WWE: 3 misses from SmackDown’s Throwback Episode

WWE decided to host a throwback episode of Friday Night SmackDown and tried to deliver on various parameters, but it was too good to be true. You cannot claim to be a throwback of SmackDown without the giant fist. But things didn’t stop there.

Roman Reigns opened the show with his ‘special counsel’ Paul Heyman, who decided to shower words of praise for The Tribal Chief. The show lost fans instantly as nothing resembled the ‘throwback’ theme of the WWE. The show had no old-style pyro, giant fist, or a style that resonated with the attitude and Ruthless Aggression era.

If you thought this was the biggest letdown of the show, many things didn’t sit well with the WWE Universe and shouldn’t sit well with you if you enjoy the product. The show didn’t have a theme or feel that resonated with the throwback approach, and while you can change the people’s dress and the ring apron or the microphone in hand, but until you change its presentation, nothing looks good. It’s like cooking for Thanksgiving but just keeping things in the kitchen instead of putting them on the table for everyone to enjoy and have some fun. Here are few things that the Throwback episode of SmackDown missed in its presentation:

Return of some legends

A Raw reunion episode brings back so many legends for one night only, and the show resonates with the theme of the show, but what went wrong in the throwback episode? If the fusion of the new superstars in the old theme song is left out, there was nothing else to cheer for considering a throwback episode.

Theodore Long made his return as the only playa’ in the business, but the show deserved way more legends. We understand that various superstars are of considerable age, but their presence on the show, followed by a moment inside the ropes, would have created a moment that the fans would have cherished for a lifetime.

It would have been a moment in the WWE Archives where the fans would be ready to pay to see such moments, but it seems like WWE missed it by a long shot. If coming to the ring was difficult, a video on the TitanTron would have done some good, but it’s a wasted opportunity now.

Old style entrance card

If you remember, there was a way to introduce the superstar as they made the way to the ring. The superstar’s information with their win-loss record was beside them. It helped the fans know how their superstar has performed over the weeks and against an opponent. The company had an opportunity to add to the throwback feel but missed it completely.

Vince McMahon is a master at such details, and he wouldn’t let such an integral part of the throwback style go missing. If you are one of those die-heart fans of the wrestling business and have seen the days of Stone Cold Steve Austin and Bret Hart over the years, you would know that there used to be a detail that would show up to your right-hand side, but it was missing during this episode.

What’s a throwback without a legendary opening?

Now that we have addressed that the WWE didn’t call up legends for this show, we can agree that someone from the back could have stepped up and opened up the throwback episode. Who better to do this role than the Chairman of the Board, Vince McMahon himself? The 75-year young can still give any new superstar a run for their money in terms of the energy, zest, and zeal to run the shows successfully.

The man that has shaped so many stories has a plethora of stories up his sleeve. His opening or an opening by Triple H would have set the tone for the show and made everyone nostalgic. Triple H was on the first episode of the blue brand, and he is still with the organization, so he has seen a lot of changes over the 22-year journey of the blue brand. He is a great storyteller, and a segment involving The Game or The Boss would have made the show a raging success.