SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
SMACKDOWN PRIMER
MAY 23, 2017
TOLEDO, OHIO AT HUNTINGTON CENTER
By Joey Galizia (@RamJam89), PWTORCH SPECIALIST
“THE PRINCE’S REIGN”
Well, it happened. For weeks the maharaja Jinder Mahal promised the WWE Universe that he would go into Backlash and become the WWE Champion. Nothing seemed certain since Jinder had gotten the best of Randy Orton over the past few weeks and per wrestling formula, should not have come out of this one as the winner. BUT THE MAHARAJA FOLLOWS NO FORMULA. Thanks to his lackey Singh Brothers, he was able to sneak up behind Orton and deliver his signature (and deadly) cobra-clutch slam to shock the world. Tonight in Toledo (I’m sure they’re BIG Jinder fans in Ohio), Mahal will have a Punjabi celebration and I, for one, cannot wait. Will this reign last long? WWE has announced that he will be facing Orton on the go-home show before Money in the Bank. Does that mean he holds the title until then? Or will Randy be looking to implement his rematch clause ASAP? Guess you’ll have to tune in to find out.
“RETURN OF THE MACK”
Credit must be given to Breezango. Their Fashion Files program is legitimately better than some police shows and, while no one expected them to defeat the Usos this weekend, they certainly put up one hell of a fight. (Disguise and all.) However, the super-kicking Samoans better get ready, because according to rumors, the real champs are about to make their triumphant return. The New Day are expected to make their SD Live debut, and you know that their booty shaking, ice-cream selling, unicorn wearing personalities are joyful, but they were the longest reigning tag-champs in history because of their incredible chemistry as a team. Let’s give Toledo something to clap out.
“UNSTOPPABLE, UNWATCHABLE”
There use to be a point during my Tuesday primers when I would sing the praises of how the SD Women’s Division were presented. Gosh, that seems like so long ago now. At Backlash the welcoming committee team not only worked better as a team, but scored a victory over the three biggest babyfaces that the blue brand has. How did they do it you ask? Perhaps shenanigans or interference from James Ellsworth? NOPE. They just simply beat them fair and square when Becky Lynch (who’s losing all credibility as a threat) tapped out to Natalya. Where they go from here indicates that a Naomi-Natalya title feud could be rising to the surface. I’m totally okay with that, but there HAD to be a better way to get there. Hopefully tonight changes my mind.
“RED LEATHER, BLACK LEATHER”
-Shinsuke’s match may have been slightly underwhelming, but he did nearly murder Dolph Ziggler with a Kinshasa so it can be forgiven. Where the charismatic Nakamura transitions to from here is what needs to be determined tonight.
-Sami Zayn scored a huge upset victory over Baron Corbin. This momentum will hopefully catapult the likeable one into bigger things, or at least into the Money in the Bank ladder match. Corbin on the other hand hates to lose and, when he does, he hurts people. BADLY. (Hide the forklifts.)
-The Face of America not only owns the U.S. Championship, but owns Talking Smack. His levels of rage and conceitedness give him a scary presence on the talk show, reminiscent of his early NXT run when would bleed from the nose and murder you for even talking to him. A.J. Styles probably isn’t too happy after losing via countout to Owens, but without a clean victory, this feud will live on. And we the wrestle-verse will live in Bliss while it does.
-Aiden English is supremely underrated and Tye Dillinger needs a conflict that will get him on the main card at PPVs.
-205 features the big street fight between The Brian Kendrick and AHHHHH Akira Tozawa. Tonight… they put it all to rest… or you know, they continue to teach each other lessons for the next decade. I could honestly see it going either way.
NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S COLUMN: SMACKDOWN PRIMER 5/16: Orton vs. Corbin, Rusev’s grievances, Breezango, Charlotte, Styles vs. Mahal
Can we stop mentioning how “charismatic” Nakamura is? Flopping around, spazzing out and making arm gestures that make zero sense isn’t charisma.
The guy barely says anything and the crowd eats out of the palm of his hand, yet you think he has no charisma? WHATEVER you say boss.
And Ohio loves the Jinder Mahal. Maharaja or GFYM.