5 Things We Learned on SmackDown Live
Last night's SmackDown Live delivered on many promises. The New Day finally appeared. Shane [...]
1. Randy Orton's Grandpa Would Be R-P.O.'d
Randy Orton spoke to his personal legacy as champion, as well as his family's, noting that his father was in the main event of the very first WrestleMania. But then he took things a step further, saying that his grandfather (Bob Orton Sr.) would have "smacked the hell out of him" for losing the WWE Championship to "a guy like Jinder Mahal." He went on about "Respect" and "The American Way," vowing to deliver Jinder "an American Orton-family Ass-Kicking" and to become a 14-time World Champion at Money In The Bank.
Jinder then appeared on the titantron, responding with the equally cringe-worthy talk of "ignorant Americans" too focused on the greatness of a "bygone era, while their country is in decay," calling Orton and his family "symbols of the past," and The Modern Maharaja himself the present and future as WWE Champion.
The crowd was alternately booing Jinder and chanting USA, as The Singh Brothers clapped in the background in such a synchronized manner, I thought they might start singing Happy Birthday.
prevnext2. Sami Zayn Calls the Shots
From the show's start, Kevin Owens' "Highlight Reel" quickly turned to argument between the host and a crashing Baron Corbin over who knows more about beating up Sami Zayn, leaving KO's actual guest Shinsuke Nakamura a little left out. That is until Sami himself entered the fray, with the gumption-- and apparently the authority?-- to set a tag match between the four right then and there.
This isn't the first time we've seen this side of Sami, although he's more often dismissed as an over-eager nerd. But could a day come where we see The Underdog from the Underground in a position as a GM, or taking a role in WWE Creative?
prevnext3. The Welcoming Committee? More like TLC
Tensions are rising with the SmackDown Live Women's division now officially headed for a historic Money in the Bank ladder match. In last night's match, we saw the fighting break out before the bell could be rung, and it wasn't long before the action spilled out of the ring.
The Welcoming Committee may want to take out some extra property insurance, as Tamina was eyeing the announce table early on. Though her and Natalya's attempts to put Charlotte through it were foiled by a moonsault, it was Charlotte who ultimately slammed Nattie through the table, halting the match. Expect even more brutality as the entire group enter a house of ladders in pursuit of the Money in the Bank briefcase and Naomi's title.
prevnext4. James Ellsworth Has Completed the Transition to Heel Manager
"You dirty, southern, undeserving, country-fried giblets."
- James Ellsworth to the crowd at the Phillips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
Ellsworth set off some classic heel heat as he escorted Carmella to the ring tonight. And you thought he couldn't out-do the recent addition of obnoxious "DUH!"s to punctuate every taunt!
James Ellsworth gets closer to Andy Kaufman territory every week, and no matter how much fans hate him, you know you'd love to see any of his women's division counterparts squash him like a bug.
prevnext5. Breezango Use Every Part of the Gag
It's hard to top Breezango's backstage Fashion Files segments. Especially this week's, which portrayed the pair as film noir detective and femme fatale in black-and-white. Both in that sketch and even moreso in their match later that night against The Colons, Tyler Breeze doubled down on his "Master of Disguise" gimmick-- well, two disguises (elderly janitor, and a dress/wig combo)
It speaks to the pair's talents that they somehow continue to make this simple novelty work as well as they do. But also that it doesn't completely overshadow their skills in the ring, where with they pulled off a win against their formidable opponents-- albeit with the aide of a few props such as the janitor's mop and squirtguns.
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