'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The final episode of WWE SmackDown before Elimination Chamber was a rather fun show. There were aspects to the show that could have been done better, of course, but then again, there is always room for improvement when it comes to just about any television show.
The two hours flowed by quite quickly and one cannot complain about WWE SmackDown not being eventful at all. A lot of things happened on this week's edition, leading us into Elimination Chamber.
So, if you had to rate WWE SmackDown on a scale of 1-10, how much would you rate it? Please let us know in the comments section below.
Also, who do you think it should be that Edge challenges at WrestleMania?
#1 Best: There's something intriguing about WWE SmackDown star Apollo Crew's slow-burn heel turn
The first heel turn of the night came from WWE SmackDown star Apollo Crews, who has been showing heelish tendencies thus far but has not embraced the darkness within him yet. In fact, this week, he even made a reference to his ancestors belonging to Nigerian Royalty, which immediately gives him a distinct persona, separating him from the pack.
We have always known that Apollo Crews can do moves that the human mind cannot even conceive. We've also known that he's not been averse to bending the rules before, and was even spotted backstage with Roman Reigns not long ago.
That said, the attack that he launched on Big E this week, which meant that the Intercontinental Champion had to be stretchered out, was a long-time coming and a culmination of weeks of interesting developments.
This is the best that the young man from Nigeria has looked in his whole WWE career, and a grudge match against Big E will be absolute money.
#1 Worst: An unfortunate problem with the second WWE SmackDown heel turn
Something just feels a little off about the second WWE SmackDown heel turn, this time from Gable and Otis. There was no explanation as to why Otis could go from a lovable, affable babyface to a vicious heel without any prior urging.
Also, is it the best idea to turn Chad Gable heel once more, after he was presented as a lackey for King Corbin on WWE SmackDown not long ago? He took the King's ransom and turned heel, and then turned face again and is a heel once more.
It was less than a year ago that Otis, as a babyface, won the affection of Mandy Rose at WrestleMania and also, became Mr. Money in the Bank. Does the WWE SmackDown creative team have no idea about what to do with him at all?
This is the same team that told a compelling story with Apollo Crews and then turned Otis heel with no warning. Let's hope they get this right.
#2 Best: Reginald pins a current Champion on WWE SmackDown, and some conspiracy is afoot
Did Reginald turn face on WWE SmackDown this week? Is he so smitten by Sasha Banks, as the WWE SmackDown commentary team implied on this week's show, that he has dumped Carmella for The Boss? Or, as the backstage interaction with Carmella proved, is Reginald playing a long game on WWE SmackDown?
Even if it's never the best idea in the world to have the WWE SmackDown Women's Champion team up with the winner of the Royal Rumble match, this match was entertaining enough to warrant a 'best'.
The best kind of story is the one that keeps you guessing, whether it's in a novel, a movie, or even in the world of sports entertainment. The question of Reginald's loyalty, as to whether he is a face or he is pretending to be one, is compelling. It may not be in the same league as The Usual Suspects or Twelve Angry Men, but it's still a fun little story.
#2 Worst: The Billie Kay situation on WWE SmackDown right now
The idea of Billie Kay playing both sides on WWE SmackDown is fine, but the execution of the storyline has been really poor. Kay has proved since she split up from The IIconics, that she is the R-Truth of the women's division. She has an innate ability for comedy that almost nobody else in the roster has, that needs to be capitalized on.
All comedy characters in the WWE SmackDown roster tend to be cast at a certain level and Billie Kay runs the risk of being cast in this role until the company has no idea what to do with her.
Look at what happened with Otis on WWE SmackDown this week. Let's hope that the company decides that Billie Kay is deserving of a full-fledged storyline and decides to give it to her. Also, what do you guys think of the Natalya and Tamina pairing?
Do you guys think that the two of them could be good challengers for Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler?
#3 Best/Worst: What did Roman Reigns whisper in Edge's ear on WWE SmackDown?
Edge was the best thing about WWE SmackDown this week, whether it was in the opening segment or the backstage interactions. In fact, speaking about backstage interactions, did you catch the snide reference to Chris Jericho and the list, when all the babyface participants of the main event match were talking?
And yet, something about drawing out the inevitable, when we know that the WrestleMania clash will be a spear vs. spear match just seems tiresome. The backstage segments with Edge on WWE SmackDown were awesome, but the drama of not naming his opponent is not enticing.
Catch Rick and Sid from SK Wrestling reviewing WWE SmackDown on our YouTube Channel by clicking on the link shared above. Be sure to leave a comment about what you liked and what you disliked about this week's show in the section below. Also, let us know who you see winning the two Elimination Chamber matches, and do you think the WWE SmackDown match winner will defeat Roman Reigns?
