WWE SmackDown before Saturday Night's Main Event - Best and Worst - Problem with Roman Reigns' challenge? Former world champion moves from RAW
SmackDown's final episode before WWE's Saturday Night's Main Event solidified some matches for the show. It also set the stage for some future blockbuster showdowns.
Michin defeated Tiffany Stratton to advance to the finals of the Women's United States title tournament. Chelsea Green joined her after beating Bayley in the last match of the night.
WWE sprinkled in several good promos, including another layer in the fantastic transition of Shinsuke Nakamura's new character. However, a few hit differently than others.
What fell short and what hit the bullseye? Here's the best and worst for the final SmackDown before Saturday Night's Main Event.
#4. Best - History comes back to haunt Jimmy Uso
Jimmy Uso kicked off SmackDown by walking to the ring with a crutch. He stated his intentions to stand alone when he was healthy but praised both Bloodlines.
The whole idea of "moving on" seems logical in most stars' minds after picking up a big or emotional win. When you've screwed numerous people in the recent past, however, moving on is harder to do.
Jimmy learned this when Drew McIntyre blasted him with a Claymore as soon as he finished talking. Commentators will likely call McIntyre petty or delusional, but Jimmy and Jey essentially got a pass for everything they did under Roman Reigns. History matters regardless of what WWE wants people to think about a star.
#3. Best - DIY's Heel Turn explained on SmackDown
After regaining the WWE Tag Team titles on last week's SmackDown, Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano cut a black-and-white pre-taped promo explaining their actions. The words acted as their defacto heel-turn manifesto.
Their reasoning has sprinkles of logic behind it, so it's hard to completely disagree with some of the thinking. Johnny Wrestling explained how DIY was cheated out of the tag titles in front of his son but nothing was done to truly address it.
They had to jump through hoops to earn another shot. Ciampa and Gargano explained they did what they had to do to win them back, especially since the Motor City Machine Guns got an opportunity in their first few matches. Alex Shelley said he got it but that Gargano will learn why he's still the student next week.
#2. Worst - Strange dynamics and a botched finish between Stratton and Michin
Introducing the Women's United States Championship was a huge deal. It gives the rest of the women's roster on SmackDown a chance at winning a singles title. Before that, some stars never had a realistic chance at singles glory.
The dynamics between Tiffany Stratton and Michin didn't help their semifinal match. The crowd was supposed to cheer for Michin since she was the face. The action was fine for the most part but didn't land as it should have.
Stratton's popularity also had the crowd split down the middle for the match, hurting the eventual moment when Michin won. The finishing sequence was botched, worsening the impact.
#2. Best/Worst - Braun Strowman is on SmackDown but squashes a future star
Braun Strowman returned to the blue brand as Carmelo Hayes' mystery opponent tonight. All of Melo's big talk couldn't save him from getting squashed by The Monster of All Monsters in just a minute and a half.
It is nice to see Strowman back in the ring but the quick squash hurt Hayes' credibility. He went from hanging with Cody Rhodes in the main event one week to losing in under two minutes.
A silver lining was that Pretty Deadly still exists and attempted to recruit the former Universal Champ for Pretty Deadly: The Musical.
Strowman rejected a prominent spot in the likely Broadway phenomenon but agreed to appear on The Grayson Waller Effect on next week's SmackDown.
#2. Best - LA Knight vs. The New Bloodline could be SmackDown's new top feud
After falling victim to an unhappy Bloodline on last week's SmackDown, LA Knight cut a fiery promo targeting both groups. He stated that the Bloodline drama wasn't his business but it entered his peripheral when they randomly attacked him last week.
The Megastar showed no love for Roman Reigns or Sikoa since they both cost him a chance to win the Undisputed WWE Title last year. He did give a "Yeet" to Jey Uso. Before their match, Knight prevented Solo from complaining more and answering the challenge of Tribal Combat.
The situation shows that one's actions affect the roster whether they follow you or not. Ending the match via disqualification was a good move too. It protects both men since Knight lost the US Title just recently.
Sikoa cannot lose a big match before facing Reigns. It was a shame that Andrade and Apollo Crews got a big boost but fell instantly when trying to help Knight.
#1. Worst - Undermining a huge moment for a new title
Both women's matches didn't deliver on the final SmackDown. Part of that was due to the dynamics in each showdown. Bayley should have been the clear fan favorite but Chelsea Green's heel work is so good it's hard to root against her.
The Hartford crowd seemed dead for the majority of the contest but awoke toward the finish. With little heat, WWE felt the need to cut to a 15-second spot for Mufasa: The Lion King during the actual match.
The title is supposed to be a prestigious opportunity but the latest booking decisions felt disjointed and misguided.
The movie spot could have been done during the Solo/Knight battle since some of it occurred outside the ring. The referee also made one of the fastest 10 counts when Bayley tried to reenter the ring.
#1. Best/Worst - Roman Reigns lays out a challenge but doesn't appear
Solo Sikoa rampaged on last week's SmackDown after losing at WarGames. He still claimed to be The Tribal Chief. Roman Reigns didn't appear last week and wasn't live again this week either.
Instead, he got to cut another cinematic pre-taped segment reserved for WWE's top stars. In the message, Reigns claimed losing the Ula Fala was more important than losing the Bloodline, Undisputed WWE Title, or The Wiseman.
Essentially, having the necklace that lets him control the family is more important than the actual members of it. Reigns then challenged Sikoa to Tribal Combat on RAW's Netflix debut.
WWE even tried to pull at heartstrings by mentioning that his late father and uncle bestowed the necklace on him. He was actually given it after winning an interference-filled Tribal Combat match against Jey Uso at SummerSlam 2022.
#1. Best - Owens and Rhodes shut Michael Cole up
The narrative around Kevin Owens attacking Cody Rhodes is he's upset that everyone gives Rhodes and Reigns a pass. Reigns and the Bloodline tormented many stars over the last four years and The American Nightmare had no problem teaming up with him.
When Owens tried to explain himself, he was either banned from the building or called delusional/a hypocrite for having feelings counter to Rhodes and Reigns. Before Cole could repeat those words, he badly joked about not "doing the interview in the car" like last week. Owens then cut him off.
The Prizefighter rightfully called Cole out for claiming to be an "unbiased journalist" last week before ignoring everything he said. Owens' logic gained more steam after Triple H gave Rhodes a gift he could only use at Saturday Night's Main Event. Will Owens get a special gift for the show?
Owens' promo was great as usual, claiming Rhodes was more interesting as Stardust (while wearing a Stardust shirt). He also barked that the champ is just as bad a friend as he is a son or brother. Before Cole could play the fanboy for Rhodes, the enemies threw fists to end SmackDown.