WWE SMACKDOWN PRIMER 10/10: Owens-Shane fallout, will Sami Zayn explain himself, Styles tries to get back U.S. Title from Corbin, Natalya-Charlotte

WWE SMACKDOWN PRIMER
OCTOBER 10, 2017
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. AT VAN ANDEL ARENA
By Joey Galizia (@RamJam89), PWTORCH SPECIALIST

Advertised by WWE…

• New U.S. Champion Baron Corbin defends against A.J. Styles
• Sami Zayn explains his Hell in a Cell actions
• Becky Lynch vs. Carmella

“YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH” 

In my opinion, the greatest rivalry of the current wrestling era has been Kevin (Steen) Owens and Sami (Generico) Zayn. From Ring of Honor, PWG, NXT, and WWE these two have battled throughout the wrestling landscape and continue to tell a deep and complicated story. So when Zayn removed K.O. from the table seconds before Shane McMahon was going to drop his signature “leap of faith” elbow drop from the top of the cell confusion surrounded the wrestle-universe. Why would Sami help the man who spat on their friendship, and has left Sami laying on his back more times than one can imagine? I don’t have the answer, nor will I even attempt to guess. I am, for the first time in a long time, ready to embrace an angle and not force a prediction out of it. All I can say, is that Shane will most likely not be in the building this evening, but I’m certain General Manager Daniel Bryan, as well as Owens himself, will be looking for answers. 

“DON’T HINDER THE MAN WHO HINDERS YOUR SOUL”

Here’s a list of everyone who Jinder Mahal has beaten since he suddenly became the top dog of the company: Baron Corbin, Sami Zayn, A.J. Styles, Randy Orton (thrice), and now  Shinsuke Nakamura (TWICE). As much as I enjoy writing these primers it really sucks at how uninterested I am in the WWE’s most prestigious championship scene. The next massive over-seas tour will be in Mahal’s “homeland” of India, so hopefully after the money is made they drop the axe on what has been the most numbing title reign perhaps of all time.

“THE GORGEOUS LADIES OF TUESDAY NIGHTS”

Natalya may have escaped with her title on Sunday, but this longtime feud is far from over. Charlotte earned a victory by DQ, and will most likely be getting another shot at the women’s championship in the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, the rest of the division looks to jockey themselves into contension post the Flair/Neidhart conflict. Becky Lynch will be in action tonight facing Ms. Money in the Bank Carmella. Will we hear anything from Carmella, Tamina, or the former champion Naomi?

 “STICKS, STONES, KICKS, TONED”

 –The Usos emerged the clear and dominant victor over the Unicorn Train at Hell in a Cell. The superkicking Samoans are now five time tag-team champions, and I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited for a run than I am with this one. Where the New Day go from here is a mystery, but I think they deserve some rest time after delivering yet another classic affair, and taking some battle scars to prove it.

-Tye Dillinger was added to the United States Championship match on Sunday thanks to General Manager Daniel Bryan. Unfortunately, that meant that A.J. Styles didn’t need to be pinned or submitted to lose his strap, and the Lone Wolf Baron Corbin took full advantage of that situation by pinning Dillinger and claiming his first gold for the E. Styles has invoked his rematch clause, and he and Corbin will be clashing this evening in Grand Rapids.

-Breezango returned, promised that they would find the culprits who trashed their office, and then never showed. I’m super happy to have Tyler Breeze and Fandango back on my T.V. screen but at some point this game has to end.

-Bobby Roode may have been victorious this weekend, but Dolph Ziggler got the last laugh laying the Glorious One out post-match. Will Roode respond tonight?

-Rusev Day was one of the better holidays that we’ve had in this sick-twisted 2017 year. With that said, RKO day should be everyday, and I’ll never be upset watching the Viper vanquish another foe. Orton has done a great job of putting over a lot of talent, but that effect means nothing if he always loses. Hopefully Randy transitions himself into something meaningful. Perhaps a feud with the Glorious One?

Lots of questions to be answered. I’ll be watching. Will you?

NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S COLUMN: WWE SMACKDOWN PRIMER 10/3: Owens and Shane preview their HIAC match face-to-face tonight, Fashion Files returns, more HIAC PPV hype