Something my way-too-much time on the wrestle web tells me? Whatever the portion of the WWE fanbase that’s online is? Most of those folks are not onboard with a continued singles push for Jey Uso, let alone another main event or World title run. So yo favorite wrestler advancing to the King of the Ring semi-finals over more internet popular acts like LA Knight and Finn Bálor, or a fresh face in Royce Keys? That’s something from last night’s blue show people are reacting to online right now.
Another
topic I keep stumbling across on the wrestle web? WWE’s booking of Gunther and how he’s perceived by fans as a result. This episode should keep that conversation going — and that’s because Der Ring General was the least interesting part in this week’s set-up for his WWE title rematch against Undisputed champ Cody Rhodes next Friday.
So we’re gonna dive deeper on those things, and jam through the rest of SmackDown’s return to the United States. Refresh your memory about everything that happened on that show in the wrestle web’s best live blog right here.
Overshadowed?
Sami Zayn is one of a handful of wrestlers I’d consider to be my favorites, and the reason is because he’s always able to pull me into his programs and get me at least somewhat invested in the outcome of his matches and feuds. Even something like WrestleMania 38’s Jackass match. Even if Zayn isn’t “your guy”, hopefully he’s drawing you in to his story with Rhodes, because I find it to be really interesting stuff.
Credit to the champ, too. Cody can make roll my eyes harder than just about anyone since John Cena circa the early 2010s. But even then, he makes me believe that he believes the eye-rolling stuff he’s saying. Rhodes’ content wasn’t cringey this week. In fact, I popped for his “do I have to explain pro wrestling to you?” response to Zayn wanting answers about his wayward dive from last Friday. His assessment of “my guy” was harsh, but not undeserving. Both Cody and Sami are showing signs of cracking under the pressure of carrying or chasing a top belt in WWE. It’s not surprise this meeting led to an exchange of slaps to the face… which Sami almost took to DEFCON 1.
Loved that scene, and a later one that closes our next video that we’ll touch on in a moment. But first, there Gunther telling General Manager Nick Aldis that the stipulation he demands for his Clash in Italy rematch for the WWE title is Sami Zayn as the referee.
Hmmm…kay?
Sure, I can see where Gunther thinks this is a chess move that will at least plant doubt in Rhodes’ head about the ref, and might even get the challenger an official that will call things in his favor. And sure, there aren’t a lot of stipulations a heel challenger can pick that will definitely help them win… everything can backfire, just ask Wile E. Coyote. But this seems to be Gunther putting a lot of faith in someone he doesn’t historically get along with.
Will it pay off? Looks promising, at least based on that aforementioned scene of Zayn overhearing Rhodes calling him an emotional wreck and whatnot. But even if Gunther wins the WWE championship next Friday, I’ll still be more interested in Sami Zayn and Cody Rhodes’ rivalry.
Overpushed?
Coming out of Clash in Italy, I was still on the fence about WWE’s post-WrestleMania 42 return to the Bloodline Cinematic Universe. But on the Raw after Clash, for the first time in-story Roman Reigns acknowledged (pun intended) Jey Uso’s run with the World Heavyweight championship — the same belt he now holds — for the first time in-story. Having OTC1 make a two-World title version of The Bloodline his stated goal made it a new story instead of just a rehash. Specifically, it made me think about the possible ways Jey’s King of the Ring run could be thwarted, and what the fallout from that will look like.
That couldn’t be Solo Sikoa. He never seemed as positioned to be a HUGE deal the way Gunther was just a few months ago, but without a hiatus and repackaging, Sikoa barely makes a convincing United States title challenger. He shouldn’t be deciding the King of the Ring. Which is why, even after he got a moment to pretend he was Tony Soprano again when Jacob Fatu played some mind games on him…
… when it came time to try to screw Reigns by screwing Jey in the main event, and impressing Royce Keys into maybe joining The MFTs, Sikoa botched it and inadvertently helped his brother splash in for the win.
Apologies to their many diehard fans, some of whom I count among my friends, but I’ve never been the biggest fan of either LA Knight or Finn Bálor. Recognize the skills and not completely immune to their charms, but never “my guy”, you know? For those of you who were/are hoping they could get score one of the big belts in their remaining WWE careers, their booking here tells us probably not. Particularly Knight. But if either is your guy, sorry about that/hope I’m wrong (ask my family, I often am).
