Above the Law
GUNTHER pulled a Drake. The big man, rightly pissed at how he lost his match with Cody Rhodes, got the lawyers involved. This came after he wrecked a few announce tables and threatened to hijack the show until he got what he wanted. Out came Cody and Sami Zayn. If you watched the video, you know what happened from there.
Sami is the interesting cog. Less so when he’s telling Cody and GUNTHER that he knows all about getting
screwed and more so when he challenged Cody. I liked him pointing out his side of the story as it relates to his friendship with Cody. To Sami, they’re in a bad spot because Cody spent so much time looking for the next threat rather than talking through their issues. I’m not sure how much one can trust a man who beat up a Gingerbread Man outfit, but his stance sounds valid. Cody is always concerned with looking over his shoulder or giving someone else a fair shot at the championship. Paranoia is a hell of mistress, so it’s no surprise that he’s always concerned about those around him.
But Sami is right to point out Cody never considered him a threat.
Sami’s whole story in WWE is about getting looked over for bigger and supposedly better. Cody, his supposed friend, is guilty of doing that as well. If/when this match happens, there’s a lot to chew on, and one could make the case that they should use it to crown Sami. Not saying it happens, but this story creates the right environment for a title change.
The Ring General first. Cody would’ve happily granted GUNTHER his rematch, but the former champ left the building. I always find it weird when wrestlers demand something only to leave the arena before it can actually happen. Which also means he got the lawyers involved for no reason. Weird to do a whole thing where GUNTHER becomes Drake or a Karen in Aldis’ office only for Cody to say he would’ve given him the match and whatever stipulation he wanted right there in Bologna. If only he waited longer, maybe those plot details don’t become in conflict with one another.
Anyway, we find out the stipulation next week, as per GUNTHER’s lawyer’s words. I can’t say I’m wild about a guy like GUNTHER using a lawyer. It’s a heel move, certainly, but not one he needs. Especially, again, since it was all moot.
Either way, my big question is how Sami plays into this rematch when it happens.
B-Sides
- The New York Knickerbockers play today, so naturally Danhausen is overseas tormenting Miz. Said torment involved a little more than kicking the Cleveland native while he’s down about Myles Garrett changing area codes. If I told you that Miz electrocuted himself while messing around with some of Danhausen’s things, would you believe me? If I told you the camera shook a bit to simulate the way Miz’s body jolted up and down, would you believe that? I’m not against Danhausen at all; I think WWE is using him perfectly. He’s a better fit there than AEW because of just how far WWE stretches itself to be “sports entertainment.” But every so often, that rubber band snaps because they take it a bit too far for my taste. Miz getting electrocuted to the point that he passes out is one of those times.
- I like Royce Keys learning the ills of pulling a Batista: walking alone. Solo Sikoa’s made it clear he wants a Royce branch on his family tree but clearly the big man is uninterested in joining any club, much less that one. Solo, like his bigger chief cousin, believes in tough love. Talla Tonga symbolized that toughness this week as he went against Keys in the middle of the ring. I loved the visual of Keys looking up to someone. Taking that brief pause for the men to square off nose to chin showed the stakes. Royce was in uncharted territory for his WWE career going against someone he actually looks up to. That led to Royce fighting an uphill battle throughout the match as a lower back injury neutralized some of his power. One might say it hurt his…key to victory. I’ll see myself out.
- But even that bore less on the outcome than the dreaded numbers game. Math was never my strong suit so the numbers game always intimidates me, especially when those numbers look like Solo and Tama Tonga. Tama and Solo made sure Royce walked away with an L. Keys does have at least one friend: R-Truth. Not the brightest bulb but he consistently shines, which is sometimes enough. Truth intervened during the post match beatdown, which brought Damian Priest to the ring. As per usual, DP (trust and believe, I’ll get to that) wanted his partner to stop playing away games for other people.
