WWE SmackDown – Review, Highlights & Analysis From 13/12/12016

After James Ellsworth showed up sick to work and was prevented from facing AJ Styles, courtesy of the flu, the show took a much more interesting direction. Some new faces got a shot at the top and it was a much needed change of scenery. What happened last night? Let’s talk SmackDown!

Miz TV

When Miz told AJ Styles that he was above his level, it made me go “Oh, WOW!” Leave it to the A-lister to deliver a punch line like that. I love Miz’s confidence and the way his hard work has been paying off lately. He deserves to be where he is –  in the spotlight.

It was a pleasant surprise to see Luke Harper enter the picture. Some attention after his return is good. I was expecting him to go after the IC title, not the World title but for now, that works as well.

The one person who can’t get that shot on the last SDLive of 2016 is Ambrose. We’ve had too much of AJ vs. Ambrose. We need a break from this feud.

Carmella def. Natalya

Carmella is getting better and better in the ring, I must say. With the way she plays her character, she has become one of the brightest stars in the SmackDown Women’s Division.

Natty is denying these allegations too rigorously and Nikki is too unwilling to believe it was Natalya, so in the end, the attacker might end up being Natty after all. I was starting to suspect an underlying twist but the way things are going, the storyline will be straightforward.

Nikki, for all her years in the WWE, is still terrible at acting. How could she possibly be that fake in every exchange?!

Tag Team #1 Contender’s Battle Royal

This was one of my favourite segments of the night. The big names in the division didn’t get as much time in the ring as the lower card guys and that was yet another brilliant way of giving talent a chance to stand out. Well done, Team Blue!

Rhyno’s elimination, apart from furthering the break up of the Beauty and the Manbeast, allowed Slater to shine. I’ve never seen Heath that impressive. He stood his ground like a champ for a long time.

Fandango might have gone before Tyler Breeze but Dango had the most realistic-looking elimination. Tyler Breeze, on the other hand, delivered the most beautiful elimination when he kicked Jason Jordan out of the way in the most spectacular fashion.

Prince Pretty played smart and lasted a long time. It took three consecutive elimination attempts to get rid of him and when Konnor finally pushed him out, the crowd booed. Breezango could be big, if given the chance.

The Hype Bros were the obvious winners when you look at the final three because they were the only face team left and the champs are heel. However, The Ascension vs. The Wyatt Family sounded like a much better feud. What if they are both heel, they’d try to outheel each other and it would be great!

Becky Lynch def. Alexa Bliss

Bliss tried to run away and the faked out an injury to get out of the actual fight. I know she’s heel but antics ala The Miz usually get quite tiresome very quickly. I expected something different from Alexa’s reign. I thought Bliss would be more of a fighting fury.

I’m not feeling the Bliss vs. Lynch feud. Something’s missing. Their matches are good but the rivalry feels weak.

Dolph Ziggler def. Dean Ambrose, The Miz & Luke Harper

The main event was great! No man was left behind. Everyone looked outstanding.

The way Ambrose eliminated the Miz was perfection. It was a case of what goes around, comes around and it felt god to see the A-lister taste his own medicine.

It made me laugh when Ambrose was trying to pull off some fancy spins on the apron and Luke Harper just floored him. Harper took the opportunity that was given to him and ran with it. I was rooting for him to win all along. Harper vs. Styles would be a dream match. However, realistically, you can’t expect to have the disciple in the main event while the master is a tag team champ.

What Miz was trying to do in the end is beyond me. I know what happened but Miz’s actual intentions  – I don’t know. His interference made no sense. He doesn’t like both guys, why help either of them? Plot convenience – that’s why!

Ziggler will make a good opponent for AJ Styles. It will be a beautiful match and Ziggler will lose it in a spectacular way. It’s predictable but it will be a nice piece of wrestling to watch.

 

What are your impressions from SmackDown? Share your thoughts in the comment section, on FB, or Twitter!

WWE SmackDown – Review, Highlights & Analysis From 06/12/2016

You were promised to see two championship defences on SmackDown and you got them; just not the ones you expected. How did the Blue Brand deal with the aftermath of TLC? Here’s what happened and my review on it! Let’s talk SDLive!

AJ Styles/ James Ellsworth/ Dean Ambrose

Despite my creeping annoyance with the James Ellsworth angle, I couldn’t help but laugh at the dramatic video package, depicting the Ambrose/Styles/Ellsworth feud. The situation is so ridiculous at the moment that it’s hard to take it seriously. That might be what the WWE are aiming for.

Ambrose did the most natural thing – took Ellsworth out. This way AJ Styles didn’t have to compete that night, which gave the champ some time to get his ankle injury fixed. It was a genuinely good way to work around the problem.

The Wyatt Family def. Rhyno & Heath Slater

That was total domination on the part of the Wyatt Family. Orton and Wyatt manhandled their opponents in such unquestionable manner that it’s difficult to imagine how the rest of the division will have any chance of success whatsoever.

