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MIZ VS BRYAN FEUD LOSES THE WIVES…
Recap: The show began with a Miz TV segment. Miz first announced that he’d be facing Daniel Bryan in Australia with the winner to become Number One Contender. He then teased that his guest tonight was the biggest get in the history of Miz TV. His guest was Maryse.
Miz asked Maryse how difficult it was to defeat Brie Bella, as compared to giving birth to the greatest baby in history. Maryse said it was easy, as she is clearly the superior athlete. She also said that Brie didn’t seem interested in her marriage anymore. She indicated that Brie only married Daniel Bryan to stay relevant within WWE. Miz said it was a marriage of convenience that was no longer working for either of them because they had encountered a real couple with real love and talent.
Maryse also announced that it was her last night on SmackDown. Miz indicated that this was because she’d be returning to being “mother of the century.” Miz referred to her as a role model. The audience booed, which riled up Miz so much that he called out Bryan.
Bryan appeared at the stage. He said Miz could say whatever he liked about him, but that talking about his wife was too much. He attacked Miz, but during the melee he knocked Miz into Maryse. Maryse appeared to be in pain. Bryan looked remorseful and checked on Maryse. Maryse eventually revealed that she was faking as Miz attempted a Skull Crushing Finale on a distracted Bryan. Bryan escaped, but Maryse held him for Miz. Bryan dodged a Miz strike, causing Miz to hit Maryse instead. Bryan then clotheslined Miz over the top rope.
Evaluation: This continued Miz and Maryse making the feud personal and built good heat. At the same time, it created an exit for the wives to allow this to return to a one on one feud. The segment accomplished everything it should.
Forecast: With two straight wins by Miz, I expect Daniel Bryan to win in Australia.
NO LONGER RUSEV DAY…
Recap: Aiden English approached Rusev and Lana backstage. He said that despite their loss on Sunday, he had a good feeling about Rusev’s Intercontinental Title match with Shinsuke Nakamura tonight. Rusev said he did too, since Aiden would not be involved. Aiden protested that he did his best, but Rusev said everyone needed to pull their weight, and that his best wasn’t enough.
As Rusev and Lana walked away, Aiden angrily shouted to a backstage employee about how Rusev Day would be nothing without him, and blamed their losses on Lana being too much of a wife and not enough of a manager. It was then revealed that Lana was standing behind him. Aiden attempted to apologize, but Lana said she was telling Rusev. She left as Aiden chased after her.
Lana caught up to Rusev shortly before his title match. When she attempted to tell him about Aiden, he said they could speak later, as he wanted to focus on the match. Rusev then asked Aiden to introduce him to the crowd.
Aiden did his intro, and Rusev came to the ring. During the match, Aiden went over the top in leading Rusev Day chants. At one point, he got onto the apron to cheer, which distracted Rusev. Shinsuke took advantage of the distraction to roll up Rusev for the win.
After the match, Aiden attacked Rusev with the mic, and sang “Happy Rusev Day!” before exiting.
Evaluation: The announcer reactions as well as the post match attack made it clear that Aiden is supposed to be a heel here, but frankly he came across as sympathetic. Rusev was somewhat out of line in berating his efforts on Sunday. It was understandable for that to cause Aiden to lose his cool. He seemed genuinely remorseful until the post-match attack.
From the very beginning months ago, this breakup angle has seemed very unsure of face/heel dynamics.
This is also a breakup that helps no one. When a tag team is portrayed as two (rough) equals, a breakup can be necessary for one competitor to move on to bigger singles feuds. But in this case, Aiden has always clearly been the sidekick. WWE could’ve easily just started booking Rusev in singles feuds with Aiden in his corner in that sidekick role with no breakup necessary. Instead, this breakup will ultimately probably result in at least a net negative to Rusev’s act, and Aiden will likely no longer be a regular on TV.
Forecast: I expect Rusev to defeat Aiden in a match, followed by Aiden disappearing from regular TV appearances.
BECKY GETS THE TITLE…
Recap: In the show’s final segment, GM Paige presented Becky Lynch with the title in the ring. As the fans chanted “you deserve it”, Becky commented how nice it was to have the title, and that this was now her show. She said she would no longer be left off of magazine covers and TV interviews. She sarcastically thanked Paige for going all out with the presentation, noting that while she didn’t have the entire locker room surrounding the ring, it was fine, as she only needed one woman out there, Charlotte.
Charlotte then came to the ring. After Charlotte assured her she wasn’t there to fight, Paige left the ring. Charlotte acknowledged that Becky was the better woman on Sunday, but that she’d be taking the title back in Australia. She also said that Becky paid a steep price for winning the title, in losing their friendship. Becky smugly replied that she had stopped listening after Charlotte called her the better woman.
Becky said that on Sunday, she didn’t let Charlotte raise her hand because she didn’t want Charlotte taking the spotlight in the biggest moment of her career, but tonight was different, and Charlotte was now permitted to touch the champ. When Charlotte declined to raise her hand, Becky replied that was fine because she really wanted her to put the title around her waist. Charlotte angrily said that she had come out tonight hoping there was a little bit left of the friend she once knew. Becky feigned remorse, said she was only kidding, and said what she really wanted was for Charlotte to call her “queen.” Charlotte began to walk away, but after Becky called her a bitch, attacked her. They fought, with Becky ultimately coming out on top with an Exploder. Becky then walked up the ramp as Charlotte sat in the ring.
Evaluation: This whole feud has been so bizarre. On one hand, the face announcers clearly treat Becky as a heel. On the other hand, Becky does not insult the fans and accepts their cheers.
The fans were clearly behind Becky during the entire altercation, but were not as loud or vocal as in the past. Some fans, particularly women and children that cheer characters like Roman Reigns, don’t know how to react.
Charlotte is most hurt by this feud because she is portrayed as a babyface but she isn’t being cheered. The only way out for her here is a heel turn.
Forecast: I’m going to be optimistic and keep hoping that a Charlotte heel turn is coming, along with clarification that Becky is a face. This should particularly make the fan who had a “Becky 3:16” sign tonight happy.
NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S COLUMN: TOP 3 DEVELOPMENTS – SMACKDOWN 9/11: Bryan and Brie Come Out on Top, Final Promos from AJ and Joe, Becky Sneak Attack
WWE is going to dig their heels in on “heel” Becky. This segment made that readily apparent. I can almost hear Vince’s snarling voice going “they’ll like who I tell them to like!” Just like they ruined Roman and Strowman though, they’ll ruin both Becky and Charlotte because of their stubbornness. And if the best excuse they have for continuing down this road is that they’ve told the story before with Lynch as a face, and Flair as a heel- it tells me that the writers are either lazy, or suck at their jobs. It’s not that hard to put a new slant on a story that’s been readily handed to you with Lynch’s climb back to the top.