WWE SmackDown – August 14, 2020 (Review)

WWE SmackDown – August 14, 2020 (Review)

After seemingly getting on track a few weeks ago, SmackDown recorded a real stinker last Friday. Coinciding (perhaps coincidentally) with that fall from grace was the sudden, unexpected rise of WWE’s latest faction, RETRIBUTION.

The new group, billed as being a reckless bunch of renegades, has been far from the advertised product since their introduction two weeks ago. Rather than the chaotic, disruptive presence the hoodlums were meant to be, they’ve instead become no more than a mild annoyance. Sure, they’ll tear up a ring – but they won’t dare damage the expensive LED posts. They might smash a window – but they wouldn’t dream of breaking a second.

Perhaps this level of mediocre tomfoolery has nothing to do with SmackDown’s drop-off last week. Or perhaps it’s merely a symptom of the larger goofy atmosphere the blue brand has come to embrace of late. A cursory glance at the show’s rundown provides a glimpse of that occasionally overt silliness.

On the show this week, Braun Strowman and Bray Wyatt were set to come face-to-face for the first time since Bray drowned the ‘Monster Among Men’ in their family swamp. Need I say more, or do you appreciate the inane nonsense this show has thrown together?

Elsewhere, Alexa Bliss was due to sit down for an interview (hopefully not with Michael Cole). Although ‘The Goddess’ is an undeniably charismatic presence, she too has fallen victim to the ridiculous Bray / Braun dynamic. One week she’s cosplaying as Wyatt’s deceased (and possibly mythical) sister, the next she’s seducing The Fiend. Really?

Hopefully SmackDown will learn that it is far more successful when it concentrates on the wrestling. And when that wrestling involves Big E taking on John Morrison, and a Triple Brand Battle Royal to decide Bayley’s next title challenger, then there’s every reason to be excited.

Which path will this week’s show take? With a mild degree trepidation, let’s get to the review.


The Best of SmackDown

Hair vs. Hair

A year ago I never thought Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville would be the best part of SmackDown. But here were are. Just Mandy, Sonya… and the remnants of Mandy’s hair.

Because this feud has grown to encompass personal and professional jealousy, alleged superficiality and exploitation. This week, Mandy delivered an excellent promo setting the record straight on how she came to WWE. It wasn’t her looks that got her in the company, it was her work ethic and hunger to better herself.

But, she claimed, Sonya sought the adoration more than she would ever let on. The selfies, the social media, the TV appearances. That stuff meant more to Sonya than Mandy.

So at SummerSlam she challenged Sonya to a hair vs. hair match to determine who really needed their looks. Deville accepted later in the show. Could this be the most interesting bout on the card?

AJ Conducts a Statistical Analysis

AJ Styles (accompanied by Joseph Park for some reason) delivered a lengthy promo about who should challenge for the Intercontinental Title. His statistical analysis led him to the conclusion that nobody was deserving of that opportunity.

Out came Jeff Hardy. AJ blew some smoke up his butt, before brushing off Hardy’s challenge. He said that Jeff wasn’t deserving and he had somewhat of a point.

Regardless, the ‘Charismatic Enigma’ punched him in the face and wrote his name on Styles’ whiteboard… in permanent marker. This was a decent segment between two established stars, presumably leading to a good match next week.


The Worst of SmackDown

WWE Under Siege

Private security was deployed in an effort to keep RETRIBUTION out of the Performance Center. We were told there were guards placed at every entrance and that the arena was essentially a fortress.

That lasted all of three minutes.

Somehow RETRIBUTION not only bypassed security, but they made it all the way to the ring during the opening segment. And they’ve apparently multiplied. I have no idea what kind of benefits they’re offering, but it really seems to have driven up recruitment. Seth Rollins and Bray Wyatt should take notes.

Once they reached the ring, a few members of the gang chased off the commentators, while others attacked Big E and John Morrison before their match even started. So not only were we robbed of seeing one of the few matches I actually cared about, but it came at the cost of more RETRIBUTION shenanigans. Plus Big E really needed a convincing win to jumpstart his singles run.

Backstage the SmackDown locker room were divided on who would lead their counterattack against this invading force. Baron Corbin nominated himself and Sheamus had a few things to say. But the locker room seemed to rally around Big E. Or maybe they didn’t, there was just a bunch of unintelligible grumbling.

