7 Ups & 4 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Oct 23)
Downs...
4. Well, Shane's Still Alive...
News that Shane McMahon's return to WWE television wasn't a one-off but a permanent move that'll see him reintegrated into SmackDown storylines, provoked ripples of concern. The last thing this brand needs is a second authority figure, given how affably unobtrusive Paige has been as General Manager, and Shane, on his worst days, is one of the worst meddlers in his business.
Last night wasn't one of those worst days, but it was pure filler. The Commissioner came out, said a few kind words about Evolution, did the same for the World Cup, cut-off the crowd's "CM Punk" chants, then promised someone from SD would win said tournament and be crowned "best in the world."
... aaaaand that was it. No point, no major message: just a reminder that Shane, Evolution, and Crown Jewel exist. One for the fast-forward button.