SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
SMACKDOWN HITS
A.J. Styles vs. Jinder Mahal: The entire show was built around this main event, with an opening segment, interviews with both participants, and a nice amount of time dedicated to the actual match. I liked the preshow talking points from both men, and appreciated the seriousness of their words. They essentially told the audience who they were, and what they were going to do. The interviews with each man later in the show added to the buildup. Finally, the match overall was good. I’ve mentioned how I have not been a fan of Jinder as champion, but that he has been most solid in this feud with Styles. The right man won, and I’m very happy to see A.J. with the championship. I feel that he deserves it, and that it’ll put the focus back on the championship, which has not been the case in recent months.
Rusev vs. Orton: I’m giving this a hit strictly for the match and Rusev continuing to be a focus with English. The two have been putting on some good matches, and I’ve enjoyed their feud. While we all know who the 5th team member will be now, I was disappointed in the result Tuesday night, as I feel that Rusev would have been a nice addition, and that it would give more fuel to the Rusev Day theme. Here’s hoping that this will continue to be a part of the storyline, as Rusev is talented, and shouldn’t fall back down the card after this.
Title Matches: I like the fact that the champions are required to defend their titles leading up to the Survivor Series. It gives other wrestlers an “opportunity” to not only win a title, but earn their place on the Survivor Series card. While short, the tag match was good for what it was, and I’m looking forward to both matches next week, which brings me to….
Promotion for next week’s show: One thing that Smackdown had been doing really well, until recently, was promoting the next week’s show with matches and segments to look forward to. With the promotion, there are 2 title matches, as well as a tag team main event. It puts the focus where it needs to be, and gives the fans something to look forward to. This is something that would have been great to do last week, with regards to promoting the WWE Championship match.
SMACKDOWN MISSES
Opening Segment: This has been a recurring theme, but I cannot wait for this Under Siege theme to be over, so that it doesn’t open Smackdown anymore. I thought bringing out the New Day to celebrate Rollins & Ambrose loss from the night before was silly, and there even seemed to be confusion between Shane & the New Day with regards to the motives. Once again the faces hurt the faces, and now a heel tag team are the champions. In addition, in storyline mode, New Day kind of hurt their Blue Brand Brothers, The Uso’s, because now they only have less than 2 weeks to prepare for a different set of opponents. This led to Zayn & Owens interruption, which I also kind of found awkward, and silly overall.
Lynch vs. Ellsworth: The Women’s Division overall just seems to be stuck in neutral, and I feel that they were just trying to fill something in by adding this match. In small doses, Ellsworth can be good, but I have not been enjoying him in the slave role to Carmella. The match between him & Becky was way too long as well, and just wasn’t very entertaining.
Jeff Indelicato has been a fan of professional wrestling since he was knee high to a grasshopper (little kid), after coming across the Wrestling Challenge episode after WrestleMania 7, and has not looked back. His passion has led him to winning wrestling trivia contests in his city, and even won him his Senior Talent Show by dancing to Shawn Michaels theme song. When not annoying others with wrestling talk, he loves spending time with his family and friends, and focuses on his other passion: movies. Follow him on Twitter @the_Indel or send him an email at indelpw@gmail.com.
NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S COLUMN: WWE SMACKDOWN HITS & MISSES 10/31: Strangerer Things, Nakamura vs. Owens, Mahal-Styles, Corbin vs. Sin Cara, Roode vs. Ziggler
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