SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
HITS
Miz TV: This was a good segment that accomplished a few things. Firstly, it kept The Miz and Daniel Bryan away from each other, while placing more of a focus on the upcoming Bryan/Big Cass match. Miz and Bryan’s eventual feud is special enough that it should be saved for something bigger, like SummerSlam, so I appreciate that the WWE is not just jumping in right away. Secondly, while he still needs some work, Cass produced a solid promo, and the segment gave him the floor to explain his actions. The suit was a nice addition, and he carried himself well enough to add some new layers to the character.
The IIconics vs. Asuka/Becky Lynch: Prior to the match, The Iconics cut another good promo running down Asuka. I really enjoy their mean girls routine, as well as the fact that they are able to come across annoying in a good, heelish way, instead of just being cringe inducing. The match that followed was also well done, and I was glad to see Billie Kay and Peyton Royce get the victory.
Carmella: Carmella continues to do strong work as a heel, and this week was no exception. She goes out of her way to ensure that she is booed, which is great. I dug how she had the production team show her inspirational video not once, but twice, in order to get the respect that she felt was deserved.
Main Event: This was a good main event, but it will be mostly remembered for what happened before and after the match. Firstly, I was happy with the decision to remix Shinsuke Nakamura’s entrance music, as well as the added commentary that he changed it so that the fans wouldn’t sing along. It continues to purely focus on the fact that he is a heel, and I appreciate that. The closing moments with Karl Anderson taking the bullet (no pun intended) for A.J. Styles was well done, as well as Nakamura making both men pay for it by giving Anderson another Kinshasa. It was a good emotional end that was very enjoyable, and it’ll be interesting to see the next chapter in this story.
MISSES
Erick Rowan vs. Jimmy Uso: While I appreciate the story that they are trying to tell of The Usos being vulnerable and now underdogs, I’m not completely sold in how they are selling it. The Bludgeon Brothers should be presented as dangerous, but it doesn’t make sense to me that Naomi interrupting a match with her dance routine would cause everyone to just stop the match. These are the same Bludgeon Brothers who destroyed both the New Day and Usos a couple of months ago, so I just don’t get how this interruption would change anything.
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. He 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 4/17: Roster Shake-up, Styles & Bryan vs. Rusev & English, Big Cass’s return, Mellabration, Shelton vs. Hardy
Just when I thought it couldn’t get worse than Monday Night’s show, we get this mess. Ratings continue to plummet.
I thought Smackdown was a pretty decent show this week. I’m excited to see the IIconics up there, and Carmella’s turning me into a fan. Man, Nakamura is crushing it though right now. I wasn’t sure if he’d work as a heel at first, but he might be the top heel in the WWE by the end of the year.
I don’t like how they’re ruining the Usos to get the stupid Bludgeon Brothers gimmick over. I’m cool with them positioning Harper and Rowan as credible threats, but I mean they’re still Harper and Rowan. They were fodder there for awhile, and now the top tag team of 2017 can hardly touch them? Terrible.
I thought the show was boring and the ratings reflect that, but you make a great point about the Iconics and Carmella. I do like what they are doing with all three of them. I hope Carmela gets a decent run before they put the belt back on Flair.
The Harper and Rowan thing reminds me a lot of Jinder Mahal. He didn’t win a singles match on tv for a long, long time, then all of a sudden, he is the champion. That never was going to work. The constant reference to their hammer as mallets, is silly too. I get why, HHH gets the “hammer” reference, but he really needs to check his old ego and let it go. He has long since had his day and even then was pretty boring. But, that is another really good point they make the Bludgeon Brothers out to be too cartoonish. I am with you on Nakamura. I was a huge fan of his before he showed up in WWE and I didn’t like they way they were booking him, but now, since they tweaked his character, he is pretty interesting as the heel.