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We break down the best, the worst, and the downright ugliest moments on the latest edition of WWE SmackDown LIVE. From the SmackDown return of James Ellsworth to an impressive Five-Man Gauntlet Match to the debut of Sanity, we leave no stone unturned in our entertaining and widely read coverage of Tuesday's hottest professional wrestling show.
The Good - Hear The Women Roar
It's hard to believe that less than half a decade ago the WWE women's roster was largely considered the company's bathroom breaks. It was common for lines of fans to head to the bathroom or concession stands during women's matches. That's not a knock on WWE fans either. With pillow fights, lingerie matches, and stripteases, WWE's women were treated more like eye candy than as serious athletes on par with the male roster.
Things have undoubtedly changed and wrestling fans need to look no further than this week's episode of SmackDown LIVE for some pretty overwhelming evidence. The first half hour of the show (or 25% of SmackDown LIVE) was dominated by WWE women.
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SmackDown opened with a former women's champion, a wrestling legend, Paige, in a position of power and authority as the brand's General Manager. Then SmackDown LIVE transitioned to its first in-ring segment, largely considered one of the most important weekly segments on the show.
That segment was dominated by SmackDown Women's Champion Carmella and The Empress of Tomorrow Asuka. After Asuka levelled James Ellsworth to the ground (impressive) and mixed it up with Carmella, women were featured yet again as Billie Kay of the IIconics took on none other than the Irish Lass Kicker Becky Lynch.
In 2018 WWE, women are not only on par with their male counterparts; but, are oftentimes reaching beyond them. Given a whopping 25% of the show in the earliest part of SmackDown LIVE sets the tone for the entire broadcast. It's during this part of the show where most viewers decide to tune or tune out & it was dominated by the women of the WWE. This not only shows the high amount of faith the WWE has in these women; but, that thankfully and most importantly times most certainly have changed.
The Good - The return of James Ellsworth
James Ellsworth returned to SmackDown LIVE much like he did this past Sunday's Money in the Bank pay-per-view, with a masterful skill in impression and a flair for the dramatic. Donning a fur coat and an Asuka mask, fans were buffaloed into believing that Asuka was making her way into the ring to confront the SmackDown Women's Champion. Instead, Ellsworth peeled back his mask to reveal that it was indeed the chinless one. "No one was ready for Ellsworth, especially not Asuka," Ellsworth teased.
Ellsworth is the sidekick Carmella needs. His gift for gab and the unparalleled ability for annoyance adds to the Carmella character. Carmella is good on her own; but, Ellsworth makes her a multi-dimensional champion the same way Ric Flair once did for his daughter Charlotte.
Carmella believes she is the greatest wrestler the world has ever seen and isn't afraid to tell anyone within earshot. Ellsworth is her promo man & is Don King-esque in the promotion of his champion.
Ellsworth told the stunned Toledo, Ohio crowd that Carmella was better than Charlotte Flair, Lita, Trish Stratus, Ronda Rousey, Asuka, Mother Teresa, and heaven forbid, Beyonce. Then he stood toe to toe with Asuka and paid the price for it, enduring a crippling kick to the bread basket.
Ellsworth provides entertainment and quality television, an essential concept many wrestlers fail to grasp.
The Good - Team Hell No Tease
Before SmackDown LIVE's epic 5-Man Gauntlet Match to determine the number one contender to A.J. Styles' WWE Championship, Daniel Bryan engaged in a bizarre stare down with the Bludgeon Brothers. As Bryan made his way to the ring, the SmackDown Tag Team Champions were making their exit after a successful title defense against Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows. Bryan stood between the two behemoths, locking eyes before quickly making his way to the ring.
Ultimately it was The Bludgeon Brothers that cost Daniel Bryan his WWE Championship opportunity. The duo ruthlessly attacked Daniel Bryan after his count out victory over Samoa Joe, leaving him incapacitated and easy prey for The Miz, who capitalized by hitting Bryan with the Skull Crushing Finale for a pinfall victory.
