6 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (19 June - Results & Review)
5. Melo & Saints Continue Working Well
SmackDown saw another good match between this duo.
Arguably, Carmelo Hayes vs. Trick Williams is the higher profile offering, but Ricky Saints getting the win and moving on to wrestle Trick should work because Williams is the obvious babyface in that situation and there'd be be no need for fans to split their love. Personally, this writer feels like WWE would’ve gone Triple Threat here if the top title scene wasn’t doing the same thing with Cody Rhodes, Gunther and Sami Zayn, but that’s OK; we can get there eventually.
They should, however, draw a line under this series of matches between Melo and Saints for now. This was good stuff, but you don't want things to get too repetitive. They have started rehashing spots from earlier bouts, after all, and even Wade Barrett has drawn attention to that on commentary. In fairness, that's kinda his job, and it'd be harsh to blame an announcer for paying attention.
Friday's finishing stretch with the exposed turnbuckle costing Hayes was also cool. Melo sold his head smacking against the buckle brilliantly. The way he flopped to the canvas after being knocked out was convincing, and Ricky's opportunistic pin then grin was very Edge-like. Maybe he wouldn't like that comparison given some frost between himself and Adam Copeland over in AEW!
It'd be brave to pitch Saints as a Trick-beating heel, but at least he has something going on around these parts. Fingers crossed poor Melo isn't forgotten about and downplayed too, 'cause he has so much more to offer.