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WWE SmackDown Grades: Samoa Joe Takes A Big Step In The Right Direction

By Trace Johnson

Roman and Samoa Joe (R) battle during the WWE show at Zenith Arena on may 09, 2017 in Lille, France. / AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE HUGUEN (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images)
Roman and Samoa Joe (R) battle during the WWE show at Zenith Arena on may 09, 2017 in Lille, France. / AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE HUGUEN (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images) /
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The March 5 edition of WWE SmackDown was an impactful show filled with key storyline developments and moments heading into this coming Sunday night’s Fastlane pay-per-view.

Last night’s WWE SmackDown was a stellar overall show that was a successful lead into Fastlane in a night that featured an unexpected title change for a superstar that had never tasted main roster gold before.

Things are compelling on the blue brand and they should continue to get better over the next month.  With that being said, let’s take a look at a few grades from the March 5 edition of WWE SmackDown.

4. Opening Segment

The WWE Championship match at Fastlane has taken a drastic change over the past couple of weeks.  In what appeared to be the first-ever one-on-one WWE Championship opportunity for Kofi Kingston turned into an unexpected opportunity for the returning Kevin Owens.

Kofi is far from done in this scenario, but for now, Owens will take on Daniel Bryan at Fastlane this coming Sunday night with the WWE Championship on the line.  There was next to no buildup for this version of the championship match given how KO was thrown into the mix just a week ago.  However, that all changed last night after The New Daniel Bryan and Rowan opened up the show.

Bryan began saying derogatory comments about Owens, including subtle fat jokes, and said he’s just like the WWE universe and not someone that deserves a WWE Championship opportunity.  Owens wouldn’t take that lying down, however, and he came out to respond to the condescending champion.  KO said during the time he was away with injury, he was indeed watching the WWE like a fan, and he was annoyed with Bryan during that time.

Owens said he’s going to shut up Bryan at Fastlane and take his WWE Championship before taking out his frustrations on Rowan and Bryan.  This was a very good opening segment that gave this angle some much-needed substance and something to work with.  The fans still wish it was Kofi involved in this match, but they see the light at the end of the tunnel and that tunnel is WrestleMania 35.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a fan not happy to see Bryan vs. Owens, so seeing them build up their match last night was well-done.

Final Grade: A-