--- title: "WrestleTalk Roundtable – WWE SmackDown Live – October 2, 2018" canonical: "https://wrestletalk.com/features/wrestletalk-roundtable-wwe-smackdown-live-october-2-2018/" type: "post" language: "en-US" author: "Nicholas Holicki" section: "Features" published: "2018-10-02T21:00:00Z" modified: "2018-10-02T21:00:00Z" --- # WrestleTalk Roundtable – WWE SmackDown Live – October 2, 2018 [**WWE** Studios](https://www.wwe.com/inside/overtheropes/wwestudios) have produced some real bangers over the years. The Marine. The Condemned. The Chaperone. Ahhmm… four more Marines? Other movies featuring the word “the”, followed by a description of the main character. But all of those pale in comparison to the multiple fake award nominated short film, One Night in Milwaukee. (Not to be confused with the similarly titled home film starring Paris Hilton… although Aiden’s video threatened to follow a similar plot line had it gone any longer.) But I digress. ![](https://migration-stage.wrestletalk.com/app/uploads/2018/10/milwaukee.jpg) [Nobody was more excited about this angle](https://migration-stage.wrestletalk.com/features/wrestletalk-roundtable-wwe-smackdown-live-september-25-2018/) than I was coming out of last week. What sordid detail was Aiden holding over Lana’s head? What scandalous secret was he threatening to reveal? A double cross? Was Lana plotting against Rusev? Could she have masterminded Aiden’s betrayal of the ‘Bulgarian Brute’? Or perhaps a confession that she wanted to pursue her own title aspirations? Nope, it was just a hastily edited video that made Lana look like an adulteress. **WWE** has been [all about nostalgia](https://migration-stage.wrestletalk.com/news/undertaker-kane-reunite-wwe-raw/) in recent weeks and this felt like a storyline ripped straight from darkest parts of the Attitude Era. It was the laziest of revelations: not only lacking in imagination, but also truly regressive in its portrayal of Lana. I get it, she’s easy – just like the [Rock warned us back in 2016](https://migration-stage.wrestletalk.com/news/lana-denies-rock-sex-tape-rumours/). Or when Lita’s affair with Edge was turned into a TV segment. Or Trish Stratus became Mr McMahon’s mistress for a few months. How’s that women’s evolution thing going, **WWE**? > It’s a PG show, everyone… > > Besides, to paraphrase the great Rod Blagojevich – I’ve got this thing…and it’s freakin’ golden.[#OneNightInMilwaukee](https://twitter.com/hashtag/OneNightInMilwaukee?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — Matthew Rehwoldt (@DramaKingMatt) [October 3, 2018](https://twitter.com/DramaKingMatt/status/1047302236898902016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) That said, it’s clear that there’s more to this story. The clip abruptly (and purposefully) ended right after Lana uttered “I want you”, leaving crucial context open-ended. [Aiden promised to reveal more next week](https://migration-stage.wrestletalk.com/news/so-what-happened-in-milwaukee/), so hope is not lost. This angle can still be salvaged, and I really hope it is – and not in a ‘Lana’s just sleeping with someone else’ way. But what else happened during last night’s episode of **SmackDown Live**? Join the **WrestleTalk** Roundtable as we cover the best and worst that the show had to offer. Then, all things considered, we share our overall rating for the episode. Spoiler alert: Becky Lynch should be the face of **WWE**. On to the good! ## **What was your favourite SmackDown segment?** #### **Brian Farrell** Shelton Benjamin vs Daniel Bryan. This was a good match that helped further establish the idea that the Miz will do whatever it takes to win, whereas Daniel is just “the better wrassler”. It’s nice seeing Shelton get a win, even if it was via shenanigans. A good match with a good story, add in Miz’s usual greatness on commentary, and this part of the show was my favorite! [Daniel Bryan vs. Shelton Benjamin: SmackDown LIVE, Oct. 2, 2018 (embedded)](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/7OzzfDrEVZU?feature=oembed) #### **Dylan Kapisky** One Night in Milwaukee. Was this the ultimate payoff to last week’s bombshell? No. Does that mean it wasn’t brilliant in its own right? Absolutely not! The best part of this segment is that there’s obviously more to it. Hell, Aiden admitted there was. However, despite him claiming he wouldn’t show it for “legal reasons”, it’s most likely because what followed in the video contradicts the story Aiden is spilling. All Lana said in the clip was “I want you.” There was no context, and no follow through beyond that. She probably had a request for him, like “I want you to get Rusev the first five seasons of **Total Divas** on Blu-Ray for next Rusev Day”*.