Aside from a few tiny details, this was an awesome go home show from SD's part so a well deserved 9/10 it is...Thoughts:
- The opening bit with Shane giving somewhat of a pep talk is one of the minor things I didn't like. Idk, maybe it's just me, but it just didn't feel as genuine, I suppose, as it should. On the other hand, though, I must note that both Becky and especially Baron Corbin delivered their lines perfectly; this is a good step forward for Mr. Corbin...
- The second thing that I kind of didn't like is during the final segment and the RAW invasion, how Roman Reigns and Strowman basically worked together cohesively. I understand this was strictly about RAW getting their revenge on Smackdown but doesn't Braun just hate Roman Reigns in storyline? Again, it's really a minor thing but kind of storyline stupidity, don't you think?
- Congratulations to Charlotte and of course great to see Ric Flair....
- Absolutely fantastic promo by DB and, you know, if he were cleared to wrestle, you would almost think they just planted the seeds for a future Brayn/Lesnar match....
- Generally speaking, indeed this has shaped up to be a really stacked card and literally a "can't miss" PPV that has all the potential to be one of the all time greats and most certainly one of the top 3 for 2017.
For the most part, I can honestly say I'm pretty much locked in as far as my predictions are concerned and will try to perhaps post my thoughts during the weekend, provided I have the time to do so. I will say this though:
In regards to the 5 on 5 main event, it appears that the majority of people are predicting RAW going over for various, valid reasons. As we all remember, SD was the brand that got the win last year and then this time around Stephanie already added the caviot of basically Kurt Angle's job being on the line so these two points alone are pretty solid in theory to justify a win for the red brand, not to mention the bragging rights and/ or the constant mentioning of "A show", "B show", "The show" and whatnot.
While I still want to give this a bit more thought, my initial take is that Smackdown is winning again. Let me put it this way: I feel it makes more sense for Smackdown to win...
The easy point I could make is that, as we all know, whomever stands tall on the go home show usually loses at the following PPV and vice versa but that's not exactly a really valid point, is it now? And, of course, it's not always necessarily a given...
However, think about the potential storylines that could come out of such an outcome this Sunday. This ain't going to be popular but the "Authority" can easily blame Kurt Angle for the loss but perhaps instead of firing him, they allow Kurt to keep his job under their "watch". So basically the Authority would step in as and when they please to do so by, say, overturn certain decisions Angle makes or change up matches, stipulations, whatever. Meanwhile, they could have Jason Jordan being somewhat "punished" because of his father in handicap match situations or ignore him by not giving him opprtunities to challenge for a title (IC in particular). Or, if they do, they make sure the odds are so stacked against him, there's no way JJ could win.
What this could do is eventually lead up to what I mentioned yesterday in another thread, a HHH/JJ match in which Hunter basically destroys Jordan, sledge hammer and all putting him on the shelf for a dew months, while Kurt Angle has his hands tied and can do nothing about it. This would be the time that Kurt Angle eventually snaps, says enough is enough, talks about not giving two shits about his job as GM and challenges HHH for a match at Mania. By now, this build has made things 100% personal but if someone wanted to spice things up even more, maybe Kurt Angle puts his job on the line as well. Who goes over? Obviously Kurt Angle and when finally taking his revenge, then you could have Jason Jordan...turn on his "father". The story is already there: "you took me off the RAW team at Survivor Series, took away the great opportunity to wrestle along your side, afterwards cost me any other opportunities to compete for a title, did nothing when HHH destroyed me and "injured" me forcing me to be out for months"....
Meanwhile, as SD celebrate their victory, DB drops the bomb by telling Shane that he is leaving the company. As much as it hurts me to say, it almost seems inevitable with Bryan's desire to wrestle again and so long as WWE ain't giving him the green light, I can't see him staying once his contract is up. So the easiest thing to do is have DB bring up the trust issue thing, based on SD's attack on RAW a few weeks back. "How can I ever trust you again?"
I understand this is me pretty much going fantasy booking and do realise the other potential ways this can go. For instance, the most popular theory out there is KO and Zayn costing SD the win, which indeed could happen but knowing how WWE tends to operate when picking up on the fan and or various website talk, I wouldn't be surprised if they passed on the idea, as much sense as it would make. Don't go too far, just this past Monday everybody was anticipating Paige and...what happened exactly?
Come to think of it, what other big match is their for SD to win? If we are to rightfully assume that the Shield are going over against New Day and if Brock is going over AJ, there's not much else left, is there? Sure, Corbin could beat Miz, Charlotte could beat Bliss and the Usos could beat the Bar but Smackdown does need to win at least one of the big ones' right? So, if we are to furthermore assume that the 5 on 5 women's elimination match goes to RAW (cause Asuka JUST HAS to be amongst the survivors on the RAW side, if not the sole surivivor), the main event is really the only one left for the blue brand...
