WWE Smackdown Live November 8th, 2016: Analysing and grading each segment
Much like its counterpart Raw, this week’s SmackDown Live was completely focused on Survivor Series, which airs November 20th. Dissension between the male and female Survivor Series team of SmackDown Live was centre stage, occupying the majority of the segments on the show, as rivals attempt to set aside their differences.
Becky Lynch and Alexa Bliss clashed in their much-anticipated Smackdown Women’s Championship bout, while the other women of SmackDown Live looked ahead to their upcoming bout against Raw’s women. Baron Corbin was injured at the hands of Kalisto, leaving the need for a replacement in the Survivor Series male team.
These segments and more, were the main focus of the show, with Survivor Series just around the corner. Did SmackDown Live provide Glasgow, Scotland with a strong show? Let’s find out, as I analyse and grade each Segment from the November 8th edition of Smackdown Live.
The Male Team Opens the Show:
Grade: 7/10
Similar to Raw, this opening segment was only used to set up the main event of the show, rather than actually develop tension between the brand’s superstars. Rather than Shane McMahon talking the most, it should’ve been the male superstars calling out their Raw opponents, thereby hyping up fans for potential clashes.
Bray Wyatt could’ve mentioned Braun Strowman opposing him for the first time. AJ Styles could’ve called out Seth Rollins, a dream match in many fan’s eyes. The announcement that James Ellsworth will be a mascot at Survivor Series was a fun addition to the segment, but it was one of the only highlights.
Overall, this was a generic opening promo that did little to generate excitement for the PPV and instead focused on establishing the six-man tag match for later in the night.