First, my thoughts on the September PPVs.
My Original Predictions
Corbin over Crews
Nikki Bella wins the Smackdown Championships
Usos beat Hype Bros
Miz def. Ziggler for the Intercontinental Championship
Slater and Rhyno over The Usos for the Tag Team Championships
Wyatt over Orton
Styles over Ambrose for the World Heavyweight Championship
(Smackdown)Backlash Results:
Corbin def. Crews in a great opener.
BECKY WINS! YAY! NEW WOMEN's CHAMPION!
Usos beat Hype Bros: I liked the Heel Turn
Miz def. Ziggler: Match of the Night
Slater and Rhyno over The Usos to become the Tag Team Champions: SLATER IS OVER!
Wyatt "injures" Orton. Wyatt vs. Kane. Kane wins due to interference by Orton. Worst part of the Night.
Styles is the top guy of the company and is the first person to win the NWA, TNA, IWGP, and WWE World Championships. Wait....2nd guy. I think Kurt Angle was the first.
Overall: Fantastic PPV. 8 out of 10
Original predictions for Clash of Champions
Jax over Fox
Good Brothers over New Day for the Tag Team Championships
Perkins over Kendrick for the Cruiserweight Championship
Cesaro over Sheamus
Zayn over Jericho
Charlotte over Bayley and Sasha for the Women's Championship
Reigns over Rusev for the United States Championship
Owens over Rollins for the Universal Championship
(Raw)Clash of Champions Results:
Nia Jax def. Alicia Fox in a good match for storyline and character development. Fox was especially good.
New Day def. Anderson and Gallows. This may be my NJPW bias, but the titles should have switched here (I blame the Old Day Segment. That was Crap).
TJ Perkins def. Brian Kendrick to retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. Solid, even great match. But the crowd was dead.
Cesaro and Sheamus had a fantastic match.....and a cop-out for an ending.
Jericho over Zayn didn't make sense at the time of the PPV. Plus I'm a Zayniac, therefore any direct loss that Sami Zayn suffers....sucks.
Charlotte def. Bayley and Sasha was the correct call....just not with the Big Boot as a finish.
Roman Reigns def. Rusev to become the US Champion. They just won't give up. Rusev once again...was screwed.
Owens def. Rollins due to interference from Chris Jericho. Good match, sad that Rollins got injured. Great Storytelling.
Overall: 6 out of 10
Advantage: Smackdown.
Now here are the October PPVs.
Original Predictions:
American Alpha and the Hype Bros over the Ascension and The Vaudevillians
Corbin over Swagger
Hawkins wins in his debut
Carmella def. Nikki Bella
Orton over Wyatt
Miz over Ziggler for the Intercontinental Championship
Usos over Slater/Rhyno for the Tag Team Championship
Lynch over Alexa Bliss for the Women's Championship
AJ over Cena and Ambrose for the World Heavyweight Championship
No Mercy results
American Alpha and the Hype Bros def. The Ascension and The Vaudevillians
Good match, but I'm admittedly waiting for the various heel teams that aren't the Usos to finally gain a little momentum. This is extremely important considering that the current champions are faces.
Jack Swagger lost Baron Corbin
This one made it on the main card. Good match, but it was very slow.
Curt Hawkins makes his in ring re-debut
He Did It! He got in the ring and TROLLED EVERYONE! HA! I want this to continue!
Nikki Bella def. Carmella
Good in between match. The women are utilizing the unwanted spot of the card very well. Even though the deathspot was the bathroom break, the matches have been too good to miss.
Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt
The surprise main event finally gave us a Bray Wyatt Victory! AND LUKE HARPER RETURNED!
I'm more than satisfied just for those two points alone. Admittedly, it will probably mean that the Wyatt Family will be massacred/sacrificed in some way at the next PPV...(The Joint-Branded Survivor Series) but for the quick thrill, it was nice to see Bray get a PPV win for the first time since the Brand Split occurred. (The last time he won a PPV singles match was last year against Roman Reigns at Battleground, and then the last PPV match he was apart of where he won was Battleground against the New Day). Randy didn't need the win and honestly, he could lose at Survivor Series and still come out on top. So win/win and a Main Event Win for Wyatt.
