3 Ups & 6 Downs From WWE SmackDown (12 June - Results & Review)
Downs...
6. One Fatal-4-Way Too Many
Sorry in advance for the boatload of grumbles coming your way.
Friday's main event was as formulaic as they come, and was the lesser of the Fatal-4-Ways on SmackDown. Sure, Royce Keys got some power stuff in, and LA Knight is permanently over even though he’s often overlooked in terms of booking, but the match just wasn’t very exciting. The Bloodline stuff is too played out, and yet WWE seems intent on pushing it as the same “cinema” it was several years back.
Jey Uso winning will ruffle some feathers amongst the fanbase, but it probably needed to happen so he can put Je’Von Evans over in the semis, or Oba Femi in the final. Personally, this fan just wasn’t feeling this one despite the length or the commentary team trying to portray it as incredible. Working this and confronting Tama Tonga backstage marks an inauspicious start to life on SmackDown for Finn Bálor too.
In retrospect, WWE probs should’ve gone with Fatal-4-Ways for one of the tourneys, not both. Some worked better than others, which was always going to be the case, but this final effort on SmackDown felt completely lacking in drama, and the quartet on hand had no choice but to repeat spots people have already watched a hundred times before on recent editions or Raw and Smackers.
Being brutally honest, the bout didn't need that Shield tribute with the triple powerbomb on Keys either. That was out of place and almost comedic in a strange way. Why were Bálor, Uso and Knight so keen to work together? It didn't make sense.