TOP 3 DEVELOPMENTS – SMACKDOWN 10/2: A Somber Opener, One Night in Milwaukee, Becky Cheered

A SOMBER OPENER…

Recap: The show began with Paige in the ring. Forgetting the Brian Pillman-Steve Austin home invasion (among other events), she referred to Samoa Joe’s actions last week as “the most dastardly crime in WWE history” and replayed last week’s footage. She claimed that AJ Styles’ family was OK, as the authorities were called immediately after the video ended. She claimed that Joe never made it into the house.

Paige said that the WWE Board of Directors universally voted to fire Joe, but that when she called AJ Styles, he pled with her not to fire him so they could have their match in Australia. She then aired a clip of AJ Styles from home.

AJ apologized for not being at SmackDown. He was booed. He said he didn’t think he was in the frame of mind to be able to perform, and said he didn’t want to do anything stupid. He said he wouldn’t leave his home until he ad confirmation that Joe was on a flight to Australia. He recounted his daughter checking her closet and bed for “Uncle Joe,” as if he were the Boogeyman. He claimed Joe wouldn’t be coming back from “down under” since that’s where he’d be putting Joe. He clarified that he meant to bury Joe alive.

Evaluation: This fell flat with the crowd. They booed the idea of Joe being fired, and seemed to find the segment overly histrionic. It was also a bad idea to open the show with a sober segment instead of something hot.

I don’t understand how Joe could’ve not entered the house, since he had already rang the bell when the video ended, and that’s when the police were called. They must have teleported.

Brock Lesnar, Braun Strowman, Randy Orton, Steve Austin, Brian Pillman, and others have committed much more “dastardly crimes” than Joe, so Paige’s comment didn’t make sense.

Forecast: The fans seemed more into Joe than AJ tonight, so perhaps WWE will decide to put the title on Joe.

ONE NIGHT IN MILWAUKEE…

Recap: At the top of the second hour, Rusev and Lana came to the ring. Rusev demanded that Aiden English come down to show the video footage from Milwaukee that he teased last week.

Aiden appeared. He teased the crowd by rambling off random facts about Milwaukee before finally showing the footage.

In the footage, a shirtless Aiden is shown in his hotel room practicing song lyrics about Milwaukee, presumably before a show. Lana knocks on the door and enters. She says she has something to tell Aiden. She says, “Aiden, I want you….” Aiden then paused the tape. He said he could not continue past there, as he had offers from TMZ for the full tape.

Rusev looked annoyed with Lana as she tried to tell him that there was more to the conversation. An angry Rusev then chased Aiden backstage.

Backstage, Rusev was searching for Aiden as Lana tried to reason with him. He told Lana that it was not the place or time and stormed off.

Evaluation: The segment worked. It gave the fans a little, while still preserving the mystery.

Forecast: The one downside to the segment is that it seems obvious when the full footage eventually comes out, it will show Lana saying something mundane like, “I want you to be at ringside tonight.”

BECKY CHEERED, CHARLOTTE BOOED…

Recap: The final segment was a Becky Lynch in-ring promo. She recounted that since SummerSlam, she has stopped asking and started taking. She talked about how being nice gets you stabbed in the back. She said she now strikes first, showing a video package of attacks on Charlotte. After the video package, she said she was indignant at having to watch Charlotte get photo shoots. Becky said she’s the one that deserves magazine covers and action figures.

She then unveiled her own poster for Super Show-Down, portraying her standing over Charlotte. She said Super Show-Down was about her, not Triple H or Undertaker.

Charlotte then charges the ring, tossing Becky into the poster. The segment ended with Charlotte hitting the Figure Four draping over the apron, followed by a big boot.

Evaluation: I’ve been saying for weeks that this positioning hurts Charlotte, as he’s a face that everyone boos facing a heel everyone cheers. She’s essentially in the Roman Reigns spot. In some cities, fans had been kinder to her, but she was clearly booed tonight.

Forecast: I’ll stay optimistic and keep predicting a Charlotte heel turn.

NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S COLUMN: TOP 3 DEVELOPMENTS – SMACKDOWN 9/25: The Temptation of Bryan, Aiden Teases Evidence, Joe Stalks AJ’s Family