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SmackDown In A Nutshell: Path To Backlash…Through New York

backlash through new york
source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot

It’s time we end another week with SmackDown In A Nutshell, and this week the path to Backlash runs through New York.

No, not the city…but rather Albany. What some in New York call upstate, but it’s really the Capitol Region…and I suppose mid-state.

Have to show some love for my brief time there, so I am running with that.

Also, I know I was AWOL and missed a couple Nutshells-this is the first in what feels like forever on a Friday.

It’s good to be back, and just in time as we are on the path to WrestleMania Backlash…and as noted, this week it does run through upstate New York.

We do know a few key matches. There will be an attempt to unify the SmackDown and RAW tag titles.

Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey will go at it again, this time in an “I quit” match.

Roman Reigns? He’s supposed to do something…but thus far, we don’t know what.

It’s possible that tonight, as the blue brand runs through New York, we get that clarity.

Or maybe not. Either way, we should know something in a couple hours.

So…let’s dive in, shall we? Time for…

SmackDown In A Nutshell: Path To Backlash…Through New York

Let’s crack open this Nutshell and have some fun!

backlash through new york

Best Match of the night:

Riddle and Jey Uso.

I think this underscored how good each of these two can be as a solo act, even if both are killing it as one half of a strong tag team.

Spending time with Orton, and getting upper mid card type action (if not higher) should hopefully help get Riddle where WWE may want him to be as a top tier guy.

Maybe.

Either way, this was the best of the night, and I don’t think it was particularly close.

Worst match of the night:

Not a match, but the set up for a future women’s tag title match between Naomi&Sasha, against Natalya&Shayna Baszler? Painful.

Would it kill them (WWE) to have teams get names more regularly? Because…name1 + name2 for basically every women’s tag team on the main roster…sucks.

What is actually even more disappointing is…it seems like there’s not much improvement on this in NXT. Like, before, you knew there was no women’s tag belt to chase.

Now you do…and you’ve got a women’s Dusty Cup…but it’s still largely thrown together teams.

Also, the most recent winners didn’t even use their win for a tag title shot. Nope, they used it for a shot at the NXT Women’s Championship.

Like…the belts are not quite so meaningless as say, the 24/7 title…but they deserve better.

Star of the Night

Going to go with…

Riddle and Jey Uso.

Spot of the Night:

I have nothing…

Jobber of the Night:

Man, how is this anyone else except “intern” Drew Gulak.

Poor guy got beat up by Charlotte last week. This week, Ronda Rousey took a turn.

Or, Teddy Goodz. Take your pick.

backlash through new york

Upset of the Night:

Nothing

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

More like…mild shock…because if you did not see this coming, you probably have not been watching.

That said…Corbin finally turned on Mad Cap Moss.

Hopefully now, Moss ditches his goofy ring attire and steps up.

Noteworthy Moment:

Maybe it’s me, but I don’t feel like a whole lot of anything noteworthy popped up tonight.

Though, we do get the beat the clock stuff back next week…that could be good?

backlash through new york

Overall lowlights:

I already said my piece about the women’s tag team scene, so that’s that.

No clear and obvious next challenger for Roman, and Backlash is getting closer.

Based on things tonight, I feel like it will be Drew McIntyre. Zayn and Drew battled tonight and will do again next week.

Sami was cozying up with Reigns pre-match tonight…

If I was a betting man, Zayn cuts a deal to get some help next week. Nothing wrong with Drew getting a shot…more here because it’s a couple weeks away and no Reigns match announced yet.

Overall highlights:

RK-Bro and The Usos are gold. Might be an unpopular opinion, but I truly hope we don’t see the tag belts get unified.

It’s the perfect match for a DQ or something. Keep the feud going

Zayn and Reigns could be an interesting thing to watch. Also, just throwing this out there, but Zayn and Reigns could go well…and then if and when things go south…do we get a Zayn face turn?

After the final bell:

Was an OK show, but nothing great.

I am looking forward to see how the Drew Gulak experiment goes. Could be fun.

Orton is doing some of his best work, and the two tag team championship teams? Really good stuff.

So, the road to Backlash ran through New York tonight, and it was decent.

Here’s hoping things get dialed up when we get that steel cage next week!

Because it will be another week closer to Backlash, out of New York and just heating up even more…we hope.

Introduced to professional wrestling in the 1980’s thanks to Superstars and Saturday Night’s Main Event, John’s passion for the... More about John Deegan

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