5 Biggest Winners & Losers From WWE SmackDown Live (July 26)
The New Era hits a snag or two.
The 2016 Brand Split got off to the best possible start with Battleground 2016 and this week’s Raw. Over a combined six hours of programming, WWE successfully reignited fan interest with two of their best shows in recent memory. Each one was highlighted by thrilling in-ring action, logical storytelling, and a handful of exciting new directions: exactly the kind of shows WWE needed to produce after lukewarm response to the 2016 Draft, and a glimmer of hope for the future.
After a blockbuster Monday Night Raw that saw Finn Balor stake his claim at the top and Sasha Banks finally overturn her greatest nemesis, SmackDown always had its work cut-out. Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley set an incredibly high standard, and with Daniel Bryan reaffirming his desire to push SmackDown as a wrestling-first show, expectations were huge.
Did they deliver? Sadly not. Last night’s SmackDown Live represents the Brand Split’s first major hitch. The show wasn’t without its highlights, but they were few and far between, and for the most part, the blue brand struggled to match the incredible pace set by its big red cousin.
It would be wrong to write SmackDown off after a single show, but they’ve made a stuttering start, and now face an uphill battle to regain lost momentum. Regardless, some parties were still able to take steps forward last night, while others inevitably fell down the pecking order.
Going beyond straightforward match results, here are SmackDown Live’s 5 biggest winners and losers.
We'll start with the Losers...