The guy I would have liked to see advance was Royce Keys, but he was booked as a badass for most of this. It should get him rolling into a feud with Solo and the MFTs, which isn’t a bad place for him. It should allow him to keep his momentum rolling and really get folks itching for a push.
Our upcoming King of the Ring semi-finals are not what I would have expected, and I don’t know how to call them — or the tournament overall — at this point. Does Brock Lesnar return to cost Oba Femi against Dirty Dom Mysterio? Or does Jacob somehow keep Je’Von Evans cinderella story alive all the way to the finals? Will they tease a Jey title win all the way to SummerSlam, and render reports about Cody Rhodes’ opponent there obsolete (h/t Broken Matt)?
I’m not pumped about that last outcome, but I’m not ready to write it off completely. And until they pull the trigger on it, uncertainty isn’t bad. That said, WWE would do well to edit a little bit. but with regards to KotR, The Bloodline, and Rhodes’ story are getting a little too twisty. Some intrigue is good, but let’s not go full Shyamalan.
Definitely worth noting
- Charlotte Flair beat Jade Cargill, Lyra Valkyria and Sol Ruca to advance to the semi-finals of the Queen of the Ring tournament, in a match that featured involvement from Cargill’s Baddies, which was countered by Alexa Bliss and… Tiffany Stratton? Yep, it was the Women’s U.S. champ, who was also instrumental in Flair getting the win. Stratton was almost jumped by Baddies Michin and B-Fab backstage in return, but Chelsea Green made the save and got her and Tiffy a tag match. Cargill got payback there, and it looks like a U.S. title chase is next for Jade. That feels about right, and may be a trial run for either or both women’s next run with the top belt.
- Before we leave that match, shout out to Cargill for working the final two minutes holding her weave to her head after it came loose and almost fell off completely working with Flair on the top turnbuckle before a superplex. Jade’s called that her worst fear, but didn’t “run out screaming” like she said she would. And yes, Cargill wears a wig. Most female (and a few male) wrestlers wear one or some-type of extensions.
- Blake Monroe is “coming soon” for the third straight week after her appearance backstage last month. That ridiculous statement aside, I like that Monroe is naming different SmackDown wrestlers from her “burn book” each Friday — this week’s was Charlotte. It feels like planting seeds for the future. But if they can’t find time for her now, I don’t know how they’ll find time for her to go after Flair, Stratton, or anyone she mentions.
- Women’s Tag champs Brie Bella and Paige beat Fatal Influence in a non-title match, which wasn’t too surprising once Jacey Jayne wasn’t in the match. This wasn’t bad, and I do like how Brie and Paige’s veteran savvy keeps helping them pull out wins in different ways. Here Jayne finally got thrown for interference, creating a distraction Paige used to turn Fallon Henley’s roll-up of Bella around.
- This may have been the weakest Danhausen segment of his WWE run, but I was still amused. Los Garzas get fleeced, Matt Cardona gets misnamed and ignored (are they burying him for getting over on his own again?), and we learned that Miz has been spouting his catchphrases in a loop since he got zapped in the lab-hausen last week. Kit Wilson wants that reversed, but only ends up mad… then zapped himself.
- You know what you should do if you have Rey Fenix on your roster and a bunch of TV time to fill? Give him a belt and let him defend it. No wonder Undertaker’s getting all that Booker of the Year buzz.
- Next week, Ricky Saints and Carmelo Hayes will go one-on-one for a Night of Champions shot at U.S. champ Trick Williams. His rivalry with Hayes should be their version of Zayn and Owens, but this version of it with Saints feels like a step down for the Lemon Pepper Stepper after the lengthy feud with Sami. This also feels like an annoyingly long-time to draw out the Triple Threat set-up. It’s possible I’m cranky about this because I rate Trick and Melo above Ricky.
- Giulia learned enough English to slap Kiana James in the face. I’d book this as a one-match feud so Giulia can move on, but it seems like WWE likes James a lot. A longer feud won’t be bad if it allows the ex-Stardom star to bring more to her character to English-language television.
In closing
Most of the in-ring was solid, and Fenix/Axiom was a lot of fun. The big stories are moving, if sometimes too much or in ways I’d prefer they didn’t. But while we’re seeing some acts hit their WWE ceiling, they’re also doing more to keep the midcard busy on television and maybe elevate a few people out of it… even as others sink into it.
Enjoyed watching and thinking about this one more than I didn’t, which I haven’t been able to say about the last few. This could go up or down depending where those big stories ultimately land, but for three hours of WWE television…
Grade: B-
Let me have it.
