It’s a go-home SmackDown In A Nutshell, and the blue brand is in the fast lane to Indy.
Because, you know, Fastlane is Saturday night in Indianapolis.
But, for Friday, the junior circuit is in Saint Louis, and it is all about that final hype for the next premium live event.
Fastlane has, if I had to say so, shaped up into an under-the-radar kind of sleeper show.
Meaning, there should be a few matches that could really surprise us.
But, until we get there, we have to get through SmackDown, and there should be some good action.
So…lets get things started…
In The Fast Lane To Indy : SmackDown In A Nutshell
Let’s get in gear and crack open this Nutshell!
Best Match of the night:
It ended in a no contest, but it didn’t matter.
That whole main event portion of SmackDown was just fun.
In terms of a complete match with an actual finish? Dragon Lee and Austin Theory was really good for what it was.
Lee continues to show why he has seemingly already been called up from NXT.
Worst match of the night:
Was not a fan of the women’s tag, but it was OK for what it was.
Rey versus Lashley was just…average, but the brawl seems to be giving us a mystery partner tomorrow.
Crowd Chants of the Night:
Not a chant, but with the face entrances being short, the crowd didn’t have Cody’s song playing to do a sing-along.
It didn’t stop them from singing along anyways. Was pretty awesome.
Star of the Night
Tough call tonight because there were a lot of players.
Do I go for Rhea Ripley and Paul Heyman? I mean, it wouldn’t be a bad call.
Jimmy? Jey?
Dragon Lee, and on and on.
Lots of good performances tonight.
Spot of the Night:
Lots of big over the rope splashes in that main event segment…which was nice.
In the women’s tag, I give them credit for trying to have IYO do that spot where she basically dumps Bayley, Charlotte and Asuka off the top rope.
Problem is it didn’t quite look so great.
Jobber of the Night:
When you get to eat every face Superstar’s finisher in the main event segment? Yes, you ARE tonight’s winning jobber.
Congrats to JD McDonagh.
Upset of the Night:
Nothing to complain about.
Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:
We saw Judgement Day take over the locker room of the Bloodline.
And while we did see them stare down…
We did indeed see Rhea Ripley dismiss her mates for a one on one with Heyman, in an interesting exchange.
Whatever offer was discussed, by the end of the show the two factions had at least for one night brokered a union.
Also this…
Even better? Finally seeing Carlito.
Botch of the night:
Maybe it wasn’t one, but a couple of Charlotte’s cartwheel things into moves against Bayley looked a little less than crisp.
Commentary of the night:
“I want to see Cena go over the top rope!”
“Goats aren’t meant to fly”
Noteworthy Moment:
WWE does very little by accident. Like, very very little.
And, to that point, nothing in a pre-recorded segment is in there by accident.
Amid reports that the Phenom would be in Orlando next week at the Performance Center, all while WWE has been stacking NXT for going against a temporarily relocated Dynamite…
The Undertaker may be showing up to have fun in the Performance Center, but that gong in the ad means either he will appear on Tuesday…or WWE is trolling us.
Speaking of trolling…
Again, as I said before…WWE scripts pretty much every minute detail…could it be nothing? Could it be…everything?
Overall lowlights:
I want to see Alba and Isla live and in person sooner than later. I dig the vignettes though. (So, not really a complaint, but…)
Otherwise, not much to hate on this show.
Overall highlights:
I am not alone in my enjoyment of the main event…
After the final bell:
Well, that was an unexpectedly hot go-home show, and a few little possible teasers for whats to come in the short term (NXT on Tuesday) and long term (perhaps Survivor Series).
