WWE SMACKDOWN PRIMER 8/22: What is announced and what to expect from post-Summerslam fallout including Jinder, Shane, Breezango

SMACKDOWN PRIMER
AUGUST 22, 2017
PROVIDENCE, R.I. AT THE DUNKIN DONUTS CENTER
By Joey Galizia (@RamJam89), PWTORCH SPECIALIST

“IGNORANCE OF A LEGEND”

I need to complain for a moment. As someone who works in the entertainment industry and understands the process of scripting out shows I find a wrestling storyline to be one of the most unique forms of tale telling. With that said… I do not understand the story they are trying to tell with Jinder Mahal. I understand the reasoning for his sudden rise to the stars. If the company believes they can make a great deal of money with him in the India market than I wish them the absolute best, but at what cost? Mahal has now defeated the likes of Randy Orton, A.J. Styles, Sami Zayn, and Shinsuke Nakamura. None of the matches he has produced has been memorable. He is a fine worker in the ring, and he has great facial expressions but his promos lack the fire and depth to really draw me in.

Now that I’ve finished complaining, Jinder returns to Brooklyn tonight still as WWE Champion, and now quite possibly without a feud after defeating the King of Strong Style thanks to an assist from the Singh brothers. Will Shinsuke, who hadn’t lost a main roster match via pinfall until this past Sunday be looking for redemption?

“A STORY ABOUT A ZEBRA”

Not surprising was the fact that Kevin Owens and A.J. Styles put on the best of their series of matches on Sunday. Also not surprising was the fact that the special guest referee, Shane McMahon, was the most important aspect of that match and that’s upsetting considering the talent involved. However, if they are trying to push a future Owens and Shane feud than the groundwork was laid out regardless if it were messy. Styles would emerge victorious, and knowing K.O. he will aim all of his blame towards Shane’O’Mac. As for Styles, his next challenger awaits, whoever that may be. (Cough, Nakamura please, cough.)

“STEAL THE SHOW”

-Without question, the potential MOTN occurred on the pre-show between the Usos and the New Day. Even after battling each other multiple times these guys were able to deliver a fast-paced exciting extravaganza. The Usos obviously did their homework when General Manager Daniel Bryan told them which two members of the Unicorn Train they would be facing last week on Smackdown, isolating each member away from each other, and then murdering Big E with a series of superkicks before double-splashing him for the win. Jimmy and Jey now begin their second reign as Smackdown tag-team champions, but with a limited tag-team division, expect the New Day to cash-in on their rematch.

-Natalya surprised everyone when she submitted Naomi in the middle of the ring. It’s been six long years since the last time she had a worthy reign, so we’ll see if the queen of hearts can keep it up. If I were her though, I’d watch my back, considering that Ms. Money in the Bank Carmella may want to cash-in her briefcase in her home state.

-Tyler Breeze and Fandango were nowhere to be seen this weekend, and according to the series finale of their David Lynch fashion spin-off we won’t be seeing them until next Tuesday. Hopefully they make a quick appearance though.

-John Cena may now be on Raw, but his latest victim Baron Corbin is still on Smackdown. It’s been a bad week for Baron, and if the information about his backstage antics is true, it will only get worse.

-A lot of people may seem unhappy with how Rusev was PUNKED at Summerslam by the Viper Randy Orton, but the RKO IS the greatest finisher of all time, and it really can just come OUT OF NOWHERE. Ru Ru will be fine. I have a feeling that this feud isn’t over yet.

-Biggest news for tonight’s show is who is backstage. The Glorious One, Bobby Roode was parading around backstage at Raw last night, and he may be making his main roster debut for the blue brand. BRING…IT…ON.

Smackdown fallout from Summerslam, and after tonight we say goodbye to Brooklyn. I’m not too unhappy about that last part, this crowd and their beach balls have made me disappointed about my NY roots.

NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S COLUMN: WWE SMACKDOWN PRIMER 8/15: Jinder Mahal vs. John Cena announced, Breezango, Usos, Orton, more Summerslam hype