The (Late) RichStaple Review of Battleground 2017

Feels good to be back home. I was on vacation in the woods of Pennsylvania for about a  week, but now I’m back. Now, I’m sure everyone here as watched Battleground, and I know what the results are, but I didn’t see the matches. I also tried to refrain from watching reviews of the show so I would be surprised, so hopefully, I’m not completely wasting my time with reviewing a show that’s nearly a week old.

 

Smackdown tag titles: The Usos (C) vs. The New Day

It looks like it will be Kofi and Xavier representing The New Day here. Interesting. Kofi starts things early with a high dropkick and a cover. Kofi and Exavier then team up for a double team move which gets 2. The Usos jump on Xavier and attack him in the corner and get 2. Big right from Jimmy and Jey comes with a forearm splash. Scoop slam follows but Xavier fights back. However, Jey gets a flying kick which gets 2. Jimmy gets a corner splash and that gets 2. Jey gets a kick across the face behind the ref’s back and Jey gets a strike right to the chest with Jimmy holding Xavier down, and Woods is now your porn star in peril. Jey takes Woods to the top and gets a back hand chop. Another one connects and Jey prepares for a superplex. Xavier fights back, though, with some strikes and headbutts. A third headbutt is able to get Jey off and top rope front dropkick has both men down. Hot tag to Kofi and he hits his comeback on Jimmy. Front, flying stomp on Jey puts him down. Kofi then gets the jumping forearm and the Boom Drop connects. Kofi goes for Trouble in Paradise but Jimmy gets away and sends Kofi to the apron.

Kofi then gets a kick on Jey on the outside and lowers Jimmy. Kofi goes for the Trust Fall from the top rope on the outside, but The Usos catch him and powerbomb Kofi flat on the mat. Goodness, gracious I felt that. They then take out an assisting Woods as well. Jimmy goes for the splash, but Xavier reverses and gets a facebuster for two. Jimmy catches Xavier on his shoulders but sends Xavier to the top rope, and an assisted Samoan Drop gets two. Xavier gets an elbow, but Jey catches him with a hard right. Xavier takes out Jimmy’s leg and hits the enziguri onto Jey. Xavier heads to the top and goes for the top rope elbow, but Jimmy gets a superkick in mid-air for a close 2 count. DAMN. THAT KICK. Jimmy isolates Xavier and gets his submission. Jimmy turns it into a half crab on Xavier in the middle of the ring and Woods is crying in pain. Somehow, though, he reaches the bottom rope to break the hold. Xavier fights off Jimmy and Kofi gets the top rope double stomp that connects on Jimmy for a great near-fall at only two. Totally bought that finish right there.

Jimmy gets a superkick and Jey gets the splash and that only gets two. That was only two? Could have fooled me. Crowd chants “this is awesome”, and rightfully so. Jimmy and Jey go for the double splash, but Xavier shoves off Jey, Kofi hits the Trouble in Paradise, and Xavier gets his elbow and that finishes off The Usos at 13:45 to give The New Day their 3rd tag team title. As the crowd said, that match was indeed awesome. I liked that both teams kept it simple, with the heels isolating Xavier, and the faces fighting back to overcome the heels. Throw in some uber impressive near falls, and you have a tremendous opener. While I don’t like The Usos losing the titles on the PPV before Summerslam, this was still a hell of an effort from both teams and fun overall. Let’s hope the show doesn’t peak there. ****

 

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin

Match starts with both men getting in each other’s faces before Shinsue gets a couple of shots and strikes. Corbin gets some knees to the gut in the corner, but Nakamura fights back with some low kicks. Two more shots send Corbin into retreat mode. Corbin then goes inside the ring when Nakamura goes outside. Nakamura tries to enter the ring multiple times but Corbin almost gets a couple of shots in. Nakamura fights off Corbin but gets a big right when he gets into the ring. Corbin then stomps away on Shinsuke and gets a bear hug. Kind of early in that match for that. Nakamura fights back and reverses it into a Triangle Choke. Corbin then gets Nakamura up but lands on his feet. A big boot from Corbin gets two. Corbin sends Nakamura out of the ring and hits some running tackles onto the barricade. Crowd kind of quiet for this.

