WWE 2023: The Renaissance Era

[Stojy]

Being a fan of that previous era, WWE title and World Heavyweight Title as the two big belts for the brand split just feels right to me. Happy you've gone down that path.

A big night for The Usos. Multiple attacks and confrontations. I liked the one on LA Knight the most, as now Knight gets to rub shoulders with The Bloodline. Getting three way tag vibes from Owens/Zayn and The Profits teaming up to fight The Usos off. I'd be down for that at some point in the future for sure.

Push JD McDonagh to the moon please. You're off to a good start at least.

Not much in terms of Universal title hype tonight outside of Kross, but that's okay because this scene just feels really fresh which is great.

Solid edition of SD.

 

[Qui-Gon Bren]

SmackDown from Columbus!

Question about the World Heavyweight Championship. Triple H seemed to imply it is THE SAME title that was once awarded to him... so is your WHC continuing the lineage of the old WHC instead of starting as a new title from scratch? Because if so... hell yeah brother.

Let me get the Karrion Kross thoughts out of the way now. I've been honest about my difficulty connecting with him... BUT, I think this might have been your most effective use of him yet. Maybe it's because Cody and Seth weren't here, so he had a solo promo spotlight and the solo main event spotlight with a big win over Braun. Idk. But it worked for me for the first time here, so kudos!

JD getting a promo package after consecutive wins to start his main roster run is smart. We need to learn more about him! It's easy to see that JD is someone you believe in and probably have real plans for, so please keep sprinkling in this character work for him.

The tag team scene really was the main course of this show. I vaguely remember The Bloodline would randomly have these nights of terror where they would show up and kinda wreck shop to make a point, so these actions felt very in character and believable for them. Especially considering how bad things are for the family with Usos AND Roman losing the belts at Mania. Tensions gotta be high. I thought for sure the Owens/Montez match was going to end in a double DQ or something, so I was pleasantly surprised to see Montez actually get the win! Even if it's not how he would've liked. I'm curious is there a reason why the Usos gave Profits this win? Was it just to fuck with KO and Sami who are their true rivals? Regardless.. it's better than a non-finish any day.

This felt like a very focused episode. Not that others didn't, I just think the through line of the Bloodline really made this SmackDown stand out more from other episodes you've posted. Good show overall, and I'm ready for Backlash!

 

[Matrix]

SmackDown from Columbus!

Question about the World Heavyweight Championship. Triple H seemed to imply it is THE SAME title that was once awarded to him... so is your WHC continuing the lineage of the old WHC instead of starting as a new title from scratch? Because if so... hell yeah brother.

Let me get the Karrion Kross thoughts out of the way now. I've been honest about my difficulty connecting with him... BUT, I think this might have been your most effective use of him yet. Maybe it's because Cody and Seth weren't here, so he had a solo promo spotlight and the solo main event spotlight with a big win over Braun. Idk. But it worked for me for the first time here, so kudos!

JD getting a promo package after consecutive wins to start his main roster run is smart. We need to learn more about him! It's easy to see that JD is someone you believe in and probably have real plans for, so please keep sprinkling in this character work for him.

The tag team scene really was the main course of this show. I vaguely remember The Bloodline would randomly have these nights of terror where they would show up and kinda wreck shop to make a point, so these actions felt very in character and believable for them. Especially considering how bad things are for the family with Usos AND Roman losing the belts at Mania. Tensions gotta be high. I thought for sure the Owens/Montez match was going to end in a double DQ or something, so I was pleasantly surprised to see Montez actually get the win! Even if it's not how he would've liked. I'm curious is there a reason why the Usos gave Profits this win? Was it just to fuck with KO and Sami who are their true rivals? Regardless.. it's better than a non-finish any day.

This felt like a very focused episode. Not that others didn't, I just think the through line of the Bloodline really made this SmackDown stand out more from other episodes you've posted. Good show overall, and I'm ready for Backlash!

Yes I'm planning to continue the previous World Heavyweight Championship lineage. I thought it was weird WWE didn't.

The Usos basically just wanted to screw with KO and Sami as their true rivals. Plus they've beaten The Profits a few times, so in my mind they really don't fear them.