All the heels win minus Nikki. AJ/Dean was a MOTYC. Miz won in a really lame sorta low blow. Two moves Alexa won and worse they teased a Becky heel turn. The right move was to put the titles on the Wyatt Family. Baron continued making cruiserweights irrelevant.
The matches were not that bad, but the endings minus the tag and main were weak. Smackdown needs face talent. Not just Cena or Joe, but building good mid carders. I would suggest a trade of Dean or Cena for Sami, Ceseari and Enzo and Cass.
Smackdown is fine. This show was fun. AJ Styles is a nut. Miz is the best IC Champion and has done more for the title than anyone has in years. The Ellsworth story and follow up in Talking Smack has been rewarding. The Wyatts are relevant and interesting. Alexa winning the title is a needed change. Talking Smack is still the best WWE show. Daniel Bryan has become a great character. It's not the perfect show, but it is an easy watch and mostly a good time.
Watched the show on and off whilst putting up Christmas tree. I thought both the IC and World Title matches were great up until cheap endings.
One thing I found weird was the slow-mo replays of crowd reactions. There's got to be a reason they did them, but I can't figure out why. To inform us how we should be reacting?
edit: also enjoyed Talking Smack afterwards. Between Alexa going from super happy talking about her mom to mean heel and another Miz - Bryan confrontation, it was thoroughly entertaining.
I only caught the last hourof the show (two main title matches) but I enjoyed it. Not sure they were hinting at a Becky heel turn -- all she did was say she didn't appreciate a microphone being shoved in her face right after a tough loss.
I caught Talking Smack after mostly because I wanted to see if they'd have Ellsworth on. I put in the prediction thread that I thought AJ would win with help from Ellsworth, but I thought it would be of the anger variety -- "Ambrose, you caused me to get my ass kicked and get put in the hospital, and all you did was laugh about it." Instead, it's "Well, I beat AJ three times so I want him as champ so I can beat him with my guaranteed title shot!" Seems a lot less logical, IMHO. (That said, given Ellsworth's promise of his first defense to Ambrose ... would it now behoove Ambrose to help him beat Styles?)
The Miz and DB went at it again on Talking Smack, too, with DB admitted Miz had stepped it up in the ring from when he was a "lazy hack" (i.e., before DB called him out on a previous Talking Smack).
Still not sure where they're going with Orton in the Wyatt Family. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em? Can't be as simple as that. They've shown subtle traces of either Harper getting jealous or Orton trying to create jealousy, so maybe that'll be a long burn. But "Hahaha, I really got you!" loses some luster when you helped 'em win some gold before they got got, IMHO.
Originally posted by The GoonOne thing I found weird was the slow-mo replays of crowd reactions. There's got to be a reason they did them, but I can't figure out why. To inform us how we should be reacting?
My guess - they're hoping to find the next Miz Girl or Undertaker-Lost Reaction Guy.
Enjoyable yet forgettable show all at once. I feel like we've been seeing some of these matches for ever. I know back in the day we'd have feuds go on for a year or two, but we've been trained in this era that we eventually move on. Yet, here is Dolph and Miz again... Dean and AJ again. Again again again.
I'm glad Heath got the longish reign he did, but I like the Wyatt story. It's the most I've been interested in Randy in forever, and I like the slow burn between him and Harper. And it's about time Bray gets a belt. Also, JBL talking in hushed undertones during the Wyatt intro is bad, JBL talking about how he's never seen anything as scary for the brand and such when HE WAS A PART OF UNDERTAKER'S MINISTRY.
Carmella-Nikki was forgettable, and anybody who didn't see Nattie as the attacker clearly can't see or hear.
Dolph/Miz was good, but I just couldn't get into it. It reminds me of Dolph/Kofi, which seemed to happen at every PPV and half the TV shows a few years ago. Like Dolph/Kofi, there is nothing wrong with it... it's just the same two guys going at it, and nowadays it's their "last meeting" and then they have another. Can we please move on?
Nice to see Alexa win, she's probably the most deserving of the group since the brand split and Becky's win. Becky will have no problem rebounding.
Main event was quality for sure, but again it's another repeat match. I'm down with Ellsworth but I think maybe it's time for a break after this title match coming up.
I was able to watch some of the show, and the parts I saw I enjoyed! The chairs match told a good story and was a solid bout IMHO.
I also really liked the tables match. Bliss ranks up there with "most improved worker" this year for sure.
Who else qualifies for most improved? THE MIZ who has become a top tier worker and revived the IC belt in the process. Since the brand split he's been amazing.
Of course, AJ Styles is easily the MVP of 2016 as a whole, as he was ripping it up pre-brand split as well. Whatever they're paying him isn't enough.
I enjoyed the show as well. Some good action and kept my attention throughout. Or maybe that was because I watched it this morning so could fast forward to just get to the matches!
The Miz v Ziggler match was very good. I thought Miz had really hurt himself when he went off the ladder to the outside shouting 'Motherf'ker' so was surprised to see him get back in to it and hopping up the ladder.
Main event was great until the finish. It wasn't a shock and I really hope they finish it all soon. It was amusing to start with but is starting to drag on. Would have been better if he ripped the neck brace off after pushing the ladder. Still acting all weak didn't have the same effect. AJ has been great all year but want to see something new. What will that be? Not sure at the moment but just want something different.
Bliss winning was pleasing and was glad Heath and Rhyno lost. Good interaction with Bray, Orton and Harper at the end. Bella had a match and that is more than enough said of that.
The problem with the crowd was they were waiting for the big spots as it was a gimmick card. They wanted the big stunts in all the matches so weren't going to react until the ladders etc came in to play which is a real shame.
Pretty solid show. I saw the Kalisto/Corbin finish coming a mile away-I was hoping Kalisto get the upset but nope. Big guy has to win. I don't mind the Miz 'cheating' like that in a ladder match. It's anything goes, why not?
I didn't like the Ellsworth interference though. Especially not after both guys going out of their way to hurt themselves like that. AJ was on fire, Ambrose kept up with him. And then 'storyline stuff' kicked in. The match didn't need that.
Nikki/Carmella was meh, tag match was good even though it was obvious the Wyatts would win it.
I actually didn't expect BLiss to win, so that was cool. Her cockiness will benefit from having a title and vica versa, Becky is now once again the underdog who has to defy al odds, which works well for her.
Speaking of this match by the way, it is interesting that the WWE is referencing the feud between the two in WCW. Obviously, those of us who saw that feud and know what Steiner means today can see that Goldberg will basically squash BPP.