{"id":188865,"date":"2024-11-30T14:46:55","date_gmt":"2024-11-30T20:46:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=188865"},"modified":"2024-11-30T14:46:55","modified_gmt":"2024-11-30T20:46:55","slug":"wwe-smackdown-hits-misses-11-30-contrived-sit-down-with-roman-and-punk-jacob-fatu-unleashed-cody-educates-carmelo-nakamuras-return-michin-for-the-win-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2024\/11\/30\/wwe-smackdown-hits-misses-11-30-contrived-sit-down-with-roman-and-punk-jacob-fatu-unleashed-cody-educates-carmelo-nakamuras-return-michin-for-the-win-more\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE SMACKDOWN HITS &#038; MISSES (11\/30): Contrived Sit-down with Roman and Punk, Jacob Fatu Unleashed, Cody educates Carmelo, Nakamura&#8217;s return, Michin for the win, more"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-3455998373\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p>The go home show before Survivor Series was an all-around solid show. However, there were a few glaring Misses this week that simply can\u2019t be overlooked. Even though the show was taped, it had a good energy to it, and I honestly forgot that it was a pre-taped event until I saw the Mario and Luigi hats again! That&#8217;s neither here nor there. That&#8217;s not what you came for. So, let&#8217;s get to the hits and misses! As always, I&#8217;m Chris Adams and you can reach me at <a href=\"mailto:cadamsowj@gmail.com\">cadamsowj@gmail.com<\/a> if you think I&#8217;ve missed!<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>HITS<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Cody Rhodes Educates Carmelo Hayes<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This match crackled within angry energy, energy that you could feel jumping off the screen. We saw something come out of Cody Rhodes last week, a kind of anger that we&#8217;ve yet to see here in WWE. Contrast this with their first match months ago, which felt like a friendly contest. These two men were fighting for the right to be recognized as \u2018Him,\u2019 to play on Melo\u2019s self-identification. Cody is \u2018Him\u2019 as the WWE Champion. Cody is \u2018Him\u2019 as the Quarterback. Cody is \u2018Him\u2019 in that he understands how rich and nuanced stories can be told within the squared circle. The story we got last night was pitch perfect. The hot head learned a bit of humility. That\u2019s the hope at least. Will Melo learn from this mistake? Will he keep Cody\u2019s name out of his mouth? Only time will tell. But, if they continue to have this dynamic with an ongoing series of matches, we would be blessed with amazing wrestling and rich storytelling. What a match!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Jacob Fatu, Unleashed<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There was some part of me that expected Jey Uso to go over tonight. But, there\u2019s simply no conceivable way he could take out Jacob Fatu, especially with his limited move set in comparison to Fatu\u2019s. Listen, we all love Jey Uso, but tonight, he was fed to a monster. I suppose this was the payoff of the interaction they had a few weeks ago in the ring, but if I was on Roman Reigns\u2019s team, I might\u2019ve gone with someone else. As I watched Fatu do his springboard moonsault, it was clear who the real main event is.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Nakamura Returns<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Briefly, I was glad to see the return of Shinsuke Nakamura. The IWC sees him only as a washed former New Japan performer. It seems like this new direction has little fire with tighter, striking and more intentional movement. Hopefully he can regain some of his earlier shine!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Michin For the Win<\/strong><\/p><div id=\"pwtor-648827652\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Michin has long been a favorite of mine and it\u2019s heartening to see the sustained push she has received. She has a look and vibe like no one else on the roster. She doesn\u2019t seem like a character, either. There\u2019s a realness to her that comes across very well, and I would be ecstatic if she took the US Championship. Shout out to Lash Legend, who has held her own being thrown into the main roster<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Check out this special WWE Survivor Series PLE Preview episode of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spreaker.com\/episode\/ppv-preview-special-keller-powell-s-wwe-survivor-series-preview-last-year-s-survivor-series-post-show-roundtable-after-punk-return--63037539\">CLICK HERE<\/a> to stream (or search \u201cwade Keller\u201d on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?episode_id=63037539&amp;theme=light&amp;playlist=false&amp;playlist-continuous=false&amp;chapters-image=true&amp;episode_image_position=right&amp;hide-logo=false&amp;hide-likes=false&amp;hide-comments=false&amp;hide-sharing=false&amp;hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"200px\" frameborder=\"0\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>MISSES<\/h3>\n<p><strong>The Promo Train is Off the Tracks<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As soon as I saw Bianca Belair remain standing near the entrance, I knew we were in for it. While not a traditional promo train, it nevertheless resulted in the same dynamic. Forced, unnatural conversations, standing in a straight line with everyone turned towards the hard cam was the wrong decision to build excitement for this match. They needed to let the promos breath, and had they created dynamic motion with the five bodies in the ring, it could have come off more substantially and made for better TV. WWE, in this new era with vibrant camera work, can do better than this.