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SmackDown has been a great show for many weeks now, but this week was a mixed bag. There wasn't any storyline that made SmackDown unwatchable, but it wasn't without its faults.
Either way, the consistency and pacing of the show were on point, and it had a great start and a terrific ending. Here are the best and worst aspects of the show.
#3 Best: Roman Reigns, The Usos, and The Mysterios on SmackDown
Roman Reigns opened SmackDown as usual and tried to get his cousins, The Usos, to acknowledge him. Jey had no trouble doing that, but Jimmy said he already acknowledged him while being choked out at Hell in a Cell 2020.
The continuity in the storyline is amazing. Roman Reigns demanded that The Usos bring the SmackDown Tag Team titles to him, stating that the whole family is watching. Naturally, he was furious when Jimmy Uso was pinned by Dominik Mysterio.
However, a replay showed that Jimmy had lifted his shoulders before the three-count, taking away the legitimacy from the result. Eventually, a rematch was booked for the main event, which ended in a disqualification after Roman Reigns attacked Dominik Mysterio.
Reigns brutalized the young superstar, with Jimmy Uso telling him that it was enough. The emotions and tension made it a great moment, and it achieved a few things at once.
It confirmed Jimmy Uso's resistance in pledging his allegiance to Roman Reigns while also teasing a big match for the Universal Champion against Dominik Mysterio. That match, however, should only happen a few years from now.
#3 Worst: No progression in the main event storyline on SmackDown
It was surprising to see no movement in the main event storyline on SmackDown. While Roman Reigns was busy with The Usos and the SmackDown Tag Team titles, Seth Rollins had an interview that lasted a few seconds.
Cesaro was nowhere to be seen this week. It's odd that with only two episodes of SmackDown left until Hell in a Cell, there's no attention on Roman Reigns' supposed feud with Cesaro.
Moreover, the plan seems unclear. Is Seth Rollins going to weasel his way into the Universal title match at Hell in a Cell? Or is he only after destroying Cesaro?
Nonetheless, Cesaro should have been on SmackDown. If he is headlining Hell in a Cell 2021, it doesn't make sense for him to be off.
#2. Best: The rise of Apollo Crews on SmackDown
Apollo Crews is having the best run of his career on SmackDown right now. While his run on RAW from April to September 2020 was impressive, he eventually fell off the radar once he lost the States Championship to Bobby Lashley.
His move to SmackDown in October was criticized, but has turned out to be for the best. A heel turn led to an Intercontinental Championship win, and he has now defeated the likes of Big E, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn.
This week, Commander Azeez was barred from the ringside for the Intercontinental Championship match between Apollo Crews and Kevin Owens, but that didn't stop the 6-foot-9-inch giant from attacking the Owens backstage before the match.
It paid dividends as Apollo Crews eventually retained the Intercontinental Championship against Kevin Owens, after which Sami Zayn attacked his old rival.
Apollo Crews' rise on SmackDown has been fascinating to watch, and we're curious to see where he eventually goes.
#2. Worst: Trying to make Bayley look like The Fiend
This week on SmackDown, Women's Champion Bianca Belair officially challenged Bayley to a match at Hell in a Cell. She was met with Bayley on the screen, laughing maniacally as her face duplicated all over the Thunderdome.
It was similar to The Fiend and Alexa Bliss, and it wasn't a good idea since Bayley is nothing like that. It was a weird segment on SmackDown that did nothing for their eventual title match at Hell in a Cell 2021.
Carmella, on the other hand, seems to making progress as she defeated Liv Morgan on SmackDown.
#1. Best: A non-title Tag Team feud
Chad Gable approached former RAW and SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Street Profits, offering to mentor them after their recent downward skid. They refused, and Otis didn't take well to it.
He launched an attack on the former Champions, starting a non-title feud. It's good to see WWE utilize a tag team without a title feud.
#1. Worst: The story of two Kings on SmackDown
Shinsuke Nakamura has been feuding with King Corbin on SmackDown for weeks now. While Corbin got the initial set of wins, Shinsuke Nakamura still managed to acquire the crown that Corbin won nearly two years ago.
The story was fun at first but has fizzled out now. Perhaps the only cool thing about the feud is the guitar introduction by Rick Boogs for Nakamura. We're sure the voice of SmackDown, Pat McAfee, would agree.
Either way, King Corbin got another victory this week and went to reclaim the crown that belongs to him. Rick Boogs, however, tripped him at ringside and held him down, allowing Nakamura to give a knockout kick to the head and take the crown back.
The story appears childish, and fans are quickly going to get bored to see both King Corbin and Shinsuke Nakamura on SmackDown. It seems like a lose-lose situation.
Bayley gives us a HUGE update on a top Superstar's upcoming return RIGHT HERE.
