SmackDown In A Nutshell: Can Otis Climb The Ladder?

It’s the end of another WWE week, which means another SmackDown In A Nutshell. This week gives us one big question: can Otis climb the ladder?

More specifically, can Otis defeat Dolph Ziggler and secure his spot in the men’s Money In The Bank ladder match. The PPV happens a week from Sunday.

Outside of that main event match, the rest of the card promises more of the same-Money In The Bank hype and prep all around.

So, without any more delay, let’s crack open another SmackDown In A Nutshell, and get our answer. Can Otis climb the ladder?

Best Match of the night:

I have to give it to Otis and Dolph Ziggler. Was a good television main event.

Worst match of the night:

Nothing really grabbed me as a bad match tonight. Sheamus beating the snot out of a jobber is par for the course recently, though with Jeff Hardy returning to television next week, that should change.

Star of the Night

Let’s give this one to big Otis. Congrats on the spot in the Money In The Bank ladder match, even if he’s probably there to take some bumps and not much else.

If he’s the top, then I have to give 1A to Sonya DeVille. She’s really coming into her own, I think.

Spot of the Night:

Nothing spoke to me this time.

Jobber of the Night:

This one sums up the jobber section, I think.

Upset of the Night:

You could argue that having the less seasoned Otis defeating Dolph Ziggler should rank as a small upset. I wouldn’t disagree with you.

That said, I do think having Otis win was a good call.

Maybe a case to be made for Fallen Sons over the tag champs, too? I always chuckle when a Superstar or Superstars was middle of the road in NXT and comes up and does better.

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

OK, this might seem like a weird one…but unless I missed it, this was the first time I’d heard that both ladder matches will happen simultaneously.

On one hand, this could be interesting. It could allow us to see some interesting mixed allegiances.

At the same time, I wasn’t the only one who was a bit puzzled by the decision…

Noteworthy Moment:

As I mentioned earlier..I wasn’t sleeping through the announcement. WWE tweeted as much during the show too.

It may work. It may not.

I will say this…WWE is trying to make things interesting when they are dealing with major shows sans fans.

Can’t fault them for trying, even if they may fail miserably. Or maybe they won’t.

We will find out a week from Sunday.

In other news, we have a six man tag match for next week-Daniel Bryan and Drew Gulak will have a mystery partner, facing King Corbin, Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro.

Who wants to bet we get the return of Chad Gable, and a new babyface trio that we’ve heard rumors of?

Overall lowlights:

Honestly, maybe I am numb this week, but I can’t complain about much.

I may end up hating the simultaneous Money In The Bank matches next week…but I will get to complain about it in that Nutshell, if and when it happens.

Overall highlights:

Even though Ziggler lost, he delivered a strong pre-match promo. I’d not be shocked if Ziggler didn’t interfere and keep Otis from winning.

Either way, giving Dolph a strong heel push is not a terrible idea.

I think it’s hard not to be excited about Jeff Hardy’s return. Not sure that I’d set him up with Sheamus immediately, but it should be a fun one.

Very intrigued to see the mystery partner next week, but I still say it’ll be Gable. Until it’s not.

After the final bell:

Well, we now know all but one participant in the ladder matches. That last spot gets filled on Monday.

A solid show, if not spectacular. I can live with it.