One must ask themselves why Daniel Bryan, a singles competitor, would be engaging with a tag team at all? What would the WWE hope to gain by such an angle? Who would Bryan possibly team up with to combat the Bludgeon Brothers? Even if Bryan scoured the SmackDown LIVE roster for a partner, most on the roster would stand intimidated in the enormous shadows of The Bludgeon Brothers.
Although Kane is currently running for Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee he is still under contract with the WWE. He and Bryan have great chemistry; having previously teamed as Team Hell No. The seven-footer Kane, having faced the likes of The Undertaker, wouldn't stand intimidated by the towering Bludgeon Brothers.
One may argue that Kane's own hellish presence would put the Bludgeon Brothers in the awkward position of being intimidated themselves. Ultimately the return of Kane could give Daniel Bryan an impressive advantage over a team that has run roughshod over the SmackDown tag team division.
The Good - Rusev Day
It's difficult to comprehend; but, Rusev has never had a one on one match for the WWE Championship. Since debuting on the RAW roster in 2014, Rusev has established himself as one of the greatest United States Champions in history; but, was relegated to the mid-card, despite showing promise early on in his WWE career.
After floundering on the mid-card for some time, Rusev struck gold in his partnership with former Vaudevillain Aiden English. The two forgotten castaways teamed up to create Rusev Day and the Bulgarian Brute hasn't looked back since.
With Rusev Day now being a household name among wrestling fans, many in the WWE Universe wondered if Rusev would ever receive the world championship opportunity that they believed he readily deserved. That day has finally arrived as Rusev defeated The Miz to become the new #1 contender to A.J. Styles' WWE Championship.
Will Rusev defeat A.J. Styles at Extreme Rules? Why not? He has certainly paid his dues and rumour has it that the event takes place on Rusev Day.
The Bad - No Nikki Cross
Sanity finally made their long awaited SmackDown LIVE debut in impressive fashion. Killian Dain, Alexander Wolfe, and Eric Young made impressive quick work of the Uso Brothers. Still, something was missing and that something was none other than NXT Superstar Nikki Cross.
When Sanity was called up to the SmackDown roster, they made the trip without their long-time comrade Cross. It was said that Cross still had more work to do in NXT and that while she was still a member of Sanity, wouldn't be making her main roster debut alongside her twisted brethren.
Cross just lost an NXT Women's Championship opportunity at TakeOver: Chicago. In fact, she was rendered unconscious by NXT Women's Champion Shayna Baszler, which led many to speculate that the feud between the two women was now over, leaving Cross open for a main roster call-up.
The opportunity was ripe to bring Cross up with Sanity; but, the WWE failed to do so and instead left fans scratching their heads wondering why the beloved NXT group was short one key member. Is it even Sanity anymore without Nikki Cross?
The Ugly - "Give Up!"
We understand and oftentimes appreciate when WWE Superstars stay true to their characters. For the most part, heels should portray themselves as villainous and baby faces should be smiling, posing for pictures, signing autographs, and kissing babies.
Carmella's comments on this episode of SmackDown LIVE; however, cross the proverbial line. After feigning childhood struggles and low self-esteem growing up, the heel champion openly laughed and told the Toledo, Ohio audience that she has always thought of herself as the bees knees. Then she took it a step too far. Carmella spewed some pretty awful advice that could be misconstrued by fans that do struggle with low self-esteem. She screeched, "Just give up!"
With suicide rates among teens at its highest point in decades, Carmella should simply know better. As PG programming, the WWE should also know better and demand more from their talents, even their heels.
Carmella's comments stand in stark contrast to her RAW counterpart Alexa Bliss, also a heel. The RAW Women's Champion recently tweeted the following:
Anyone struggling that may have been hurt by Carmella's comments would be wise to ignore the misguided remarks and follow Bliss advice instead. Not only is it kind; but, it is accurate. You do matter, you are important, you are loved, and your presence on this earth does make a difference.
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