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SmackDown was a really fun show, in my opinion, even more than RAW was. The Money in the Bank winner from RAW, i.e. Asuka has already cashed in her contract (in a way) to become the RAW Women's Champion and so all the drama right now exists on SmackDown with the question of where and when Otis will cash in.
I have to say that SmackDown, because of the considerably smaller length was a far better show to watch this week. SmackDown also had the advantage of not ending with yet another Edge and Randy Orton face-off and nothing was described as the greatest wrestling match ever, thankfully.
So, what did I like about SmackDown and what did I not particularly care for, you wonder? Fear not because I will separate the good from the bad and the not-so-bad in this article.
In case you have a moment, feel free to leave a comment. Your inputs are valued.
#1 Best: Otis and Braun Strowman stole the show this week on SmackDown
Yesterday, a friend of mine sent me a meme saying that 2020 has been a rough year for us all but it's really been Otis' year. Not only did he get to team up with the Universal Champion in the main event of SmackDown this week but he also got the champ to do his finisher.
And yet, I love the fact that Otis doesn't seem entirely opposed to the idea of cashing in his contract when Strowman least expects it, even though both men are babyfaces. There was a tease of a cash in on this week's show which was great.
More often than not, when the camera is on him, Otis proves why he is money with his mannerisms and his gyrations.
#1 Worst: The future of Heavy Machinery?
I really hope that the Creative Team for SmackDown does not split up Heavy Machinery because even though Tucky is clearly the Marty Jannetty of the group, he is very entertaining in his own right. I would even go so far as to say that they would be very good SmackDown Tag Team Champions if they have a chance to go up against Miz and Morrison for the titles down the line.
The SmackDown Tag Team division at the moment
Yes, The New Day is absolutely great at what they do but they've just been around for so long, and they've done so much already that I think that the SmackDown Tag Team division would be better served with a new team at the helm. I mean now that they have already beaten The Forgotten Sons and Miz & Morrison, is there even a heel team for them to clash with, going forward?
Heavy Machinery could have been excellent challengers for a heel team, and in any case, I think it's premature to split them up, which seems to be the direction we're heading in on SmackDown.
#2 Best: A technical masterpiece
It's been a while since we saw a match this good on SmackDown, in my honest opinion. This wasn't a contest between a babyface and a heel to settle a grudge, but two masters of their craft out to prove that they deserve to advance to the next round of the Intercontinental Championship tournament that commenced on SmackDown this week. I have to say that this match was everything I expected and then some more.
Two masters showcase their technical ability on SmackDown
Even though Daniel Bryan was the winner of the match, this week on SmackDown, I would have to say that Drew Gulak won as well because the WWE Universe watching at home finally had a chance to see how good Gulak can be when he has a good dance partner. It's a shame that The New Day are the tag team champions and that they are babyfaces because Bryan and Gulak would have been fantastic competitors for the title.
This was the textbook definition of a technical masterpiece.
#2 Worst: Too much Charlotte Flair
Charlotte was already on RAW and NXT, and now she will be on SmackDown as well. And what next then? Will she be made a part of 205 Live as well in due course of time?
Every time ratings fall for RAW and SmackDown, the issue is that the brand split is diluted, and this just ruins the product with 'too much' of certain stars on screen. I think Charlotte Flair is one of the greatest not merely in the current era, but of all time, but that doesn't mean that we want to see her multiple times a week.
Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley on SmackDown
Listen, it's going to be a great match because these two women know how to bring it. Also, Sasha Banks and Bayley are being set to split up, and this is bound to change the title picture on SmackDown, going forward. Charlotte could be the catalyst that makes it happen and I am not opposed to it.
But at the same time, I'm not entirely sold on having Charlotte on SmackDown as well.
#3 Best/Worst: The Elias and Dana Brooke push
I can't be the only person to have gotten bored of the whole Elias vs. King Corbin feud on SmackDown. While I enjoyed the fact that Elias scored an upset win over the King on this week's SmackDown, I have to wonder if it is wise because King Corbin needs to look strong before he takes on Drew McIntyre on RAW.
Dana Brooke scored an upset win over Naomi but I didn't really think that the match was anything to write home about. Also, if she is being groomed to challenge Bayley for the SmackDown Women's Championship next, I wonder if enough character development has been done in her case for fans to back her as the babyface over Bayley, the heel.
SmackDown- My overall take
Despite all of the issues that I have listed, I thought that this week's episode of SmackDown was really good as a TV show. I was not bored from start to finish, and that's all you can ask for, really.
Do check out Sportskeeda's tribute to The Man, Becky Lynch.
Teddy Long snaps when Swerve Strickland's race is brought up HERE
