WWE SmackDown Smacks/Downs: Braun Strowman a lackluster replacement

WWE was still advertising Goldberg vs. Roman Reigns at WrestleMania even though Reigns himself announced withdrawing from the match.

Just how did WWE write Reigns out of the match while announcing his replacement? Here are the Smacks and Downs for the Apr. 3 episode of WWE SmackDown.

Last week, I discussed how while it was smart to tape several shows in advance of WrestleMania, the downside (which is massive) is that something can change in the time after tapings and render the prerecorded shows moot. That’s exactly what happened when Roman Reigns put his and his family’s health first.

Again, good for Reigns.

For those of us (including me) who haven’t found spoilers on the taped editions of the weekly shows and WrestleMania, the most intriguing story heading into last night’s show was just how WWE was going to replace Reigns, and with whom.

Remember that the first part of WrestleMania actually airs tonight at 7 EST/4 PST/1 Hawai’i, creating more anticipation for the reported change.

The change happened. Was the replacement worthy, and was the change done well?

Well…

Before proceeding, let’s remember that this episode was taped two weeks ago, well before the events that led to Reigns pulling out and The Uso’s being infuriated at The Miz.

As a reminder of my criteria, I’m not going to run through each match/segment. Rather, I will identify a couple of segments that either worked (“smack”) or didn’t for whatever reason (“down”).

My criteria include quality of match/segment and how it starts and/or builds stories. After all, we watch partly to be caught up in the stories. If a great work-rate match happens with no context or bearing on the stories, it’s going to be a miss.

Also, just because something is a hit/miss doesn’t mean it was an overwhelming choice. The selection could be 51 percent hit, 75 percent miss, and so on.

There are other subtleties to my criteria, but those are pretty much the parameters.

Let’s also agree that we should all be grading these shows on a bit of curve for pretty much any promotion. Rosters are limited right now, and WWE has several talent self-quarantining and/or unable to travel due to state or national restrictions. Dana Brooke’s self-quarantining, for example, led to a change in the Women’s Championship match for WrestleMania.

Dud: a lackluster replacement announcement with no reason given

I don’t blame you if you missed this announcement on the show. It was about 15 seconds buried deep into the show. Oh, it was also strategically placed after the Elias/King Corbin video package and match graphic. Michael Cole said, “Goldberg will now face…” and nothing more.

That’s it. There was no mention of Reigns, his withdrawal from the match, nor any justification for Braun Strowman being in the match. All they did was replace Reigns in the graphic.

Finding out Reigns’ replacement and just how it was done was the main reason I tuned into the show last night. Needless to say, I was thoroughly disappointed at what transpired.

Would it really have been that difficult to have Strowman cut a 30-second promo on “taking out Reigns” and coming for Goldberg? At least that way, there is some kayfabe reason, some logic to the change in booking.

Also, there were so many obvious moments where Cole’s commentary was post-produced (mostly during transitions and match graphics), so again, why not with Strowman?

Am I being harsh considering the circumstances? Maybe. Does that detract from the utterly uninspired and illogical change? Hardly.

Then again, for a company anathema to say “coronavirus” or mention the pandemic, discussing their top act withdrawing from the card due to concerns over the virus definitely isn’t going to be mentioned, huh?

If you still think I’m being harsh, think about this: Goldberg is the wielder of the top men’s championship on the brand, making his match at WrestleMania arguably the biggest match on the show for SmackDown. Not only was there no build to the match on the go-home show (I know, I know, circumstances), but the announcement did nothing to make me excited or even indifferent to the match.

I’m just left wondering, “Really?” I mean, he did lose the Intercontinental Championship in his last match, a match with stipulations he set for himself as well. Then again, as I’ve said before, WWE has consistently shown us that wins and losses really don’t matter.

He also hasn’t been seen since losing the Intercontinental Championship, and somehow just like that, he’s in the world championship match for the brand at the biggest PPV of the year. Just…how?

Well, all Reigns did to “earn” the title shot was march to the ring, grab a mic, and tell Goldberg, “I’m next,” after all. This isn’t too far removed from that.

It also seemed clear that this was to be Reigns’ shining moment (again), successfully wrenching the title from the grasps of those dreaded part-timers (remember his promo that I hated?). Reigns was supposed to be the workhorse champion heading into SummerSlam season.

