5 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (1 Nov - Results & Review)
Ups...
5. At Last! Some Intrigue!
Onto the good that SmackDown had to offer. Pre-taped, fairly lifeless (in terms of atmosphere) effort or not, there were shining positives that acted like beacons of light. Just follow the light! Or the buzzards, if you're a Bray Wyatt super fan. Back to Smackers. It was a top idea to have Tiffany Stratton announce her intention to cash in Money In The Bank on either Nia Jax or Liv Morgan at Crown Jewel.
That story will have longer term ramifications on the weekly TV product than the milquetoast champ vs. champ belt Jax and Morgan are fighting over, and it's something fans can chew on heading into the PLE. You've got to give credit where it's due: These women didn't have much to work with for Friday's opening promo segment, so Tiff's timely announcement saved things.
There's no getting away from the fact that Nia vs. Liv feels ice cold though. Their heel vs. heel dynamic doesn't work, and it should act as a lesson learned for WWE creative if these Crown Jewel belts become an annual thing. Babyface vs. heel is the way to go. Christ, even face vs. face would be better than sticking two unlikeable characters in the same ring for a championship nobody cares about.
On the plus side, teasing that Stratton will rip Morgan's title away from Raw and parade it on SmackDown next to Nia is fun. So, mind you, is the thought that she's playing Jax like a cheap fiddle and will take her belt instead.