WWE SmackDown Smacks/Downs: We love Daniel Bryan’s new partner

Down: contract signing segments need to go

I can’t be the only one who rolls their eyes whenever a contract signing is announced, right?

It was also the second one this week!

Let me also be clear: unlike last week, where I didn’t like the substance of Reigns’ promo, this “down” has to do with the segment and not Reigns or Goldberg.

I actually liked Reigns last night because his conviction, passion, and fire matched the words he was speaking (which I didn’t think was the case last week). I could have done without him calling Goldberg a “bitch,” but overall, I felt genuine disdain from the perceived top act for the actual top act (based on holding the Universal Championship).

Goldberg does what Goldberg does: be the embodiment of uber-testosterone on the verge of having a coronary.

Generally, these segments have dueling promos, an insult or two, a destruction of furniture, and a physical altercation. One positive is at least these two didn’t do the last step and left us with an intense standoff to end the show.

Still, are these segments needed? I mean, we didn’t have a contract signing for Bayley’s title defense, nor do we have one for every match signed for every show. If we’re supposed to believe that all happens behind the curtain, then why do we need these signings on air?

It wouldn’t be so bad if there were some changes to these types of segments. AEW had a weigh-in for Chris Jericho vs. Jon Moxely, a subtle but effective switch. It’s not like WWE has shied away from weigh-ins, either.

Since pro wrestling is so often compared to prize fighting, weigh-ins make much more sense than contract signings. We don’t see fight contracts being signed (unless the fighters post their contract to social media); we see them weigh-in and face-off against each other.

It’s a little change that would be unique enough for the WWE audience to (I believe) garner more interest.

Again, I liked Reigns last night and was fine with Goldberg. I just don’t like contract signing segments. Will we see a change moving forward? Unlikely, but one can hope.