Corbin gets another punch to the gut. Corbin says “I’m doing pretty good, dummies!” to the crowd. To spicen the match up, we go back into the bear hug, because that’s what this meandering match needs. Nakamura fights off Corbin again and gets a strike off a chokeslam attempt. Reverse kick connects and then the kicks to the chest occur before Nakamura hits a jumping dropkick. More corner strikes and the face wash connects. Nakamura gets Corbin to the top rope and gets the running knee to the gut. Another knee to the gut hits and that only gets two. Corbin sends Nakamura to the corner but throws him out. Corbin runs right back to the ring and gets a vicious clothesline for two. That seemed to momentarily wake the crowd up. Corbin then gets punches to the face and goes for a suplex, but Nakamura then gets knees right into Corbin’s shoulder and then gets a front face suplex. Nakamura looks to go for the Kinsasha but Corbin reverses with the Deep Six for a near fall. Good reversal. Corbin and Nakamura trade shots before Nakamura ends it with a sloppy looking backstabber. Kick to the back of the neck puts Corbin down and Nakamura setting Corbin up for another Kinsasha. Corbin still hasn’t gotten up from the mat. Nakamura, like an idiot, goes over and checks on Corbin, and then goes for the Exploder Suplex before Corbin takes the easy way out and low blows Nakamura right in front of the ref for the DQ finish at 12:29.

 

If done in the right way, a crappy finish works and it did here as it protected both men as it makes Shinsuke look strong and Corbin is protected by not taking a clean pinfall as Mr. Money In The Bank. That being said, this match did favors for no one, as they struggled to get going and didn’t seem to have any visible chemistry. Little flow, no heat, and a dead crowd makes for kind of a dull match overall. *3/4

Corbin goes back to the ring and hits Nakamura with a briefcase shot and an End of Days to hammer the point home.

 

Fatal Five Way Elmination Number 1 Contender’s Match: Charlotte Flair vs. Lana vs. Natayla vs. Tamina vs. Becky Lynch

All the females start brawling, Natayla goes for an early Sharpshooter attempt and fights off Charlotte and Tamina sets things up with a cover on Becky for two. Becky reverses a strike and Lana takes Becky on the outside and shoves her into the announcer’s table. Natayla goes for the Sharpshooter on Tamina but Lana drags her out on the outside as well. Lana then screams something in Russian or something. Then, Charlotte, Tamina and Lana find themselves looking at each other in the ring. Charlotte fights off both women before they jump her in the corner. Tamina gets a scoop slam and Lana gets an elbow. Probably should have gone for a cover there. Lana gets some weak-looking stomps and Tamina holds Charlotte down as Lana gets a stomp to the throat. Tamina goes for another scoop slam, but Charlotte drags Tamina down as Lana just watches. Tamina holds down Charlotte’s leg and Lana goes for a cover on Charlotte which gets 2. Naomi is adding nothing with her commentary.

Lana and Tamina continue their double team on Charlotte with double stomps on the corner. Becky comes back in the ring and fights off Lana and Charlotte fights off Tamina and now we are left with Becky and Charlotte in the ring. Becky just got a clean win over Charlotte the week before, so let’s see. Charlotte goes for a quick cover on Becky but reverses. Becky gets some arm drags. She goes to the corner but Charlotte reverses with an elbow and a neck breaker. I think. Natayla runs in and gets a running stomp on Charlotte and a seated dropkick and covers both Charlotte and Becky for two. Becky gets some dropkicks, a kick to the gut and an Exploder Suplex which sends Natayla out. Lana gets an Exploder Suplex of her own. Becky then goes for one on Tamina, but she gets a superkick right on the button and a Samoan Drop on Natayla. Charlotte then gets a clothesline on Tamina. Charlotte goes for the Figure 8, but Natayla reverses into a cover and then a clothesline. Natayla then gets a Sharpshooter on Flair in the middle of the ring.

