How SmackDown On Fox FINALLY Became WWE's A-Show

It was fitting that, on the day Paul Heyman's removal from the top table was confirmed, an episode of SmackDown aired that felt right out of his wheelhouse.

The sensational AJ Styles/Daniel Bryan match was not the first banger the latter has had in the last month or so, but was still shockingly good considering the excruciatingly tight constraints of main roster pro wrestling. Styles has won a well worked and well booked wrestling tournament, which, save for the Elias/Hardy/Sheamus madness has been just one more treat on Friday nights. That it concluded on this episode was where it mirrored Heyman's old trick.

It was like 2002 all over again. "Distract McMahon with p*ss in the face in Seg 1 and he won't notice Bryan and AJ going 30+ in the middle of the show" was perhaps the text sent fro, Paul E and Brucey to ensure the episode played out as it did.

However it happened, it still happened. The match was informed and elevated by the rich history between the two and the experience they were both able to bring to a wonderful match. The Intercontinental Title has again been ripped from life support and back into action. Traditionally, this sort of thing won't have drawn viewers, but SmackDown thankfully has enough other things going on to try and help them retain or regain numbers. Not least if upcoming debutant Matt Riddle fancies his chance against 'The Phenomenal One'.

The blue brand was the B-Show before it simply became merely A Show with a hugely underwhelming Network and night-of-the-week move, but the time of McMahon getting his yuks from dog food and So...Much...Corbin feels so much more than an empty arena era ago. Long may this - like his g*ddamn storylines for a change - continue.