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My colleague Gary Cassidy claimed during this week's episode of SmackDown that this episode had flown by fast. I certainly believed that to be the case because of the horror-movie like storyline between The Miz and The Fiend, as well as memorable moments like Mandy Rose removing Alexa Bliss' eyelashes during their match.
But the way that SmackDown ended has to be the most noteworthy event from the show. Roman Reigns defeated Dolph Ziggler in the main event of the evening and then was assaulted by the porters who carried King Corbin to the ringside area.
The night would end with him being chained to the ring in a sense with King Corbin and Dolph Ziggler pouring dog food all over his body. It was something that was certainly a unique segment and got a lot of people talking on social media almost immediately.
So what was the whole purpose of this segment, this week on SmackDown?
#5 Ensuring that the crowd cheers for Roman Reigns
We all know that Roman Reigns was Vince McMahon's chosen one, but the audience chose to accept him as the top guy. The word started spreading that Roman Reigns could not wrestle at all, which is a bogus claim if you look at his body of work over his amazing career. But the internet believes what it wants to believe and that false narrative began to spread.
To ensure that Roman Reigns is the man that the audience cheers for, he has to be shown as the beaten-down man who's been humiliated before a packed live crowd. Corbin had said that he would humiliate Reigns and ended up doing just that. The modern crowd consists of trolls and there's always the risk that the WWE Universe will cheer for Corbin, because of how much they detest Roman Reigns as a babyface character.
#4 Justifying the violent stipulation
So, we know that there will be a table match and a chair match and a ladder match at WWE TLC. We already know that Baron Corbin will take on Roman Reigns in a TLC match considering their heated rivalry has heated to a boiling point.
But how do you justify a beloved babyface who's a real-life superhero, who's a good influence to little kids worldwide, becoming so violent to defeat his opponent? You justify it by showing two bullies ganging up on him and by showing him getting his retribution.
While I'm not necessarily sure that this is the best way to deal with bullies, I'm guessing that in the WWE Universe, it is. And therefore, someone who's a mild-mannered individual will unleash the beast in him to destroy his foes.
And in doing so, if Dolph Ziggler comes in the line of fire, he will fall too!
#3 Continuation of the 'big dog' storyline
It wasn't very long ago that we saw a man in a dog costume being brought to the ring by King Corbin to humiliate The Big Dog. Corbin has also barked and yelped in the past to humiliate his TLC opponent.
Whether or not you're a fan of this kind of humor, for the sake of continuity, WWE had to throw in the dog food as well. I'm guessing there will be a dog collar or a leash thrown in, in the go-home episode before TLC.
A lot of people consider this to be dated Vince McMahon humor, but the truth is that if you consider the wide global audience of WWE, this is the kind of stuff that people across cultures can potentially understand. It's not refined humor that the AEW or NXT audience appreciates, but it is certainly unforgettable, whether you like it or you don't!
What do you think we'll see on next week's show?
#2 Proof that it'll not be a fair fight
By the end of the night, a lot of individuals were involved in the fracas that ensued following the main event. I mean there was obviously King Corbin, but all of the men who carried him to the ring threw a few punches too. And, of course, Dolph Ziggler was also involved in the overall chaos as well.
Throw in the fact that Robert Roode is almost certain to get involved at TLC, and you know why the stipulation exists. This is going to be Roman Reigns against all odds. Dolph Ziggler was shown slathering Roman Reigns in dog food, and this proves that it won't be a fair fight at the big pay-per-view clash.
This may be another way for the WWE Creative Team and Vince McMahon to get the audience to like Roman Reigns as a top babyface. Or maybe someone like John Morrison shows up to make the big save at the pay-per-view?
#1 To make Corbin the most hated man on WWE SmackDown
WWE faces a very unique issue when it comes to their heels in the year 2019, especially with regard to fan reaction. While they may have the most stacked roster in the history of the company, with performers that tell wonderful stories, the audience cheers for whoever they want to cheer!
So, for example while AJ Styles may play a hated heel on television, the crowd may cheer for the man as they know that he's a ridiculously talented individual. The same is the case with a team like The Revival, whose matches are truly exemplary.
Baron Corbin is one of the few people that gets heel heat and moves like these will ensure that he continues to get it. Moreover, Ziggler and Roode will also receive heel heat purely by association!
Even if the audience isn't convinced with the creative, like a lot of people seem to be in this case, Corbin will feel the brunt of the anger.
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