WWE SmackDown: 10 Things You Might Have Missed (Oct 17)

Low Bros

Randy Orton Sami Zayn
WWE

Yes, this week's edition of SmackDown Live! may have ended with Shane McMahon being employed show's biggest threat less than two weeks after the f*cking pillock risked life and limb to inflict needless extra punishment to win a match he already had in the bag. But the show has gained such a vibrant new energy in the aftermath of his plunge, that it's become harder to argue creative diversions for the characters involved.

The union of Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens (and the various angles that spin off from that) adds an entirely new dynamic to a SmackDown Live! roster becoming more and more like Monday Night Raw's champion-less universe as the days go by.

Top titleholder Jinder Mahal was absent last week, but people either weren't remotely bothered, or simply didn't care. In dishing out a challenge to Brock Lesnar this week, Mahal threatens to distance himself further from his contemporaries in a match that has at least as a morbidly curious quality rather than just the stench of death his previous encounters have imbued.

The very fact that the blue brand wasn't the 'Land Of Opportunity' in 2017 had been an increasing point of contention for several on the roster. The return of the prodigal son to the site of his kingdom in ruins should see to it that such optimism must return for the disenfranchised few.

10. Bryan's Good Day

Randy Orton Sami Zayn
WWE

Daniel Bryan was in fine fettle as he basked in the love of his own when Tuesday's edition of SmackDown Live! kicked off from the very building he tearfully retired in back in February 2016.

It was in direct contrast to his swift ruling at the top of last week's episode, in which the disappointed and disillusioned General Manager solemnly tied up the loose ends of his fraying tag division despite the 'bad day' he'd admitted he was having.

Though not outwardly stated, the implication was that he'd felt crushed by Sami Zayn's shocking decision to side with Kevin Owens in his Hell In A Cell encounter with Shane McMahon. And that was exactly what he intended to address once the crowd finally gave him the opportunity to get on to his scripted material.

With morale sufficiently boosted when his character needed it most, the GM soaked up the rapturous affection and wryly declared with typical humility that the show only had a two hour run time. He'll never not be Seattle's favourite son in WWE lore, but in this case particularly, the timing of the trip home couldn't have been better.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 30 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz", Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 50,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett