WWE SmackDown Smacks and Downs: Bray Wyatt created Braun Strowman

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1248782679123931136

-Down: a lack of oomph in the women’s tag division

My love of Asuka and Kairi Sane has been unabashed. All of the little things they do, particularly their facial expressions and hilarious dances, just add so much to the show. Asuka jumping on the announcer’s table and giving commentary in Japanese was such a highlight, I quipped she is much better than Corey Graves.

Still, they lost (clean) again to Bliss Cross Applesauce for the Women’s Tag Team Championship, significantly stunting any momentum they had. I like Bliss Cross Applesauce, but not more than your average, run-of-the-mill tag team and here they are, your two-time Women’s Tag Team Champion.

This brings me to Carmella and Dana Brooke. They started teaming recently, but I really can’t remember much about them as a team. One, why did they team in the first place (I may have missed an explanation in their first match)? Two, what have they done to earn a title shot?

Then again, this is a company that’s repeatedly shown us that “earning” a title shot is as simple as confronting the champion during a promo and NOT through a winning a streak over other contenders (see: Tamina two slides ago).

It’s also uninspiring even keeping in mind the limited rosters. Since Boss “N” Hug Connection are enveloped in their feud over the Women’s Championship and the lack of established women’s tag teams available, Carmella and Brooke may have been the only options. This also makes the decision to break up Riott Squad even more questionable.

Since NXT talent was available, what about having Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez do the same thing as Carmella and Brooke? This would have worked better since there would have been definitive heel and face teams.

I’ll try to be optimistic though, and at least this should provide more prominence for Brooke. She has potential but was probably called up from NXT too quickly. Let’s hope she can highlight her skills and character in this feud.

-Smack AND Down: Jeff Hardy’s video series

Hardy is one of the most popular wrestlers in WWE history. His unique style, charisma, and connection with the audience has sustained even when he’s faced demons in his personal life and was separated from the company for years.

The first chapter in the career retrospect of Hardy was done well, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series. It reminds fans of his journey (along with his brother Matt) and his rise. I hope they touch on his substance abuse issues and time away from WWE to give fans a more genuine representation.

Still, Hardy is on the back end of his career; wouldn’t something like this have done wonders for someone on the rise, maybe Tamina as she is supposed to be considered a legitimate threat to Bayley’s title? What about the suddenly emergent Drew Gulak? As anathema as they are to me, wouldn’t it have been nice to have a detailed video on The Forgotten Sons and why we should be hyped for them on SmackDown? (Trick question: we shouldn’t be hyped for them.)

What about why we should have any investment in Elias?

I think there could have been another video or two on the show, and in particular, highlighting talent on the rise/younger talent.

Well, with WWE reportedly holding live shows again next week for fear of breaching their television contracts (which stipulate “live shows), will there be a noticeable difference from these pre-taped shows? It was also stated that next week’s SmackDown had already been taped, but Vince McMahon decided to scrap it to hold live shows. Will this sudden change lead to more positives or negatives moving forward?

Hopefully, the build to Money in the Bank can build off of the momentum of the past several WWE shows. Until next week, stay safe, healthy, and optimistic dear readers!