It’s time for another SmackDown in a Nutshell, and this week I have one thing on my mind: will Sonya Deville behave this time?
Considering all that has gone on, it is fair to ask that question.
The root of that, of course, is Deville’s deep-rooted issues with Naomi. For months, we’ve seen the two women feud, with Sonya Deville unable to behave more times than not.
Or, if you’d rather say it like it is…Deville has been seen abusing her status as a WWE official. So can Sonya Deville behave tonight?
Considering Naomi got herself a SmackDown Women’s Championship match this week, it’s an important question with major implications.
That is not the only item on our agenda, of course.
With Elimination Chamber just 8 days away from now (as I type this), and considering the travel requirements…this seems like it’s going to be the effective go-home show.
I mean…I have to think most Superstars will be in Saudi Arabia this time next week already.
So, we’ve got some final hype to deliver, which leads us to our weekly SmackDown In A Nutshell.
And like that, it’s time for…
SmackDown In A Nutshell: Will Sonya Deville Behave This Time?
source: @wweonfox, twitter, screenshot
Let’s crack open this Nutshell and find out!
Best Match of the night:
For me, it was Big E and Kofi Kingston taking on Los Lotharios.
I hate Big E being moved and diminished…but I liked them (even if we can’t call them New Day) putting over Los Lotharios.
Angel and Humberto should be getting put over, and I am glad that they were.
Worst match of the night:
Honestly…I feel like the main event underwhelmed.
Does it mean it was the worst? Maybe, maybe not…but it was not great, and I saw a few issues with Charlotte’s effort…and that’s not good.
source: @wweonfox, twitter, screenshot
Then again, I feel like I am going to be in the minority here. Naomi did well, in the grand scheme.
Plus, it was given the longest run time of the night by far, and the crowd did seem pretty invested…which means a great deal.
However…if I am being honest? All but like, one match, was sub-par.
Star of the Night
I’ve got a few.
Los Lotharios, for starters. I don’t want to over-hype it, but them beating one of the best teams of this era?
It should matter…it needs to elevate them.
Another?
Even though I did not like the match overall, Naomi did do good work tonight
source: @wweonfox, twitter, screenshot
Spot of the Night:
This one didn’t happen tonight…but I suppose it was last week, though I missed it.
So, this one is a mea culpa.
Any shot that does this?
source: @wweonfox, twitter, screenshot
Yeah, that was the spot.
Jobber of the Night:
Another week, and another win for Sonya.
She was in to be the person taking the offense from Rousey. You can tell WWE wants to keep Charlotte and Ronda as apart as possible, for as long as possible.
Upset of the Night:
Only option here would be Los Lotharios over the team formerly known as New Day.
Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:
Honestly, did not see this one coming…
.@SamiZayn had a few tricks up his sleeve… #SmackDown @ShinsukeN @rickboogswwe pic.twitter.com/zl9R84ZWPi
— WWE (@WWE) February 12, 2022
Clearly we are moving toward a Zayn/Knoxville WrestleMania match. After tonight, I can’t help but wonder if WWE would be wise to make that a tag match.
source: @wweonfox, twitter, screenshot
Like, a six man match, Knoxville with Boogs and Nakamura, versus Sami and…well I don’t really know who? I guess Ziggler and Roode would make sense…
Botch of the night:
A couple that I saw, and both happened in the last few minutes of the show.
Charlotte Flair gave what Cole called a chop block to Naomi.
Except, it wasn’t. It was like, a shove to the rear end, and Naomi stumbled down and did her part.
And then, when Ronda Rousey ran down to make the save, it sure looked like she was about to pull a Titus where the ramp transitioned.
Understandably, sometimes your knee can buckle when you hit a funky spot…which might have been what happened.
The camera cut away just as it happened, so it’s possible I just thought I saw that and it did not really happen.
Commentary of the night:
Not a line…just an observation.
That being…I missed Pat McAfee.
LOL Moment of the night:
This one feels like something WWE used to do in like the 1980’s…but I enjoyed it all the same, and it did make me laugh.
source: @wweonfox, twitter, screenshot
Noteworthy Moment:
Well, this is one way to make sure Sonya Deville behaves…
Adam Pearce just delivered @SonyaDevilleWWE some rough news. @ScrapDaddyAP | #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/gCS27aHjAc
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) February 12, 2022
Side note, we saw Goldberg and Reigns, only via sit-down interviews with Michael Cole.
I think Reigns (and Heyman) looked stronger here. Goldberg, in a recorded session even, stumbled
source: @wweonfox, twitter, screenshot
Overall lowlights:
This show, to me, kind of felt like it couldn’t get in gear at times.
I actually blame that on the Elimination Chamber, and the logistics around it.
If you take travel into account, odds are anyone needed in Jeddah, will not be working next Friday-which means this week was the go-home show.
Except…it just did not feel like it.
Like, a lot of things, to me, felt more focused on WrestleMania.
The Sonya Deville storyline? That’s not happening in a week, that’s for Dallas.
Knoxville isn’t going to the Chamber…that’s for Dallas.
Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss? You get the idea.
Overall highlights:
The tag match…if you couldn’t see that one coming.
And, the improvement (or return of) a strong babyface Rousey.
It’s been said she needed a push in that direction, and it seems to be working.
Naomi did pretty well, I just wish there was better for her than losing to Charlotte and tangled with Naomi.
After the final bell:
So, I viewed this as a go-home show, because it is the last live SmackDown before Saudi Arabia.
However, there will be another-it’s being taped right after, and we might get a decent match or two out of it.
It wasn’t the best show, nor the worst. As it gets that close to the Elimination Chamber, however…I hoped for better.