The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler in a Title vs. Career match for the Intercontinental Championship
-I'm actually torn on this one. I was ecstatic that Ziggler won the way he did, but admittedly I'm actually disappointed that the Miz's run had to end. Compared to the other titles in WWE, the IC titleholder can't seem to break 200 days, let alone come close to the Honky Tonk Man's record (which really does need to break much more than Demolition's Tag Team Championship record). That being said, fantastic match!
Heath Slater and Rhyno vs. The Usos for the Tag Team Championships
-A much better match than anticipated. The Usos are so good as heels now and Slater is insanely over. Plus, using Rhyno the way they do is perfect for his role. Important, protected veteran.
Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss for the Women's Championship
Becky was injured (SAD FACE) so Naomi took over (meh face). The match was meh (Meh face again) and therefore was honestly the one place I could call a bathroom break. (This should be the final message for Naomi and the WWE Writers. If you want to take her seriously, ALTER the rear end/Rear View/Whatever it's called. Asuka does it right as an attack rather than a spot that makes the opponent look stupid.)
AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose vs. John Cena for the WWE World Championship
Fantastic Opener (WTF). Good false finish with AJ cleverly tapping out while both Ambrose and Cena had a submission on him. He knew that in a Triple Threat that the match would restart due to no conclusive SINGULAR winner. Even though he tapped out, since it wasn't a decisive singular submission and the match wasn't an elimination match, he had all the right to resume just as much as Ambrose and Cena. Ambrose really needs to be a full fledged heel very soon. The performances and possibilities are ENDLESS. Almost to the point that Cena could be legitimately cheered by the MAJORITY of the crowd.
7.5 out of 10
Hell in a Cell
Roman Reigns vs. Rusev for the United States Championship in a Hell in a Cell Match.
Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens for the Universal Championship in a Hell in a Cell Match.
Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte for the Women's Championship in a Hell in a Cell Match.
Cesaro and Sheamus vs. The New Day (Big E and Kofi Kingston)w/ Xavier Woods for the WWE Tag Team Championships
TJ Perkins vs. The Brian Kendrick for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Enzo Amore and Big Cass vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson
Bayley vs. Dana Brooke
Pre-Show Match: Lince Dorado, Sin Cara, and Cedric Alexander vs. Drew Gulak, Ariya Daivari, and Tony Nese
My predictions
Pre Show: Dorado, Cara, and Alexander over Gulak, Daivari, and Nese
New Day over Cesaro/Sheamus for the Tag Team Championships
Kendrick over Perkins for the Cruiserweight Championship
Gallows and Anderson over Amore and Cass
Bayley over Dana Brooke
Reigns over Rusev for the United States Championship
Owens over Rollins for the Universal Championship
Banks over Flair for the Women's Championship
Hell in a Cell Results
(Key: Unsatisfied: 4 out of 10 or less, Satisfied: 5-6 out of 10, Quite Satisfied:7-8, Thoroughly satisfied:9 out of 10.)
Lince Dorado, Sin Cara, and Cedric Alexander def. Drew Gulak, Ariya Daivari, and Tony Nese. Alexander hit a modified Lumbar Check that Gulak sold extra on. Good opening match to the event, with everyone (except Daivari) getting some good spots in. Sin Cara is rejuvenated.
Roman Reigns def. Rusev for the US Championship in Hell in a Cell
-The main positive of this is that Rusev was a little more relatable and proved to be more dangerous, especially with the Accolade with the Chain. That being said, the way this match progressed wasn't great. Can't really say good either. 1 spear did the job after all of that? NO! Kendo stick to a padded vest? NO! Escape from the ropes that held down both Hogan and Andre the Giant in the past? NO!