It’s a shame that Rhyno and Heath won’t stay a team after that. On Talking Smack, Rhyno walked out on his partner. I struggle to see either one of them with a good solo career after that. Rhyno is too old for a push and Heath is, well, Heath. The WWE’s always used him as a jobber.

Carmella/Natalya

Carmella blamed Natalya and Natalya denied being behind the attack. I thought it was Natty all along but the way this angle is starting to play out, I won’t be shocked if it turns out to be someone completely unrelated like Eva Marie, for example.

Nikki and Natty’s acting backstage was so cringe-worthy. The exchange couldn’t have looked more fake if they tried.

The Hype Bros def. The Ascension

New face paint, new promos and then another loss. Why do I even bother hoping for the Ascension? Even the brand split didn’t help these two.

I can see the Hype Bros getting a mini push, in order to feed them to the Wyatt Family after that. I definitely don’t see Ryder & Mojo champs though.

Miz TV

Miz played the devil’s advocate here but he had a point. Realistically, Ambrose did use Ellsworth for his own goals.

The participation award cracked me up. I think they tried to make it as cheap-looking as possible, I see no other explanation because normally the Miz would have it look all sleek and glamorous.

Booking Ambrose vs. Miz for the IC title? It was a good way to give the fans a title match as promised, even though AJ Styles couldn’t wrestle that night.

Baron Corbin def. Kalisto

Oh, wow. Baron Corbin just destroyed Kalisto. At some point before TLC, I was beginning to think that this was all about making Kalisto stand out but I was wrong. The Lone Wolf is the only winner in this feud.

Why invest in Corbin so much though? Could he be in the mix for the WWE World Championship? I wouldn’t mind seeing that after the Ellsworth angle is over.

Chad Gable def. Tyler Breeze

Gable owned Tyler Breeze. It was an interesting match because we hadn’t seen it before but the outcome was predictable.

I was hoping that Breezango would get something out of this gimmick change but apparently not, unless you count jobbing in slightly longer matches as an improvement.

After this match I’d expect to see Fandnago vs. the Cable jokes flood the internet. If they don’t it would only show how little popularity Dango has.

Alexa Bliss/ Becky Lynch

Ha! That actually was a good exchange. It wasn’t long but it was emotionally charged. My problem is that Becky isn’t very believable. She talks a lot but she has been booked to lose so many times that her words lost value.

Alexa will be a good heel champion. She’ll bring to the title what Miz brought to his.

The Miz def. Dean Ambrose

The main event wasn’t great. I don’t think the Miz and Dean Ambrose complement each other in the ring. The effect was that Ambrose oversold Miz’s offence and it killed any suspense.

Ambrose is too big of a star to be beaten by the Maryse factor. However, it was Ellsworth again who cost him the match. I can’t say I didn’t see that coming. It just had to happen.

Ellsworth was fun in the begging but the plot is getting thinner and thinner every week. It has to end before the fans lose all interest in the story.

 

What are your impressions from WWE SmackDown? Share your thoughts in the comment section, on FB , or Twitter!

WWE SmackDown – Review, Highlights & Analysis From 25/10/2016

SDLive produced another cracking episode, filled with unforeseen twists and turns. The Wyatt Family might be getting another member; Nikki Bella rips off John Cena and James Ellsworth remains vital to the show, just not in the way he wants. What else happened on the show? Let’s talk SmackDown!

Bray Wyatt def. Kane

Let’s just being by noting that the show opened with a no DQ match. That’s the way to kick-off the night!

No one was surprised when Luke Harper came out to attack Kane, or when Randy Orton got involved. It all started to look off when Harper just left Bray, instead of defending him from the Viper; but the real shocker came when Orton RKOed Kane.

It later on appeared to be the case of “if you can’t beat them, join them”.  However, the storyline’s future isn’t that clear just yet.

It might be the same turn of events as in the Daniel Bryan storyline with the Wyatts but it could also be a doorway to a Bray Wyatt face turn. What if Randy takes the Family away from him and preys on him after that? It would be brilliant and unexpected.

Becky Lynch/ Alexa Bliss

Becky’s back and that’s good news. The segment was good. The girls have great chemistry and the exchange worked well. It didn’t come off forced or boring.

Bliss stood tall at the end and that was important. It won her some heel heat and a huge doze of momentum.

The crowd loves Becky and this feud will help her shine as a babyface.

The Hype Bros def. The Ascension

It’s good that the Ascension are starting to look strong again. The way they manhandled Ryder in the first half of the match reminded me of their NXT days.

Mojo Rawley was the hot tag and brought victory to his team but he was in front of a home crowd and it helped the atmosphere of the match.

It would have been better to have had the Hype Bros lose because it would have brought some booing to the Ascension by MoJo’s crowd. However, it’s not that much of an issue. Next time around, the Ascension should win though.

Nikki Bella def. Natalya

Poor Natalya never stood a chance of joining Team Blue at Survivor Series. With everything going on with Nikki Bella, there was no way Nikki was not making the PPV.