This sucked.

Triple Brand Battle Royal

After the initial RETRIBUTION invasion (my caps lock is really getting worn out from typing that), the hired security was moved from the doors to ringside. Why bother? These guys are clearly useless – about 50 people just snuck right past them!

Bayley and Sasha Banks took to the ring to introduce the competitors for the Triple Brand Battle Royal, the winner of which will face Bayley for the SmackDown Women’s Title. Despite being a highlight in recent weeks though, Banks and Bayley were entirely superfluous here. They had nothing to say and somehow took freaking ages to say it.

They introduced The IIconics, Tegan Nox and Shotzi Blackheart, selfishly directing all the attention to themselves. This is why no new stars get over, even during their main roster debut they’re treated like nobodies. Eventually the pair got a bit nervous when revealing the fifth name. It was Asuka. I guess we already know who’s winning then.

There were a whole bunch of other women who uneventfully joined the fray during the commercial break. People were routinely thrown over the top rope without much fanfare, until just Dana Brooke, Shayna Baszler and Asuka remained. Dana had been hiding on the outside all match and was quickly eliminated.

Asuka and Baszler had a fun final exchange, which included Asuka using Banks and Bayley as a platform to save her from elimination. The former Raw Women’s Champion lifted herself back onto the apron and dragged Baszler over the top rope to the floor.

So, after earning a shot against Banks at SummerSlam, Asuka will also face Bayley at the PPV for the SmackDown gold. I know their matches have been drawing a lot of praise but this is simply too much of a good thing. The Triple Brand Battle Royal was an opportunity to elevate someone into the main event fold… instead WWE just consolidated power in the top three figures.

Alexa Bliss Wants a Word With the Monster

Nikki Cross was impatiently pacing backstage, when she suddenly noticed Alexa Bliss standing ever so slightly off-screen. I hate when WWE does that.

Cross was deeply apologetic for abandoning her friend two weeks ago, but Alexa shrugged her off. Bliss said that she wanted to speak to Braun Strowman.

Before that happened, we saw a pre-recorded interview with Bliss. She recounted her experiences as part of Team Little Big and getting to know “the man behind the monster.” When pressed, she admitted that there was a possibility that her relationship with Braun may have turned romantic. OH COME ON! Nobody’s buying that.

She then turned to The Fiend, saying that he was captivating – like a moth drawn to a flame. But when the faceless interviewer asked her how it felt when Braun didn’t save her from Wyatt and even claimed he didn’t care about her, Alexa got emotional and looked away.

This was utter, undiluted sewerage of a segment. WWE has somehow seen fit to resurrect a two-year-old storyline from Mixed Match Challenge – a show cancelled because no-one was watching it. Added to the fact, we’ve somehow delved into the laziest of soap opera tropes: the love triangle. Except this one involves an emotionless psychopath and an unrefined neanderthal who were already feuding about their shared history. Why add Alexa Bliss to the mix?

Sheamus Steamrolls the Mid-card

After clashing with Shorty G last week, Sheamus was set for a match with the former Olympic wrestler. Before that happened though, Sheamus made a point of dismissing the security ostensibly keeping RETRIBUTION at bay. Greeeeat, that means they’re definitely coming back.

As competent as this match was as an athletic endeavour, it just held no dramatic heft. Sheamus is still the douchebag heel who spent weeks jabbing Jeff Hardy about his battles with sobriety. And Shorty G just turned heel two weeks ago by attacked Matt Riddle.

So how would I possibly cheer for either of these two horrible people? For once a screwy finish would’ve been welcome.

But of course Sheamus booted Shorty G in the head and then pinned him. Because the Irishman must forever steamroll the mid-card and Gable must always take the ‘L’.

Stealing a Title Shot 

Cesaro and Nakamura were hanging out making fun of Lucha House Party, when the latter pair snuck through the back of frame like cat burglars. Dorado and Gran Metalik stole the SmackDown Tag Championships off a shelf and were then chased by Cesaro and Nakamura.

Why was this happening? Have the hispanic stars resorted to theft because they don’t feel they can beat Cesaro and Nakamura in regular competition? Oh God, this isn’t going to turn into another Street Profits / Viking Raiders situation, is it?

