WWE SmackDown Smacks/Downs: Braun Strowman receives a chilling threat

Smack: a slow, strong build for a battle of recently-returned veterans

Last week, I discussed how I liked that Sheamus and Jeff Hardy were set for a feud mainly because as long-term veterans, keeping them away from younger talent and/or talent with less star power would help elevate those talents by not losing to either wrestler.

I also predicted that Sheamus would do something to ruin Hardy’s return, most likely a sneak attack culminating with a Brogue Kick. I was wrong, and I’m glad.

The angle worked well because instead of being the perpetually stupid babyface, Hardy was the one to call out Sheamus before the latter could do any spoiling. Psychologically, this is a good strategy to cause a diversion in plans for his adversary.

Smartly, Hardy attacked Sheamus as he entered the ring instead of letting Sheamus enter and prepare an attack. He hit his signature moves with the Whisper in the Wind, Twist of Fate, and Swanton Bomb. Sure, going to pose on the turnbuckle immediately after is cheesy and ill-advised, but I guess it worked.

WWE smartly (and unexpectedly) has been engaging in some long-term stories, including this feud. For four weeks, we had comeback videos for Hardy play after a Sheamus match. Sheamus, himself returning not too long ago, took offense to the hype for Hardy when Sheamus made a comeback and was making an impact by winning his matches.

Now we have a feud, but I’m not sure for how long. It seems likely we’ll see this build to an eventual payoff at Extreme Rules, which would probably mean some sort of attack to write Hardy off television for a few weeks (I know he just came back). This probably also means some sort of gimmick match, maybe a tables match considering their histories in matches involving tables.

There’s even a possibility this extends to SummerSlam, though I find it unlikely.

I just hope there isn’t a match next week that ends the feud and thrusts the two into angles with the likes of Mustafa Ali or Chad Gable for Sheamus, and Cesaro or Nakamura for Hardy, who will face Cesaro on the MITB kick-off show.

At least there’s been a nice story if it does end next week, but one that would be missing a few chapters to make it truly great.