- Which became a point later when Truth tried selling his partner to Royce. The man told Royce that once he gets to know “DP” he’ll “love DP!” Yup, that was on television and I cackled. Anyway, neither Royce nor DP want anything to do with one another. I want Royce to sound a bit more natural during these backstage segments, like the one he had with Jacob Fatu several weeks ago on Raw. He sounded like someone reading cue cards when talking to Truth. He was better when Solo approached him later. Solo, for his part, sounded extremely convincing as he kicked knowledge to Royce about why he needs to join the club. Solo sees a war coming with the Bloodline and he needs another soldier. I’m still with Royce in that I don’t see what that has to do with him but I guess the idea is Roman wants everyone to bow to him. That means sooner or later, Royce has to choose.
- It’s tournament time! The quest for the crown rolled on as Bayley, Raquel Rodriguez, Kiana James, and Jacy Jayne battled for supremacy. This was my favorite match of the night and another example that European crowds deserve every wrestling match in existence. They showed out for the ladies and made this feel like a PLE match rather than just another Friday night bout. Raquel got the win here despite her three opponents doing everything they could to neutralize her throughout the match.
- The War Raiders want more gold. While R-Truth spends his time helping out other people, the AAA Tag champs are out for blood. I’d love to see the War Raiders snatch those titles and hold all the gold.
- Chad Gable was the man on SmackDown. He got a huge reaction during a backstage segment with GM Aldis and Sami Zayn, then another big one during his heart to heart with Ray Fenix. I don’t know what the territory has planned for Chad other than this redemption tour where he makes good for mocking so many people during his dias el grande, but I hope it’s leading to something big. I don’t know if you can make son an heel at this point because the crowd wants to cheer him. But they can’t squander his juice right now.
- Carmelo Hayes and Ricky Saints had another fun match. That said, this feud is nowhere near over after Ricky got the W thanks to a hand full of tights. Trick Williams happily watched them fight over who gets him like the belle of the ball, but we’re not there yet.
- I generally don’t like the trope where the champ comes out and a clown car of competitors follow. But I didn’t mind it here when Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair, Tiffany Stratton, and Jade Cargill did it here. For one, Jade responded to boos with a quick “ya mama.” Secondly, it created interesting dynamics, like Tiffany and Charlotte. In fact, Charlotte even asked if Tiffany came to apologize for things she said months ago. The answer was obviously no but it just pointed to all of the stories in the ring, along with the numerous possibilities. One was a tag match where Jade & Michin faced Tiffany & Charlotte. The logic was simple: Alexa Bliss is out and as much as Charlotte dislikes Tiffany, she dislikes Jade a lot more. We didn’t get any uneasy tension between Charlotte & Tiffy Time, so yes, they did co-exist! Jade her baddie got the win after the former champ pinned Tiffany, harkening back to Jade’s dominance over Ms. Stratton. Me thinks a United States Championship match is in Jade’s near future.
- Dirty Dom has a date with Oba Femi in the King of the Ring Tournament. Dom got the W in a fun four-way featuring the aforementioned dirty one, Trick Williams, Bron Breakker, and DP. Yup, that’s his name from now until forever. Another fun tournament match enhanced by the crowd. Dom got the win thanks to Judgment Day interference. The one thing that bugged me was how they did the cheating angle. Why does the ref need a distraction in a no DQ match? Why did Liv strike fast and scurry out of the ring so not to get caught in a no DQ match? If the only rule is there are no rules, then Judgment Day had no reason to move like thieves in the night. This was the right pick because Dom can withstand a loss to Oba if that’s the case. If not, then Judgment Day’s chicanery is certainly a match for The Ruler. I keep wondering how do they get him and Brock back in the ring at SummerSlam. I don’t see that happening with this match, so I expect Oba to move on only to get screwed when it really counts.
I enjoyed SmackDown this week. Little gaps in logic aside for Cody vs. GUNTHER vs. Sami, WWE produced a solid program for Bologna.
What say you, Cagesiders?
