WWE Nixed Plans For Bray Wyatt

Folks, we are barely a week away from the last WWE PPV of 2019-that would be TLC. We mentioned on Friday that WWE, at the direction of one Vince McMahon, was avoiding announcing matches for TLC ahead of the final week, for one reason or another. Does that mean we won’t hear a single match for the show until next week? Or, will we luck out and get a match or two officially booked on the blue brand’s weekly two hour fun fest? And, if we do get a match…who will let The Fiend in for TLC? Many speculate it will, of course, be Daniel Bryan, given what has been transpiring. Let’s crack open this Nutshell and find out!

Best Match of the night:

There are only two choices for me here.

1, Alexa Bliss with her return match. Short and sweet, which was fine.

2, the tag team elimination match. This saw The Revival earn a title shot at TLC

Worst match of the night:

I was happy to see Elias back last week, and intrigued he’s back as a face…but that match between he and Drake Maverick was just awful.

Jobber of the Night:

Haley Jones. No doubt about it

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

Somewhat surprising we had an attack by Bray Wyatt, not The Fiend.

SmackDown In A Nutshell: Who Will Let The Fiend In For TLC?

Also surprised, but in a good way, that we aren’t getting Daniel Bryan again against The Fiend at TLC. In fact, we didn’t have Daniel Bryan on TV at all. See, WWE knows sometimes you need to sell the impact of an attack! Plus, if they do a slower burn on this one, the rematch at the Rumble could be quite good.

Noteworthy Moment:

While Friday it was reported that Vince was avoiding naming the TLC card, SmackDown got us at least two matches made official. One we expected, one we did not.

We expected Baron Corbin and Roman Reigns. That one is a full on tables, ladders and chairs affair.

We thought we would get The Fiend and Daniel Bryan, especially based off of last week’s happenings.

Instead, we have been given (for now) The Miz versus…Bray Wyatt. Not The Fiend, but Wyatt. Which leads to some interesting opportunities…

Also, I really liked WWE establishing Lacey as a babyface now. Tonight was a good night for Evans. I liked her as a face in NXT, so I know she can pull it off.

Overall lowlights:

I get WWE wanting to make things, um…edgy? And to make certain angles or programs more personal, as a means to get them to matter more. That is totally smart and I am generally on board with that.

What they did with Roman Reigns? Whether it was really dog food or just food that was made to make us think it was dog food…just not a fan of going there.

I was not alone in thinking it was a bad one either.

Overall highlights:

Lacey Evans, establishing herself as a babyface

The tag match to determine #1 contenders

Happy for The Miz to get another title opportunity, even if he is just a sacrificial lamb.

After the final bell:

Well, with a week to go, that was an interesting show and that’s the nicest way I think I could put it. Not the best, not the worst…I just wanted more substance to set up TLC, and we came up short this week.

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