WWE has a noticeable trend on the way to WrestleMania.
This is usually the time when the dilapidated fan would return to see what the biggest show is ahead. Normally I would say that SmackDown would be THE program I would recommend to watch. While this is generally good, I am starting to see the trend return.
If they have a specific goal in mind, logic and common sense tend to fall away in favor of achieving the desired result. For example, and I touch on it briefly, Roman Reigns should know that Jey Uso is not going to win a game. Why then would he agree to let Jey wrestle someone where he has to win to allow Roman to get down to Fastlane?
Then we also have Reginald across the SmackDown section for women. Why? Sasha and Bianca can handle it without all the malice and interference. It’s an exciting storyline, and it’s caught up in unnecessary, and frankly, simple dumb stories.
By doing these things, it is related to the flow of a phenomenal program since nine times out of ten since the summer of last year. Please stop it. This caused a downward trend in my excitement for Friday nights.
Let’s look at the main hits and misses of this series. For a full review of SmackDown, check out Rev.’s live blog. Claire Elizabeth!
Ambition
Daniel Bryan is a leading promoter.
Bryan talked about how he put himself in the background to help other talent he sees as the future. He also said that WWE once did a personality test and that he was very low on the ambitious line and that they did not understand how he would be successful. He lay down on the mat and looked at Edge and pointed to the WrestleMania board and made him decide that was enough.
The tribal chief’s crew came forward and said Bryan did not like this struggle. Reigns is needed by everyone and Bryan needs Reigns. Jey Uso grabs the microphone and says it’s as close as he gets to the Universal Championship.
Later, Jey sat next to Reigns and said he got it and Reigns said he knows, but also Jey needs to know that he is going to disappoint the family if he loses. When Jey walked away confident, you could just see that Reigns had none of it. As I mentioned above, it does not really make sense to me. Reigns should never let that happen because he knows what the result will be.
Reigns came down to see the cage fit with a seat on the ring. Uso slapped Bryan’s head on the mat and demanded that he acknowledge the tribal chief. Uso walks to the cage door and Bryan gets him back. There was an amazing Samoan fall from the top rope, and when they came back from break, Uso kicked Bryan off the ropes and did the splash to pin Bryan down.
Bryan grabs Uso and gives him a bunch of elbows, but Uso comes on top and attacks Bryan. Both men were on top of the cage and Bryan headed Uso down. Uso grabs Bryan before he can clear the top and they fight on the top rope. Bryan did a suplex of the top rope in the Yes Lock. Uso tried to break it up by grabbing the rope, but it did not work in this match, and Uso slammed out.
It was another one of those you know what’s going to happen in the final scenarios. The ride along was pretty good, but this would be the last time Jey is in Rome’s good grace. It’s time for Jey to be reprimanded for losing time and time again. Otherwise, I’m worried it would not make Roman look good.
WWE has done really well with the Tribal Chief storyline since it started, but it’s starting to get a little redundant when it comes to Jey. He does not win. Reigns should no longer have him in these kinds of matches.
So … Apollo Crews
Okay, let’s go straight to the elephant in the room.
Last week I said, ‘He even switched to an accent when he said what his grandfather would have said to Big E. while sounding like his grandfather! That would be the right way to do it, unlike Kofi Kingston. “Were you not Jamaican,” it was such corn. ‘
Puppy.
I am not Nigerian. I’m a white American, so I really approach it from my gut. Crew with an accent now feels personal to me. I know there is a long history of the typical strange heel tropics and what was offensive in the past.
How do you feel about this, Cagesiders?
The rest
Michael Cole told us that Cesaro defeated Murphy
And he did it before the finish actually happened, which was quite hilarious. Actually, Cesaro dominated the whole game and Seth Rollins commented because that’s what Seth Rollins does. Prior to this match, Murphy was shown performing to Rollins behind the scenes and telling him he wanted to help him with his Cesaro problem. It literally makes no sense.
Murphy and Rollins are separated after a feud because Murphy apparently dated Aalyah Mysterio months ago. So Aalyah and Murphy disappeared from the television for a while, and then they first brought Murphy back to stand on the ring when Rollins returned. They had no interaction. Now in this show, and right after a Mysterios match, Murphy wants to be at Rollins again and there is no explanation? I do not understand it. And I do not really like it because I did not want Murphy with Rollins anymore at the time.
Bianca Belair defeated Shayna Baszler
Belair lifted Baszler while trying to hurt the first arm, but Baszler continued to punish her and targeted her left arm. Baszler persisted, but Belair actually lifted her and hit her on the mat while her arm was twisted! Belair upset Baszler when she wanted to do the Kirifuda Clutch holy shit. And she performed the Kiss of Death for victory! Reginald knocked Sasha down on the outside through Nia. It served as a distraction, but it did not lead to a loss that is very pleasant to watch. But again, why are we still doing this? Get Reginald out of this!
King Corbin defeats Montez Ford / Angelo Dawkins defeats Sami Zayn
I do not have a conspiracy, but … I do not know. Ford struck a few ships and Corbin broke out an early Spinebuster. Corbin got a foul and Ford put in a sleeper, but Corbin got out of it. Zayn draws Ford’s attention and Corbin takes advantage of an end of days to win. This is how Zayn told him that since he helped, Corbin must return the favor. And then Dawkins hit Zayn in Corbin and even though you could see that Corbin could see it, he … did not go and left.
Zayn tried to pin Dawkins three times in a row, but it did not work, and then Dawkins tried a suplex and instead fell for a neck breaker. Zayn throws Dawkins into the corner and Ford leads Zayn off by throwing water on the documentary crew and losing by roll.
These two games were fast and fun. I’ve been enjoying Corbin lately and love to use Sami as a way to get under his skin. Sami is so wonderful in this role. I would not mind them as a tag team in the long run. As for the street win, it was a 50/50 situation after their big win last week. I do not really understand it. But as we’ve talked about in the past, WWE likes their 50/50 discussion.
Dominik Mysterio defeats Chad Gable
Gable dominated the first minute with a very good mat wrestling. Dom fought back and turned around. He went for a tornado DDT and Gable blocked it and did this amazing suplex for two counts. Dom scored a lucky victory and Rey entered the ring and beat Otis across the announcement table. Quick win and a nice little sprint for both of these guys.
Grade: B-
What were your thoughts, Cagesiders?