Opinion
Levin’s WWE SmackDown Live Review
If WWE can bring back Dean Ambrose for the “go home” show before SummerSlam, then why can’t the creative team for SmackDown Live do something equally dynamic?
WWE took a page out of old-school wrestling on Tuesday night, building the match between The Miz and Daniel Bryan to be as big, if not bigger than any feud the company or the business has ever witnessed. By promoting both company superstars through three vignettes, the next six days to SummerSlam should be full of hype, anticipation, and suspense.
The WWE did this right. The back and forth comments were perfect. The walk down memory lane sent chills down my spine. The fear of the match falling short, leading to disappointment vanished with each segment, which was better than the last. Whoever came up with this concept deserves a gold star and a raise.
When I look at feuds of the past, Flair-Steamboat, Savage-Hogan, Brisco-Funk, they all had a great storyline and even better in-ring chemistry. The same holds true for this match and hopefully, it means a continuing feud moving forward. Also, like John Cena and CM Punk, there is potential to write more chapters as a “go to” feud when ratings fall or the business becomes stale.
Bad blood usually spoils over again in this business.
Here are a few more points I need to make.
The Tuesday night show started off with Carmella, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair in the ring ahead of the SmackDown Women’s Title match on Sunday night. I’m still trying to get behind this one and waiting for ether BFF to turn to the dark side. There are plenty of scenarios that could take place, but the fact remains if Carmella walks out of Brooklyn with the title in hand, I’m going to be pissed with plenty of other wrestling fans.
The dialogue between the three ladies was decent but still didn’t excite the masses. The best line of the opening segment is when Flair told the champ, “You’re a diva living in a women’s era.”
Of course, Paige (Good Gawd) comes out and orders a tag team match between Flair and Becky vs. Mandy Rose and Sonya DeVille.
I’ll say this, the women’s division has gotten better – with the resurgence of Lynch, Hopefully, the match will be better than the hype.
Lynch got the pinfall and stole the show, leading to more backstage tension between the two women.
The Bludgeon Brothers and Everyone Else
The Bludgeon Brothers remind me of the Wild Samoans from the old WWWF/WWF. Over 600 pounds of intensity and tougher and meaner than any other tag team. The current SmackDown tag team champions have no peer and should New Day beat them, it shows WWE’s need to keep the four-time tag team champions relevant.
This is a division that is good, but it could use a shakeup.
Sanity vs. The New Day – Does Nothing For Me
Alexander Wolf, Killian Dain, and Eric Young should be one badass tag team that challenges the Bludgeon Brothers but are stuck in tag team mediocrity.
Young is one of the better mat wrestlers of this generation. Dain should be in singles competition. I’m still of the belief WWE should figure out what to do with Xavier Woods (205), Kofi Kingston (main even picture) and Big E feud with Rusev.
Don’t get me wrong about my point. The match itself was very good, but there was no way WWE would put Sanity over when New Day has a tag team title opportunity.
Samoa Joe Must Beat AJ Styles
There is no way A.J. Styles will hold the WWE Title for over 500 days. There is no way Samoa Joe will continue to march through the SmackDown Live roster without a title. This is a match I cannot wait to see on Sunday.
While Styles may be a better in-ring performer, Joe is the more complete performer. Personally, I would love to see Joe as the next Paul Heyman guy. I did not like the end of the show.
Aiden English Needs A Spot
English vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas. You knew this would happen. It’s the only reasonable progression. But it makes no sense.
The rumor has been Vince McMahon is in favor of an Almas run toward the main event after two weeks of matches against Styles and Rusev. Rusev vs. Almas at SummerSlam would be perfect if it were not for the current storyline.
English really is a ball and chain. And honestly, I don’t want to see a mixed tag match to kick off SummerSlam.
By the way, Lana cannot remember her accent.
Shelton Benjamin Deserves Better
What would happen if Shelton Benjamin could stay healthy? Would he be in line for a main event push? The match with Jeff Hardy, which was good, was a mere icebreaker for a confrontation with Shinsuke Nakamura.
