WWE SmackDown Live: Examining The Best and The Worst of the Brand for 2017
By Bryan Heaton
Worst Superstar: Shane McMahon
I spent more time on this category than any of the other year-end recaps I’ve written. Everything I wrote about for Raw was easy to pick out – there was one promo or superstar or match that just stood out in my mind. Same with NXT, which is coming later in the week. And for SmackDown, matches, promos, debuts, and best of the year were a cinch.
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But worst superstar? Looking back at everything, SmackDown Live really is the land of opportunity. Everyone I thought of who had a “worst”-caliber year had something in there to make me question it. Mojo Rawley? The Hype Bros breakup and his cell phone promos were awesome. Baron Corbin? Money in the Bank, US Title run. Aiden English? RUSEV DAY.
Then it hit me. Shane McMahon. He’s 0 for the year in actual matches this year. His hubris has gotten the better of him at every turn. He launched an attack on the Raw brand ahead of Survivor Series without consulting his consigliere Daniel Bryan. This raised the ire of Triple H, who then joined Team Raw just to beat Shane.
The whole situation with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn has gotten out of hand, simply because Shane is an ineffective commissioner. There’s friction between Shane and Bryan, starting 2018 off on a rocky start.
Honorable Mention: Zack Ryder
Sorry, I’ve just never liked Zack Ryder. His lack of ability caused happy go lucky Mojo Rawley to turn to the dark side. How hard is that?