Big E had the first match of his new singles run on WWE SmackDown, and he knocked it out of the park.
Wrestling fans are excited to cheer on Big E each week on WWE SmackDown, because with Kofi Kingston taking some time off television, E is on a singles run. The former NXT Champion and Intercontinental Champion has always had the talent to be a singles superstar in addition to an excellent tag team wrestler in the legendary New Day faction, but Vince McMahon has failed to capitalize on a wrestler with world championship potential.
Big E is a favorite to go on a run for the Universal Title, which could even be preceded by a great IC Title triumph. Whatever the future holds for the former record-breaking powerlifter, E is sure to have the entire WWE Universe on his side.
The charismatic superstar had his first singles match of this new run on the July 31 episode of SmackDown, defeating The Miz to start off on the right foot in this journey to a title.
Here are three ways E’s debut went to perfection, ticking off some major boxes for the “new” babyface singles competitor (apparently WWE commentary wanted you to forget he is a multi-time singles champion!) on WWE SmackDown.
He got to make a comeback and kick out of a finisher
It’s so important in the world of WWE for babyfaces to be resilient, because that’s what makes a face look “strong”. And E certainly looked good when he won the match after kicking out of the Skull Crushing Finale.
The SCF is admittedly one of the weaker finishers in WWE, so that’s why E could kick out of it on an episode of WWE SmackDown with no title on the line. But it was still a good moment for the eight-time tag team champion, since he showed that he can take a multi-time mid-card champion’s best shot in a singles match.
More importantly, Big E got to hit a lot of comeback moves and “fight out” from The Miz, doing so in a way that was believable despite his size advantage. E’s comebacks as a member of the New Day are literally right there with Cesaro as the best tag team comebacks in the world, and it was great to see that same skillset translate into a babyface comeback in a singles match.
Even without a crowd, E did a great job of building momentum and teasing his eventual comeback with his selling, getting the fans at home involved in his match. E has a real understanding for what clicks to fans watching, and it subtly showed in this match.
He won with a submission
Wrestling fans don’t want to see any major changes to Big E’s character during this singles run, because, contrary to what Booker T thinks, E is more than capable of winning a world title as he is right now.
But it is important for wrestlers to make tweaks with their move-set, especially if they are transitioning roles. Whether it’s a heel or face turn or a move from singles to tag team competition and vice versa, a wrestler has to be ready to add new things to their repertoire to get a win and change things up.
The Muffler Stretch isn’t a new move for Big E, but it’s one we don’t see him use often to finish matches, since the New Day have their own highly effective tag team finishes. And when E finishes off a match on his own, he usually uses the Big Ending.
But now, E showed he can win with a submission hold, using a Stretch Muffler to put away The Miz. There’s something extra intimidating when you see a powerful babyface tap out a heel with a submission hold, especially a Stretch Muffler that bends the opponent in half.
We can expect to see more submissions, including this finishing move, from E in the coming weeks. And it really does make a face look strong when they win with a submission hold.
He didn’t change a damn thing
Big E doesn’t need to “be serious” in order to be a world champion. I mean, in what planet is an NXT Champion, Intercontinental Champion, and freaking eight-time tag team champion not an incredibly serious competitor? Did The Rock’s jokes not make him any less serious? Or the Macho Man Randy Savage’s colorful jackets?
It was awesome seeing Big E literally roll his way into the ring, reenforcing the idea that he can’t be himself and win is entirely laughable and more bad advice from people to a New Day member. The New Day have proven time after time that they know what’s best for them, and they don’t need to listen to Booker T or anyone else.
Big E was Big E on WWE SmackDown, slapping The Miz’s butt all over the place and being his genuine, awesome self. And I mean both awesome in terms of his in-ring work and in terms of his character work in a winning effort.
That’s exactly what wrestling fans wanted to see and needed to see from E. Beyond him winning, kicking out of the Skull Crushing Finale, hitting big moves, and using a damn awesome submission move, it was wonderful to see Big E enjoying himself out there. We need more of that from our babyfaces, and those are the babyfaces who need to be holding titles so that they feel important.