WrestleTalk Roundtable – The King Is Dead, Long Live The King! SmackDown Live – August 28, 2018

What Was The Best SmackDown Moment?

Sean Patrick Eckmann

Daniel Bryan vs. Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas. Bryan and Almas have so much chemistry together, it’s surprising to think that tonight was their first time in the ring together. I really enjoyed the way they sized each other up in the beginning, and Daniel Bryan’s hilariously blunt response to Andrade’s Tranquilo pose – with a kick sending Almas through the ropes. When Miz and Maryse (expectedly) interfered, making Daniel and Brie watch each other on the receiving end of their finishers, it was dastardly heelish in all the right ways.

Brian Farrell

Carmella vs. Charlotte Flair. I know most people are saying Bryan vs. Almas was the show’s high point, but I felt this got me back into the SmackDown Live women’s division. It was also the correct way to handle Becky. The main event slot made the title match feel important, and it wasn’t a half bad match. But the attack and promo by Becky after really got me excited for this feud. Becky got herself over as a badass who will do anything to get ‘her’ title. The women’s division needs more of these types of characters.

Ashley D’Altilio

The segment between Daniel Bryan, Brie Bella, Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas and Zelina Vega (as well as the resulting match). Regardless of everyone speaking in slow motion, I actually enjoyed this promo and match. It showed me more of who Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas and Zelina Vega are, and the bit with Paige running out from backstage was a light-hearted, funny moment. The match between Almas and Bryan showed off their styles and stayed exciting. The Miz made a great distraction and them beating on Bryan really boosted Almas as a heel. There were some hiccups on the technical side of the match, but overall it made for a great segment.

Nicholas Holicki

Something inexplicable happens in the twenty-four-hour window between Raw and SmackDown Live each week. It’s almost as if my brain resets itself and I completely forget about all of the announcements that had been made the night before. So that’s why, when Brie Bella once again popped up on my screen unexpectedly, I swore so loudly that my neighbors heard. But that (obviously) isn’t my highlight. What I enjoyed most was the post-match beatdown that Miz and Maryse delivered to Daniel Bryan and Brie. It was brutal, merciless and effective. Making Bryan watch while Maryse assaulted his wife may be the point that this feud changes from being about reality TV ratings to becoming an actual blood feud.

• Naomi
• Smackdown Live Women's Championship
• review
• worst
• The Bar
• billie kay
• the colons
• The Bellas
• paige
• Maryse
• Carmella
• best
• AJ Styles
• andrade cien almas
• Booker T
• beat down
• gallows and anderson
• Hardy brothers
• wrestletalk features
• rating
• interference
• brie bella
• SmackDown Live
• King Booker
• charlotte
• The Miz
• nxt call ups
• smackdown live women's division
• tag team triple threat
• the new day
• Samoa Joe
• the iiconics
• Becky Lynch
• peyton royce
• Daniel Bryan
• Zelina Vega
• wwe

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