Just bad logic in terms of the various Reigns spots. I get that both guys are powerhouses and the pace should be slow and methodical....but not plodding and lethargic. Wasn't impressed....could have honestly been the same match (and better) if not in the Cell and advertised as a Steel Steps Street fight instead. Unsatisfied
Bayley def. Dana Brooke
-Brooke was a little....(KEYWORD a little) better than her previous performances. Bayley highlighted not only her keen ability to be the underdog babyface, but her estute attention to detail by selling the injury she had in almost every aspect. I think trying to use her other arm and essentially mirror some of her moves would have been a little more logical in match, but it's a small thing to argue about. It was the cooldown(dare I say first bathroom break) match that did what needed be done. Satisfied
The Club (Gallows and Anderson) def. Enzo Amore and Big Cass
-I like Enzo and Cass. Their pandering was stretching at times, but the Big Papi reference was well timed. Cass is more confident on the mic...but sounds like he's memorizing his schtick. "Andy...and The Big Gal"......no thanks.
The Club needed the victory, and got it in a decent match. Not a great match, but good in the spot it was. Satisfied.
Kevin Owens def. Seth Rollins for the Universal Championship in Hell in a Cell
-This Should have been the Main Event. Best match of the night Hands down. Great Storytelling with Rollins and his back....along with Jericho getting into the cell AFTER Owens "Accidentally" sprayed the ref in the eyes with the fire extinguisher. Great spots and even better in ring vocal psychology. Rollins still being obnoxious in the ring, only for Owens to counter back banter. Thoroughly enjoyed this entire thing (though when do I get Triple H back in this situation?). Great foreshadowing at the end with both Jericho attacking Rollins, and Owens with a slight jealous scowl. Survivor Series with these two heading the Raw Team (hopefully, if Foley and Stephanie aren't...."STUPID IDIOTS") should be interesting. Now, before you continue reading, watch this match again. You won't regret........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Brian Kendrick def. TJ Perkins for the Cruiserweight Championship
-I felt bad for this match, because it was a borderline great match with fantastic storytelling. But because of who they followed....it was bathroom break no. 2. And that really sucks, because Perkins and Kendrick found a way to switch the titles with Kendrick actually earning it the hard and devious way, but also giving Perkins a way to lose without making him look too stupid. He was the face (and a Filipino at that) so it was obvious that he would still have some compassion left for his friend and mentor....only to get the headbutt and Captain's Hook to end the night. Quite satisfied.
Cesaro and Sheamus def. The New Day (Xavier Woods and Big E) w/Kofi Kingston via DQ
-This match kept me invested throughout and showed off how good both sides were. Sheamus and Cesaro are actually a fantastic team (kind of like the Kings of Wrestling in Ring of Honor). Both big guys compared to their opponents with devastating strikes. (Also, I'm waiting for the moment when Cesaro gets to do a bicycle kick to try and show up Sheamus's Brogue kick. Heck it could lead to a double Brogue/Bicycle Kick finisher...if they don't try KRS1). The New Day schtick has really grown old on me (even though I still do need them Booty Os cereal and updated New Day Socks). It's probably still due mostly to how The Club's series of matches ended, but it went from annoying....to entertaining....to stagnant. I'm honestly hoping for some sort of dissension next month so after they break the record a legitimate team can finally end the reign of booty. That being said, the match itself was fantastic and the ending served its purpose. Satisfied.
Main Event: Charlotte Flair def. Sasha Banks in Hell in a Cell to win the Women's Championship.
-This is where any chance of me getting notoriety/popularity goes down the drain.
I wasn't a fan of this match Main Eventing, or even being in Hell in a Cell to begin with.
The buildup to this match wasn't on the match...but more so on the overemphasized significance of "Women being in the Main Event and doing what the guys can do in Hell in a Cell". Mick Foley's Promo on the Go Home Edition of Raw was exactly why I was actually afraid of watching this match. Hell in a Cell is an entertaining match, but it comes at a price regardless if it's the good ones in the late 90s and early 2000s or the watered down ones of the current times. Asking these two to put that much risk is gimmicked up in my opinion.
