WWE SmackDown Smacks and Downs: Black sheep, lien, and reptilians, oh my!

Smack: a truthful yet creepy story time with Bray Wyatt

Yet again, I find myself with the highest praise for the build to Braun Strowman vs. Wyatt at Money in the Bank.

Interrupting Strowman, Wyatt held another episode of his hit show “Firefly Fun House” and treated us to a reading of what might be the next bestseller, The Black Sheep.

Wyatt’s creative, but you have to appreciate the simplicity in the analogies Wyatt created in the story to relate to the kayfabe story of The Wyatt Family’s breakup and Strowman’s subsequent rise to the upper part of the card.

Wyatt was “The Shepherd,” which is accurate considering both Strowman and the recently-released Erick Rowan wore farm animal masks. This also happened to be a shepherd who’s “very smart, handsome, and has a ton of sweet muscles.” Just do the Muscle-Man Dance, everyone.

Strowman, the “black sheep,” is the big, stinky, strong loner who found care under The Shepherd. Strowman, in return, “protected” the flock, and according to Wyatt, they had fun! What else could be more fun than wreaking havoc and destruction on other wrestlers?

Then the black sheep left for “greener pastures” (Strowman’s rivalry with Roman Reigns), and he didn’t even say goodbye or leave a note! How selfish!

(Of course, this overlooks Strowman and Rowan eventually being drafted to different shows, but I digress. Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story, right?)

The subsequent departures of the rest of his flock led to a downward spiral for The Shepherd. There was no happy ending. The government placed a lien on his farm (which is a story apt for The Forgotten Sons if you catch my drift). To make matters worse, those damn reptilians took over the farm because “that’s what they do” like a certain Hall of Famer. Watch out for reptilians, people!

I also like Wyatt hypothesizing his own “happy” ending where he finds Strowman (black sheep), takes what makes him happy (Universal Championship), and sends him straight to the slaughterhouse (injury, perhaps?).

Wyatt has been superb in building this feud. You may have noticed Strowman’s time on the mic has been comparatively less than that of Wyatt. That’s fine…for now.

If Strowman remains champion after his feud with Wyatt/The Fiend, that balance on the mic is going to have to be more equal for Strowman to both connect more with fans beyond “RAAAAARRRR I’M LIFTING MY ARMS!” and gain the trust that he can be a top act. Otherwise, he’s going to be more Big Show (which isn’t bad by any means) and less Vader.

I think Strowman retains (as I’ve written before) leading to Wyatt realizing he needs to bring forth The Fiend if he has any chance of retrieving what makes him “happy” in the Universal Championship.

What will next week’s go-home show hold for this feud as they meet face-to-face? I’m roped in, even though the match might be underwhelming.