3 interesting observations from SmackDown on FOX (October 11, 2019)
SmackDown on FOX's draft-centric episode tried to be the most eventful sports-oriented affair for the most part.
Unfortunately, those efforts came off as glossy and forced. The bits including FOX personalities and USA/FOX executives were intended to make the draft appear like a big deal, but the draft picks themselves weren't that shocking or unpredictable in the end.
On the good side of things, it looks like Bray Wyatt's sports-entertainment approach towards WWE still works effectively after a disastrous Hell in a Cell outcome last Sunday.
Here are a few interesting observations from this week's WWE SmackDown:
#3 Samoa Joe's 'clean', 'uncanny' personality during the episode might lead to a bigger plot next week
It was genuinely surprising to see a casual Samoa Joe breaking down the draft like an expert analyst.
We usually see him as a relentless wrestler with a chip on his shoulder, and the fact that he took a backseat at this week's SmackDown despite not being drafted before some underwhelming acts has raised some suspicion online.
Maybe this clean-chit attitude will lead to an outburst next week, that is, if the Samoan Submission Machine remains undrafted.
From a different perspective, Samoa Joe's casual attitude might just be a part of the Blue brand's sports-centric approach towards professional wrestling, and nothing more.
But I sincerely hope that this turns out to be an 'angle' building towards something big.
After all, being relegated to a sports panel after having been subject to multiple instances of shoddy booking is not what Samoa Joe's character would stand for. And this especially doesn't make sense when The Lucha House Party seems like a bigger priority than the Samoan Submission Machine during the draft process.
Let's hope that Samoa Joe's schtick as a casual sports expert will be a catalyst for bringing him back to the top ranks of WWE.