It’s Memorial Day Weekend in the United States, and we end the week with another SmackDown In A Nutshell. And just like that, the blue brand blasts into summer.
It’s not the official start, but this weekend signals the unofficial start of the summer season.
And, as far as SmackDown goes, it should be an interesting evening.
Heading into the show, the major attraction was the return of The Usos as a tag team, even if it wasn’t the happiest pairing.
That is certainly one way for the blue brand to blast into summer. The Usos are one of the best teams ever, so putting Jimmy and Jey back makes things interesting.
There is, of course, plenty more to cover in two hours, as the blue brand blasts into summer.
Hell In A Cell is just a few weeks away now. We don’t know who will take on Roman Reigns (yet), and there’s plenty of card left to book.
So, no time to waste, right? Let’s get into the important stuff, like…
SmackDown In A Nutshell: Blue Brand Blasts Into Summer
Let’s crack it open and get into the season!
Best Match of the night:
Without a doubt, our opening match.
I cannot even remember the last time we saw a tag match featuring Jimmy and Jey.
Despite the long gap between matches…the brothers showed little to no rust, and it was like they never left.
Plus, pairing such a legendary team against one of the top teams of the current crop-The Street Profits-worked well.
When was the last time we opened the show with such a good and long match. Better yet, when was the last time we did it with a good and long TAG TEAM match?
I mean…we know how WWE feels about tag teams…
Worst match of the night:
Maybe not bad…but short…and we have a couple.
However…I shall only pick on one.
Nakamura and Chad Gable. Just too short, and with Corbin lurking…just announce a best of 7 for the crown and call it a day.
Crowd Chants of the Night:
Can’t wait till we actually have crowds again…
Star of the Night
The Usos.
Even though we know there is looming drama, or possibly looming drama, the brothers made for a nice SmackDown In A Nutshell.
As good as they’ve been solo when they’ve had to be…and Jey was very good last year…it’s a great sight to see.
Jobber of the Night:
Tough call on this one.
I kind of want to put Kevin Owens here, if only because he loses a match in under two minutes, and in doing so he absolutely put over the General.
Talk about selling the snot out of that Nigerian Nail…
Upset of the Night:
Nothing to complain about…
Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:
Could say it relative to how Jimmy and Jey looked so good. Yes, brothers, but timing is timing, and plenty of Superstars will say…you need ring time to keep timing sharp.
And, at least pertaining to live shows…it’s been a long time since Jimmy and Jey teamed up…and it was like they never spent time apart.
Botch of the night:
Sorry…but Dom was sloppy, or Dom and Dolph and Robert were.
Worst one for me was the Famouser…but there were a number of rough spots and sequences.
I also didn’t like how we had just used the tag member down scenario when the Mysterios won…seems way too quick to use the same idea, just different tag team member.
Some of that was redeemed by the closing shot of The Usos and Mysterios pumping up next week’s championship bout.
LOL Moment of the night:
Boogs was back. So that’s a little laugh at least.
Noteworthy Moment:
The big ones would be the return of the tag team of Jimmy and Jey…and keeping that drama going.
Plus, the cousins earned themselves a tag title match next week.
Overall lowlights:
The couple short matches were a slight bummer. KO can do more, so as long as it does not become a trend, no worries.
I want to see King Corbin and Shinsuke Nakamura progress into something really good.
Like, a best of seven for the crown. Or a larger revival of King of the Ring.
Right now that one feels kind of stuck in neutral.
Overall highlights:
If you missed it…the opening bout.
How could you have missed it though…
Plus, on top of the great opening match, we still have plenty of teased drama which should eventually lead to something bigger.
After the final bell:
All in all, a solid,if not spectacular, SmackDown In A Nutshell.
We’d never get it, but two hours of just that opener would have been fine.
We still have plenty of work to be done between now and Hell In A Cell…but for now, the blue brand blasts into summer with at least one exceptional match.
Solid show, solid night…enjoy the long weekend, for those of you who are in that part of the world!