By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Smackdown Hits
New Day’s championship celebration and match vs. Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, and Cesaro: Just the right mix of silliness from Big E and Xavier Woods along with their kind words about the new WWE Champion. I was hoping to hear more from Kingston before someone inevitably interrupted him, but his comments to his family were great. And while The Bar were the last people anyone wanted to see after the bait and switch on Raw, I like the idea of Sheamus and Cesaro aligning with Drew McIntyre in a faction if the company wants to go in that direction. I’m guessing that’s not the plan since they dropped the main event and didn’t do anything to suggest the alliance was for more than one night (though McIntyre did disappear during the commercial break). The match was entertaining and the feel good ending with New Day going over and celebrating with Kingston’s family was a nice way to close WrestleMania week.
Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso vs. Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy for the Smackdown Tag Titles: A good match with a title change likely inspired by a Superstar Shakeup move. My guess is the Usos (and Naomi) move to Raw, and perhaps The Revival come to Smackdown to feud with the Hardys. The post match scene with Lars Sullivan is a Miss in my book. I’m all for making him look like a monster, but not at the expense of the new tag team champions.
Aleister Black, Ricochet, and Ali vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Rusev, and Adrade: A crowd pleasing tag match. We’ve seen Black and Ricochet shine in the ring, but can we cut to the part where they get some semblance of character development? So far we know that Black is a dark, brooding loner who is oddly in a tag team, and Ricochet is from a small town in Kentucky.
Braun Strowman and Samoa Joe: A Hit for this week because the tease for an eventual match was solid, but it’s hard not to see this ending well for Joe, who just never seems to be booked in a way that maintains momentum for long.
WWE Smackdown Misses
The IIconics vs. Brooklyn Belles: The old gag of the heel champions talking up their opponents in a major way only for the opponents to be enhancement wrestlers was fine. But the IIconics are relying on being obnoxious for all their heat and it hasn’t proven to be enough. Here’s hoping they start to cheat more and show more of a mean streak rather than just acting obliviously obnoxious.
Shane McMahon and Greg Hamilton: A minor Miss. Shane picking on the ring announcer isn’t doing much for me because Hamilton is not a beloved figure. Perhaps this will help his cause, but it’s beginning to feel flat and repetitive.
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