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0 out of 7
Credit: WWE.com
On the road to Extreme Rules, SmackDown traveled to Knoxville, TN for an episode featuring a special homecoming for former female champion Bianca Belair.
What did EST have in store for their friends and family and, more importantly, did Becky Lynch make her presence felt ahead of their Extreme Rules match?
The answer was in a show that also featured Roman Reigns ‘response to the announcement of a Universal Championship defense against Finn Balor at Extreme Rules and Seth Rollins’ explanation for his actions against Edge on the show of last week.
2 of 7
Credit: WWE.com
Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Tag Team Champions from SmackDown The Usos and Paul Heyman all made their way to kick off the night’s festivities as Michael Cole and Pat McAfee shared a recap of last week’s events.
Reigns encouraged Heyman to show fans how to recognize him correctly and that is exactly what the Special Advocate did, insisting that the table chef does not fear the beast (Brock Lesnar) or the demon (Finn Balor). ). “Brock Lesnar fears Roman Reigns,” Heyman exclaimed before Big E’s music cut off and the new WWE Champion gave a thunderous standing ovation. Finn Balor followed and we had the seeds for the first game of the evening: a tag team match between the babyfaces and the Usos in an untitled fight.
Big E and Balor dominated early in the game until Jey Uso pulled the latter to the ground and Jimmy knocked him out with a suicide shot before the break. Balor ultimately created a split with the publicity and scored Big E in the game.
The WWE Champion exploded in the fight, devastating his longtime enemies. Moments later he delivered a Big Ending and Balor added a Coup de Grâce en route to an impressive victory.
Results
Balor and Big E defeated the Usos
Class
B +
Analysis
WWE did the right thing here by bringing in Big E for a fresh appearance from his WWE title win. The company’s hottest star at the moment gained huge fan acclaim, and rightfully so, as he joined Balor for a mostly fun and energetic tag match.
There’s certainly an argument to be made that the Usos have achieved a certain level of stardom on Friday night that should protect them from losses like this, but too many of them will make them look more like cronies than a sidekick. true safeguard of Reigns.
The biggest takeaway from it was the way babyfaces were presented as equals. Neither overcame or won the match at the expense of their partner and the result was a perfectly executed first match.
3 out of 7
Credit: WWE.com
Rick Boogs, along with intercontinental champion King Nakamura, looked to continue his recent victories as he faced Robert Roode, accompanied by his tag team partner Dolph Ziggler.
Boogs weathered the storm, overcoming a concentrated effort from the former NXT champion to secure another impressive victory.
After the match, as the rock and roller guitarist joined Nakamura and commentator Pat McAfee for a celebration when Apollo Crews and Commander Azeez attacked out of nowhere. They left the babyfaces lying down before stomping on Nakamura’s crown. Crews delivered a trash promotion to end the segment.
Results
Boogs defeated Roode
Class
VS
Analysis
Crews and Azeez attacking after the game came as a nice surprise as it seemed for weeks that Crews was on the verge of losing relevance. His return to the IC title photo through his attack on Nakamura and Boogs at least keeps the talented performer on TV even though he has no intention of winning the game.
Even though Nakamura holds the title and Crews is a former champion, it all sounds a lot like a star vehicle for Boogs, who have seen their television and ring time increase tenfold in recent weeks.
4 out of 7
Credit: WWE.com
Ahead of Kevin Owens’ scheduled match with Happy Corbin, the heel attacked him, leaving him lying down. The match never took place.
Behind the scenes, Kayla Braxton asked Paul Heyman about the rumors surrounding Brock Lesnar being able to go on Raw in the WWE Draft. Big E appeared and got under the skin of the Special Advocate before the Usos attacked and let him lie.
Seth Rollins hit the ring in response to his actions last week, which left Edge in need of medical attention. The architect feigned remorse only to ask the crowd what they thought was going to happen. Rollins blamed fans for pushing Edge into goading him. He recapped everything Edge put him through and how fans responded positively to it all.
