scheduled programming. I'm just disappointed that it didn't happen this week.

#3 Best/Worst: Sami Zayn's current role in WWE

Sami Zayn is more technically proficient than half the locker room at the moment. And yet, unfortunately, he finds himself relegated to a managerial role, as the mouthpiece for Shinsuke Nakamura.

And when he does physically get involved, it is to take a beating at the hands of Matt Riddle and Keith Lee. But then again, this is better than being asked to set in the background and do nothing I suppose, like Keith Lee.

It's just the fact that Sami Zayn can do anything that is asked of him, from putting on a great match to a comedy skit, that has landed him in such a situation. Sometimes being a versatile performer has its share of demerits as well, I do suppose.

Let's hope for the best because he's an exemplary performer in every sense.

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