After Smackdown produced a spectacular PPV in Backlash there was no way you could not be excited going into this week's show. There was undoubtedly an aura of something special in the air. With brand new champions of Becky Lynch, Heath Slater and Rhyno, and AJ Styles, you knew something big was bound to occur - even with the Miz staying as champion! Just how good Smackdown was, however, you will have to keep on reading to find out. So let's put this review Down with a big Smack.
A new Champion
It was so good to see AJ Styles come out to open the show instead of an Authority figure. It actually made loads of sense too as this was a massive accomplishment. I really enjoyed how Styles was really shoving it in our face that he told us he would win it, like a true heel does. I thought he delivered a good promo which was unfortunately spoiled by John Cena. Cena would come out and say he wants to take back what is "his" (referring to the WWE world title despite not having held it since Brock Lesnar suplexed him to hell). Dean Ambrose would come out at this point and turn his attention straight away to Styles saying he is going to get payback on him and it won't be pretty. Cena would then turn Ambrose around and really get in his face saying that Ambrose has nothing to complain about and that Stone Cold was right in calling him out on the podcast. Ambrose would retaliate by saying he doesn't care what Cena says or thinks because Cena is just a lazy part timer. Shane McMahon would then come out and announce that at the next Smackdown PPV No Mercy, AJ Styles would be facing both Ambrose and Cena for the title in a triple threat match. Now to me this makes absolutely no sense. Ambrose sure deserves a match anyways because he has a rematch clause, but what makes Cena deserve a shot? Sure he is known as "the face of the company" but from a kayfabe point of view it makes no sense because last I checked Cena actually lost the last match he had. Not only did this match actually happen at a big show in Summerslam, but it was against the WWE World Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles. So someone please tell me how Cena deserves to be in this match. Quite simply he doesn't. They could have given him a chance by having him win a match for the spot, but by just putting him straight in there is more than just a bit ridiculous.
Rating: 7.5
The Hype Bros VS The USOs
Despite this just being a rematch from Backlash, I didn't actually have a problem with it. I also didn't think it was really bad or anything like that. I enjoy seeing the USOs in action as heels and this match ultimately allowed for them to keep their momentum as a dominant heel team despite their loss at Backlash. I really look forward to seeing their feud with American Alpha when they return.
Winner: The USOs
Rating: 7.5
The Miz walks out
After retaining the Intercontinental Championship in great heel fashion at Backlash, you would expect another great promo to happen on this show, which it did. While I have always enjoyed Miz's promos and always said he is great on the mic, it hasn't been until the last few weeks that I have actually been excited to hear him speak. Miz basically said that he won by any means necessary before Dolph Ziggler would interrupt. Unfortunately you would have expected this feud to continue after what happened at the PPV. But still, Dolph also delivered a pretty good promo and said he wants one more shot at the gold, this time just him and Miz, no managers, valets, wives, etc. Miz would disagree and say Dolph doesn't deserve the shot. Daniel Bryan would come out and say that he did not like the way Miz went about retaining the title and said that Dolph would be getting a future title shot to which Miz said no and that he wanted his contract renewed and get a better deal and said he would do what he wanted until that happened. At this point he left the arena through the crowd. After a spectacular match at Backlash, you have to imagine if these two were to square up again at No Mercy it would surely be another great classic.
Rating: 8
Baron Corbin attacks
So there were two things that occurred in this segment and I shall rate them separately because I have two completely different feelings about them. So first off, Baron Corbin attacked Apollo Crews from behind just before their match and did a real number on him. I know a lot of people will say that him attacking people backstage and from behind has run its course by now, but I feel completely differently about it. Corbin is still one of my favourite guys on the roster and while he hasn't had any big feuds or a lot of chances to shine, I still have high hopes that he will be going somewhere and so I really enjoyed seeing him attack Crews, especially since I'm really not a fan of Crews. Here's to hopefully something big happen with Corbin soon.