Then Lana, forgetting this is an elimination match like a buffoon, attacks Becky and covers Flair for two. Becky then gets the arm breaker on Lana before Tamina saves her with a kick to the head. Tamina then gets a Samoan Drop on Becky and then gets a spear, shoulder-tackle thingy on Charlotte on the outside. Looked kind of sloppy. Lana goes for the cover, but Becky reverses and goes back into he Dis-armer but Tamina saves her again. Tamina goes for another Samoan Drop, but Becky reverses into a Dis-armer and she has to tap at 9:08. Becky then gets another Disarmer on Lana ten seconds later at 9:18. Natayla then comes five seconds later and rolls up Becky Lynch at 9:23 as the rapid fire eliminations have begun. Flair goes for the Figure Four, but Natayla reverses into an Arm-breaker but Charlotte is able to reverse. Charlotte muscles up Natayla and gets a powerbomb for two in an impressive spot.

Charlotte then goes up to the top for a moon sault, but double knees to the gut from Natalya reverses and Natayla rolls up Charlotte to the back of the neck and that finishes things and Natayla is your Number 1 Contender at 10:54. The finish was sort of anticlimactic and the match lacked flow for the majority of it. Wasn’t horrible, but it was just a match for me. Nothing special. I have to ask, though, is Natayla vs. Naomi going to garner any interest for the SD Women’s Title going into the second biggest show of the year? Wouldn’t it make more sense to have Charlotte and Naomi finish their brief feud when Charlotte was brought over to Smackdown? Well, at least Natayla’s a new challenge, I guess. **1/4

US Title: AJ Styles (C) vs. Kevin Owens

Owens starts off with some shots to the gut and an early headlock submission. Owens gets a shoulder block and AJ gets a running arm drag which sends KO out. Owens and Styles trade holds and AJ sends KO back the outside again. Owens goes for a kick but Styles reverses as they trade holds again. Owens with an elbow to the face and Styles hits a dropkick which sends Owens outside yet again. Styles has had enough and strikes Owens outside on the Spanish announcer’s table. Styles then sends KO to the barricade. Styles then goes for a running forearm splash, but KO escapes and sends Styles groin first into the ring post. So Corbin can get a kick to the groin on Nakamura and get an instant DQ, but Owens can send AJ into the ring post groin-first without even so much as a warning? Gotta love the consistency. Owens gets some shots in on AJ and gets two. We go back to the rest hold which lasts about two minutes before AJ finally starts fighting back. Owens then sends AJ back into the mat and goes for a seated senton but AJ gets the knees on the back of Owens.

AJ comes back with his signature strikes but Owens reverses with a DDT for a two count and we go back to, you guessed it, the rest hold. AJ gets a couple of forearm shots and gets his strikes in before hitting the clothesline. AJ gets a forearm splash and tries to get Owens up on his shoulders but fails. Owens fires back and goes for back suplex but misses. AJ reverses and gets the facebuster which gets 2. AJ goes for another cover, but KO reverses, Owens goes for the superkick but AJ reverses into the Styles Clash, but Owens gets out of it and rolls up AJ for two. AJ then gets the Firearm Carry into the knee right into the back of the neck for two. AJ then looks for the 450 splash, but KO reverses into the cover and then gets only 2. Owens gets the cannonball in the corner, and that gets two. Match really hasn’t kicked into that second gear yet, which is kind of disturbing considering the level of in ring acumen that both these men have. The crowd is also kind of silent.

