Due to severe travel issues, the SmackDown roster were stranded on the other side of the world last week and it was left to the NXT roster to deliver the most enjoyable episode of the blue brand in over a decade.
Unfortunately, we had no such luck this time around as the SmackDown crew made their way to Manchester, England. The show was dire, headlined by Roman Reigns taking on Baron Corbin and a bizarre promo from hometown boy Tyson Fury.
We also got new Smackdown Tag Team Champions, new entrance music for Sasha Banks and an invasion from NXT UK’s Imperium.
WWE is busy “building momentum” for Survivor Series, which admittedly has piqued my interest with the introduction of NXT even if it is just a ploy to beat AEW in the weekly ratings, which shouldn’t be hard considering they can’t even get a million viewers. But I digress, here’s the lowdown of what took place.
Kofi Kingston has made some headlines recently when discussing what losing the WWE Championship to Brock Lesnar in 10 seconds felt like. In short, it didn’t feel good. Shame his on screen character doesn’t think the same. He’s still smiling, clapping and throwing pancakes to children in the crowd. He did have something to be positive about this week, however, as he and Big E toppled The Revival to become seven-time (I think? It’s hard to keep track) Smackdown Tag Team Champions. It was a lively encounter to kick off the night’s action, but the outcome may indicate Dawson & Wilder are looking at pastures new.
The Fiend’s next challenger for the Universal Championship was seemingly confirmed in a backstage attack when The Eater Of Worlds laid waste to Daniel Bryan. Yes, the same Daniel Bryan who lost cleanly to Adam Cole last week and has been feuding with Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura. WWE writers just make it up as they go along. Bray Wyatt and Bryan have always had great chemistry, though, and if they clash at Survivor Series, expect fireworks.
Tyson Fury returned to his home town, and for those wondering, no he did not dress like Jesse Lingard to fit in. He did, however, shower Braun Strowman with a ton of respect before asking him to be his tag team partner. Yes, this really happened. They then destroyed The B Team, who, for some reason, decided to interrupt proceedings. A strange way to go with Fury, especially considering we won’t be seeing him in a WWE ring again any time soon. How much better would it have been if Strowman completely decimated Fury? Could have legitimised him within 30 seconds.
Baron Corbin and Roman Reigns exchanged words in the opening promo of the night in what was quite possibly the worst dialogue written this century for a WWE talent.
Go and check it out to see for yourselves. Anyway, this led to the main event where King Corbin actually prevailed over The Big Dog thanks to a little help from Dolph Ziggler and Bobby Roode. Yep, I was shocked they still existed too. Where they’re going with this, I have no idea or interest. They had the perfect comeback story for Reigns, but they ruined it just like they did with Daniel Bryan. All the current WWE writers manage to do these days is create a jumbling mess and consistently lose viewers. What a job, if you can get it.
Sasha Banks’ new remix of her entrance music is legit. Do yourself a favour and go have a listen. It suits her character to a T. It must be good having a celebrity like Snoop Dogg as your cousin. It’ll always help around WrestleMania season anyway to remind Vince McMahon you actually exist. The Boss made Nikki Cross tap out to the Bank Statement. Afterwards, the Smackdown Women’s Champion Bayley looked to beat down Cross only to be left laying by NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler for the second week running. If this doesn’t lead to a massive showdown at WrestleMania, or Ronda Rousey winning the Royal Rumble, I’d be shocked.
Elsewhere, Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura beat Shorty G and Ali in a filler bout. And Carmella & Dana Brooke defeated Fire & Desire to advance to Team Smackdown at Survivor Series. Not a lot to get excited about. Let’s hope for better from Raw. Oh wait, I just checked the spoilers. It’s even worse. I’ll be converting to AEW at this rate.
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