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

-Down: tired, tired booking

Please raise your hand if you thought the Corbin–Bryan match was going to have a clean finish.

Let me count here … well, no hands are raised!

That’s the issue: we all know how these matches end.

I’ve noted before how it makes no sense that heels will wait 10-20 minutes into a match to disqualify themselves and/or have some lackeys make a run-in. Just do it from the beginning!

(I know, I know, they need to fill television time.)

It’s to the point where we, as viewers, are looking for the spot the DQ or run-in will happen. Once I saw Corbin creep towards the ladder on the outside, I knew the DQ was coming.

I wasn’t expecting to Nakamura and Cesaro (Cesaromura? Nakasaro?) to be Corbin’s new cronies (after Ziggler and Robert Roode) considering they form The Artist Collective with Sami Zayn. However, with Zayn reportedly voluntarily staying home amid concerns over the coronavirus (good for Zayn), I guess WWE thought the two needed to be under the wing of somebody else?

They can both give decent to great promos, so why not let them go as a tag team until Zayn returns? Pairing them with Corbin is a bit deflating in my opinion.

Overall, the ending really took away from what was actually an entertaining match involving Corbin; it helps when Bryan is your opponent. However, the DQ/run-in has become far too much of a crutch in WWE. Is it too much to ask for tried-and-true pinfall/submission finishes or more creative endings?

Bryan, Gulak, and a mystery partner face the heel trio next week. Who might the mystery partner be? I hope it isn’t Mustafa Ali only because I want him to be the mysterious hacker!

-Smack: Sheamus vs. Jeff Hardy

Let me put it this way: I’m not necessarily excited for the eventual feud, but I have been a fan of how this angle has come together the past month or so.

After a Sheamus match, SmackDown has had their multi-part video series on Jeff Hardy air. This has perturbed Sheamus to the point of physically assaulting Cole at least once, and putting his sweaty face six inches from Cole’s face week after week.

Sheamus has been wondering why they keep talking about Hardy when Sheamus is the one winning matches every week. He has a point.

Why I really like this eventual feud is that it keeps the two away from wrestlers who could use more television time and victories, the latter of which they’re unlikely to gain against the likes of either.

We know what the ceilings are for each wrestler, as well as seeing them both as WWE/World Heavyweight Champion. To be frank, a World Championship run for either would probably be seen as transitional. Giving them victories in feuds over wrestlers like Gulak or Ali for Sheamus or Cesaromura for Hardy only works to define down all competitors involved.

If this feud goes through SummerSlam, cool. The matches will probably be average to above-average at best, and that’s fine. At least I can say I’m looking forward to what happens next week when Hardy is on SmackDown as Sheamus has promised that he will be there as well.

Next week is the go-home show for Money in the Bank. We should have a clear picture of the card, including filling out the men’s ladder match and any secondary title matches (what happens with Zayn and the Intercontinental Championship?). Until then, (Bray Wyatt “Fun House” voice) bye! See ya!