It’s time for another SmackDown in a Nutshell, and the message this week is simple-there is one week until big draft time!
Yes, the WWE Draft begins next week on SmackDown.
Same time as another big sports draft…and it does seem that WWE planned that, for whatever reason.
Now, while we have one week until the big draft, there’s work to be done this week.
We’ve got a women’s tag title match. There’s also Xavier Woods trying to take GUNTHER down, and win Intercontinental gold in the process.
While the draft next week looms large, so too does Backlash.
See…lots to get into, all squeezed into a two hour show (and this little bitty Nutshell).
So with not much time, and just one week until the big draft, let’s get into it.
It is time for…
SmackDown In A Nutshell: One Week Until Big Draft!
Let’s crack open this Nutshell and see how things go!
Best Match of the night:
What a night to have to pick one of these, right?
For what it was, the Rey/Santos versus Finn/Priest match was good…but it wasn’t the best.
Women’s tag match? Good too…but no.
Almost lost in the shuffle? GUNTHER and Xavier.
It was really good. Could have been better if anyone actually thought Woods had a chance.
Main event, Matt Riddle and Solo Sikoa takes the prize. Even if we’ve been seeing this one a bit.
Worst match of the night:
It wasn’t that bad, but it ran kind of long, I think.
But, it wasn’t really that bad, right?
That would be the tag match pitting Strowman and Ricochet agains the Viking Raiders.
With that big draft next week…it’s possible one or both teams are broken up soon.
Star of the Night
Hard to argue with Solo Sikoa here.
Spot of the Night:
I mean, yes, I am an ECW fanboy…but I dug Riddle channeling his inner RVD with the chair tossed to Solo and then drilling it with a knee.
Heck, if anything, that was more hardcore. Van Dam used his feet…Riddle used his bare knee.
Jobber of the Night:
Honestly not sure I have one tonight.
Upset of the Night:
Not tonight.
Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:
While I get the water from Liv to Chelsea was payback…having Raquel assist Liv with the pin?
They are the babyface team…doing heel things to win.
On the flip side of things, we still have yet to get them face to face, but I am digging the build for Kross and Nakamura.
The downside of that feud? Both men need wins.
Botch of the night:
Could have been a turn, but was a botch.
Ricochet was supposed to, I believe, make contact with a Raider.
Good idea…execution was lacking.
LOL Moment of the night:
When this graphic hit I was like…what did I miss.
Fortunately, I am not alone, and that makes me LOL.
Noteworthy Moment:
I don’t hate this one, even if it’s pretty likely that Zelina is doing the job in Puerto Rico.
But this is what I don’t like about it. Like, I get it, they’ve clashed because of the LWO/Judgement Day stuff…but Rhea has gold.
On top of that, a couple other matches got made official.
Seth Rollins and Omos for one (not sure why, maybe I napped when they clashed?).
But, a quick look at the social medias tell me…I am not the only one confused by that…
United States title match, Lashley versus Bronson Reed versus Austin Theory.
I like that triple threat, but I expect Lashey and Reed will cost each other the match. Or something.
Overall lowlights:
The Ricochet/Strowman versus Raiders match was only OK. I would love to have the Raiders go on a tear like in NXT and get tag gold…
Overall highlights:
With just a week before the big draft, we had I think a pretty good show.
Quite a few good, if not great, matches.
Several matches were good enough to be the main event, which is encouraging, I think.
After the final bell:
This time next week, half the draft will be in the books, which is kind of crazy to think about.
But, for now, we still have one week until the big draft.
I mean…let that sink in….one week until big draft…and possibly (probably?) big changes.