KO gets AJ on the top rope and gets a backhanded chop and is thinking superplex. AJ tries to fight out and AJ goes for the sunset flip powerbomb but can’t get it. AJ then reverses into a Torture Rack and then goes for the spin out powerbomb which didn’t hit cleanly and that gets two. Styles goes up to the top turnbuckle but Owens stops him by running into the ropes. Owens gets into another superplex, but AJ reverses and sends KO face first into the turnbuckle. AJ catches KO with a forearm and KO goes for the Phenomenal Forearm, but KO escapes the ring and takes out Styles as he lands on his shoulder. KO then sends AJ into the steel post and gets an arm-breaker. AJ hits the Pele kick out of desperation. AJ then goes for the Styles Clash and KO tosses AJ into the referee. Great, just what this match needs. A ref bump. Owens then hits a superkick on Styles and KO goes for the powerbomb, but AJ gets out of it and reverses into the Calf Crusher. Owens then reverses into a Crossface on AJ. AJ then reverses into his own crossface as the referee regains consciousness. KO then reverses into a pin on AJ for an extended period of time. The referee slowly counts to 3 as the announcers, AJ and the referee all look confused. KO’s music plays, so I guess he’s your winner and a 3 time US Champ at 17:45.

Why even bother giving AJ the title at a non-televised event if you’re just going to have him drop it 16 days later? I don’t even know if that was the planned finish because it looked award as holy hell and AJ seemed to give the referee hell after the match. Whatever the case, the match has seemed to have caught a virus from the rest of the show. It just went on and on without hitting any peaks or high points. Owens and Styles have performed far better in the past, and this was their worst one on one match to date. This is also, might I add, AJ’s worst performance on PPV since coming to WWE last year, and that’s saying something. Once again, the match had little flow, the crowd couldn’t get into it and the ref bump was entirely unnecessary since nothing of note happened while he was down. This would make for a solid Smackdown main event, but on PPV I am left grossly underwhelmed by these two. I also don’t know what’s been going on with AJ, but the whole magic of his performances last year has come down to simmer in 2017. One screwy finish per PPV is my threshold, but two? Not havin it. **1/2

 

Meanwhile backstage, we have the Singh brothers informing Jinder that they can’t help him win tonight. Great gobs, look at Jinder’s left arm. His veins look like a thunderstorm. Looks like WWE will have to get creative with Jinder and Randy and do a different finish than Orton destroying the Singh Brothers and walking into a Cobra Slam.

 

Flag match: John Cena vs. Rusev

In a cool dose of irony, the foreign announce teams for WWE are introduced before the match. Apparently, in order to complicate this match, the way to win is to grab your flag in the ring, run up the ramp, and place it on a pedestal. This has overbooking and unnecessary length written all over it. Rather a tepid reaction from the crowd by Cena’s standards. Rusev begins by chasing his flag but Cena catches him in a headlock. Rusev goes back for his flag but Cena stops him again in the same sequence. Rusev gets a shot in and flattens Cena in the corner. Rusev climbs in his corner yet again but Cena goes back after Rusev. Cena then hits a top rope bulldog. John goes up to his corner, but Rusev catches him with an Electric Chair drop and Rusev gets him down with some shots to the mid-section. Rusev then gets a shot to the back and stomps Cena down. Rusev then goes for his flag but Cena grabs his legs before Rusev attacks him again. Rusev gets corner shots and trash talks Cena and gets a corner splash. Rusev goes for his flag but Cena catches him again, but Rusev gets him off. Cena gets punches and Rusev gets some of his own before hitting a DDT. It’s just punch, kick, punch, kick between these two right now. This brawling is getting too damn repetitive. Dammit, I think I’m already getting sleepy.