<\/p>\n<h3>Roman and Punk in a Contrived Sit-Down<\/h3>\n<p>On the opposite side of the promo train we have another filmed vignette. Similar to that with Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns, this video aimed to transcend traditional pro wrestling face-to-face conversations. However, something felt off with this video. It was strange to see CM Punk in one of these filmed vignettes, as part of Punk\u2019s appeal is the unscripted nature of his promos. In this vignette, he thrice repeated the same words and reasoning for joining the Bloodline, and I found it rather reductive. If they\u2019re going to continue with this kind of thing, they need to work harder to make it feel less like cheap HBO.<\/p>\n<p><em>Stay right here and keep the flow going. We think you\u2019ll like to read this next\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>RECOMMENDED NEXT: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2024\/11\/29\/wwe-survivor-series-predictions-machados-match-by-match-analysis-of-build-and-predictions-including-two-wargames-matches-gunther-vs-priest-knight-vs-nakamura\/\">WWE SURVIVOR SERIES PREDICTIONS: Machado\u2019s match-by-match analysis of build and predictions including two WarGames matches, Gunther vs. Priest, Knight vs. Nakamura<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>OR CHECK THIS OUT AT PROWRESTLING.NET: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/prowrestling.net\/site\/2024\/11\/29\/wwe-smackdown-results-11-29-barnetts-review-of-roman-reigns-and-cm-punk-jey-uso-vs-jacob-fatu-in-a-wargames-advantage-match-the-final-push-for-wwe-survivor-series-wargames\/\">WWE Smackdown results (11\/29): Barnett\u2019s review of Roman Reigns and CM Punk, Jey Uso vs. Jacob Fatu in a WarGames advantage match, the final push for WWE Survivor Series WarGames<\/a><\/p>\n<p>(You can always reach PWTorch editor Wade Keller at <a href=\"mailto:kellerwade@gmail.com\">kellerwade@gmail.com<\/a>. You can also send live event results and news tips to <a href=\"mailto:pwtorch@gmail.com\">pwtorch@gmail.com<\/a>. Also, we\u2019re always looking for volunteer contributors to help us round out of coverage of the pro wrestling scene.)<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-2204573164\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<h3>Follow us on Blue Sky, a great Twitter alternative, as we shift away from TwitterX\u2026<\/h3>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/pwtorch.bsky.social\">https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/pwtorch.bsky.social<\/a> (search \u201cpwtorch\u201d)<\/h3>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/thewadekeller.bsky.social\">https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/thewadekeller.bsky.social<\/a> (search \u201cthewadekeller\u201d)<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Wade Keller Post-show (11\/29) - WWE Smackdown w\/cohost Chris Maitland\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1ErZJGbV6sw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-2807696215\"><div id=\"pwtor-2649077441\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>The go home show before Survivor Series was an all-around solid show. However, there were a few glaring Misses this week that simply can\u2019t be overlooked. Even though the show was taped, it had a <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2024\/11\/30\/wwe-smackdown-hits-misses-11-30-contrived-sit-down-with-roman-and-punk-jacob-fatu-unleashed-cody-educates-carmelo-nakamuras-return-michin-for-the-win-more\/\" title=\"WWE SMACKDOWN HITS &#038; MISSES (11\/30): Contrived Sit-down with Roman and Punk, Jacob Fatu Unleashed, Cody educates Carmelo, Nakamura&#8217;s return, Michin for the win, more\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":188866,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,28,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-188865","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opnionandanalysis","category-specialists_hitsandmisses","category-specialists"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2024\/11\/Screenshot-2024-11-30-at-2.43.56\u202fPM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188865","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=188865"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188865\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":188867,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188865\/revisions\/188867"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/188866"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=188865"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=188865"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=188865"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}