SmackDown Fall Out
By Dennis DuBay
The Big Story: Lesnar defeats Kingston in seconds. Literally.
Listen .. I understand the reasoning for putting the belt back on Brock Lesnar. The dude is a legit beast. He’s a believable champion. He’s marketable. He’s got prestige. All that said, you have to scratch your head regarding the way he won the match. Sure, makes him look like an indestructible god among men.
But it made your six month champ look like a three pump chump.
And I’m not going to sit here and tell you that I don’t care about the Cain/Brock deal. It’s pretty cool. I’ll watch it, for sure. But you are elevating talent that doesn’t even work for you. I mean, sure, he’s getting paid but how long with Cain remain after he beats and then loses it back to Brock?
All the while, other talent that works day in and day out job to people just coming in for a cup of coffee. And you think CM Punk is going to return? For this? I guess if he wants to jump in on the work a month, disappear for a year contract that some of these guys are getting, sure.
But then, wouldn’t he be a hypocrite? I mean, the wrestling business is filled with them, so I guess we could see that.
So where does Kofi go next? Well, hell, where is everyone going, i suppose. Draft begins next week.
Match Roundup:
Raw Woman’s Champion Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair defeated SmackDown Woman’s Champion Bayley & Sasha Banks … Nothing special about this match up as we’ve seen it in heavy rotation for the last 10 years it seems. Universal Champion Seth Rollins vs. Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura (w/Sami Zayn) .. Fiend comes out, Seth tries to run away … sound familiar? Momentum for the Fiend is starting to die. Damn shame. Kevin Owens defeated Shane McMahon in a Loser is Fired Ladder Match … Supposedly the culmination of a feud that won’t die. I sure hope Owen’s goes back to the way he was before McMahon reentered the fray. I loved that super face Owens. We need that Owen’s back. Braun Strowman, The Miz & Heavy Machinery defeated AJ Styles, Randy Orton, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode … I understand the need to get as much talent on the show as possible to show the fans who and what is going on … but this ain’t the way. None of this match up made a bit of sense to me. Roman Reigns defeated Erick Rowan in a Lumberjack Match … Decent match, this is one program that I actually have a bit of interest in - notably to see who turns on who first, Reigns or Bryan, because you know it’s going to happen. And I feel like it’s going to be Reigns, who ends up siding with Triple H somehow to finally rid the WWE Universe of Daniel Bryan. Brock Lesnar (w/Paul Heyman) defeated Kofi Kingston to win the WWE Championship.
What worked: The presentation of the show. Felt like a PPV in terms of presentation.
What didn't: Doing Kofi dirty. Show felt rushed. I like fast, but this just seemed chaotic.
Show Grade: C+ - Show wasn't horrible, but it wasn't a home run, either.