With the addition of Randy Orton to this angle, there is no doubt he will decide the outcome of the match and the United States Title. WWE has to be careful here. If he costs Nakamura the match, what does that do for the former champion’s character? What happens with Hardy moving forward?
Would Benjamin get a chance at the title and have Orton and Nakamura work a program?
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Opinion
Chris King: Is Brock Lesnar Truly Retired?
Brock Lesnar retired at WWE WrestleMania 42, right? Are we totally sure? Chris King asks…
Brock Lesnar retired at WWE WrestleMania 42, right? Are we totally sure? Chris King asks…
At WrestleMania 42, ‘The Beast Incarnate’ Brock Lesnar took off his boots and gloves following his loss to Oba Femi. Lesnar has done it all inside of his twenty-four-year career in professional wrestling. He’s a ten-time WWE Champion and former UFC Heavyweight Champion, and he’s one who ended The Undertaker’s undefeated streak at WrestleMania.
While Lesnar was in the ring, he was visibly overwhelmed with emotion and crying while he thanked the fans in his own way. The Beast even threw up an x to signal to Paul Heyman, his longtime friend and advocate, that this was not scripted and was real. There had been rumors that Lesnar and Oba were supposed to have a series of matches before everything went down at Mania.
‘The Career Killer’ Gunther was doing Heyman’s bidding as he faced Seth Rollins for a favor. For a while now since Gunther retired Goldberg, John Cena, and AJ Styles, the rumor has been Gunther was set to retire Lesnar in his hometown at this year’s SummerSlam event. There’s been no confirmation if Lesnar is truly retired, but on this week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown, we saw Heyman talking with General Manager Nick Aldis. Later that night following Rhodes’ match against the debuting Ricky Saints, Gunther choked out the WWE Champion. Could this be the favor from Heyman?
I know in the world of professional wrestling we live by the mantra of “never say never,” but what if Lesnar is actually retired and this was WWE’s way of shutting down those rumors about Gunther and Lesnar? What if Gunther’s next program is chasing after the WWE title, and where is Randy Orton at in all of these plans? There are so many questions that need to be answered, hopefully soon!
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Opinion
Chris King: Defend The Intercontinental Championship At Backlash!
With WWE Backlash upon us, Chris King wants to see Penta defend the Intercontinental Championship in Tampa!
With WWE Backlash upon us, Chris King wants to see Penta defend the Intercontinental Championship in Tampa!
This year’s annual Backlash showcase is only a few days away, and while there are many big matches announced, one that definitely should be isn’t on the card. In my opinion, outside of Roman Reigns/Jacob Fatu and Seth Rollins/Bron Breakker, the Intercontinental Championship scene has been stellar over the last month.
Penta has been an excellent champion, especially after his triumphant title defense in a ladder match against JeVon Evans, Rusev, Dragon Lee, and the Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio at WrestleMania 42. Their ladder match at Mania was one of the best that WWE has produced in a while.
The momentum never stopped, as on the post-Mania episode of Monday Night Raw, ‘All Ego’ Ethan Page made his debut and was quickly inserted into the Intercontinental title scene. Page had a fantastic showing against his longtime NXT rival Evans and picked up a big win in his debut match thanks to an assist from Rusev.
All Ego immediately joined forces with ‘The Bulgarian Brute’ Rusev, who was also vying for the Intercontinental Title in his own right. On this week’s episode of Raw, Page and Rusev defeated Evans and Penta. All Ego pinned the champion, making a huge statement and putting him one step closer to getting a title shot. For the past few weeks I’ve been anxiously waiting to see if WWE was going to add this incredible fatal four-way match for the Intercontinental Championship, but it hasn’t happened yet.
As much as the WWE Universe enjoys witnessing great matches on free television, I truly believe all four superstars deserve the chance to showcase their talents on the PLE. While Penta has done a terrific job as the intercontinental champion, it’s time for a fresh face to hold the prestigious title. Page would make a great braggadocious heel that would help elevate the Intercontinental Championship to new heights!
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MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
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WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Nefarious Means
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SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - 30 Mindless Minutes
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast: The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history) Unidentified History (Ufology) & Game Gone Wrong (Game of Thrones Universe)
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