Powering out of an impossible submission and then hitting the STF? Nikki pulled off a blatant John Cena. I don’t know what made her agree to this storyline but it’s awesome. The only issue is that Carmella sounds more and more like the honest face in this.

Speaking of Carmella, she was brilliant. She came out of nowhere and hit Nikki with her own move. Great booking!

Looking further on, Team SD might struggle at Survivor Series because with Nikki and Carmella most likely on the team, they’ll be too dysfunctional to win.

Rhyno & Heath Slater def. The Spirit Squad

Seeing Miz, Ziggler and Slater in the same ring, doing a segment that actually matters was a feel-good moment and a victory for the wrestling fans. This is the epitome of success in the New Era.

Miz was brilliant, hiding behind Maryse at all times. His annoying heel persona is hilarious.

Slater and Rhyno retained but they could have actually lost and people would have accepted it. This is how well the storyline has been built.

It’s smart to have Dolph and Miz feud at the background. Taking a step back helps the feud retain the fans’ interest without disappointing.

AJ Styles def. Dean Ambrose

That was one of Ambrose and Styles’ better matches. The action just flowed and AJ was brilliant in his combinations. They made each other look good and it seemed to inspire them to do more. Even Ambrose’s clothesline looked truly efficient last night.

Having Ellsworth cost Ambrose the match was an example of good, old-school booking. It was expected but the fans wanted to see the No Chin Music again.  Also, it was a retribution for AJ Styles, who had to lie down for Ellsworth two weeks in a row.

Overall, the show was brilliant. The FallOut segments with Breezango are the only thing missing from the main program. Can’t wait to see those on SmackDown!

 

What did you think of SDLive? Share your thoughts in the comment section, on FB or Twitter!

WWE SmackDown – Review, Highlights & Analysis From 18/10/2016

A light-hearted and fun edition of SmackDown followed the super hyped episode of RAW, featuring Goldberg. James Ellsworth scored victory number two over AJ Styles. What else happened last night? Let’s talk SDLive!

Randy Orton vs. Luke Harper

Randy Orton somehow moved from “I’m not buying Bray’s games” to “I’m suffocating in his world”. That change came after the appearance of Luke Harper, which is by far the least supernatural thing that Bray has pulled off. Maybe I’m thinking too much about the details.

Bray Wyatt in a coffin, surrounded by cloaked men in black? Could this get any more Undertaker-esque? Is Bray Wyatt adopting the Deadman’s persona, ot was this set up only to have Kane jump out of the casket at one point?

The match was never going to really be a match with Bray Wyatt and Kane, trying to outdo each other on the theatrical front. However, I must admit, having Kane pop out of the casket was a cool sight to see. SmackDown really is doing Kane justice.

The Wyatt Family got the last laugh by managing to disappear and save themselves but Kane and Orton looked just as strong, so the segment was well-balanced. And as a bonus, Kane suddenly has a feud on his hands too.

Alexa Bliss def. Naomi

Alexa Bliss is on a mission to rip off as many Hollywood characters as possible. First it was Harley Quinn, now – Freddy Kruger, but you know what, she’s doing a magnificent job! I would not mind if she continued doing that.

The match was good. It was long and both girls really wrestled. It’s much better than anything we got on RAW this week.

Bliss won and it was a good decision. She needs to build momentum before facing Becky for the title. Also, Naomi had to be cheated out of the victory, so she gained credibility, as well.

Curt Hawkins vs. Apollo Crews

Annoying personalized announcer as an entrance theme; excuses to run away from a debut… Did Curt Hawkins just steal Eva Marie’s gimmick? In a way, this is awesome.

Before this segment I had completely forgotten about Apollo Crews. That’s bad. Something needs to be done about this guy.

Carmella/ Nikki Bella

That was one surprisingly good promo segment. Not only the mic work was good, but it was also a plug for the Bellas’ reality shows.

I loved the way Nikki played with words.  Saying she wasn’t scared by “a boss, a queen and most definitely not by some Princess of Statham Island” was her best line in the exchange.

Carmella didn’t allow Nikki to come out of this, looking like a role model. Her last remark was what people call “burn”. Brilliant!

This rivalry is what the RAW Creative team should look at when wondering how to manage their own women.

Miz & The Spirit Squad def. Ziggler, Rhyno & Slater

For me, Miz, teaming up with the Spirit Squad is a downgrade for the feud. It was all high stakes and serious matters and now it’s a joke. However, there was no way to bring this rivalry any higher.

I was surprised that Slater took the pin. Then again, the WWE had to make us believe the Spirit Squad weren’t totally useless.

The crowd was so into this match. Slater and Rhyno are more over than I ever thought they’d be.

Baron Corbin def. Jack Swagger

That match surprised me. Baron Corbin destroyed Jack Swagger with authority. I did not expect that. It surely made Corbin look like a million bucks but I was given the impression that this rivalry was about introducing and building Swagger’s character. Interesting.

