4 things WWE got right on SmackDown - Hometown hero getting the spotlight, fascinating story developments, and more
WWE Friday Night SmackDown aired last night on the FOX Network and it was another excellent episode. This time, the blue brand aired live from Berlin, Germany, for the first time ever.
Naturally, SmackDown was meant to hype up the next Premium Live Event, which is Bash in Berlin. That big show is set to stream later today and SmackDown certainly hyped the event up, but the blue brand's latest episode did much more than that.
SmackDown featured several great matches and multiple big segments. Some further set the stage for Bash in Berlin, but others set up things for the future or were even, potentially, the culmination of weeks and months of build-up.
There was a lot of good done on Friday Night SmackDown last night and this article will look at what were arguably the four key things Triple H got right on the show. There was a lot to enjoy, but this list narrows it down to the very best. This includes an epic in-ring segment, a major victory for a star who needed it, and more.
Below are four things WWE got right on SmackDown.
#4. Carmelo Hayes winning was the right move
WWE Friday Night SmackDown featured another epic in-ring bout between Carmelo Hayes and Andrade. The two put on a fantastic match, as has become the norm, but it was the finish that really made this a highlight.
During the bout, the turnbuckle pad came off. This later played into the finish, as Melo was able to drop El Idolo face-first onto the exposed steel before hitting Nothing But Net from the top rope. This got Melo a win on WWE SmackDown and officially made their record against each other 2-2.
This was the right move for a few reasons. For starters, Andrade was protected in defeat. Both of his two singles losses since returning have been due to controversial reasons, which keeps him strong. Additionally, Melo needs more wins after losing so often. Lastly, this should set up at least one more match for the two in the future. This was fantastic stuff.
#3. The WWE Women's Championship main event and booking was perfect
The main event of WWE Friday Night SmackDown featured Nia Jax putting her world title on the line in a Street Fight. She battled Michin in a fantastic match that saw the use of weapons such as tables, kendo sticks, and trash cans.
Towards the end of the bout, Michin put Nia Jax through a table with a Powerbomb. This led to Tiffany Stratton coming out and teasing cashing in her Money in the Bank briefcase. Once Nia saw the tease, however, they worked together to take out Michin only for Bayley to return and chase Tiffany away.
Nia still won in the end, and in brutal fashion, but this was a perfect piece of business. The match was great, Michin was elevated in her first-ever main event, plus, the women's division getting a world title main event match is always good too. On top of that, Bayley returned and the Tiffany-Nia angle was continued. This was perfectly executed.
#2. Ludwig Kaiser getting a spotlight in Germany was the right move
LA Knight kicked off WWE Friday Night SmackDown. As he promised last week, the United States Champion held an open challenge. This was accepted by Monday Night RAW's Ludwig Kaiser.
The bout was very good. Ludwig was beloved by the Berlin fans given the fact that he's German. Their support grew further and further as the WWE SmackDown bout progressed. In the end, however, LA Knight hit the BFT and put Kaiser down for the one, two, three.
Despite his loss, Ludwig being booked on this show was a great move. Many were disappointed that the company's German star wasn't booked for the Premium Live Event in Germany. While competing on SmackDown isn't quite the same, it does mostly make up for Ludwig being left off of Bash in Berlin.
#1. The Cody Rhodes-Kevin Owens storyline reached new and exciting heights
While the other three entries on this list were mostly independent of Bash in Berlin, this next entry is all about a segment dedicated to hyping up today's Premium Live Event. Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens had an amazing segment on WWE SmackDown.
Things got tense quickly between the two as Cody questioned if Owens would betray him. From there, Owens brought up an alleged knee injury that Rhodes may be suffering from. Lastly, Kevin whispered something in Cody's ear on the WWE program before storming off.
This segment added so much intrigue to their bout at Bash in Berlin. Will Kevin Owens turn heel? Is Cody Rhodes actually hurt? What did Kevin whisper to him? With so many questions, fans need to tune in to the Premium Live Event to get answers.