The Ten Count: SmackDown Live, April 4
Every member of this addition of SmackDown Live rated 1-10 based off their performance.
SmackDown Live would answer this weeks strong episode of Raw with a decent showing of in ring action.
Randy Orton - 7
This episode of SmackDown felt very much about the future of the blue brand, but we opened with the present. The new 13 time WWE Champion would start the show by addressing his win against Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania 33. I'm going to be honest, it was not the greatest Randy Orton promo in the world, it almost felt as if he forgot his lines and started spouting the most generic lines. His in ring action saved him though.
Bray Wyatt - 8
Bray Wyatt did what Bray Wyatt does best. He cut a great promo. We now have a rematch inside a House of Horror match. An interesting concept which I'm pretty happy with. Bray had a good week this week but we'll have to see how he does next week as he has his ups and downs.
Erick Rowan - 8
It was great to see 'the black sheep' back on Tuesday, he added a different dimension to things and seemed to cope well in the tag team match main event between Randy Orton & Luke Harper (7) and the remnants of the Wyatt Family.
Naomi - 8
Naomi did a good job of selling a knee injury in a match for the SmackDown Women's Championship against former champ Alexa Bliss (7) The crowd weren't as in to this as a few of the other matches throughout the night but still a good match nevertheless.
Tye Dillinger - 9
Sorry guys no 10 here, but that's only because Tye Dillinger didn't have much to do. A great introduction to the main roster for Dillinger against a Curt Hawkins (5) who is left floundering in obscurity since his return.
The Miz - 9
The Miz showed great perceptive comedy as he came out dressed as John Cena again and gave a comically wooden performance escorted by wife Maryse (7) who added a decent performance as Nikki Bella.
Shinsuke Nakamura - 9
He didn't say a single word. That's how I want to keep it, Shinsuke and English don't go well together. He seems so much more captivating when he does his entrance and lets his in ring work do the talking. SmackDown is the 'land of opportunity' and I like the matches Shinsuke could have here with the boys in blue: Cena, AJ, Miz, Ambrose, Orton & Wyatt... some crazy match ups right there.
Dean Ambrose - 8
Ambrose looked at home in a street fight environment and it proved for a great match as he elevated Baron Corbin (9) to having a great match and getting a big win over the Intercontinental Champion. This is the match we should have got at Mania instead of the dead match we got on the WrestleMania kick off show. This feud roles on, more of this please.
Shane McMahon - 7
I'm not really sure what the purpose for Shane coming out was. He was supposed to address the 'superstar shakeup' but didn't say much of notice. He was then joined by AJ Styles (7) as the two showed a mutual sign of respect in an odd but decent exchange.
The night would then end with the tag team match set up at the top of the show in a match that Orton & Harper would win. I don't get what the point of 2 losses in a week for Bray Wyatt is and the returning Rowan taking the pin? Confusing. Nevertheless it was an entertaining match that every member of the match did their bit in.
So that's SmackDown. A lot more low key than Raw this week and a lot less entertaining on the mic but some fun in ring action nevertheless.
Commentators:
JBL: 6
Tom Phillips: 7
David Otunga: 8
Crowd: 8