SmackDown Discussion 28/03/17 (Mania Go-Home Show)

Not sure why they kept Orton and Wyatt apart. No brawl or anything. The feud just seems to have fallen flat. This didn't feel like the last Smackdown before Mania to me. For once, I think Raw wins, even though they still can't manage their time properly and I skip through parts a lot.

I didn't have high hopes when I saw the preview to be honest. It was like they couldn't even be bothered with that.

The Miz and Cena feud hasn't been handled great. I like the Miz and his promos have been pretty good. But it's mainly him so it's pretty obvious that Cena is going to win since the majority of the feud is Miz mouthing off. Anyone else finding that? They've booked it so that it's really obvious who will win?

The Shane and Styles contract signing was weak sauce. Both guys did fine, but it did nothing to make me look forward to the match. And it's just going to be a standard match? Boring. Although I did like that they had Styles mention why it won't be so there is that. Don't mind so much when it makes sense, or if you think it doesn't make sense and they actually give you a reason that then does. Still though, can't say they did enough to make me excited for the match.

Naomi is back so guessing they're having her win at Mania. Again though, disappointed with how Smackdown handled it. Why show her on Smackdown? Would have been much better to have her as a surprise return at Mania where the fans would go wild. Have her as the last person to come out or something. Now we all know that she will be there. Could understand if she was a big money maker, but come on, we all know that she isn't. Not someone that is going to sell tickets. Surprise return at Mania would have been much better.

I hate saying it, but Raw really did win.

The Miz and Cena feud hasn't been handled great. I like the Miz and his promos have been pretty good. But it's mainly him so it's pretty obvious that Cena is going to win since the majority of the feud is Miz mouthing off. Anyone else finding that? They've booked it so that it's really obvious who will win?

The Shane and Styles contract signing was weak sauce. Both guys did fine, but it did nothing to make me look forward to the match. And it's just going to be a standard match? Boring. Although I did like that they had Styles mention why it won't be so there is that. Don't mind so much when it makes sense, or if you think it doesn't make sense and they actually give you a reason that then does. Still though, can't say they did enough to make me excited for the match.

I disagree The Miz and Cena feud has been pretty good up to this point. They have done a good job at making it feel like a big deal. Cena's segment was good on this show. Also the Total Bellas segments were hilarious. You can kind of feel some hate between the two kayfabe wise.

They have done enough in the past weeks to hype Shane vs. Styles, practically dedicating two shows to the whole feud. They've given this more attention than the world title match even.  Not saying its been perfectly done. I think you're being overly critcal of WWE though!

After Styles putting Shanes head through a car window, they made it seem like they were heading towards the usual Shane match where it's No DQ. I get Styles reasoning for it not being that, but the failed with this weeks Smackdown. Get some violence in there. Shane should have had a decent enough come back other than booking himself in a match with Styles. Bring him out, sign the contracts then kick the shit out of him so that they're equal going into Mania. Use what you can before the event/match where you can't, unless he wants to get DQ'd. Dedicating time to a match doesn't mean they've done enough if it's not booked well. Some has been good. I liked the whole head through a car window thing, wasn't perfect with that weird camera shot from inside the car, but was effective. I just feel like they've failed to capitalise on that. Should have done the head through a window last night instead in my opinion.

As for the Miz and Cena. Two guys that can deliver killer promos and so that's all they've really done. It was like Smackdown the talk show. I don't watch Total Bellas so don't know anything happening on there, but from the Smackdown segments there doesn't feel like hate between them. I'd have been happier if it was just The Miz and Cena. Not a fan of mixed-tag matches at all. It felt like the segment needed a good slap or something though. Add some real fire to the promo. Some passion. A parody doesn't do that. Needed a serious promo to make the match feel huge, kind of like how Cena and Nikki were when they came out. Last chance to sell it and they didn't. If the Miz did a promo like he's done to Daniel Bryan a few times, that would have totally sold the match, wouldn't even have needed Cena to respond.