* But that doesn’t matter. By only showing up to that point, English continues to sew seeds of doubt in the relationship between Lana and Rusev. This wasn’t great for what it showed, it was amazing for what it didn’t. ![](https://migration-stage.wrestletalk.com/app/uploads/2018/10/Rusev-and-Lana.jpg) #### **Nate Craver** I wasn’t really expecting there to be follow-up to Randy Orton and Tye Dillinger. I assumed Dillinger would be a one-off attack and would be off TV for a couple of weeks nursing his injuries. However, I was wrong. He showed back up tonight and challenged Orton. Early on in the match, he even got the upper hand, dropping Orton onto the announce table. Orton would get back in charge pretty quickly. He then went on the attack. Orton targeted Dillinger’s finger in the turnbuckle.  Here we had another grotesque attack by Orton. Clearly, he didn’t really mangle his finger, but the thought of Orton breaking Dillinger’s finger off was definitely cringeworthy. I guess Dillinger will be a perfect 9 from now on. Dillinger showed a bit of intensity his character hasn’t shown before. Hopefully, this is a sign of **WWE** giving the guy a chance and not just setting him up to be fed to Evolution – the faction not the pay-per-view. > WHAT is [@RandyOrton](https://twitter.com/RandyOrton?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) doing to [@WWEDillinger](https://twitter.com/WWEDillinger?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)? [#SDLive](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SDLive?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/GqcTKBI1Z1](https://t.co/GqcTKBI1Z1) > > — WWE (@WWE) [October 3, 2018](https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1047287811232083968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) #### **Nicholas Holicki** It has to be Becky Lynch, right? In extremely limited time, she not only hyped up her match-up against Charlotte at **Super Show-Down**, but also built up the **SmackDown** women’s division, unveiled her personal poster for this Saturday’s pay-per-view event and padded her own ego. What more could you ask for? There were no pancakes, no bad dance moves, no best friends. Just plain badassery (badassness?) – I’m sticking with badassery. Becky’s great, she deserves to hold onto the title for a long time and I’m really looking forward to her defence this weekend. ## **What was the worst part of last night’s show?** #### **Brian Farrell** Asuka vs Peyton Royce. This was not a great match. A rather sloppy affair that perfectly encapsulates the recent booking of Asuka. Asuka got the win by locking in… something. Not interested in this storyline, don’t care about the characters, frustrated with the fact that THERE IS NO POINT IN TAG TEAMS WHEN THERE ARE NO WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS. #### **Dylan Kapisky** How do you take the heat out of a major, deeply personal, world title feud? By turning the champ into a chump. AJ Styles shouldn’t be crying on camera. His character is a man who turns his exaggerated emotions into fits of rage. He’s not a man who sits on a sofa near tears because a man rung his doorbell. The current reign of the ‘Phenomenal One’, while long, has been largely forgettable due to lackluster feuds and screwy finishes. It looked as though **Super Show-Down** would buck this trend, but unfortunately, the go-home angle let the whole thing down. [Paige opens SmackDown ready to fire Samoa Joe: SmackDown LIVE, Oct. 2, 2018 (embedded)](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/NdRtun_Rfww?feature=oembed) #### **Nate Craver** It wasn’t **WWE**’s use of Asuka tonight. Whoohoo!!! I have to go with the New Day / Bar segment. AJ’s acting in his promo was a close second, but at the very least it advanced an angle and gave a reason to watch the match. New Day’s pancakes have gotten a little stale. The Bar lost the number one contender’s tournament, then were gifted a title shot. No reason, just because. They could have at least attacked the New Day and caused a rift of some kind. Now, on the **Super Show-Down** go-home show, we are supposed to be more invested in this rivalry because the Bar interrupted a cooking show and poured pancake batter on Mr. Bootyworth? Sorry, Big E, I’m daring to be sour on this one. > "This pilot is going straight to [@GuyFieri](https://twitter.com/GuyFieri?