So Dolph vs Roode is going to be on after the world title match? That's weird

I thought the US Title Triple Threat was excellent, adding Tye Dillinger to that match was the absolute right move. I really think that made the match way more entertaining than it would have been if it had just been Corbin vs. Styles. It would have been sad to see Baron Corbin beat AJ Styles as Corbin is quite simply nowhere near the level of AJ Styles...so if they had to put the title on Corbin, it's just as well they did it this way. I thought Dillinger was excellent in this match, and Styles was great as well. Corbin was Corbin. Execute a move fairly competently, stomp around, shout at the fans, repeat.

 

With all the ping-pong title switches involving the US Title, that title is essentially meaningless at this point anyhow. I don't think losing it hurt Styles and I don't think winning it is really going to help Corbin. Not to mention, if they keep booking that title the way they have, it will just change hands a million more times over the next few months anyhow. The only way this helps Corbin is if they give him a half decent reign with some good title defenses over good challengers. Which they probably won't.

 

Natalya vs. Charlotte was really good, in my opinion. Much better than I was expecting. This show has definitely been good and has exceeded all expectations. Although, that's kind of damning it with faint praise, since nobody expected shit from this show.

 

Now that Jinder is in the ring, I fully expect the string of solid, watchable matches on this show to screech to a sudden halt.

Its amazing that a title match with Shinsuke Nakamura is the bathroom break on a PPV, but here we are.

Charlotte vs. Natalya - Natty doesn't really excel as a strong face or heel, and babyface Charlotte certainly doesn't feel right, but they more than made this match work. Strong, simple story around Charlotte's injured knee. I didn't even mind the finish as the chair shots were on point and looked really strong. This show is absolutely over-delivering.

 

***1/4

 

I think Natalya is a really good heel. After seeing enough Total Divas I would never want to be around her for any length of time.

That WWE Championship match was a million times better than their match at Summerslam, but it still wasn't all that great. And booking Mahal that strongly still baffles me, India tour plans or not. Nakamura is pretty much toast as a Main Event level guy after getting beaten by Mahal two PPV's in a row.

Nakamura vs. Jinder -- I didn't pay much attention and I know I didn't miss anything. If Mahal is moving business in certain markets that's great. But he's death to watch.

Well I guess he kind of beat him clean.

 

So the WWE policy of the heels doing racist promos on a babyface and still wins continue. Now what do you do with Nakamura

Mahal-Nak was okay, but I don't get the thinking behind that finish. Just makes Nak look bad for the sake of a guy who isn't going to matter in six months. But nothing new there, I guess.

Now what do you do with Nakamura

 

Exactly. There's your problem, right there. He's been made to look like an inferior joke in this rivalry with Mahal.

The Singh Brothers continue to be the only redeeming aspect of Jinder Mahal's act.

Okay why the fuck do you have Roode come out first in this match? All so that Dolph can do an entrance with nothing tied to it

 

Bobby Roode as a kind of babyface better not last long

If Dolph wants to do this gimmick right, he should come out in the old Mike Tyson gear.

This show is going long isn't it? They probably know John Oliver starts at 11:07 and want the wife to give me a hard time when this goes late.

Bobby Roode has just killed this crowd. They should play his entrance song in a loop like New Jack because that is the only thing people actually care about.

 

Ziggler isn't helping but the fans have given up on him such a long time ago there is nothing he can do

 

Damn it this feud is going to continue

For me, there is no more loathsome heel than Shane the wrestler.

Part of me wonders if we're not getting Cena vs Shane at Mania one of these years.

Shane hasn't taught his kids now to sell a beat down yet. One of them was laughing right in the camera

That Roode/Ziggler match was not so good. I don't know if it was because nobody gives a crap about Ziggler anymore, or if it's because Roode isn't catching on with the fans, but whatever the reason, that match just didn't connect with anybody...and I had thought the crowd was pretty loud otherwise tonight.

 

As far as this Main Event? So far, bleh. Shane's punches are so lame, and he looks so sloppy with everything he does. (As so he should, since he's not really a wrestler.) Owens just doesn't do it for me, either. If only shouting made you good, Owens would be great.

 

Are my ears deceiving me, or are some fans cheering Owens?

I can't think of anyone who has been in multiple high-profile PPV marches with worse strikes than Shane McMahon.

I can't think of anyone who has been in multiple high-profile PPV marches with worse strikes than Shane McMahon.

 

I will always say that no matter how awful his punches and MMA is he can still kick CM Punk's ass in an UFC fight

These Shane cell matches are so boring. Just do your death wish spot and release us you entitled prick.

Stunned that this cage is holding up to all these moves.

 

And the camera almost missed the damn fall. Chances are they won't miss this one from Shane. Shane landed on his fucking shoulder. That was so worse than the Taker fall

 

In a night where the camera work has been horrible, the reveal of Sami as the guy who help Kevin was perfect

Kevin Steen and El Generico are now the top heels on Smackdown

Thanks to Shane, future generations are going to wonder what the big deal was about Foley getting thrown off the cell.

To me, there is just something fundamentally stupid and wrong-headed with headlining a Pay Per View with that match. Aside from everything else, if you watch it totally dispassionately it just wasn't a very good match. It was way too long, and it was sloppy and dangerous. There is no need to put guys at that kind of risk, screwing around up there on top of that cage, 20 feet in the air. It's not safe, and it conditions the fans to expect stupid, pointless bumps. And on top of all that, one of the participants isn't even really a wrestler. I just think the whole thing is stupid.