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Despite quite a few pointless matches, Raw delivered some big moments this week, capitalizing on the SummerSlam heat. Unfortunately, SmackDown wasn't able to pack the same punch.
There was some great wrestling on the show, but it was a mostly pedestrian affair that didn't move anything forward, and in fact, delivered a significant reverse. Thankfully, there was also a notable appearance from Buddy Murphy.
What happened to him and everyone else on the show? Let's take a look at the biggest winners and losers from the show last night.
Losers: Kevin Owens and SmackDown itself
Kevin Owens was riding high after his victory over Shane McMahon at SummerSlam. So naturally, he loses to Samoa Joe at the next opportunity. Though the loss may not have been clean, there was still no purpose to it other than to extend the Shane McMahon feud.
In other words, it's exactly the thing that needed to be avoided at all costs.
This only means that Shane McMahon's presence on television will continue. We remember very well how extended and pointless his and Kevin Owens' 2017-18 feud became. It started out hot, but quickly devolved into meaninglessness that lasted six months too long.
Are we on the same track this time? That's exactly the place WWE shouldn't want to be in as it heads into the fall season with the blue brand on Fox. A simple role reversal isn't going to be able to save this from becoming just as bad if it's allowed to continue on too long like before.
Shane McMahon should have been removed from WWE television after SummerSlam, but instead, he's staying, at least for a little while longer. That can't be good news for the blue brand, no matter how you want to spin it.
Loser: Ember Moon
This was a good match, as we should have expected between these two performers, but it's probably a safe bet that Ember Moon's time in the title picture is over for the foreseeable future.
She instead served as fuel to warm up Charlotte Flair for yet another title shot. Charlotte capitalized on her momentum after her victory over Trish Stratus, but she was always going to be a main event threat anyway.
Ember Moon definitely lost more than Charlotte gained, though no one should be surprised by the result.
Winner: Buddy Murphy
That's how you make a SmackDown debut that packs a punch. Finally, after waiting since April, Buddy Murphy showed up on SmackDown television, and he showed up in a big way.
Sure, he didn't win, but he gave Roman Reigns his best match of 2019 and came close to winning. He looks like he hasn't lost a step at all in the past four months.
Later, Daniel Bryan and Rowan attacked him again, suggesting his continued involvement in this high-profile angle. He'll at least get to shine in the King of the Ring tournament that begins next week.
Fans unfamiliar with the "best kept secret" now have a hint of what he can do.
