It’s worth pointing this out-much hype has been put out there for the SmackDown debut on Fox, which happens a week from Friday. However, relatively little has been made over the final SmackDown on USA. That’s right folks…tonight, the blue brand bids farewell to USA Network. We can expect more between Shane McMahon and Kevin Owens, and likely more action between some combo of Harper, Rowan, Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns. Fox is a week away, with Hell In A Cell right behind that. Let’s get things started and crack open this Nutshell!
Best Match of the night:
Unlike last night on RAW, the pickings here were slim. If only by default, based on the run time and developments, I’d have to go with Rowan and Daniel Bryan.
Worst match of the night:
The women’s tag match was a head scratcher for me. I don’t know if they were running short on time or what, but the match felt short, and having Carmella in the mix with Charlotte, Sasha and Bayley just seems like a way for WWE to try and make her more relevant. Just didn’t much work for a match, and the ending kind of felt like it was out of nowhere.
Star of the Night
Not a star to be seen tonight. Sure, some decent work, but not one I’d give this award to.
Jobber of the Night:
Kanellis…paging Mike Kanellis…
Upset of the Night:
Nothing of note.
Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:
Probably a reach to a degree, but we’ve got our Daniel Bryan/Roman Reigns partnership. Based on rumblings, that is destined to implode at some point.
Other than that, I’d say the biggest bit was us getting Kevin Owens and Shane McMahon in a ladder match. Sort of expected it to be another Cell match, but ladders work too.
Botch of the night:
Have to go with the audio guy on this one. During the Owens/McMahon segment, Shane’s mic cut out at basically the worst part of the segment.
LOL Moment of the night:
Seeing Carmella defend the 24/7 Championship did make me chuckle just a wee bit.
Noteworthy Moment:
Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch have escalated things, with Banks leaving Lynch in a heap to close the show.
This was our final USA Network SmackDown, which in and of itself is a big deal.
Overall lowlights:
Really didn’t care for the Carmella insertion into the tag team match. Hopefully that turns into something.
For a final show on the network, I was kind of surprised that we did not have something commemorating it.
Overall highlights:
I liked the opening. Daniel Bryan cal still act a heel, but he seems to make a nice tweener too.
The final segment was good, though it felt rushed.
After the final bell:
And just like that, SmackDown is off of USA. We do have a longer than usual wait time for the next episode, but now eyes turn to Fox to see how things can improve, or at least change up