 

Rusev gets, you guessed it, another punch before Cena counters with his comeback and Cena is now Hulking up. Five Knuckle Shuffle connects before he goes for the AA, but Rusev gets out of it and reverses into a spinebuster. Rusev then sends Cena out of the ring. Rusev and Cena fight at the top by the Bulgarian flag before Cena goes up and goes for a top rope leg drop. Rusev reverses into a sloppy looking powerbomb in a spot similar to Batista’s reversal of that same move at Summerslam 9 years ago. Bad things happened to Cena last time that happened. Rusev finally retrieves his flag, but Cena then gets an AA in the ring. This match isn’t over yet? Cena climbs to the top and tries to gets his flag, but Rusev gets Cena for a powerbomb, but Cena reverses into an STF. Rusev taps out, and in a reasonable universe, that would end the match. Sadly, it doesn’t and we still have more to go. Cena climbs to his corner and retrieves the American flag. Rusev comes back in and gets a kick to the face. Rusev takes his flag on the outside but Cena takes him out on the outside. Cena then sends Rusev shoulder-first into the steel steps. Cena then gets the flag in the middle of the ring and Cena makes the march to the top of the ramp. Rusev again catches Cena and sends him into the steps. Just when I thought the match was going to end. Darn it.

 

Rusev then hits Cena to the steel steps to Cena on the outside and the announcers mention this match is No Disqualification. Gee, I didn’t notice. Could have fooled me. Rusev then makes his march to the ramp, but Cena gets up and sends Rusev into the stage. Cena then runs up the pedestal and looks for the splash but he gets caught and Rusev hits the Fallaway Slam. Rusev then gets a table and sets it up right next to the American pedestal. Rusev gets another one and sets it up right next to it. I’m sure we all know how that’s going to end at this point, right? Rusev then sends Cena into the podium and Rusev has Cena up for the AA, but Cena gets out of it. Rusev and Cena then trade shots and hit a double clothesline on the ramp. Rusev takes out Cena yet again and has the Accolade at the top of the ramp and Cena is out. Reportedly. Rusev has the flag and all he has to do is put the flag in. He’s literally right there, but Cena puts himself between the flag and the stand, but then Cena has Rusev up for the AA. Rusev gets out of it and gets a kick to the shoulder. Rusev goes for another Accolade, but Cena gets out of it, and as I’m sure we all predicted, Cena has Rusev up on his shoulders, hits the AA through the tables and he wins the match at 21:02.

I’m so proud to be an American after that inspiring match. I’d be even more patriotic if we didn’t do literally the exact same song and dance two years ago. Literally the exact same thing. Far too contrived. Far too convoluted and far too long. I can’t believe WWE really brought back Rusev just to have him work the same program he was working with Cena two years ago. Oh wait, yes I can, because it’s WWE. 21 minutes of punches and kicks and lazy brawling doesn’t do me any favors, and since, as I said, we’ve seen this exact same storyline with these two 2 years ago, it’s nothing special. If I could find a reason to give this match even one star, I would, because I’m generous with my ratings, but this was pretty much nothing. The whole “I love America, RAH-RAH-RAH!” shtick from Cena gets stale after a time. Only great thing about this match was that it didn’t go any longer than it already did. *

We get another installment of the Fashion Files in which we are reportedly going to get some closure. Nice shot of the portrait of The Big Bossman. The Ascension comes up and claims it was them. Why? Because they felt like it. A WWE answer to be sure. So the case is closed, but Fandango claims they weren’t even at the show so it couldn’t be them. Lights go out and Breeze is taken out. Fandango is also taken out from behind, so apparently, this thing isn’t over. Fandango has then dragged away. This thing isn’t funny anymore and this show has taken a sharp turn for the worst after the opening match.