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw), and you guys are RUINING IT!" – @XavierWoodsPhD to [@WWECesaro](https://twitter.com/WWECesaro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) & [@WWESheamus](https://twitter.com/WWESheamus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#SDLive](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SDLive?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/KgzCsQ1Jxe](https://t.co/KgzCsQ1Jxe) > > — WWE (@WWE) [October 3, 2018](https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1047284608557961216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) #### **Nicholas Holicki** Everything involving the Bar and the New Day. This segment started off bad, and sadly only went downhill from there. Admittedly, the New Day is a delicate act to get right. Their entertainment value stems from their juvenile, clownish antics. It’s a constant balancing act. Unfortunately this week they strayed too far into the silliness. The New Day came out to shoot a pilot for a cooking show, where all they do is cook pancakes. They were interrupted by the Bar, who first reminded everyone that Cesaro is Swiss and informed us that his nickname back home is “Chef”. Then they proceeded to criticise the New Day’s baking, before tipping over a table sending pancakes flying. And the teams fought. If this all sounds ridiculous, it’s because it was. And none of it made me any more excited for their encounter at **Super Show-Down**. ## **How would you rate SmackDown overall? (From best to worst: SmackDamn, SmackTastic, Smack Bang in the Middle, Ellsworthy and A Smack in the Face)** #### **Brian Farrell** **Smack Bang in the Middle**. This was all fine. New Day and the Bar was good, Becky and Charlotte was good, I enjoyed AJ’s promo, have mixed feelings about the Rusev Day storyline, and the Carmella/ R Truth stuff was okay. I really am optimistic about Dillinger being reborn by Orton… allegedly. Nothing stood out to me though. An average show that didn’t hurt anything, but not great for a go-home show. #### **Dylan Kapisky** **Smack Bang in the Middle**. This episode was a bit disappointing considering the roll **SmackDown** has been on lately. There were good bits, like Tye Dillinger and Randy Orton having a brawl, Becky Lynch’s show closing promo, and The Miz handing Shelton Benjamin a win against rival Daniel Bryan. However, there were also a few low points. AJ’s home promo was horrendous, the mixed tag had a questionable outcome, and Samoa Joe didn’t even appear. Finally, a scrape in the armor of **WWE**‘s new A-show. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bob8h8bj\_sD/?utm\_source=ig\_web\_button\_share\_sheet #### **Nate Craver** I’m giving this a **Smack Bang in the Middle**. Was this a go-home show? Is **Super Show-Down** a pay-per-view or mega house show.  The matches tell us it’s a big show with big stakes. No DQ world title match. Women’s title match. Tag team title match. Number one Contender’s match and a blood feud. **Raw** also busts out with an Attitude Era reunion. **SmackDown** was good tonight, but it just didn’t feel quite like the go-home show.  We had a decent match between Bryan and Benjamin. Asuka and Royce didn’t suck. Becky cut a great promo. It feels like there should be one more week to bring home the show-down. Still, not bad. **SmackDown** is doing something **Raw** isn’t really accomplishing: they are making irrelevant guys more relevant in a believable way. However, how do you not have a US Title program for Nakamura or even one on the horizon? It will be interesting to see where **SmackDown** goes after the visit to Australia this weekend. https://twitter.com/BeckyLynchWWE/status/1047312648952373248 #### **Nicholas Holicki** This didn’t just end **SmackDown**‘s run of consecutive good shows, it shattered the glass floor in my opinion. AJ’s acting dial is permanently set to melodrama, none of the matches were particularly good and the Bryan / Miz feud is really just spinning its wheels at this point. In fact, apart from the Becky Lynch segment, I really struggled to find an enjoyable moment in this dud of a show. And it was a go-home episode! For that reason, last night’s **SmackDown Live** was… and I can’t believe I’m saying this… a low **Ellsworthy**. #### How would you rate last night’s SmackDown Live? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below, on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/WrestleTalk_TV) or through our [Discord](https://migration-stage.wrestletalk.com/discord) server.