16 WTF Moments From WWE SmackDown (May 5)
Featuring AJ Styles, Roman Reigns, Rusev, Miz, and...Bob Backlund!?
This week's SmackDown was one with a definite theme of progression. AJ Styles and Roman Reigns' feud continued to deepen and entangle, without becoming inconsistent or overly-complex. Rusev's march towards Kalisto's US Championship continued to gather steam. Bob Backlund showed up as Darren Young's new mentor.
Wait, what!?
Yes, one of the year's biggest WTF Moments was buried deep within an innocuous episode of SmackDown, and paid little to no attention by the announce team or fans. Hold on tight - we could be about to enter bizarro territory over the next few weeks.
Elsewhere, the show was a strong one, with an abundance of good in-ring action, fantastic promo work from AJ Styles, Miz, Kevin Owens and others, and an engaging pace. Good work, blue brand!
16. 'Payback Is A Mitch'
A quick piece of advice for Mauro Ranallo: don't blow your best line at the start of the show! Wait for a more significant moment!
In all seriousness, Ranallo opened the show with a line guaranteed to set the internet alight. With fans giddy over the fact that Dean Ambrose actually named his potted plant, Mauro dropped a reference to it - explaining that Chris Jericho taught the Lunatic Fringe that 'Payback is a Mitch'.
Breathtaking wordplay.