 

Sami Zayn vs. Mike Kanellis

It’s death slot time. Weak, faint “OLE” chants from the crowd. Sami starts and takes out Kanellis with some punches and gets a shoulder block from the outside. Zayn then gets a hurricanrana and a chop in the corner. Zayn gets another chop and clotheslines Mike from outside the ring. Zayn then goes for the splash outside but Mike gets out the way. Maria distracts Sami and gets a big right hand. Mike reverses a corner block from Sami and gets a big boot from Mike for a two count. Mike then has a back submission hold on Sami. Samu then gets some clotheslines and back body drop on Mike. Sami then sends Kanellis on the outside and Zayn hits the top rope flip on the outside. Sami then goes to the top rope and gets a top rope splash for two. Sami goes for the Blue Thunder Bomb but Mike gets some shots to the head and goes for the powerbomb but Sami reverses into the Tornado DDT. Sami goes for the Exploder to the Turnbuckle but Maria is there to block him. Mike gets the Fireman’s Carry, but Sami gets the Exploder and the Helluva Kick to finish things at 7:16. Why even bother having these two fight on SD if you’re already gonna have Mike lose on PPV already? Just a Smackdown match. Nothing special. *1/2

 

WWE Title: Jinder Mahal (C) vs. Randy Orton – Punjabi Prison Match

Imagine paying money to have a ringside seat to a PPV with a main event that you can’t even see. I shudder to even think of the camera angles because the structure is so damn long and cartoony. Surely enough, I already can’t even see Jinder’s face without the damn bamboo blocking it. Tom Phillips says that the crowd is in awe of the structure. Nope, I’m pretty sure they are just tired. So if you could wrap your head around this, there are four doors in the inner structure which will remain open for 60 seconds at the sport entertainer’s request. Once that time has elapsed, the door will remain closed. Then you have to somehow get over the inner structure, and the outer structure because there is no door on the outside. Goodness, I’m already tired.

Orton immediately gets shots in on Jinder and Mahal gets n elbow. Jinder orders a ref for the first door to open but Orton stops him before Orton attempts to escape. Jinder gets a back hold but Orton escapes and tries to escape again. Jinder grabs Orton’s leg not allowing him to escape. Orton prevents Jinder from escaping, and one door remains closed for the match. Can you feel the excitement? Orton and Mahal then trade shots until Jinder gets a jumping arm breaker. Jinder gets continuous knee drops on Orton’s arm and chokes him out. Crowd is stone cold at this point as Jinder bends Orton’s arm on the bamboo, and Jinder gets an arm hold locked in. Jinder calls for the second door, but Orton gets up and hits the Fallaway Slam. Jinder tries to slide out of the second door, but Orton prevents him, and that’s two doors that remain closed for the match. Orton stomps on Jinder to continue things as this match continues to drag along. Randy then sort of just lazily tosses Jinder into the bamboo. This time, Mahal tries to escape the inner structure, but Orton goes up top and slugs away. Mahal responds in kind and sends Orton down. Orton gets Jinder off and he lands on his Punjabi balls. Orton is then sent into the side of the structure as the DDT attempt fails.

I am practically catatonic at this point and this match must continue. Orton gets a shot in and gets a shot from the top rope. These camera angles are freaking brutal. Orton calls for another door and Orton attempts to escape but Jinder won’t allow him. Orton tries to go out but Jinder drags Orton’s arm again and the third door is now locked with one remaining. You could hear a pin drop with how silent it is right now. Orton and Mahal stare at each other and the final door that remains open. Orton side steps Jinder and gets a powerslam. Orton then gets the draping DDT. Imagine sitting in the nosebleeds and trying to see what’s going on? Orton calls for the final door to open and Orton could escape, but Orton looks to go for the RKO, but he reverses into the high knee. Jinder goes for the Cobra Slam, but Orton gets the RKO. But the Singh Brothers appear, thereby defeating the entire purpose of the match and rendering it useless, and Jinder manages to escape as the final door closes and Orton is left on the inside. So Orton is now left to climb the inner structure and Jinder climbs the outer structure. Orton then gets over to the outer structure and Jinder and Orton trade shots. Orton then gets Jinder face first and he falls down, but the Singh Brothers drag Orton’s leg down and we have gotten to the overbooking portion of the match.

