7 Ups & 4 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Oct 23)

3. Why Even Bother?

Women's Battle Royal
WWE.com

Ye olde "card subject to change" disclaimer came into play on SmackDown, as the advertised Naomi vs. Mandy Rose singles match turned into a tag match, then a clusterf*ck segment, then the weakest copy/paste build angle imaginable.

Naomi and Asuka were getting ready to face Rose and Sonya Deville. The IIconics had other ideas, and emerged to cut their typically annoying (in a good way) promo on the Evolution battle royal, before more competitors arrived. Lana, Carmella, and Zelina Vega all showed up, a brawl broke out, and a bunch of different women got thrown over the top rope (because that's how battle royals work, y'know...), with 'The Empress Of Tomorrow' standing tall at the end, meaning she almost certainly won't be winning on Sunday.

The segment wasn't awful; just as boring and formulaic. Such battle royal previews, in which every competitor bar one is thrown out of the ring, are in league with contract signings that end with a table getting flipped and fists being thrown, or the textbook WWE revolving door opener. Please try harder.

Advertisement
Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.