WWE SmackDown Live: Stock Watch For September 5

Whose stock is on the rise after SmackDown Live this week? Who is losing value?

After WWE SmackDown Live on Tuesday, there are a handful of superstars who are seeing their stock rise. Likewise, a couple of superstars look like they’ve hit a rough spot. A pro wrestler’s career is always full of peaks and valleys, but in WWE they get magnified because of the number of eyes on them at all times.

With that said, let’s take a look at some superstars on the move after SmackDown Live this week.

Stock Rising

• Tye Dillinger

The Perfect Ten squared off against Baron Corbin this week. It was a sort of grudge match, after Corbin assaulted Dillinger a week prior following Tye’s hard loss to AJ Styles. Although Dillinger fell short again this week, it took a cheap shot by Corbin to put him away. In addition, Dillinger earned the respect of Styles, who is reserving the US Title Open Challenge next week for Tye.

Despite Corbin winning the match, Dillinger made him work hard for it. And he also made The Lone Wolf look like a million bucks in one of the night’s better matches. Getting a pre-announced, prestigious US Title match as a result is a sign that there may be big things planned for Tye in the near future.

• James Ellsworth

Yeah, it was that kind of SmackDown this week. Ellsworth tried to help Carmella cash her Money in the Bank contract in during her match against Natalya. The confusion in the moment allowed Natalya to eke out a win. After the match, Carmella looked to part ways with Ellsworth.

But any man with two hands has a fighting chance in wrestling – and love, apparently. Backstage, Ellsworth pleaded for Carmella to take him back, and the Staten Island Princess relented. She planted a big wet kiss on his lips, then slapped the confused Ellsworth. Even though he’s basically in a non wrestling role at the moment, you can’t argue that things look better for Ellsworth than they have in a long time.

Stock Falling

• Dolph Ziggler

Does anyone remember Eugene? Back in the early 2000s, Eric Bischoff’s (kayfabe) nephew Eugene debuted for WWE. He was the worst kind of caricature of a special needs individual, but he did have one thing going for him. He would mimic the mannerisms of legendary WWE Superstars – Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Triple H, etc. – that he learned from watching them on TV.

Apparently in 2017, Dolph Ziggler is going for the same thing, just with only entrances (and leaving out the ill-advised false mental handicap). The “rebranding” of Ziggler this week was a glorified best-of compilation of popular ring entrances. (Fun fact: The “Miss Elizabeth” during the Macho Man entrance? Eugene’s wife!) It’s staggering to think that less than a year ago, Ziggler was risking his career for one more shot at the Intercontinental Championship. He’s the walking definition of a free fall right now.

• Natalya

Yes, you’re reading this correctly. Natalya – the current SmackDown Women’s Champion – is trending downwards, but more through poor booking than anything else. She won her match tonight, after all.

However, her title reign is being grossly overshadowed by the Carmella/Ellsworth saga. It tends to happen with a Money in the Bank briefcase holder, but this is almost a new level. In a fair, one on one match, the champion shouldn’t look outmatched by his or her opponent, but that’s what has been happening to Nattie. She needs a few solid victories to rebuild some of her championship advantage.

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What do you think about these assessments?