(As a quick aside, WWE needs to realize this: a MAIN EVENT is ONE MATCH. The main event is who goes on last. Rock vs. Hogan was the best match of Wrestlemania 18 but Triple H vs. Chris Jericho was the MAIN EVENT. HBK vs. Taker at WM25 was the BEST match of the night, but HHH vs. Randy Orton was the MAIN EVENT. CM PUNK vs. The Undertaker was the Best match of WM29....but CENA ROCK was the MAIN EVENT. SCREW YOU AND YOUR 2-3 Main events and The Main event goes first! The main event of last PPV was Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton. Rant done)
As for the match and the storytelling itself, it did an amazing job of creating pathos for Sasha after she was Powerbombed through the Announce table, only to regather the strength once Charlotte was about to win by forfeit. Charlotte in turn had a beyond heat filled night. From the entrances to Sasha's back giving out near the end had drama left and right. That being said...similar to Summerslam there were also some pretty bad spots. They didn't need that long of an injury situation at the begining, there were botched spots both on the outside and inside of the cell by Charlotte, and a nasty knee by Sasha off of what otherwise was a pretty cool use of the cell.
The ending moments are what sum up my feelings about the match. Personally, I understand the decision....and to an extent I get the reasoning. Natural Selection (which is still a stupid name for the flipping face buster that used to be known as Bow Down to the Queen) is strengthened as a finisher similar to how 1 spear ended Rusev's night in the opening contest of the PPV. But as a heel, you want an ENDLESS chorus of boos if you win....or at least applause for both performance. And for what they did, they deserved applause. But, needless to say, this match could have been just as good without it being Hell in a Cell. Heck....here's a storyline building question.....why wasn't a Steel Cage enough? I think they could have done alot more if it was a Steel Cage Match or a Women's Street Fight. So it's one of those where I can argue both Unsatisfied due to the ending, but Thoroughly Satisfied due to the in match storyline and admittedly to the legacy it will leave for the (here comes the bomb) Overemphasized, showponied, even borderline patronized Women's wrestling Revolution.
6.95 out of 10
Overall, in comparing the two Raw PPVs (Clash of Champions and Hell in a Cell) versus Smackdown's PPVs (Backlash and No Mercy), I can say with confidence that Smackdown has the momentum going into the first official Dual Brand PPV duel, Survivor Series. Raw has gotten more time, and has the fresher talent being showcased currently (highlighting Sasha, Charlotte, Owens, and Rollins). However, Raw really gets hurt by not only lazy storyline writing/lack thereof, but also dragging a few storylines through the checkpoints with cop out booking. I'm not saying EVERY match has to end clean, but there is a lack of creative that is showing and hurting. Plus, Raw has a plethora of talent (Sami Zayn, Neville, Strowman, Rich Swann, etc.) that is either not being utilized or being severely under utilized. That's not to say that Smackdown is perfect in that retrospect (Kalisto, Apollo Crews, Natalya) but I think with the crop of talent that both sides have, Smackdown utilizes a higher percentage of it.
Now, Smackdown' biggest hurdle is something that is also one of it's greatest strengths. Giving satisfying endings to PPVs makes it a little more difficult to motivate a viewer to check what's next, because endings seem pretty conclusive. That being said, great matches are great matches but without a storyline and a good narrative, they're just PWG matches. And even PWG has a story here and there.
Smackdown's storylines and character building has been top notch. From the draft to now, we as fans have finally been given reasons to care about Dolph Ziggler, The Miz, The Usos, and Heath Slater. John Cena has less boos coming to him nowadays. AJ STYLES IS THE WORLD CHAMPION and Dean Ambrose is more than just lunatic lunacy. There's rhyme and reason for Rhyno, The Headbangers, Naomi, Alexa Bliss, and so many more. BECKY LYNCH IS A CHAMPION. Hell, the brand split even made me entertained by Eva Marie....who I still think should have been gone for awhile!
Between the two sets of PPVs, Smackdown has made more people care about their brand. And if the results and feedback of the two PPVs are any indicator of which brand will be superior at Survivor Series, I would currently put whatever is left of my money on Smackdown Live right now. Better writing, better storyline transition and Payoff and all of that without the patronizing of certain subjects and without the sacrifice of match quality. The only things left for Smackdown live to get right....is Curt Hawkins and utilizing the heel teams outside of the Usos better.
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