This was some Nitro-level booking here. The Battle Royal to determine the number one contender ends in a 'tie' when AJ and Luke Harper hit the floor at the same time. Except the camera angle didn't show their feet and it looked like AJ hit first. No matter. Daniel Bryan comes down and says it will be resolved next week. Crowd boos. Can't blame them.
They're obviously just killing time before Orton turns on Bray, but do they have to be so OBVIOUSLY killing time before Orton turns on Bray?
It feels like eternity til Mania. So, they are booking stuff not to stop that feeling that way. However, what they are booking are better prospects than Mania itself. Not a fan of Alexa having the belt as her match with Naomi showed she is still not all therei the ring.
I thought Smackdown was good. They clearly botched the ending with the feet not hitting at the same time but I thought it was the right booking decision. If Luke Harper is going to be in the title match at Wrestlemania then throwing AJ over the top rope doesn't make him legit enough. He needs to beat AJ in a singles match. (And probably needs to beat Orton and/or Bray before Wrestlemania too.
Other than that, Alexa gets back the title I don't think she should have ever lost, Natalya and Nikki have a good match (other than the obviously fake lead pipe Maryse had) and Usos cut a great heel promo. This was 100 times better than Raw.
I wonder if they're potentially going the way of making the main event a Wyatt Family three-way, with Orton vs Bray vs Harper? Have Harper win next week, then Orton -- egged on by Bray to try to avoid the Harper match -- claim that he never "formally" relinquished the slot and demand to be put back in. The three-way is the obvious solution, and the finish could easily involve the return of That Other Wyatt determining which family member he wants to help.
I thought it was a fun show overall. They're totally going for the 3-way, and even the potential thought of "Luke Harper: WWE Champion" makes me so so so happy. That and two weeks of "Luke Harper, Main Eventer" made me happy enough to overlook the botched finish, anyway. C'mon WWE, don't let my 11-year-old daughter down!
Luke vs AJ will also probably serve to set up AJ's Wrestlemania opponent, so that should be interesting to see.
John Cena is a jerk. Miz is right out there to help/protect his wife, while Cena can't be bothered to come out to save Nikki. Boooooooooooo.
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Originally posted by whateverJohn Cena is a jerk. Miz is right out there to help/protect his wife, while Cena can't be bothered to come out to save Nikki.
Originally posted by whatever Luke vs AJ will also probably serve to set up AJ's Wrestlemania opponent, so that should be interesting to see.
This is another reason I like Smackdown so much better than Raw. I'm not crazy about AJ vs. Shane but they've booked it well by laying the groundwork for weeks. Styles has to defend against Cena for no reason, loses, doesn't get his one-on-one rematch. Instead has to wrestle in the Elimination Chamber and is the last one eliminated. Still doesn't get a one-on-one rematch but instead is in a threeway match in which he doesn't get pinned, John Cena does. Then he's in a Battle Royale where he is one of the last two and there is a controversial ending. Then he'll probably lose to Harper under some sort of circumstances. This, to me, is far more interesting than anything they do with Stephanie and Hunter.
This is another reason I like Smackdown so much better than Raw. I'm not crazy about AJ vs. Shane but they've booked it well by laying the groundwork for weeks. Styles has to defend against Cena for no reason, loses, doesn't get his one-on-one rematch. Instead has to wrestle in the Elimination Chamber and is the last one eliminated. Still doesn't get a one-on-one rematch but instead is in a threeway match in which he doesn't get pinned, John Cena does. Then he's in a Battle Royale where he is one of the last two and there is a controversial ending. Then he'll probably lose to Harper under some sort of circumstances. This, to me, is far more interesting than anything they do with Stephanie and Hunter.
It is definitely interesting, but how can they expect Shane to be the babyface in all of this? AJ is going to have to do something major for this to play out the way they want it to.
Originally posted by kellogs It is definitely interesting, but how can they expect Shane to be the babyface in all of this? AJ is going to have to do something major for this to play out the way they want it to.
Attack Daniel Bryan and Shane makes the save?
So are they building for an American Alpha vs Usos match for WM? I thought they ended that feud a while ago. But then again, the matches were good and I like both teams. So if they do go that route I hope they get some time (on the pre-show?)
Alexa getting the title back makes sense as they now can reset/restart stories easily by having her be all bitchy and people take offense. Also, I read that Naomi's injury is the same as Rollins but she might be back sooner?
A Wyatt 3-way sounds interesting but that would definitely mean it's an "early on the card Main Event" since I don't see WWE believing Harper AND Wyatt can be that go-home match.
I like this time of year when the shows are suddenly buzzing with people trying to start feuds with one another. Some make sense, others don't but it's fun seeing it all come together.
I don't THINK they ever resolved Amercain Alpha/The Usos. One of the Usos (Jimmy?) got an ankle injury and I think American Alpha moved on to the Tag Team titles without there ever being a blow off match.
American Alpha has defeated every team multiple times and in multiple ways. If anything, they need to fight a new team at WM. We need a revival in the SD tag team division anyways.
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