Turns out this silly angle led into a match between Gran Metalik and Nakamura. A returning Kalisto – looking shredded like the flavourless cereal – took out Cesaro and distracted Nakamura. Gran Metalik capitalised for the win, seemingly setting up a future title shot.

But none of this worked for me. The attempted theft was ludicrous and unfunny, Kalisto’s return was unremarkable and the match was mediocre.

Gable Turns Heel, Then Face, Then… Heel again?

Matt Riddle was responding to a question about what it was like having a bounty on his head, when Gable interrupted. He wanted to apologise for attacking Riddle two weeks ago. He needed the money put up by King Corbin to feed his family. Is the WWE payment structure really that terrible? (Don’t answer that.)

Riddle accepted his apology, capping the shortest and least interesting heel run in company history. But Corbin jumped Riddle from behind and thanked a very confused-looking Gable for the distraction. I have no idea whether Gable is still in cahoots with Corbin or not – but that doesn’t make any of this intriguing.

The Match Destined to Fail

It turned out that Big E and Morrison did eventually give their match another crack. This after their first effort was cut short by RETRIBUTION interference.

But somehow this effort contained even more extraneous theatrics than the first. The Miz was on commentary talking about everything other than events in the ring, lights regularly flickered on and off, and Otis stormed to ringside to confront Miz.

 

When we came back from break, there was more nonsense with the lights and the entire SmackDown locker room was surrounding the ring. This left the backstage area “undefended”.

RETRIBUTION goofs flooded the area, beating up a few officials, tipping over a table, tossing chairs and spray painting a wall. Eventually an official made it to the ring to alert the wrestlers to events backstage and they all sprinted off. By the time they got backstage though, the hooded vigilantes were gone. Everyone involved in this goose chase looked entirely incompetent.

Back in the ring, Big E submitted Morrison to end a match that everyone had forgotten existed. He exited the ring, only to be Brogue Kicked by Sheamus for no reason. Then a bald Braun Strowman appeared on the ramp and everyone just vanished.

I despised every second of this. And that’s an understatement.

The Return of Braun Strowman

Braun made the customary threats directed at The Fiend ahead of their SummerSlam clash. It was all about ripping limb from limb, consuming entrails… the usual melodramatic babble Braun has employed in recent weeks.

This brought out Alexa Bliss, who was looking to talk some sense into Braun. She claimed they had been friends for years and she knew he cared about her. Strowman accused her of having spent all of that time trying to manipulate him, turning him into something he isn’t. He was a monster, not some cheery lad who sings in cars. He didn’t care about Bliss and told her to leave.

For a second I thought this was a subtle way of demonstrating the hypothesis that everyone who comes into contact with The Fiend changes in some fundamental way. Except then Braun outright said those exact words, suddenly making it not so subtle.

Alexa attempted to slap some sense into Braun. He effortlessly lifted her above his head and threatened to drop her. As Strowman hurled Alexa to the mat, The Fiend appeared like a White Knight.

But Strowman had disappeared in the momentary darkness, leaving behind only an injured Bliss. Braun then appeared on the big screen and laughed maniacally, which drew cackles from The Fiend. This went on just long enough for me to question how my life led me to this point.

I don’t care that Braun is apparently a heel now. Nor do I care that The Fiend has become the great protector of Bliss, two weeks after he almost choked the life out of her. I don’t even understand why she’s interjected herself in this feud. What a mess.


Overall Rating for the Show (From best to worst: Smacknificent, SmackTastic, Smack Bang in the Middle, SmackDowner and A Smack in the Face)

It’s fair to say that SmackDown has embraced some of the philosophies of its Monday night counterpart. No longer is it the so-called “wrestling show”, instead embracing a lot of the theatrics and melodrama contaminating Raw. And it hasn’t benefitted from the change.

With a ridiculous love triangle brewing, pantomime backstage skits and characters changing moral allegiances more often that WWE changes filming locations. The end result is that it’s bad at the moment. Like really bad.

There were some positives, with Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville standing out as particular bright spots. But not even the normally reliable Big E can escape SmackDown’s goofiness, as he was drawn into the bottomless pit of despair known as RETRIBUTION. This show, much like that group, was A Smack in the Face this week.

Share all your SmackDown related thoughts with us on Twitter and check out WrestleTalk.com to stay up-to-date with all the latest wrestling news.

4 years ago by Nicholas Holicki

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