9 Ups & 5 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (1 Nov)

Nov 2, 2019 November 2nd, 2019

1. Chaos Theory

It's also no coincidence that WWE produces their best work when their worst laid plans go awry.

Just imagine how prosaic this week's episode of SmackDown would have been without the drama unfolding at Riyadh airport. We'd have seen the usual copy and pasted edition, and this column would have bemoaned the fact, to the perpetual nauseum of both writer and audience.

Instead, we got without question the most entertaining episode of the FOX era. The indictment against many of the main talent - including the announce team - is profound. Look what SmackDown can accomplish when the typical, tired formula is unexpectedly rearranged.

That may be the key. By all accounts, it was Vince McMahon who re-wrote this show at the last minute, and to say he rolled back to the years to hit one out of the park is an understatement. The chairman always thrived under adversity. Legitimate adversity that is - not adversity of the sort that sees the company rake in millions in spite of ratings or interest. That's the sort of 'adversity' that has allowed WWE, exhausted by oversaturation, to pump out an easy template every week.

This was creative adversity. And he responded magnificently. What odds everything will be as usual next week?

Benjamin Richardson

Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.

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