My wife described the last 20 min of that main event as a "snuff film" - I was genuinely terrified for KO & Shane wrestling on top of that cage. And we do NOT need to see Shane risk his life like that ever again (nor did we since his return).
Usos/New Day = match of the night and crazy innovative. Big E & Xavier had an uncharacteristic ferocity too.
I literally fell asleep through all of Ziggler-Roode.
So, they changed titles they didn't need to be changed and kept the titles on guys who are holding the division down. While I get everyone is on this KO love affair, I have zero desire to see him face off with the entire McMahon family.
The show went downhill after the opener and the tag title match was a fitting end to the feud, but with only two other tag teams on Smackdown and one of them likely to split soon so the feud might not be over. the US title match was pretty good and hopefully AJ gets moved up the card as holding the US title has dragged him down when if he was better booked he could have elevated the title. Shane Vs Owens overstayed its welcome by at least twenty minutes but hey at least Sami has a direction now. Jinder's title reign is a giantic flop and makes me pine for JBL's title reign in 04. Look like AJ may be next up in trying to get more than a one star match out of Jinder, good luck.
I dozed off during the middle, but that might not be due to the matches but just becuase I was so tired. I'll go back later. I liked how strong Rusev looked against his Orton match, but Randy totally didn't need the win here.
But I enjoyed the two HIAC matches a lot. Usos/New Day brought that intensity that they had in their previous matches. I mean, was there any real wrestling for longer than 30 second stretches before going back to just beating the shit out of eachother?
Owens-McMahon was entertaining. Obviously a different match, but entertaining. The stuff on top was cool. Obviously the cell has improved a lot since the Foley era but you still cannot but cringe when they slam one another. Ending was good, and I'm curious to see where they go with Sami. As for GEnerico ever being heel. I think they did. Maybe when they had their crazy feuds with the Briscoes? I seem to remember that but I am not sure because perhaps it was "lovable Generico teams with despicable Steen" even back then? But I don't doubt he can pull it off.
Overall that was a really good event. First HIAC match had intensity and action all the way through. Everyone came out of it looking good. It was quite intense - probably more than PG but that's not a bad thing. Usos and New Day really went for it and had a itense match.
Shane and Owens was great. I really enjoyed it, but was also really worried for them at times, not just when they were on top. Probably a bit too long, but when you look back over it there were so many good points and excitement it can be looked over. Both put in so much effort - how many people say neither of them are fit but can go for 40 minutes like that without holding back? The ending was great and creates a lot of potential scenarios so works for me. Watching the timing with Owens being pulled off the table and Shane landing couldn't have been closer. They got Sami out there without being seen, and his reactions were great after the landing. Dragging his best friend and worst enemy over for the pin was great. I can see lots won't like it, but I am not one of them. Lots of potential coming out of it all.
Nakamura is done and can't see a way of making him come out of this looking vaguely interesting. Ziggler and Roode went too long and I don't really want to see it again. I called Dillinger getting added to the match as it made sense to free AJ, but if he moves on to Jinder will he win? Don't want to see it if he doesn't.
Not really a bad show, but honestly you could have walked away after the very first match, and then just come back for like the last 5 minutes of the show. You wouldn't really miss anything. That said, man what a first match. New Day/Usos has been a top-tier feud, and if this was the big blow-off match for them, they really outdid themselves. It genuinely felt like those teams hated each other and were trying to hurt each other. That was a match of the year contender for me.
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