When the commentators started talking about never having seen Swagger get manhandled like that, I just wanted to ask them if they had watched any wrestling in the last few years. Then again, props for trying to make Swagger look credible.

James Ellsworth def. AJ Styles /via DQ/

The atmosphere was just ridiculous. The crowd was so invested in Ellsworth and the whole angle that the it felt like a PPV title match. Unbelievable reaction!

The jokes on commentary about AJ Styles having “kicked the chin off Ellsworth” or Ellsworth, delivering the “No Chin Music” were brilliant. It shows that someone in the WWE reads the comment sections online.

It was never a realistic option to see AJ Styles lose the title to Ellsworth but when the crowd’s favourite jobber hit that super kick ( which Styles sold like a boss), it truly was a HOLLY SHIT moment. Saying that, it might make the Slammys next time.

Ambrose, getting under AJ’s skin so deep that he made him lose control and lose via DQ to James Ellsworth, was a great piece of writing. It gave the fans something to laugh at and it also furthered the feud between the champ and the Lunatic Fringe. Well done, Smackdown!

 

What did you think of SmackDown? Share your thoughts in the comment section, on FB or Twitter!

WWE SmackDown – Review, Highlights & Analysis From 27/09/2016

Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt play a maze of minagmes and tricks; Miz pushes Dolph Ziggler to a breaking point and John Cena turns everything upside down in the WWE title picture. What else happened last night? Let’s talk SD Live!

Randy Orton/Bray Wyatt

Randy Orton found Bray Wyatt’s weakness. Fear. Whether Bray is afraid or not is meaningless. What’s important is that The Viper is not afraid. The Wyatt Family operated on causing fear through mind games and Randy Orton isn’t buying it, therefore, we are not buying it either.

This storyline makes Randy Orton look amazing but it might be the end of Bray Wyatt. His whole mystique has been built on his opponents’ willingness to believe. Now his words are more useless than ever.

The Usos & The Ascension def. American Alpha and Rhyno & Heath Slater

This match was a proof that SmackDown is far better than RAW. Everyone gets a chance on the Blue Brand. The Ascension were planted into this top tag team talent match and they didn’t look out of place or feel like jobbers.

Heath Slater actually was the hot tag, instead of Rhyno and the fans went wild. Making Slater look strong was a great idea because it helped build the credibility of the champions but also made the Usos’ victory that much more meaningful.

The Usos made a brilliant heel turn. It was a sweet show of writing talent to have the Usos tell Rhyno they were going to hurt Heath, making him eager to protect his partner and then doing what they promised successfully the week after.

Carmella & Natalya def. Nikki Bella & Naomi

The Women’s Division on SmackDown is also far more balanced than the one on RAW. Neither one of these women is a champion but they all have character and show that they matter in a fight.

The heels were stronger both personality-wise and in wrestling-wise. Nikki is by far the worst performer on the roster and her promos could not sound more fake.

Naomi’s gimmick is weak. Even she doesn’t seem to believe in “the glow” when she talks about it. She’s still struggling with finding her personality in the WWE. Unlike Carmella, who is simply rocking her new heel gimmick.

The Miz/ Dolph Ziggler

Miz has some serious love for dragging his family into feuds. I’ve never seen someone’s parents, being involved in as many segments as Miz’s.

Apart from that, the segment was unbelievable. Dolph’s emotional promo could make you tear up, as well. Somehow, suddenly, everyone cares about the Miz vs. Ziggler in one more match – something that would have been a boring filler before the brand split.

No one actually retires after a match like that but the storyline is really good. It makes people care and that’s the most important.

Becky Lynch/Alexa Bliss

Alexa Bliss ambushed Becky Lynch on the way to the ring. This storyline will make Alexa. She won’t win the title but she’ll build a name as one of the most memorable heels in the division.

Bray Wyatt/ Randy Orton

Randy Orton played Bray’s game and won. It’s a satisfactory feeling to see someone finally beat Bray at his own thing. However, as I said earlier, this feud, so beneficial for Randy Orton, will kill off any remaining credibility Bray Wyatt has.

AJ Styles def. Dean Ambrose

John Cena’s commentary was almost as crucial as the match itself. The segment really felt like an important championship match, which is hard to achieve on a SmackDown.

Styles and Ambrose delivered but it was John Cena who cost Ambrose the match. I think in the end, Ambrose will cost Cena the match at No Mercy, leaving them two to feud and AJ Styles as the champion.

It feels like Styles, despite being the champ, is the third wheel in this rivalry. Not to mention that Ambrose comes across as more important and passionate than when he was the champion himself. Regardless, it’s a good feud and it brought back much better version of John Cena.

What are your impressions from SD Live? Share your thoughts in the comment section, on FB, or Twitter!

WWE SmackDown Live – Review, Highlights & Analysis From 13/09/2016

SmackDown came back with a bang, following the Blue Brand’s extremely successful first PPV – Backlash. With SD Live came John Cena and whether that’s good or bad is still questionable. Let’s talk Smackdown!