Does the change to Strowman mean anything other than a successful defense for Goldberg? Probably not. Either it’s going to be a quick match with a couple pf spears and what sort of, kind of looks like a jackhammer, or Strowman is going to crash and burn (hi, Steve Corino!) into a barricade and eat Goldberg’s signature moves upon reentering the ring.

Hopefully, it will be more enjoyable than either of those options, but, well, I’m not optimistic.

Smack: the Mr. Robot-esque hacking for the greater good…well, Otis’ good

Down: the convoluted story surrounding the conniving Sonya Deville and Dolph Ziggler

For many weeks now, we’ve had different glitches appear on during SmackDown, usually two a show. A few weeks ago, it was brought to my attention that the glitches only occurred in segments/matches involving Ziggler. This led me to believe his mysterious hacker wouldn’t make his intentions known until after WrestleMania as he transitioned into a feud with Ziggler.

Well, I was right about the last part: he’s definitely going to be in a feud with Ziggler. I was very wrong about the first part since he not only made his intentions known, he completely blew up the plan by the Conniving Ones, Deville and Ziggler.

I remarked before how Mandy Rose responding to Otis’ assertion he received a text from her that she would be late for their Valentine’s Day date with essentially a non-response just didn’t make sense. They tried addressing that last night.

There’s also been a theory that Deville and Ziggler were working together, which turned out to be true.

Now this is where the segment receives both a “smack” and a “down.” The “smack” comes with the hacker (I believe to be Mustafa Ali), who aired several videos exposing the dastardly deeds of Deville and Ziggler to sabotage Otis’ chances with Rose. While the hacking and strategic placement of cameras (wasn’t that first one in Rose and Deville’s locker room?) is a voyeuristic and technically a crime, we at least know this character will be as much of a face as a hacker can be.

This adds credence to my theory that it’s Ali. Remember, he used to be a police officer who despises corruption and injustice, so this hacker gimmick further fits his background. Also, he’s had some dope independently-produced vignettes.

The potential matches between Ali and Ziggler are also very intriguing. Both are great in-ring workers, and when Ziggler is motivated (seems like we say that about way too many WWE wrestlers), he really utilizes his D1 amateur wrestling championship background to full potential. Both are fantastic at taking hellacious bumps, and Ali’s aerial style is a great contrast to Ziggler, who can do a bit of everything.

The “down,” though? Just why did Deville and Ziggler team together, and what did she mean by “we both get what we want” when concocting the plan with Ziggler?

Deville, both kayfabe and in real life, is an open and proud lesbian. She competes with a rainbow flag in her pocket. There was a botched/scrapped story between her and Rose that was veering towards a lesbian storyline (read more here from Amelia Nash as to why we really shouldn’t trust WWE with LGBTIQA+ wrestlers, characters, and stories).

Isn’t “what she wants” Rose, logically? On the opposite side, isn’t what Ziggler “wants” to just sleep with Rose (which has been his character post-Spirit Squad, basically)? They both want the same “thing,” so I guess in this scenario, sharing is caring?

This really only makes sense to me if Deville’s plan is to have Ziggler leave Rose, breaking her heart. Deville then swoops in to comfort Rose during her time of need, and then this leads to them being in a relationship. Even THAT sounds too logical for WWE.

How will WWE reconcile the big reveal of the plan with the eventual endgame? Is the hacker revealed tonight or tomorrow during WrestleMania? (As of writing, there is no word on matches for each night.) What will Rose’s actions be during Ziggler’s match with Otis, and how will she handle Deville? These are just some of the angles needing closure this weekend. I doubt we’ll have satisfactory answers.

Smack: DANIEL BRYAN VS. SHINSUKE NAKAMURA…

Down: …with virtually no build and a predictably disappointing finish

When WWE showed the graphic last night of Daniel Bryan vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, my eyes widened and I popped…and then I realized this was a match with no build that would end in a DQ considering the amount of wrestlers at ringside.

Don’t get me wrong: this was still a good match. When you place arguably the greatest wrestler of the last 15 years and one of the top non-WWE talents of the same time period, you’re going to get an average match at worst.

I’ll also concede there was a tiny bit of build considering Bryan has been locked into a feud with Sami Zayn through Drew Gulak, Cesaro, and Nakamura. However, there was nothing that directly tied Bryan and Nakamura together.

