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WWE SmackDown after WrestleMania did not deliver according to our expectations, but it was still a much better show than RAW from earlier this week. We seemingly got to know Roman Reigns’ next challenger. The show also confirmed that the title feud between Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks is not yet over.
This article will look at the superstars who impressed us on WWE SmackDown and those who didn’t.
#1 Impressed on WWE SmackDown: Cesaro
The opening segment of WWE SmackDown saw Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, and Jey Uso sing praises about themselves. They were reminiscing in The Tribal Chief’s WrestleMania glory before Cesaro walked out. The Swiss Cyborg defeated Seth Rollins in the biggest singles match of his career at the recently-concluded pay-per-view. Now, he has eyes on Roman Reigns.
Unfortunately, the Universal Champion was not impressed. He left the ring even before Cesaro could address him. The latter was unhappy with the disrespect and demanded a non-title match against Reigns. However, Heyman later confirmed that Cesaro would have to face Uso in the main event of WWE SmackDown instead.
Roman Reigns instructed Jey Uso to ‘take care of the business' as usual, but Cesaro had come prepared. He unleashed a ruthless side to his personality while facing Uso inside the ring. Cesaro went for hard-hitting kicks and continuously tested his opponents’ resilience. He also took a lot of punishment through the match that accounted for a balanced bout on WWE SmackDown.
Although Jey Uso looked brutal in his attacks, Cesaro was far from backing down. He confidently fought to prove himself worthy of being involved in the biggest feud on WWE SmackDown. His Neutralizer was particularly pleasing to the eye this week owing to its precision. Towards the end, a riled-up Cesaro almost had Uso in his clutch and was going for the Swing before Rollins attacked him.
As a result, the match ended in disqualification while Rollins continued to scream that things aren’t over between him and Cesaro. It would be interesting to see how The Swiss Cyborg will navigate his way around Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, and by the looks of it, Seth Rollins. Things are heating up for Cesaro on WWE SmackDown, but it could lead to his career-defining feud in the promotion.
#2 Impressed on WWE SmackDown: Jey Uso
Jey Uso has truly cemented himself as a main-event superstar on WWE SmackDown. He once again stole the show with his performance in the match against Cesaro. Uso carried himself like a ruthless heel inside the squared circle. He came close to pinning The Swiss Cyborg on multiple occasions.
At one point in the match, Jey Uso hit a devastating neckbreaker that visibly rocked his opponent. He went for the pinfall, but Cesaro kicked out right in time. A frustrated Uso then turned more ferocious in his attack. He even tried to trash talk, but Cesaro responded with a thunderous slap on WWE SmackDown. Jey Uso was equally dominant in the match until its closing moments.
Cesaro was prepared to swing him in the middle for the ring, but Seth Rollins attacked him from behind. The latter’s interference allowed Uso to escape, but he will eventually face Cesaro. He plays an instrumental role in ensuring that Roman Reigns’ Universal Championship reign doesn’t end on WWE SmackDown. That being said, Jey Uso deserves a lot of credit for his singles run on the Blue brand.
#3 Impressed on WWE SmackDown: Kevin Owens
This week’s episode of WWE SmackDown confirmed that the feud between Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn is far from over. The two superstars previously faced each other at WrestleMania 37, where KO picked up the win. He once again faced Zayn on the Blue brand this week and delivered an exciting match. Both superstars looked strong throughout their in-ring encounter.
Sami Zayn looked more vicious in his offense, and it fetched a brilliant response from Owens. Both superstars share a long history and are close friends, which adds so much more to their in-ring chemistry. From brutalizing each other inside the squared circle to using the announce desk for risky maneuvers, Zayn and KO did it all on WWE SmackDown this week.
Kevin Owens ultimately won the match via count-out after Zayn refused to return to the ring. Hence, KO was not satisfied with the win, and he chased Zayn up the ramp. He brought Zayn back into the ring and delivered a Stunner. His opponent is now expected to respond next week. The best part about this feud on WWE SmackDown is that Sami Zayn is finally involved in a rivalry that does justice to his in-ring talent.
#4 Impressed on WWE SmackDown: The Street Profits
Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode successfully defended their WWE SmackDown tag team titles against The Street Profits this week. The two teams engaged in an intense match which saw several great spots. Both Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins deserve credit for taking the fight to the champions, and they even came close to reclaiming the title during the match.
Ziggler and Roode were also incredible inside the ring this week. The WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions synced their offense brilliantly and allowed their opponents enough room to showcase their full potential. After a well-balanced bout, the match’s closing moments saw Ziggler deliver a Zig Zag and pin Ford to retain the tag team titles.
The Street Profits looked promising, and they will continue to pose a huge threat in the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship picture. However, they might have to wait before they get another shot at the title. The Alpha Academy and The Mysterios have also gained momentum. Both teams are looking to get their hands on Ziggler and Roode in a championship match.
#1 and #2 Flopped on WWE SmackDown: Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax
This week on WWE SmackDown, Shayna Baszler faced Natalya in a singles match. The latter came out on top after pinning one-half of the Women’s Tag Team Champions. This match barely lasted for two minutes, and Baszler once again took the pinfall following an underwhelming match. The match was not long enough to establish Natalya as a strong contender either.
Both superstars started with hard-hitting offenses, but their bout was soon limited to the mat. They tried to punish each other using submission maneuvers but struggled to gain complete control. The finish to the match was also messy as Baszler went for Kirifuda Clutch, but Natalya rolled her up out of nowhere for a big win on WWE SmackDown.
Following this match, Nia Jax tried to attack Natalya but was easily taken out by Tamina. It is expected that Natalya and Tamina will get another shot at the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. However, the creative should ensure that Jax and Baszler don't lose all their credibility in this feud. Next week, they should make a strong return on WWE SmackDown to face an improved Tamina and a driven Natalya.
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