5 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (18 Sept - Results & Review)

2. Bakusai Takes A Step Back

Shinsuke Nakamura and Kyoki had a solid debut recently against The Miz and Kit Wilson, but maybe this week's slide was always going to happen when WWE’s grand plans for the tag-team division could be written on a napkin. Bakusai vs. MFTs went to a DQ in around 7 minutes, but it was a bit of a snore before that. No, that…isn’t a good sign for their coming rematch.

This whole division needs a rethink, man. It’s been hitting the skids for a long time now, and there’s just nothing to get excited about even if you adore tag-team wrestling. Sure, it is interesting to see someone like Kyoki on the roster, but it’s hardly great that his second televised match was mere time filler. The announcers barely even spoke about him on commentary or put over why fans should be buzzed about seeing him team with Nakamura.

Honestly? Your writer really wanted to like this more, but it’s tough to recommend.

Haku getting involved for the finish does give him some impact around ringside, to be fair. Someone needs to have a word with Talla about how painfully awkward and slow his big man offensive stuff is though. It's like pulling teeth, and he doesn't even complement Tama well as a partner either. MFTs are gonna have to do a whole heck of a lot better than this if they want their tag title reign to mean anything.

Meanwhile, it's plain to see that WWE will give up on Kyoki pronto. He already feels like just another dude who has nothing to help him stand out.