AJ Styles/John Cena/Dean Ambrose

This segment was a disappointment. When the split happened, Ambrose won against all odds and brought the title to SmackDown. AJ Styles did the impossible and pinned John Cena clean. It looked as if SmackDown truly was turning a new page. Was all of that smokescreen, just to go back to having Cena as the WWE World Champion?

Also, Cena was wrong there, not Ambrose. When AJ ended up hung on the ropes, it was because he was trying to attack Ambrose after a match for the sake of hurting him. When Styles used a low blow it was to cheat Ambrose out of his title. Those are completely different situations.

Ambrose and Styles can stand up to John Cena on the mic and in the ring but they’ll never defeat him and that’s just sad.

The Usos def. The Hype Bros

I guess this rematch was set up to introduce heel Usos to the people who hadn’t watched Backlash. Then again, this match wasn’t as exciting as the one on Sunday.

I still am excited to see the Usos as heels. They do a good job at acting like baddies and it seems like they might become a hot topic again.

Miz/Dolph Ziggler

This segment was ridiculous. No one cares about Ziggler’s sad attempts to trigger the Miz. Also, what was that stupidity with Daniel Bryan? Isn’t he the GM? Can’t he talk to Shane and make the Miz forfeit the title, if he’s not willing to defend it. What nonsense!

Baron Corbin vs. Apollo Crews

I like the fact that Baron Corbin’s developing a character, even if it’s at the expense of Apollo Crews. At least, someone is.

Swagger, coming to SmackDown is the best thing that could have happened to him. Here he could have a chance.

I like the fact Swagger’s getting a new gimmick but it seems like he’s imitating Slater on the mic, unsuccessfully. Someone needs to remind Jack that he needs to speak into the microphone if he wants to be heard.

Alexa Bliss def. Naomi, Nikki Bella, Natalya & Carmella

Alexa’s victory cheered me up. She was my favourite all along. Her feud with Becky will be nice to watch. Bliss doesn’t get nearly as much credit, as she deserves as a wrestler. Now she’ll have the opportunity to showcase her abilities. The only thing is, there’s very little chance she’ll dethrone Becky.

It has to be said that right now SmackDown is treating its women far better than Raw. The long, repetitive promos on RAW don’t come anywhere near the entertainment value of the match we just saw.

Heath Slater Contract Signing

Heath Slater finally has a contract! That’s one storyline with a happy ending!

The WWE Universe loves Heath but the WWE has to be careful to not overdo the kids angle because from Slater’s entire promo, the line about the kids got the weakest reaction from the crowd.

Slater & Rhyno def. The Ascension

I’m pleasantly surprised that Slater and Rhyno retained. I was expecting them to lose to the Usos yesterday. Instead, they not only faced the Ascension, giving them an opportunity to shine, but also stayed champions.

Slater and Rhyno could be used to give a chance to the lesser known heel teams to prove themselves to the audience. Then the gold will pass onto the bigger names, such as the Usos and American Alpha.

Randy Orton/ Bray Wyatt

Randy Orton is right. Bray Wyatt really only talks. Bray’s gimmick works only when the opponent is scared of him but the Viper seems to be unaffected, which makes Randy look great but does Bray no favors.

I was expecting Erick Rowan to show up at Backlash, he didn’t but the SmackDown after is close enough. Still, the Viper remained looking strong, even faced with the growing Wyatt Family.

Cena & Ambrose def. Styles & the Miz

The Miz vs. John Cena? If that’s not a classic the WWE longs to see, I don’t know what is!

I didn’t enjoy the main event at all. It was blatantly obvious that Cena was going to pin the Miz in the end. This sad, stereotypical WWE booking.

Yes, Ambrose stood tall in the end but this is a one-off thing. John Cena will reign supreme, killing all that’s good about SmackDown.

 

What are your impressions from SD Live? Share your thoughts in the comment section, on FB, or Twitter!

WWE SmackDown – Review, Highlights & Analysis from 06/09/2016

The last SD Live before Backlash gave us a lot of women’s action, a heel turn and a dose of comedy. The show was slightly underwhelming but the PPV must fix that, being the first PPV of the New Era. Let’s talk SmackDown!

SD Live Women’s Championship

It’s quite obvious that the fan-favourite here is Becky. She’s the face that stood out the most.

The crowd wasn’t pleased when DB plugged Total Bellas and Nikki didn’t get the cheer she was hoping for when she showed up last, supposedly, as the most important person there.

It seemed like Nikki didn’t take Natty’s kick well and got genuinely pissed off. In general – very clumsy.

The 6-pack challenge has the potential to be amazing but it could also go very wrong. If all women end up looking strong at the end, it will be a success but if it turns out to be a show of one signature/finisher per person and then quick elimination, it will be a disappointment.

Miz def. Apollo Crews

The Miz won, employing his usual methods. Crews stood no chance and Ziggler just kept rambling about his constant losing and yet unfailing belief in himself.