 

The Singh Brothers send Orton right into a big boot from Orton and Jinder begins to climb the outer structure. Orton fights back and staves off the Singh Brothers as if we haven’t already seen it like 100 freaking times already. Orton gets shots to Jinder’s back and he’s down. Orton gets suplexes to each of the Singh Brothers on the floor and takes both of them out again. It’s literally like a replay of Backlash and Money In The Bank. Jinder then gets a Kendo Stick and apparently, Tom says this is a part of it. Apparently, two cages lined with bamboo wasn’t enough. Jinder then goes for the Cobra Slam but Orton reverses into Jinder back first. Orton then gets the kendo stick and Jinder begs for mercy apparently telling Orton to forgive him for the past three months worth of stuff. You kidding me right now. Orton favors the left arm but is climbing out. One of the Singh Brothers climbs out of the structure and attacks Orton from the outside. Holy moly, are we still doing this with the Singh Brothers? Orton then gets some right hands one of the brothers and one of them gets sent flying through the announcer’s table. Boy, he went flying.

 

Jinder then climbs his way back up and grabs Orton’s legs and takes him down. Jinder then sends Orton back first yet again and the match simmers down yet again. Mahal looks for a big boot, but Orton reverses and gets the DDT on the floor. Orton then gets a chair and takes out the other Singh brother and then gets Jinder across the back. Everyone is out and now Orton is left alone. Just climb and end this torture already. I beg you. Orton climbs up, but in a scene I’ve gotten all too familiar with, one of the Singh brothers foils Orton’s plans yet again. Orton is now by himself and, for goodness sakes, The Great Khali, The Great friggin Khali is out here while Orton is climbing. Khali gives the structure a good shake and Orton falls back inside. Khali chokes out Orton until he loses consciousness and Jinder taunts him while he’s there. Jinder climbs the top structure and escapes to retain the WWE Title and mercifully ends this abomination at 28:03.

Half an hour for that finish? Screw off. The match did no favors with the plodding offense from both men, continuous heatless segments and the logic behind the match being decimated with the interference from the Singh Brothers, who were in there for basically half the match. But you’re telling me the big payoff for this feud was The Great friggin Khali? In addition, while I appreciate the temerity of the Singh Brothers, they’re gonna hurt themselves taking some of these bumps. As far as performance goes for top stars this year, it’s been a pretty sorry 2017 campaign for one Orton. he’s visibly mailing it in these days, and Mahal is no more over than he was when he first took the title from him. As for Jinder, I want to get behind him badly, but he’s just not working for me. You can’t have a guy that was jobbing his entire career, one day decide to put the WWE Title on him and expect for him to change. The title doesn’t make the man, the man makes the title.

This match showcased exactly why it has been 10 years since we’ve last seen a match like this, and hopefully, it’ll be another 10 before we see it again. Neither man has the athleticism to make a match like this interesting, the match concept is needlessly complicated, and uh, that’s right, if you’re watching from the crowd, YOU CAN’T SEE! Liked the bump Samir took on the announcer’s table, but since that’s the best part of the match, it goes to show you what a travesty this was. This was just some boring, awful stuff here. Half a star for the bump, but that’s all this is getting from me. 1/2*

 

Conclusion:

The show peaked with its opening match and had that match been any less good than it was, you’re looking at easily one of the worst PPV’s in WWE history. Certainly the worst of this year. The tag match was awesome as I said, but boy did this show head into a tailspin real fast. The mid-card was dreadfully underwhelming, the main event matches were unnecessarily long and dull and the night was mired by screwy finishes. The only thing this show succeeded in was displaying why ticket sales were struggling coming into this show.

All of the issues Smackdown LIVE have been suffering from for most of this year were compounded all into one show, from the fluke champions to the hot potato title changes and inconclusive, lazy finishes. Unless changes are in order for the future, it’s not gonna get better. Watch the opening match and turn off the tape. WWE, and more specifically, Smackdown LIVE, have been inoffensively dull for the past few months, but this was insultingly bad to watch. There are 2 and a half hours of my life I won’t get back. Recommendation to avoid.