SmackDown has the biggest prize the WWE has ever had in the championship that Dean Ambrose holds but how did the blue brand do compared to the stellar show put on last night by the red brand?
Let’s just say Raw won this week with Balor having a really happy birthday and Sasha Banks taking the reigns of the Women’s Division. SmackDown was boasted to be the show of the underdog with a much younger roster and some parts of it did stand out.
Here are the 5 points to note from SmackDown Live -
The Show of the Underdog
This show of the Underdog has an underdog himself running it, to its credit. So, the night began with deciding who Ambrose’s next challenger will be. Just like Raw, participants were picked in a Six Man Challenge. Cena, Styles, Ziggler, Corbin and Bray Wyatt automatically qualified. To determine the sixth one, they had a Battle Royal. Apollo Crews won
Ziggler delivered a promo later on about how he had lost his way for a while and tonight is the night where he’ll begin again. And that was just an insight into what would happen later on in the main event.
Ziggler delivered a Superkick to AJ Styles for the pin and the win. And for the first time in a long time, Ziggler looks to capture the biggest prize in the company.
The Women’s Division
While Raw has a new main championship for its men’s division, the Women’s division on SmackDown doesn’t have a championship. Sasha Banks won the title on Raw but will the women be introduced to a new championship since the men have?
Don’t know about that yet, but the show did introduce us to some of the women who comprise that division. After Becky Lynch defeated Natalya and began to talk, she was interrupted by Alexa Bliss followed by Naomi, then Carmella and finally Eva Marie.
Old Stars
SmackDown was about newer stars but this night's biggest moments apart from Ziggler winning were about the return of old stars. Rhyno came out to gore Heath Slater, who was out there ranting about nobody picking up during the draft.
He is a free agent it seems and he wants somebody to sign him. Shane McMahon came out to ask Slater to submit his resume and Slater asked him to go watch the WWE Network. Apt response!Well, all that ranting got him a spear from Rhyno.
In other news Shelton Benjamin will be returning to SmackDown soon.
NXT No Show
The NXT stars who were drafted did not have as much of a great night as the NXT draft picks to Raw. Finn Balor and Nia Jax had a momentous night while Alexa Bliss was just introduced in a little promo overpowered by other women. The American Alpha were not even in the show and they’ll be making their debuts next week.
But it should be noted that maybe this is a good tactic by Smackdown. If they had NXT come through in a blaze of glory on the first night of SmackDown Live, it won’t be considered much different from Raw.
Orton returns to action
It’s great SmackDown has Miz and Maryse. They’re constant entertainment and such a natural at playing heels. Miz introduced his first guest for the first night of SmackDown Live - himself.
The couple were going about being narcissistic until Randy Orton returned and issued a challenge to the man who once main evented WrestleMania and beat John Cena. Maryse couldn’t take much of Orton’s insults and accepted on Miz’s behalf.
The match ended quickly with two RKOs, though only one was needed to enter Viperville. But Miz gets a bonus for selling.
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