10 Things We Learned From The Backlash Go-Home WWE SmackDown (May 16)
2. The Real Highlight Reel
Dolph Ziggler aired a video of his own WWE legacy in contrast to a Shinsuke Nakamura 'best of' that merely malfunctioned. With the 'King of Strong Style's only work for the company as part of the NXT brand, the 'Show Off' was able to position his Backlash opponent as an unworthy flash-in-the-pan.
It was a short but solid final salvo for Ziggler, who has been excellent in his role as an aggravated and weathered talent unmoved by the excitement around the Japanese star's arrival.
Troublingly for the creative team, their best work has been done separate from one another, with segments such as this doing far more for the build between the two than their weak in-ring exchanges.
With all of the company's marketing energy for Backlash placed around the Nakamura's maiden main roster match, there's a strong argument for the contest to go on last in place of either singles title match as a main event of the Chicago show.
Though the promos have only been passable, there's an understandably high weight of expectation for their match. Ziggler's divisively gymnastic bumping should benefit the high-impact strikes from Nakamura, and if their contest even comes close to Shinsuke's NXT debut in front of another partisan crowd, the character will likely be a long-term success.