Maybe I am being overly critical, but they've done better and for the final show before their biggest event of the year, I expect to be sold on the PPV. If I'd just watched this weeks shows and no others, I wouldn't be sold on watching Mania.

Maybe I am being overly critical, but they've done better and for the final show before their biggest event of the year, I expect to be sold on the PPV. If I'd just watched this weeks shows and no others, I wouldn't be sold on watching Mania.

I don't know. Apart from the ending of Raw, I thought it did a pretty good job. The confrontation between Goldberg and Lesnar just made Lesnar look like a chump again, but apart from that they did a good enough job of selling the event. Not seen Smackdown yet, but having read spoilers I can see where you're coming from - I won't judge though until I've watched it.

In terms of Miz and Cena, I think they are doing a fantastic job. All the classic feuds have these 20 minute promos that don't bore you but just hype you up for the match. Last night, Cena and Miz had that. I'll go as far to say that Miz TV segment was the best promo on SD since the draft split. A lot of people hated the idea if Cena/Nikki v Miz/Maryse, and they've done a great job at building heat and generating interest. Honestly, the intergender tag match has been the best built feud on the whole Mania card with the exception of Owens v Jericho.

In terms of Miz and Cena, I think they are doing a fantastic job. All the classic feuds have these 20 minute promos that don't bore you but just hype you up for the match. Last night, Cena and Miz had that. I'll go as far to say that Miz TV segment was the best promo on SD since the draft split. A lot of people hated the idea if Cena/Nikki v Miz/Maryse, and they've done a great job at building heat and generating interest. Honestly, the intergender tag match has been the best built feud on the whole Mania card with the exception of Owens v Jericho.

Maybe it is just me then. I'll agree with Owens vs Jericho. Don't agree with the whole losing the Universal Title thing but the feud since then has been good. So I can agree with that.

Seth Rollins vs. Triple H has been my next favourite booking wise. Considering they didn't even know if Rollins would be fully fit, they've done a good job with that one and their promos have been on point.

Then Neville vs AA, which is what puzzles me as to why they've dropped it to the pre-show. It's had time and been booked well. People are interested in it. Should be on the card.

As a side, was the IC Title even talked about last night? I can't remember anything with it. That title is going backwards which is a huge shame.

In terms of Miz and Cena, I think they are doing a fantastic job. All the classic feuds have these 20 minute promos that don't bore you but just hype you up for the match. Last night, Cena and Miz had that. I'll go as far to say that Miz TV segment was the best promo on SD since the draft split. A lot of people hated the idea if Cena/Nikki v Miz/Maryse, and they've done a great job at building heat and generating interest. Honestly, the intergender tag match has been the best built feud on the whole Mania card with the exception of Owens v Jericho.

Maybe it is just me then. I'll agree with Owens vs Jericho. Don't agree with the whole losing the Universal Title thing but the feud since then has been good. So I can agree with that.

Seth Rollins vs. Triple H has been my next favourite booking wise. Considering they didn't even know if Rollins would be fully fit, they've done a good job with that one and their promos have been on point.

Then Neville vs AA, which is what puzzles me as to why they've dropped it to the pre-show. It's had time and been booked well. People are interested in it. Should be on the card.

As a side, was the IC Title even talked about last night? I can't remember anything with it. That title is going backwards which is a huge shame.

I think the IC Title was talked about on Talking Smack. Was puzzled why they didn't even have a segment for Corbin and Ambrose on the actual Smackdown show. On a side note. Is anyone else kind of shocked how Naomi is so over?

I rewatched the promo from the Miz and Cena. Figured I was pretty tired last night watching it so would see how I feel now. Still not big on the Miz part, it was okay. But Cenas promo was pretty great. That's the Cena that I like. If the whole feud was like the Cena promo and part of the Miz promo then it would actually be a great feud from what I can remember of previous shows. I do wish they'd book Cena to be like that more often.

There. Now I'm going to go get more sleep because clearly I need it after staying up to watch Smackdown and then working all day.