Predictable replacement; New team discouraged? - 4 mistakes WWE made with the #1 Contender's Gauntlet match on SmackDown
The Bloodline won a six-team tag team gauntlet on SmackDown to crown a new number one contender for the WWE Tag Team Title.
As champions DIY watched on, Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga entered last and eliminated the Street Profits to earn a title shot on next week's SmackDown.
Johnny Gargano won't get a spot on the SummerSlam card in his hometown of Cleveland. He'll have to settle for a big title defense on the go-home episode of SmackDown from Cleveland. With SummerSlam closing in, WWE made some huge mistakes with the number one contender's gauntlet match.
#4. Pretty Deadly is an afterthought once again
Kit Wilson and Elton Prince are one of the most entertaining duos in wrestling. Their booking over the last six months, however, has been disappointing.
The former NXT Tag Team Champs earned a shot at Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens after WrestleMania 39 but fell short. The duo provides comedic timing in promos and matches that few other teams can match.
Instead of spot fests and over-reliance on high-risk moves, Wilson and Prince utilize timely blind tags, misdirection, and cerebral spots. They entered fourth and were dispatched rather easily by the Street Profits.
#3. It wasn't the main event of SmackDown
Since a title shot was attached, the six-team tag team gauntlet match should have been the main event of SmackDown. Had The Bloodline won in the show's closing minutes, it would have continued the narrative that no one could stop the group after another big moment.
It's nice to mix things up each week by giving a different WWE feud or star the main event slot. However, nothing big happened when Bayley and Michin lost to Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton.
Had Stratton heavily teased a cash-in or Jax assaulted her, that would have sufficed. Instead, the heels won a normal tag team contest.
#2. WWE misses an opportunity with Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews
Apollo Crews and Baron Corbin have been with WWE for years. They both went to NXT and returned to the main roster this year.
The former champions started teaming together to combat Legado Del Fantasma. The Lone Wolf and Crews started the match but were eliminated by the Street Profits.
Since The Street Profits were the only other face duo in the field of six, giving the new duo the spot the Profits had could have helped immensely. The Profits have already won tag team gold before in WWE and are completely over with the fans.
If Corbin and Crews started and lasted until the end or had the Street Profits' spot, it would have given the new pairing some traction with the WWE Universe. They were already getting cheers after eliminating Angel and Berto.
#1. Jacob Fatu replaces Tonga Loa in the match
Since Tonga Loa had a patch covering his eye after last week's attack from Kevin Owens, he was ineligible to compete tonight. Jacob Fatu was named his replacement, keeping the Bloodline in the gauntlet match.
Fatu's inclusion telegraphed the outcome. The Samoan Werewolf wasn't going to lose unless Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes interfered. He was in Japan, so the finish was predictable.
Holding the decision off until right before the match would have been more suspenseful. Instead, the brutal heels predictably entered last to pick the bones and win.