It's fair to say that SmackDown has not been the same show since the Superstar Shake-Up, and I honestly don't know what can be done to get the blue brand back going again. It has its moments, and the talent is there, but with a month until the Rumble, things don't look too promising.
Pre-Show- Zack Ryder vs Mojo Rawley
I've long been alone in my love of the Hype Bros, and even though it was upsetting to see them split, I did have high hopes for the future. I'll be damned if they're not doing their best to get me to not care about this match, and you know what, it worked!
Breezango vs The Bludgeon Brothers
Harper and Rowan's new gimmick has not been expanded at all just yet, beyond large dudes carrying hammers and destroying jobbers. This match could help get them over, as Breeze and Fandango are established as a team, but after literal months of build-up on the Fashion Files, I was hoping for a little more than a throw-away addition to the card.
United States Championship Match- Baron Corbin vs Bobby Roode vs Dolph Ziggler
This is a very random match, with Dolph added for no real discernible reason. I really hope the belt doesn't change here, because that would be incredibly anti-climatic.
SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match- The Usos vs The New Day vs Gable and Benjamin vs Rusev and Aiden English
Another very random match, but one with a good amount of potential. Both tag matches on this card have the potential to steal the show, with this one containing a lot of good talent. This is one of those types of matches were you don't really care who wins, the match itself is what you came to see.
SmackDown Women's Championship Match- Charlotte Flair vs Natalya
This is a feud that feels like it could've been wrapped up a long time ago, and apparently SmackDown agrees, since they tossed the entire division outside of the ring, for old time's sake, I guess. It's very rare to have a championship feud where the actual champion is an afterthought, but that really speaks to just how bad these women are booked.
Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura vs Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
This really feels like it should be the main event, although it'll almost certainly be the best match on the card. The Owens/Zayn story when combined with the Shane/D-Bry dynamic is easily the best storyline on the entire brand, and really deserves a proper payoff. I can't think of any way to screw this up, so let's just hope they don't think of one before tomorrow.
WWE Championship Match- AJ Styles vs Jinder Mahal
Boy, going from working Brock Lesnar in one of the best matches of the year to attempting to get something out of Jinder Mahal is back to back months really sums up the year of AJ Styles. I have no doubt that AJ will do his best to make this thing work, but the championship scene really needs to move beyond Jinder.
As you can probably tell, I'm not hugely positive on this card. There is some potential here, but not much, so most of these matches are going to majorly over deliver to give this show a chance.
Pre-Show- Zack Ryder vs Mojo Rawley
I've long been alone in my love of the Hype Bros, and even though it was upsetting to see them split, I did have high hopes for the future. I'll be damned if they're not doing their best to get me to not care about this match, and you know what, it worked!
Breezango vs The Bludgeon Brothers
Harper and Rowan's new gimmick has not been expanded at all just yet, beyond large dudes carrying hammers and destroying jobbers. This match could help get them over, as Breeze and Fandango are established as a team, but after literal months of build-up on the Fashion Files, I was hoping for a little more than a throw-away addition to the card.
United States Championship Match- Baron Corbin vs Bobby Roode vs Dolph Ziggler
This is a very random match, with Dolph added for no real discernible reason. I really hope the belt doesn't change here, because that would be incredibly anti-climatic.
SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match- The Usos vs The New Day vs Gable and Benjamin vs Rusev and Aiden English
Another very random match, but one with a good amount of potential. Both tag matches on this card have the potential to steal the show, with this one containing a lot of good talent. This is one of those types of matches were you don't really care who wins, the match itself is what you came to see.
SmackDown Women's Championship Match- Charlotte Flair vs Natalya
This is a feud that feels like it could've been wrapped up a long time ago, and apparently SmackDown agrees, since they tossed the entire division outside of the ring, for old time's sake, I guess. It's very rare to have a championship feud where the actual champion is an afterthought, but that really speaks to just how bad these women are booked.
Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura vs Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
This really feels like it should be the main event, although it'll almost certainly be the best match on the card. The Owens/Zayn story when combined with the Shane/D-Bry dynamic is easily the best storyline on the entire brand, and really deserves a proper payoff. I can't think of any way to screw this up, so let's just hope they don't think of one before tomorrow.
WWE Championship Match- AJ Styles vs Jinder Mahal
Boy, going from working Brock Lesnar in one of the best matches of the year to attempting to get something out of Jinder Mahal is back to back months really sums up the year of AJ Styles. I have no doubt that AJ will do his best to make this thing work, but the championship scene really needs to move beyond Jinder.
As you can probably tell, I'm not hugely positive on this card. There is some potential here, but not much, so most of these matches are going to majorly over deliver to give this show a chance.
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