Rating: 8
Jack Swagger promo
This is the second part of the above segment. After Corbin's attack, Jack Swagger's music would play and he get in the ring. Swagger and Corbin would stare at each other for a few seconds before Corbin decided to just leave the ring. Swagger would then deliver a promo and oh boy oh boy, how spectacularly bad it was! I can't remember what the first few words were that came out his mouth, but I honestly thought that was going to be a part of a new gimmick of his. I think there was only one part of his promo that stood out for me and that was when he said throw whatever you know about him out the window because we haven't seen anything yet. I don't know, but I find it difficult to get behind Swagger just from that promo - I do hope he proves me wrong though.
Rating: 3
Naomi VS Natalya VS Alexa Bliss VS Carmella VS Nikki Bella
(Fatal five way no.1 contender match for the Smackdown Women's title)
Even though this was just a rehash from Backlash's match, it actually made a lot of sense and I actually enjoyed it. I am absolutely loving the Smackdown women right now and they are yet to absolutely fail me. This match was really good and we saw the right woman walk out as the number one contender. I look forward to this feud.
Winner: Alexa Bliss
Rating: 8
Heath Slater's contract signing
The day we have been waiting for for weeks now has finally happened! We finally saw Heath Slater sign his Smackdown contract. Not only is he a part of the roster now, but he is also one half of the Smackdown tag team champions. He delivered a good promo and even got a chant of "You deserve it" after signing the contract. He would say that he and Rhyno would fight anyone, any place, any time, to which the Ascension would answer the challenge.
Rating: 8
Heath Slater & Rhyno (C) VS the Ascension (Smackdown Tag Team Championships)
This would mark Slater and Rhyno's first title defence after winning the titles at Backlash. It was actually pretty decent, I honestly almost thought we could see them lose now that Slater has his contract, but thankfully it was not to be. They are still tag team champions, but you have to wonder for how long, and who will challenge them next?
Winner: Heath Slater & Rhyno
Rating: 7.5
Randy & Bray Promo
I'm not going to say very much about this, but I really wasn't a fan of it. I thought there was very little story put into it and the fact that Eric Rowan seems to be helping Bray Wyatt again is just stupid. We saw Bray leave Eric a few weeks back, what is the point of putting them back together? Hopefully this is just a one night thing and they actually go somewhere else with Eric. Eric has so much potential on his own - just let him run with it!
Rating: 5.5
AJ Styles & The Miz VS John Cena & Dean Ambrose
Earlier in the night Shane McMahon said Styles would have to find him a partner to team against Cena and Ambrose. Styles couldn't find one, but luckily the Miz decided to step in...or most unluckily it seems. This match as a whole wasn't all that great. There were some parts that were ok, but really not that great. The crappiest part of this match has to be the ending where the Miz got pinned. All the momentum that the Miz had built up to that point was thrown out the window. I understand that they were wanting that ending after the match where Ambrose hit his finisher on Cena and might possibly be turning heel in the weeks to come, but honestly that could have easily been developed during the match itself where Cena maybe accidentally bumps into or hits Ambrose which results in Ambrose hitting his finisher on Cena DURING the match and then the Miz getting the pinfall victory. This allows for tensions to rise over the coming weeks with still potential of turning Ambrose heel if that's what they want, plus the Miz would still have had tons of momentum. A win for the Miz would have made his argument for a new contract even stronger, but instead he is now left in a pile of shit the size of a tall building. I was very unhappy with this ending for Smackdown.
Winner: John Cena & Dean Ambrose
Rating: 7
Overall show rating: 7
As can be seen, Smackdown didn't do as well as RAW this week. Keep in mind that this is purely from my point of view and my opinions will more likely than not differ from everyone else. The things some people hate I might actually love and vice versa. But even comparing from last week's show, this week was definitely a weaker one. This week certainly did build up some good feuds, but overall I just wasn't quite feeling it. I do hope to be giving a higher rating for Smackdown in the weeks to come, but we will have to find out and see what happens.
The day we have been waiting for for weeks now has finally happened! We finally saw Heath Slater sign his Smackdown contract. Not only is he a part of the roster now, but he is also one half of the Smackdown tag team champions. He delivered a good promo and even got a chant of "You deserve it" after signing the contract. He would say that he and Rhyno would fight anyone, any place, any time, to which the Ascension would answer the challenge.
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