The segment was a huge step down from Miz’s promo on Talking Smack. We are back to Miz, having no credibility and Dolph, playing the underdog. What they have in common is that nobody belives them anymore. Miz claims he’s no coward and Dolph – that he’s going to be champ one day. No one buys that.

Bray Wyatt

Storytime with Bray Wyatt was great last night, as usual. However, at this point, it seems like all he does is tell stories. He needs a victory at Backlash to rebuild his image.

Carmella, Natalya & Alexa Bliss def. Nikki Bella, Naomi & Becky Lynch

Nikki was terribly clumsy here too. It’s painfully obvious how much better the rest are. However, the constant focus on her and Carmella makes me worry that at Backlash Nikki might get a victory.

Naomi barely got involved. It was the same as with the first segment. There she didn’t get to talk and here she didn’t get to wrestle. Sad.

Until the ending of the match, I thought that Carmella had taken a step back since last week when she had been so fierce. However, the way she took advantage made up for it.

Becky stayed in the shadows and that was an unpleasant surprise. She carried the match without getting any spotlight. Hopefully, that won’t be the case at Backlash.

American Alpha def. The Usos

What was that? American Alpha, winning in under a minute? I actually like seeing Alpha wrestle, so I was disappointed.

The heel turn of the Usos is a delayed and desperate attempt to revive the team. However, the fans have already lost interest in the Usos and I’m not convinced the turn can change that. Anyway, it’s the best shot they have.

I’d imagine the Usos will end up facing Slater and Rhyno but Gable & Jordan will get involved, costing them the match. That would be the only way for Slater to get his contract.

Randy Orton

Ok, Randy isn’t on the same level of storytelling as Bray but we got the point. What Randy isn’t taking into account though, is that Bray has his family behind him at all times and that’s a game changer.

Fandango

This segment was the lowest point of SmackDown. It wasn’t funny and it only showed that the WWE still has jobbers on the roster, despite all the New Era promises.

Rhyno &Heath Slater def. The Hype Bros

Rhyno saved the day again, granting his team a victory. However, I find Heath Slater’s character more and more depressing. What the WWE’s portraying in him isn’t funny, it’s very sad.

At Backlash,  Slater gets a contract and a title.

Dean Ambrose/AJ Styles

I was begging for this segment to go without any balls jokes but it couldn’t. Luckily, during the second half of the exchange, Ambrose and Styles changed the tone of the conversation. Things got serious and wondered why we didn’t get that from the very beginning. It’s so much more interesting when both champion and challenger look like a threat.

I only hope that Backlash won’t end with a low blow too, although I wouldn’t be surprised if it did.

 

What are your impressions from SD Live? Share your thoughts in the comment section, on FB or Twitter!

WWE SmackDown Live – Review Highlights & Analysis From 30/08/2016

SmackDown Live continues betting on great promos and striking intensity to build up their feuds, leading up to Backlash. The IC title is finally getting some attention, while the WWE World Championship gets tangled with a little bit of comedy. This and much more! Let’s talk SmackDown Live!

Miz/Dolph Ziggler

Many were amazed by how good Miz was on the mic last week and they were still surprised to hear the IC champ deliver last night. I’m personally surprised by the fact that people didn’t know Miz had great mic skills. That’s the reason why he’s been in the WWE for so long.

The Dolph vs. Miz feud for the IC title is not new. It’s been done many times. However, the new way of writing SmackDown allows for more promo time, which charges the feud emotionally, thus making it far better than it has ever been.

The delivery in this segment was amazing. The feelings appeared real and the crowd was totally into it. Miz vs. Dolph will bring it at Backlash.

The Hype Bros def. The Vaudevillains

The Hype Bros over the Vaudevillains? This is not the way I would have booked this. The Vaudevillains have something unique and they deserve better than getting beat every time they get in the ring.

The Hype Bros will lose to Slater and Rhyno in the next round. Slater’s storyline has much more to offer than the forced pairing of Ryder & Rawley.

AJ Styles def. Apollo Crews

With the backstage segment preceding the match and Apollo, coming to confront AJ with a mic, I thought that we’d finally see some character development from Crews. Well, I was wrong. Unless spelling is his new gimmick, Crews failed to show any personality whatsoever. You can’t fault Apollo’s wrestling but personality-wise he’s a tragedy.

Styles, on the other hand, has character in abundance. He’s completely come into his own now and he’s taking the funny heel persona to a different level, without losing credibility.

Renee at Heath Slater’s place

This segment was supposed to be comedy relief but I found it sad. The more I watched the more I felt for Heath Slater. I just hope something good comes out of this for him.

Bray Wyatt/ Randy Orton

The promos were good and the segment felt intense, as it should have. However, knowing Bray Wyatt’s record, I can’t take him seriously. He talks a lot but he’s no threat because he never wins anything.

Randy, however, impressively has kept his popularity over the years. The Viper is such a legend that he always has the fans in the palm of his hand.

