Blue Brand Back Stateside

It’s another Friday (Saturday once it goes live!), which means its another SmackDown In A Nutshell. This one is a good one, if only because everyone got out of Saudi Arabia in a timely fashion. This SmackDown in a Nutshell is all about having the blue brand back stateside. Elimination Chamber is right around the corner. The setup will be quick and interesting, to say the least. The brand is back in Boston, with John Cena getting on the show for the first time in the better part of a year. So enough of the small talk, WWE fans. Let’s crack open this SmackDown in a Nutshell!

Best Match of the night:

I was kinda into Jimmy and Jey Uso agains the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions, Miz and Morrison. All of it was good except one bit.

That bit? Just…don’t have your newly minted champions take a clean loss a day later.

Worst match of the night:

I get that this had a purpose to serve…but beyond that, Naomi and Bayley was not worth the time, to me anyways.

Star of the Night

I know there are fans who somehow dislike The Fiend pointing to the sign. I didn’t like the rapid switch to a program with Cena, but regardless, to me, that was a fun setup for a match. Not quite as good as Undertaker and Hunter a few years back, but the idea was similar. No speaking when it came to the challenge and acceptance.

Also…how about some love for the folks handling logistics? Last time in, WWE had a horrible time getting home. Of course, that gave us a great, NXT driven blue brand show…but still. Congrats for getting out of the country.

Spot of the Night:

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

We had all heard the rumors. But, now she’s finally back…

Botch of the night:

Another week, another announcing gaffe. This time, we were supposed to hear from Drew Gulak, with Curtis Axel fighting Daniel Bryan. This time, he became Drew Axel.

And then, we have this:

Noteworthy Moment:

We’d heard rumblings of this before Saudi Arabia. Once we saw Goldberg squash The Fiend, it seemed destined.

Now, it’s official.

This might end up OK…but I am going in with low expectations.

Overall lowlights:

This particular fan does have an excellent point.

This was not a good start toward the WrestleMania clash that most fans don’t want. Will Vince pivot?

Overall highlights:

Was good to see Sasha back. Was really, really good to see John Cena back too. Would have been nice to see them before, but both getting the big home town return was awesome enough.

After the final bell:

I have one issue with the whole “John Cena came back to say John Cena isn’t working WrestleMania” bit. He didn’t have to come back to say goodbye, because he wasn’t saying goodbye, and he’s been gone for a while now. Fans on the internet might have been speculating, but in the end, nothing had to be addressed as he was gone and out of sight, out of mind.

Now, of course, he got emotional in Boston, home town crowd and all, and it would seem he was teasing retirement or some such. But the premise of him showing up was just…absurd.

The ending of the show, however, was I think well done. Fiend confrontation on the stage, pointing to the WrestleMania sign, and a hat tip from Cena confirms that match. Maybe WWE could have drawn the decision out a week or two, but as had been rumored, we are getting Wyatt and Cena. Personally, with Goldberg winning the title, I would have rather seen Cena get a title shot.

Plus, with Wyatt losing and dropping the belt in Saudi Arabia…the transition to Cena feels too quick, and Wyatt has lost some of the luster. Just my opinion, but it doesn’t feel like such a big match as it could have been.

I wasn’t the only one thinking that either…

That said, here’s something to keep in mind…

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