The Oct. 17 edition of WWE SmackDown was a compelling episode for the blue brand with several new developments being brought to the WWE universe’s attention.
WWE SmackDown is still in the process of building and developing new feuds post-Hell in a Cell, and last night’s episode did a little of both. It built on already established storylines, but gave fans a new-look at other potential new feuds.
A major match possibility was thrown out last night featuring the two top champions in the WWE as well another potential challenger for the blue brand’s world champion.
Let’s take a look at five takeaways from the Oct. 17 edition of SmackDown Live.
5. Will the Fashion Files Segments Ever Have a Payoff?
Some of the most surprisingly-entertaining segments in recent memory in the WWE have come courtesy of Breezango. Fandango and Tyler Breeze were two widely unnoticed WWE superstars, but their tag team has caught on with the fans over the past few months, especially the Fashion Files.
The Fashion Files segments have become an anticipated moment for SmackDown that fans look forward to. Their ridiculousness has been some of the most humorous moments in recent memory and their on-screen relationship with The Ascension has added to it. But the question is, when will these segments have a payoff?
Breezango’s Fashion Files segments have been funny, there’s no denying that. But as of late, there seems to be no end in sight and no payoff to the buildup these segments work towards. It gets to the point where it’s almost as if the WWE is insulting fans’ intelligence by having these segments, teasing some type of reveal, but then just dropping it or forgetting about it.
Last night’s Pulp Fashion segment continued the trend of humorous, but still no reveal. Maybe that’s too detailed of a breakdown for such a lighthearted segment, but it would be nice to see some type of payoff or culmination with what these segments have been building towards.
It’s no different than a storyline or feud, we want to see the end result. And the same can be said for the Fashion Files.
Smackdown Live. Photo by WWE.com
4. Rusev and Aiden English Feuding with The New Day Has Entertaining Written All Over It
When thinking of the most entertaining entities in the WWE, it might be easy to overlook Rusev and Aiden English. But the duo has developed into a very entertaining one that fans can look forward to every Tuesday night. Rusev and English became acquainted during their Randy Orton feud in recent weeks, but now seem to have found an even better feud opportunity.
Many wondered what would be next for The New Day after losing to The Usos inside Hell in a Cell for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship, but last night’s SmackDown might have answered that question. With English singing aimlessly backstage, The New Day approached him and began to play their trombone.
Rusev then made his appearance and continued to say how it’s Rusev Day, leading to more humor from The New Day and English. These individuals are some of the funniest in the WWE and their chemistry with each other and with their opponents can create some very entertaining television.
This feud, assuming it happens, could be a refreshing one to create some memorably-funny moments for the WWE universe. It wouldn’t have to be a serious feud either and it would still work like a charm.
Rusev and English’s on-screen chemistry and humor continues to build, but it can go even farther with the addition of one of the WWE’s most entertaining teams in recent memory.
Photo by WWE.com
3. Baron Corbin Losing to Sin Cara Hurts His Momentum
The Lone Wolf Baron Corbin has been one of the most interesting superstars in the WWE over the past few months. He has had a roller coaster of a career on SmackDown and has had his fair share of ups and downs. But as of late, he has had more ups.
After losing his Money in the Bank contract opportunity and subsequently a match to John Cena at SummerSlam, many speculated his real-life attitude was his downfall. But Corbin has found his footing again after defeating A.J. Styles for the United States Championship. Styles did a great job of putting Corbin over and helping him feel like a legitimate threat on SmackDown, but Corbin deserves credit too.
The Lone Wolf’s momentum was rising, but last night’s SmackDown cooled it off with an unexpected loss. Sin Cara battled Corbin last night and defeated Corbin via count-out in a short amount of time where Sin Cara got most of the match’s offense in.
Sin Cara hadn’t been on television in a long time, but he suddenly appears and defeats the U.S. Champion with relative ease? Maybe this is leading to Sin Cara challenging for the U.S. title, but it just seems perplexing to have your U.S. Champion with rising momentum lose to a guy that hasn’t been on television in a while.
This hurts Corbin’s momentum, but maybe it will lead to something better for the Lone Wolf.
Photo by WWE.com
2. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn Make a Great Heel Duo
The biggest development on SmackDown since Hell in a Cell has been the duo of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn following Zayn’s heel turn at Hell in a Cell. Zayn cut a great promo on the post-Hell in a Cell edition of SmackDown, but he really furthered his heelish ways last night.
SmackDown GM Daniel Bryan came out to a big home state reaction only to be interrupted by Zayn. The Underdog From the Underground continued in on his reasoning as to why he did what he did, but he also began to rip into Bryan.
Zayn was then joined by Owens and the duo continued to take cheap shot after cheap shot at the SmackDown GM. Bryan then made a tag team match pitting Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura against Owens and Zayn and after a shady finish, Zayn pinned Orton to get the win for his team.
The two then approached Bryan backstage and asked what he would have planned for them next week, with Bryan responding that you’ll have to ask Shane McMahon. The return of Shane O’Mac will only further help this duo’s heelish ways and their chemistry together has been outstanding in a short amount of time.
Owens and Zayn want to overtake Tuesday nights, but the return of Shane O’Mac might interfere with that.
WWE.com
1. Jinder Mahal vs. Brock Lesnar is a Terrible Idea, but Jinder Mahal vs. A.J. Styles is a Perfect Idea
The Modern Day Maharaja has ran roughshod on SmackDown since becoming WWE Champion at Backlash against Randy Orton. Jinder Mahal has had one of the most unexpected and controversial WWE Championship reigns of all-time with many fans questioning his legitimacy, but he has prevailed in every feud and opponent that has been thrown his way.
Mahal defeated Shinsuke Nakamura at Hell in a Cell to once again retain his championship, but last night’s SmackDown shed some light on what the future has in store for Mahal. He was set to make a Survivor Series announcement, and boy did he ever.
The WWE Champion challenged the Beast Incarnate and Universal Champion Brock Lesnar for a match at Survivor Series and stated there were no true challenges left on SmackDown. Lesnar is set to answer Mahal’s challenge on the next edition of Raw, but it appears as though the rumors of Mahal vs. Lesnar are true.
While it’s usually intriguing to see a champion vs. champion match, especially between the WWE’s two world champions, this case is totally different. To call this match a potential disaster would be an understatement. The WWE wants to make Mahal look good and like a true WWE Champion, but having him face Lesnar would be a terrible decision.
Lesnar has not had a televised one-on-one match exceed 10 minutes in duration in over a year and to have him wrestle a slow-paced, submission hold type of wrestler would do neither individual any favors. In fact, Lesnar might be the worst possible opponent for Mahal at this point.
But the perfect opponent for Mahal presented himself last night in the form of The Phenomenal A.J. Styles. Styles took offense to Mahal’s statement that he has beaten everybody on SmackDown and Styles subsequently challenged Mahal for the WWE Championship. There is no better superstar in the WWE to help make his opponent look like a million bucks than Styles.
But if Mahal is facing Lesnar at Survivor Series, when will Styles’ opportunity come? It seems likely we’ll see Mahal face off with both Lesnar and Styles sometime in the near future. But there’s no denying Styles would be a better opponent for Mahal than Lesnar would be.
Next: WWE Raw 5 Takeaways From Oct. 16 Show
The Modern Day Maharaja has a full plate of challenges lined up and his reign and legitimacy will be answered now more than ever before.