This week’s SD Live was not bad at all. There was a good mix of matches and promo work. We are still setting up the grounds for Money In The Bank. Smackdown is doing a better job in both elevating the main story lines and also, trying to make the smaller ones important. The show is also rotating talent around. Next week, we’ll see Samoa Joe vs. Big Cass and Lana vs. Billie Kay. If people weren’t on the show, they have a small promo to make a presence. That’s not bad at all.
David Beats Up Goliath: I know there are some people that are a little perturbed that Daniel Bryan is not immediately in the main event pictured. Let’s scale back for a second. There’s already a championship program taking place with the basis of (up until this point) three matches that have taken place. If you’re trying to get Nakamura over as a huge heel, you don’t burn it at the expense of an immediate payoff. Let AJ and Shinsuke reach their natural conclusion.
Also, there’s the elephant in the room of a long battle with The Miz. For that to happen, you want that to start at a big event like Summerslam and cultivate momentum until Wrestlemania where it could be for the heavyweight belt. Yes, Daniel Bryan is the shiny new toy that you have at your disposal, but it’s all about the slow build. Why blow off your biggest match for immediate satisfaction?
Daniel Bryan got his comeuppance on Big Cass this week and it worked. From losing his MITB chance last week to the promo at the top of the show, Bryan is building the case that he’s going to climb from the bottom rung of the ladder. Fans are buying it and it will grow over time. Cass has been the proverbial thorn in Bryan’s side every since he got back. From eliminating him at the Greatest Royal Rumble to the jealousy of both their roads back to the ring, the story works at a base level. It’s the big guy picking on the little guy. I like that Bryan attacked Cass’s previously injured leg and acknowledged the injuries as well.
Royal Mellabrathon: The best part about Carmella’s current reign as Smackdown Women’s Champion is that Carmella really plays into the spoiler, sore loser, boastful winner. Sometimes, the script doesn’t work that well. This was pretty much prototypical, basic bad guy stuff. “I’m better than everyone in the crowd. Better than insert wrestler name here.” She’s doing the best she can. Something tells me that this Asuka match is going to have some sort of wrinkle in it at MITB.
The New Day Gets A Shot: The New Day and The Bar work great together. Other than Styles/Nakamura, this was the best match on the show. One of The New Day will get to go to MITB and it could be anybody. There were rumors of Big E getting a singles push and he definitely deserved that. Xavier has definitely improved in the ring. If there are a lot of power guys in the MITB match, Kofi could get the nod.
There are things you can do from a singles capacity without breaking up The New Day. Yes, eventually, that day will come. However, to freshen them up, you can have each member go after individual titles while still being in that group. I’m not sure where The Bar goes from here. The tag team titles have been MIA from the show for a little bit. Could we get a power vs. power type match with The Bar vs. The Bludgeon Brothers? How do The Usos factor into this?
Becky Gets A Win!: Just to start, why does Paige resent her former Absolution stable mates so much now? Why is it that she’s out to punish them? It comes off weird. Becky finally gets a win! A much deserved win at that. It’s just good to see that the story will not be “Becky is still on that losing streak.” She can have a good showing in the women’s MITB match and maybe even win. (I think Charlotte is going to win).
Mandy and Sonya are still going through some growing pains. There were a couple of rough spots in the match. With Paige doing everything in her power to mess with them, it might push them to the breaking point of going their separate ways. Here’s having them both exert and find their own personalities within SD Live.
Almas Is Here: This was a showcase match for Almas. I’m excited to see him on the brand. I think there are a lot of possibilities for him and Zelina going forward. Zelina cut a promo with the basic “We are coming to take over” newcomer script that you’ve heard in the past. It will be interesting to see who Almas’s first feud will be.
Fakeout: To add to the heel aura of Shinsuke Nakamura, there was a brilliant finish. First, there was the Eddie Guerrero-like sell of the fake low blow. Then, he takes advantage, hits the Kinshasa for the win. Out of the four matches these two have had, this was their best match. Both AJ and Shinsuke came to work and put on a PPV-caliber match. Shinsuke has not picked his stipulation yet. I’m guessing that it’s going to be a last man standing match. It would make the most sense.
Some people would question giving this type of match away for free. Yes and no. On the one hand, you ask what is the investment in the MITB title match after seeing this match on a random Smackdown. On the other hand, if they have something special in a match where there must be a winner, that’s your payoff. There absolutely has to be a conclusion and they have to move on after MITB, however.