Alexa Bliss & Natalya def. Becky Lynch & Naomi

What can I say about this match? I’m not sold on Naomi’s clubbing gimmick. How is this making her a face? She barely does anything different than when she was a heel. The only reason I knew she was a face was because she’s tagging with Becky.

The focus wasn’t even on the match itself, it was on Nikki at ringside. Nikki Bella as a face is a horrible idea. She looks, talks and moves like an annoying heel diva. Why try to force her into a face role?

Carmella, in my opinion, is the one that stood out. The ferocity with which she went after Nikki and attitude when she boasted afterwards – she’s born to be heel. I’d like to see her a champion over Nikki any day.

Heath Salter & Rhyno def. The Headbangers

SmackDown didn’t have enough teams to fill the brackets, so they called upon a team of veterans to lose to Rhyno and Slater. It was a nice moment – seeing the Headbangers on TV again and I’m sure it was a pleasant experience for them too.

Slater took a beating and Rhyno won with one move. I think this will be the MO of this team. Despite not being that impressive, I want them to somehow win, so Slater finally gets signed. However, I can’t imagine Slater Rhyno, beating American Alpha.

The Milkman segment

With this segment everyone wondered what was going on. A random jobber, taking the stage and Kane randomly chokeslamming him, only to engage in a stare-down with Baron Cobrin. Simply WTH happened?

Whatever it was, it was unexpected and that made it fun. Randomness can be entertaining.

Baron Corbin vs. Dean Ambrose

This match was surprisingly good. It could be seen very clearly that Corbin bet on wrath and power, while the champ paid attention, calculated and outsmarted him with counters at every corner. That fueled Corbin’s anger and made his performance even better. Brilliant work!

AJ Styles got involved, saving Corbin from having to take a pin. However, the way Styles came face to face with The Lone Wolf, it seemed like Corbin might actually get involved in the feud too.

What’s with the WWE and their obsession with balls shots these days? Anyway, the manner in which Ambrose handled the segment made the ending funny, even cartoonish. Ambrose is the real deal when it comes to character and presentation.

What are your impressions from WWE SmackDown? Share your thoughts in the comment section, on FB or Twitter!

WWE SmackDown Live – Review, Highlights & Analysis From 02/08/2016

SmackDown Live answered its critics and came back swinging. The Dolph Ziggler haters were given food for thought and the WWE Champion shone in his full glory, while the Wyatt Family made their mark. Let’s talk #SDLive!

Dean Ambrose/Dolph Ziggler

That was a good segment. Despite what people say, I like the Ziggler vs. Ambrose feud. It needs no bad guy to be good. The two of them are that good at telling stories.

Ziggler finally got the chance to cut one of his fiery promos on stage, instead of an exclusive backstage. Ambrose, as well, stood out. He seems to have changed completely since becoming a champ. The Lunatic Fringe suddenly started moving with a certain air of dignity around him.

As for Bray Wyatt, that reaction was insane. The SD crowd was dead most of the time but when Bray showed up, they erupted. The charisma this man has is undeniable.

The WWE are smart. They play into the fans’ reaction and build around it. People doubt Ziggler, the WWE make this doubt a real story.

Apollo Crews def. Baron Corbin & Kalisto

It’s a standard to put a face up against a heel but realistically, the only man in the ring who currently has the credibility to carry the gold is Corbin. The only clear thing is that whatever happens, the Lone Wolf will end up with the title sooner, rather than later.

Crews is a good guy. He seems friendly and is undeniably talented. However, he lacks personality. If the WWE want him champion, they should do something about it.

Becky Lynch vs. Eva Marie

I’m not sure if this is funny or annoying. The WWE know that the fans hate Eva Marie, so they make her so incompetent that she can’t even do her own entrance.

Eva doesn’t need help when it comes to being hated but the amount of effort the WWE put in it means that they have plans for her.

American Alpha def. The Vaudevillains

I awaited eagerly this debut but I was disappointed; not by American Alpha but by the fans. Gable and Jordan were their brilliant selves but the fans were weak. The reaction was nowhere what the NXT Universe produces and that’s a damn shame because this is one of the best overall teams the WWE has to offer.

I truly hope that American Alpha will soon get the respect they deserve.

AJ Styles/ John Cena

The promo exchange was good. Truths were said and facts were used, so things got personal and it made the segment fun to watch.

I have nothing against Cena and I respect his devotion. However, the problem with his character is that no matter how good the buildup is, there are no stakes for him. He’ll always come out looking strong.

At least, Styles was strong on the mic. He hadn’t been that convincing as a heel in the WWE until last night. Breaking up the Club was a good decision.

Randy Orton vs. Fandango

Fandnago, really? The WWE didn’t even try to make this match look serious. It was all about Brock.

The invasion storyline comes early on but I like it. What’s the point of having feuding brands if no one’s going to try to screw the other show?

Heath Slater

Poor Heath! Yet, the segment was funny. Heath’s scream when Rhyno flew towards him made the entire segment. This guy is hilarious!

I want to see Slater get a push but he might be too funny to be taken seriously by the WWE.

