6 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (4 Sept - Results & Review)
1. Amazing Drama Puts A Bow On SmackDown
The closing 10 minutes or so of SmackDown was pro wrestling heaven.
Sami Zayn did everything he could think of to help Johnny Gargano become WWE Champ so he’d be first in line for a title shot, but nothing worked. Then, Nick Aldis threw him out and Punk hit a GTS for the win. Top stuff here. Outstanding storytelling and character work from everybody. That included Kevin Owens, Gunther and Finn Bálor, because all 3 even took more belt shots from Sami before the villain was booted from ringside.
The "Last Real Good Guy" is on a tear as a character right now. He isn't the only one. Everyone else in SmackDown's headline pack is coming across as a well-rounded human being with their own motivations and goals; but all of it is revolving around the most important prize: That WWE Championship.
What a really good, fresh main event this was. Post-match, Punk grabbed the mic and challenged Zayn to meet him in the ring next week in Mexico City for the belt he keeps using on everyone else. Here's hoping this isn't the end of the road for Gargano and Candice LeRae when it comes to Sami. They could be deployed as foil for him going forwards, then resentment could build once Johnny realises that his "friend" is actually just using him.
SmackDown closed with a mega-rematch on the horizon and so many powerful questions about where we go next once Gunther/KO/Bálor/Gargano/LeRae/Randy Orton/Cody Rhodes runs in on Punk vs. Zayn next week. Love that kind of drama.
What did you think of this week's WWE SmackDown? For more like this, check out 11 Legendarily BAD Wrestling Runs (With One ICONIC Moment) and 12 Wrestlers Who Looked COMPLETELY Out Of Place In Other Promotions!