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

-Smack: this is the kind of match I’d rather see replayed

Look, I know, the replays of the tag team Elimination Chamber match on last week’s SmackDown and the Rumble match on RAW were big in the ratings. However, those matches being so recent, I tuned out and thought the time could have been better served showing more historical matches that helped create the stars we see today.

Replaying Cena-Wyatt was perfect.

Now, if you never saw the match or forgot about it, you understand how The Fiend’s eventual birth found its genesis here. I loved that “Firefly Fun House” because it finally gave us a reason for the existence of The Fiend: Cena ending his undefeated streak by pinning him clean at WrestleMania XXX.

Remember, as hot as The Fiend was, Wyatt may have been even more over in 2014 heading into his match with Cena. That loss did untenable amounts of damage to Wyatt’s momentum and character, taking him nearly six years to regain that momentum.

WWE also pulled a nice move by having the video package recapping their most recent encounters play after the match, reminding fans why we should be invested in this feud. It also rewarded those fans (like me) who have been clamoring for The Fiend-Cena at WrestleMania since The Fiend character debuted based on their past and specifically that match at WrestleMania XXX.

Let’s hope WWE makes the right decision and has The Fiend emerge victorious over Cena.

-Smack and Down: “The Dirt Sheet” and subsequent match

“The Dirt Sheet” was fine for what it was, and I understand why it happened. I would have cut about two minutes from it, but at least they tried to sports-entertain us. There was a great Big E impression in there, too, but why were they dressed as bacon when Otis is known for his affinity for ham?

The match was adequate, but babyfaces in WWE are so easily and stupidly distracted.

https://twitter.com/WWEonFOX/status/1241181253832855552

I also understand they were trying to give an edge to Heavy Machinery (and Otis in particular) as they build towards what looks like either a 1-on-1 match between Otis and Dolph Ziggler or a mixed tag match. Otis thus far has been portrayed as a goof, and maybe this aggressive turn will help fans think of him as more than just a gag.

However, the match dragged, Otis looked dumb (again), and Heavy Machinery just took themselves out of tag title contention with their loss to the defending champion.

Oh, wait: wins and losses don’t really matter in WWE. That’s right.

-Down: everything to do with Mojo Rawley, Gronkowski, and King Corbin

Not much needs to be said here. It was cringe. Corbin looks like a fool in his King getup, but I also think that’s something he knows and does to troll us.

Rawley likes smacking butts (so much for social distancing), Gronkowski has no rhythm, and his music sounds like RuPaul is about to walk through those curtains (which I would pop HUGE for). I just hope we don’t see Gronkowski until WrestleMania (which is another unlikely scenario).

Another week of smacks and downs is complete! As we continue to adjust to our rapidly changing society, I guess we can take solace in that we (for the time being) have pro wrestling we can still banter about to varying degrees. Stay safe everyone, and hope to have you back next week!