8 Ups & 1 Down From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (July 17)
6. Joe's Gonna Kill You
Last night yielded the Tye Dillinger vs. Samoa Joe bout we were supposed to get the previous week, and it ticked every box.
We got a goofy little backstage segment with 'The Perfect 10' and R-Truth (remember him?) beforehand, then highlights of Joe's merciless beatdown of Dillinger, which prompted Tye to come out like a house of fire. He attacked his imposing foe before the bell, giving him a fighting chance against one of the brand's most ferocious competitors. It didn't work, though. Joe posted Tye when the bout spilled outsides, murdered him with all kinds of strikes, then finished him off with the Coquina Clutch.
The match didn't even last two minutes from bell-to-bell, and it didn't need to. Dillinger is one the roster's lowest rung, while Joe is a borderline WWE Title contender, so there should be a clear gulf.
A moderate internet favourite he may be, but losing to guys further up the rankings is what Dillinger does best, so while he was put away quickly, he still looked good in the process. There was nothing wrong with this effective squash match at all.