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Payback 2020 just seems like a very hastily put-together pay-per-view event considering that it comes our way only a week after WWE SummerSlam 2020, and honestly, this week's episode of WWE SmackDown did very little to get us pumped for another WWE pay-per-view until the very end of the broadcast. There is no excitement at all for the WWE Universe, since that they are still reeling from the events of the SummerSlam and while there was nothing wrong with this episode of WWE SmackDown, it simply wasn't extraordinary until the final moments.
Please let us know if you are kicked about Payback 2020, and why such is the case in the comments section below. Also, as someone who, one assumes, watches WWE SmackDown on a regular basis, how would you say this week's episode of WWE SmackDown compares to your standard weekly fare, ladies, and gentlemen?
Without further ado, it's time to begin this week's review.
#1 Best: Big change in character for WWE SmackDown star, Alexa Bliss?
Alexa Bliss has not been herself since her brief interaction with The Fiend, and to be fair nobody is the same once they come into contact with the most fiendish presence on WWE SmackDown. Tamina asked about the well being of Alexa Bliss, which was weird, but it was great to see Alexa Bliss revert to a former persona, where even Nikki Cross, formerly of SAnitY, was terrified of the change in her tag team partner.
Tom Colohue of Sportskeeda was first to the scoop and we may very well see a big change in Alexa Bliss' persona, where she becomes Abby The Witch, the Funhouse version of Sister Abigail. This is a very exciting development and certainly one of the biggest highlights on WWE SmackDown.
#1 Worst: WWE SmackDown stars Drew Gulak and Shorty G are both involved in squash matches
The current WWE SmackDown roster is so packed and loaded with talent galore that sometimes, it just seems like some of the most talented individuals on WWE SmackDown are treated rather poorly. Drew Gulak has proved himself time and time again, but it just doesn't seem like Vince McMahon and Bruce Prichard can see him as anything but a lower-card performer in the WWE SmackDown roster, at the moment.
And while Drew Gulak has only been a Cruiserweight Champion thus far, there's another Champion on WWE SmackDown who has held a lot of tag team gold, who had a pretty poor showing against Matt Riddle and his name is Shorty G.
Matt Riddle and Shorty G could have torn the house down with a modern-day classic had they been given the time to showcase their wares this week.
Unfortunately, on this week's episode of WWE SmackDown, both of these former champions were treated very poorly and one can't see their situation improving over the next few weeks.
#2 Best: Vince McMahon instructs former NWA Champion Adam Pearce to get three signatures on WWE SmackDown this week, where he meets the latest Paul Heyman guy- Roman Reigns
In response to the question that's been asked by WWE on their social media channel during the WWE SmackDown broadcast- no, we do not believe that.
Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman have had quite the history together and it is very interesting to see Paul Heyman, a man who has traditionally been associated with Brock Lesnar (who is currently on hiatus) allied with Roman Reigns in the final moments of this week's broadcast, leaving everyone watching WWE SmackDown yearning for more.
That said, it was really cool to open the show with former NWA Champion Adam Pearce, who works as a producer in WWE these days, and have him go out to collect three signatures from three very different individuals throughout the course of WWE SmackDown this week. The inclusion of Vince McMahon into the mix also made things a lot more interesting, since the boss makes very few WWE SmackDown appearances these days.
#2 Worst: The events of the WWE SmackDown main event match
6-man tag team matches are somehow always a little underwhelming because there is never that one focused storyline that fans can sink their teeth into, at least on WWE SmackDown. And so the WWE main event match this week, which we went into with a very real and engaging storyline between Big E and The Miz devolved into your typical WWE SmackDown comedy fare with the inclusion of Heavy Machinery. And the way that Sheamus walked out midway through the match honestly did not do anyone any favors either.
If anything, we are a lot less enthused about The Miz vs. Big E now, after everything that happened on WWE SmackDown this week.
The problem with WWE SmackDown and even with AEW to an extent is the reliance on bad comedy to tell its stories. Just like the MJF vs. Jon Moxley feud has been affected by the inclusion of a lawyer and an assistant who smiles constantly, so has this serious WWE SmackDown feud with the inclusion of several comedy elements.
#3 Best: The return of Sami Zayn to WWE SmackDown, a man who still considers himself to be the WWE Intercontinental Champion
The return of Sami Zayn to WWE SmackDown was eclipsed by what happened with Roman Reigns at the end of the WWE SmackDown broadcast but was still a very eventful return, in its own right. One has to be glad that WWE remembered that he was once in a faction with Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura, two men who were not interested in working with him again, from the looks of it.
A feud between Sami Zayn and Jeff Hardy should be great since both men are fantastic storytellers in the ring and Zayn is a heel through and through, who would be focused on destroying the already injured leg of Jeff Hardy. We are in for some very exciting times on WWE SmackDown in the weeks ahead.
What did you think of this week's episode of WWE SmackDown? Please share a comment below and voice your thoughts and opinions, as we head into Payback 2020.