Carmella vs. Natalya

SmackDown’s slowly building a Women’s Division. Natalya should be the top heel there. She’s surprisingly good in this role.

Yet, RAW is definitely leading on this point. The women of SDLive will need some really good storylines to compete with what’s going on on the Red Brand.

Dolph Ziggler def. Bray Wyatt

Smart. People are so used to seeing Ziggler lose when it matters that everyone thought he’d fall to Wyatt. Yet, he didn’t. That’s how you answer the critics and make a statement!

As for the ending, I found it confusing. The only explanation for Wyatt’s triumph could be that he’ll go after Ambrose post Summer Slam. He might even interrupt the Ziggler /Ambrose match, killing off Dolph’s chances.

 

What are your impressions from SDLive? Share your thoughts in the comment section, on FB or Twitter!

WWE SmackDown Live – Review, Highlights & Analysis from 26/07/2016

Following the roaring success of the first New Era RAW, SmackDown Live aired its first real episode after the Draft and the game was on! The Blue Brand not only answered the challenge, but it also raised the bar even higher. The New Era in the WWE is here and it’s awesome! Let’s talk SmackDown Live!

SmackDown Live Begins

The opening segment, starting with a walk and talk from the back of the stage, made me feel as if I’m watching the Grammies. There was a feeling of grandeur in the arena.

Dean Ambrose, standing in the middle of that ring, surrounded by everyone, pronounced as the leading man was a scene I thought I’d never see. It was a dream come true.

RAW had 8 men, competing for the big opportunity and SmackDown Live had 6 but that is normal, having in mind the roster is smaller and the runtime is more limited.

The line-up was interesting – Cena, Wyatt, Ziggler, Corbin and AJ Styles. The big names we all know but for Corbin that’s a good sign of faith. In general, the #1 contender here was harder to predict than on RAW.

Battle Royal for Spot #6

Pretty much every male on the roster was in this match. The tag teams were eliminated quickly, as expected. Then it came down to Kalisto, Apollo Crews, Kane and ZacK Ryder.

Realistically, out of those four, Kalisto is most entertaining in the ring but he wouldn’t have been a plausible opponent for the men that already were booked for the 6-Pack Challenge.

Kane is too old to get a push now and Ryder….well, who’d believe a Ryder push now, after all the fake ones we’ve seen.

The logical choice for a winner was Apollo Crews. However, he lacks something in his character. He’s a very generic, smiley dude. His gimmick needs to be tweaked, if he’s to get over.

Becky Lynch def. Natalya

Becky vs. Natty was very different than the women’s matches we saw on RAW. This was a proper brawl. It was rough and brutal. It reminded me of a wild bar brawl. It was slower and less technical but the sheer aggression made it good.

Also, the overall length of the match made the quality so much better. Same as on RAW. The women, being given some time in the ring, can show some proper wrestling skills.

Not having the a championship for the female talent, SmackDown Live bet on introducing the entire division. The line-up is impressive with a predominantly heel side.

The boos Eva Marie got were unreal. Ironically, she’ll get a push because of that

Miz TV

What’s with Randy Orton and talk shows? From the Highlights Reel to Miz TV. It feels as if the WWE is reintroducing the character, so people will warm up to Randy before his match with Lesnar.

I must say, it’s working. The fans seek the RKO and the Viper Ville line has the potential to be a trend. The only person at a loss here is the Miz.

Randy Orton def. The Miz

It was obvious that Miz would lose this match. However, the way he lost it was cringe-worthy. The Viper practically toyed with him from minute 3 onwards when he hit the first RKO.

Two RKOs and a complete waste. So much for Miz, being a credible champion. He’s so great on the mic but his gimmick in its core requires him to look weak.

Heath Slater/Rhyno

My guess about Heath Slater not being drafted turned out to be true. It’s a gimmick and Slater’s rocking it. He’s so great on the mic and the fans do support him.

Rhyno got the upper hand but I’m not hyped about him. I’d much rather watch Heath Slater because he truly is entertaining. The things he says…that’s some talent!

I think Heath should keep appearing on both shows, asking for a job and he should keep getting turned down. Then one day, he should viciously attack one of the champions, most likely the Miz, take him out, earn a title shot and win. Heath deserves the push.

Dolph Ziggler def. Baron Corbin, Bray Wyatt, John Cena, Apollo Crews and AJ Styles

I did not see that coming. I said this match was harder to call but Ziggler would not have been my first pick, by far. I’d have had a heel in there, as it would be done traditionally. The WWE did so much better.

SmackDown Live booked the crowd’s favourite to face the crowd’s favourite champion. Face vs. face, both truly loved by the fans. SummerSlamm will offer us a great show!

I don’t think Dolph will win it, though. Ambrose got the title too recently. He deserves a longer reign. It would be a great push for any heel to take down a beloved champion like Ambrose.

 

What are your impressions from SmackDown Live? Share your thoughts in the comment section, on FB or Twitter!