That’s the “down.” These two, if given a three-month build to a WrestleMania main event, not only would have the match of the show, but would have a match of the year AND possible feud of the year.

Bryan is Bryan, one of the top five to 10 wrestlers ever. He is an artist through and through.

Nakamura is also a true artist (as annoying as it is to hear Zayn repeat it), and when motivated (another one!), can use his skills, athleticism, and unique charisma for five-star, emotionally draining matches.

Also, isn’t one of the reasons Nakamura left Japan for WWE was so he could wrestle Bryan?

It just seemed like they needed matches to fill time with a limited roster, and since they already had an angle going between the five wrestlers, decided to have these two wrestle each other.

Maybe with Bryan’s recent talk of ending his run as a full-time wrestler soon, WWE was placed in a weird situation. They may already have programs lined up for Bryan for the next six months which don’t involve Nakamura, but know they wanted to have that match.

On the other hand, the DQ finish may mean they want to revisit this match in the future. This way, there is a background to draw on maybe come SummerSlam?

I just didn’t have much investment beyond “this should be a good match.” That’s sad considering the potential between these two.

-Smack: Sasha Banks and Bayley continue their fantastic chemistry

I continue to enjoy having wrestlers as commentators. When wrestlers understand their characters well, they bring an added measure of legitimacy and personality to the announce team. With WWE’s corporate catchphrase machine in Cole, these have been some refreshing moments on commentary.

In the opening match of the evening, Banks and Bayley joined Cole as they watched their other three foes compete in a triple threat match. Their chemistry was so welcoming. The reciprocal compliments, attacking Cole and their competitors, and Bayley telling Banks, “We are equal,” and them embracing after fit their characters perfectly.

Being arrogant but fearful heels, it makes total sense why Bayley would approach Tamina with a peace accord. It also makes sense that other wrestlers don’t buy their shtick and for Tamina to superkick Bayley. Banks following Bayley thinking she might have better luck only to be Samoan dropped was right in line with this current iteration of The Boss as well.

Hopefully, an implosion is only teased during WrestleMania and is saved for SummerSlam (I think Naomi wins without pinning Bayley at WrestleMania). I guess we’ll see.

On another note, it also gave us Cole trying out his wardrobe for the Kentucky Derby (hat courtesy of Lacey Evans).

-Down: no mention of what will happen with the tag title match

Remember, The Miz showed up sick a couple of weeks ago, infuriating the Usos and prompting Reigns to withdraw from the tapings. This most likely means he will not be in the tag title ladder match already taped for WrestleMania. Yet, we had the “MizTV” segment with all six wrestler happen with no mention (again) of the change.

My guess is they’ll have some sort of injury angle with The Miz rather than mention his illness. That is NOT a satisfactory response, but I will give some leeway considering the circumstances. This one is a little harder to fix than having Strowman record a promo, after all.

-Smack: John Cena and Bray Wyatt cap the build to their match

After some great “Firefly Fun House” episodes and promos from Cena (including one with Cena and Wyatt), last night’s main event segment was a perfect cap in the build to their “Fun House” match.

Look, I get it: The Fiend and his antics may not be for you, and you might be agitated that WWE had The Fiend/Wyatt teleport from the platform to the ring much like Matt Hardy in AEW.

Still, if you liked or give a pass to AEW for that (which was much more hyperbolic), then it’s a bit hypocritical to chastise WWE for Wyatt.

Cena also subtly seemed to suggest that his mission in the last six years has been to bury the career of Wyatt. He essentially did that at XXX, but unlike the atrocious attempts at worked shoots with AJ Styles and The Undertaker, Cena and Wyatt have straddled the line between kayfabe and real-life well.

Further, like Cena last night, no one really knows what to expect from this match. That alone is intriguing enough to tune in, but a round of applause to both men for a fantastic build that has mostly been done with no fans.

After tonight and tomorrow, we’re going to have a completely different landscape in WWE. How long can WWE tape shows, and how long can this format hold up before fans tune out en masse? Ratings and viewership numbers are down for wrestling all around, but is that because of a general malaise, the format, optimism that other live sports will return, or a combination? Can and will viewers return?

Whatever the future holds, let’s all try to enjoy WrestleMania for a couple hours tonight and tomorrow. Stay safe everyone, wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap, and see you next week!