SmackDown In A Nutshell: It’s A Super Sized Go Home Show

It is time once again for another SmackDown In A Nutshell. This week, its a super sized go home show for us to enjoy.

Because, of course, next Thursday is everyone’s favorite…Crown Jewel!

OK, maybe not everyone’s favorite. It is, of course, a show and a relationship filled with issues since the start.

But, regardless, we have WWE’s next big event happening next week.

And, that makes this a super sized go home show for our SmackDown In A Nutshell.

Why super sized? Well, for starters, it’s an extra 30 minutes, and those will be without commercial.

SmackDown moved to FS1 this week, due to the baseball playoffs. So perhaps FOX threw WWE a bone?

Who knows, it doesn’t really matter. All I know is we’ve got a bit of a longer SmackDown In A Nutshell as opposed to the usual.

Actually, I’ll do my best to not make this one a super sized nutshell. I promise.

But, it will be a super sized go home show, that is a certainty.

You’ve got a SmackDown Tag Team Championship match. Becky Lynch battles Sasha Banks, too.

And, if that isn’t super sized enough? Brock Lesnar will be in attendance.

Gotta sign that contract for Crown Jewel, after all.

So…let’s dive in!

SmackDown In A Nutshell: It’s A Super Sized Go Home Show

Let’s crack open this Nutshell and get started!

Best Match of the night:

We could have a three way tie, to be honest.

Sami Zayn and Finn Balor was really good. Nice to see Balor getting the win.

Usos versus Street Profits? That was even better.

Only way that would have done better? A Profits win.

And then…the main event.

Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch did not disappoint.

Not exactly a clean finish, but a lot closer to clean than I expected. One negative, Bianca felt more like an afterthought.

Worst match of the night:

I would consider the Naomi versus Shayna/Deville match.

However…even that worked out wonderful.

Any doubt, any thought that Baszler could turn face? Erased.

Star of the Night

A lot of credit to go around.

Like, all those great matches? They all deserve credit.

But who gets it?

Brock Lesnar. And you want to know why?

Because everyone figures Lesnar will get physical. And he didn’t.

Instead, he played a spectacular mind game.

“I already read the damn contract this morning ……. with my advocate Paul Heyman!”@BrockLesnar, what is going on?!@WWERomanReigns@HeymanHustle#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/x51R7IAUXo

— WWE (@WWE) October 16, 2021

Once again, playing the “who’s side is Heyman on” game, and to a tee.

Spot of the Night:

MONTEZ FORD YOU MADMAN!!!@MontezFordWWE#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/aV8zqVG4He

— WWE (@WWE) October 16, 2021

@MontezFordWWE#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Cgj1Mkexoz

— WWE (@WWE) October 16, 2021

Jobber of the Night:

None to speak of.

Upset of the Night:

After thinking she cut a deal with Zelina Vega, I’d say Carmella was upset to be on the losing end of things this evening.

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

Nothing major, to be honest.

Liked Balor winning.

Mildly surprised to see Vega advance.

And while we all know Lesnar is the Beast…he’s showing some nice chops, I think. So that’s a nice surprise.

Noteworthy Moment:

Just that, well, the new roster kicks in next week.

All the new draft selections should be joining SmackDown. Almost like WWE should have saved the season premiers for the shows after Crown Jewel…

Overall lowlights:

While this show was good…I like the shorter 2 hour show. It’s a personal perspective, and may not be shared.

Then again, even if it gets good ratings and all…I don’t expect a 2.5 hour SmackDown to become a regular thing.

Overall highlights:

Honestly, even if they had not made it super sized, this was one of the better SmackDowns in a while.

I don’t remember the last time I had a hard time choosing a bad match, and had at least three options for the best on the evening.

Hows that for SmackDown In A Nutshell for ya?

After the final bell:

As a super sized go home show, SmackDown was naturally heavy on the final hype.

That worked out, honestly.

From Edge to Seth Rollins, Lesnar and Reigns…and really, everything in between.

This show worked. I can’t say it got me super excited for Crown Jewel, because it’s a PPV-level event at noon during the week…but it was a fine go home show no matter what.