Rollins said he saw the fear in Edge’s eyes last week and for a moment he felt sorry for him. This feeling has been etched into his mind and he cannot live with himself feeling sorry for someone like Edge. “For my sanity, I have to finish you somehow,” he said after challenging for one more match between them.
Class
A
Analysis
Rollins is perhaps the most underrated performer in WWE since his jump to SmackDown. From his program with Cesaro to this race with Edge, he has cut some extraordinary promos and delivered almost every outing in the ring. He was superb but flew under the radar on a mark championed by his former Shield brothers.
The idea of a third match ending the feud between Rollins and Edge is very appealing based on their previous encounters and would improve any map it appears on. Especially if Rollins brings the level of performance it has so far in 2021.
The Big E-Usos stuff was fine and sets the stage for a potential showdown between The Bloodline and New Day, an easy pay-per-view main event if WWE is playing its cards right.
5 out of 7
Credit: WWE
Toni Storm and Liv Morgan faced Carmella and Zelina Vega in a tag team match originally scheduled for last week’s show, but postponed this week.
Before the action could really begin, Morgan knocked Carmella off the apron, on which the most beautiful woman in all of WWE slapped her face. She cried out in pain, worried about breaking her nose. This led to a countdown just a minute after the start of the fight.
After the match Morgan grabbed a mic and said she was tired of Carmella running away and challenging her to an Extreme Rules match. Later, backstage, Carmella accepted the challenge and Vega swore Morgan would have to go through her first.
Results
Morgan and Storm defeated Vega and Carmella by countdown
Class
F
Analysis
A week ago, SmackDown was devoid of women’s matches. Tonight, he half-heartedly booked a “match” that he quickly abandoned. Some would say that the challenge of a match at Extreme Rules is a step in the right direction, but why should women’s wrestling fans hope that this match will mean something big when the blue brand division has been? so little reserved beyond the title image?
Nothing about it has done anything to encourage positivity or hope for the future of these women, at least for now. And that’s a huge accusation for the creative team given the talent involved, including Storm, who is expected to compete alongside Bianca Belair and Becky Lynch for the women’s title but is stuck in a storyline that isn’t going anywhere as as third or fourth wheel.
6 out of 7
Credit: WWE.com
Dominik Mysterio’s frustrating quest for a victory over Sami Zayn continued this week as Father Rey watched from the commentator position.
The young competitor fought from below and delivered a big 619 as his father cheered him on from the ring. A slight hesitation from Dominik allowed Zayn to get to his knees and score the victory.
Results
Zayn defeated Mysterio
Class
C +
Analysis
The match itself went perfectly, but can we please stop with this pairing? Can we move on to new games for Dominik?
The repetition of WWE lineup resulted in an understandable reaction from fans tired of watching the same thing every week. There are ways to continue Dominik’s feud with Zayn and his growing frustration with his father, without beating the game into the ground like the creative team have done so far.
Give us something different. Let Zayn taunt Dominik in a different game a week from tonight. Otherwise, the attention of fans will be lost.
7 out of 7
Credit: WWE
Knox County, Tennessee (and WWE Hall of Fame) Mayor Kane made a special appearance on Friday night as he greeted Bianca Belair at home. EST walked into the ring, her parents seated in the front row and vowed to win back the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Becky Lynch at Extreme Rules.
As she sang “Rocky Top,” Lynch interrupted her, mocking the song and backing Belair with a back of her hand.
When a handshake turned into physics, The Man stepped out of a KOD and delivered the Manhandle Slam, leaving The EST on the mat as she slipped off the ramp to close the show.
Class
A
Analysis
Lynch is starting to compete with her husband Seth Rollins in terms of ridiculous outfits and her obnoxious interruption to Belair’s comeback has been such a good booking decision. What better way to make an artist an undisputed villain than to have him take center stage, and then embarrass him, his hometown hero in front of his friends and family?
All of her actions here have been to escalate a feud and leave fans wanting to see Belair beat her and win the title.
For an artist everyone was absolutely sure she would be applauded despite being a heel because of the way things turned out last time around, Lynch has been superb as a self-centered villain and will absolutely help establish Belair. like the babyface star in the women’s division.
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