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Credit: WWE.com
This week’s SmackDown wasn’t the show we’ve gotten used to during the coronavirus pandemic, and the main reason it was different had to do with several talents who tested positive for COVID-19.
Renee Young, Kayla Braxton, Adam Pearce and Jamie Noble have confirmed that they were among those who contracted the virus.
Since WWE was unable to film a regular episode, he chose to capitalize on The Undertaker’s attention. Last trip Documentary received while playing his WrestleMania 36 Boneyard match against AJ Styles.
WWE announced an intercontinental title match between Drew Gulak and Styles earlier this week before the website was unavailable.
Let’s see what WWE did on SmackDown this week.
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SmackDown opened with a video package for The Undertaker before seeing part of the SmackDown roster on stage singing, “Thank you, Taker.”
After WWE promoted some special guests without talking about whether we’ll see new games, we came back from a break to see a replay of Boneyard’s match in ‘Mania.
WWE would show brief interviews between sections of the match with superstars like Edge and Roman Reigns praising The Undertaker as one of the best of all time.
WWE was forced to make some cuts in the match to fit the assigned segments, but most of the big moments were included.
Degree: A
Analysis
When you look at the situation WWE finds itself in right now, using the Boneyard match to fill most of the first hour was a smart move. It serves as a substitute for new games and as a WWE Network commercial.
It was one of the most praised matches in pay-per-view and may end up being his last performance as WWE Superstar, so it was interesting to see him again knowing that it can be done forever.
Brief interviews with legends between parts of the party helped break the action, but they also took everything out to make him feel much longer.
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Bayley and Sasha Banks joined Michael Cole and Corey Graves for the first new game of the night, which was a Fatal 4-Way with Alexa Bliss, Nikki Cross, Lacey Evans, and Dana Brooke.
Bliss and Cross worked together to take on Brooke and Evans from the start, but as soon as they cleared the ring, Cross went to roll up for a close drop.
She and Bliss seemed to understand what each woman was to her, so they didn’t take it personally when one went for a pin. The Sassy Southern Belle pulled La Diosa out of the ring and threw her onto the barricade.
Brooke nearly scored the win with a top rope chuck. After Evans released Bliss with The Women’s Right, Cross rolled The Sassy Southern Belle over the pin.
Degree: C +
Analysis
This was a solid performance from the four women involved, but it didn’t have the excitement we generally expect from a Fatal 4-Way.
Multi-person places were kept to a minimum, so most places we saw involved two or three people at most.
Crossing the victory was a pleasant surprise, but it also makes their next title game against Bayley a little more predictable. Cross is great, but it doesn’t seem like WWE is pressuring her as the next champion. Instead, she is just a challenger who will ultimately elevate Bayley.
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The Miz and Big E started things for their team in this great eight-man match. The power plant immediately took control and hit the apron to get the first near fall.
Golden Lynx and Gran Metalik had a chance to show off their high flying skills against Cesaro before Shinsuke Nakamura took over his partner.
A couple of different fights broke out at ringside, leaving The Miz, Morrison and Lucha House Party in the ring. The fighters sent The A-Lister and Friday Night Delight to score victory for their team.
Degree: yes
Analysis
With the number of people who have been diagnosed with coronavirus in WWE, the idea of having a match with so many people in the ring at one time seems strange.
That aside, this was a fun but predictable match. All eight men are talented artists in different ways, but matches like this only have a couple of patterns that they can follow to allow everyone to have some time in the ring.
Lucha House Party has had some good wins in the past few weeks, so it looks like WWE may be preparing them for a career with the tag titles. They deserve at least one shot at the title.
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After Boneyard’s match was over, Baron Corbin gave a promotion directed at Taker. He called The Deadman a kisser and said he’s been overrated for the past 30 years. Jeff Hardy attacked him to organize a game in the main event.
Despite some early shots from Hardy, The King took control early and kept The Charismatic Enigma punished for a few minutes with hard punches and introductions.
Hardy couldn’t change things until the fight left the ring. He sent Corbin over to the bulletin board before bringing him back to the ring.
The King was back in the driver’s seat when we returned from a break. The Enigma finally accomplished some of its signature moves before nailing Corbin with a Swanton for victory.
Corbin attacked him after the game, but Big E made the save and hit The Big Ending. Hardy motioned for Braun Strowman to join them in eliminating the King.
Degree: yes
Analysis
Whether his enemies want to admit it or not, Corbin is a good fighter. He does everything with a high level of precision and makes his opponents look good by selling his offense more than most men of his size.
It is also a natural heel that can work with any baby face. It may not have the most exciting movement arsenal, but you can always rely on it to hit everything safely.
Having a bunch of Superstars around the ring felt really random until the last few minutes revealed that Corbin was hosting Eric Bischoff at the ECW One Night Stand treatment.
This was a decent main event, but nothing to write home about. What happened after it ended was the most fun.
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