Well, it’s another SmackDown In A Nutshell, with this one our go-home edition. Hell In A Cell comes early for some this time around.
Yes, in case you missed it, Friday’s SmackDown features a Hell In A Cell match, with Rey Mysterio challenging Roman Reigns a few days early.
Unexpected, sure, but certainly exciting all the same.
So, that makes it a kind of loaded SmackDown In A Nutshell, to be fair. I mean, we’ve never had Hell In A Cell live, on broadcast television.
Maybe we shouldn’t, but it is happening and we will all be here to see it. Or read about it.
So, without any more banter…it is time for…
SmackDown In A Nutshell: Hell In A Cell Comes Early For Some
Let’s crack open this Nutshell and enjoy the show!
Best Match of the night:
The main event Hell In A Cell match, hands down.
Source: custom, WWE on Fox Twitter screenshot
Honestly, this one was not even remotely close. Which is saying a lot, because to be fair…we had a pretty strong show.
Worst match of the night:
If I was going to complain about any…maybe seeing Corbin lose clean was a bit of a surprise?
Dawkins and Otis not even having a match get started would be the closest other choice…and considering it served a purpose…I cannot complain.
Star of the Night
Now, this is kind of tough…
I mean, Rey lost. But he put on a great match, even in a losing effort.
Of course, with him losing, that means Roman Reigns won. Once again, the Head of the Table excelled.
Source: custom, WWE on Fox YouTube TV screenshot
So…let’s split the honor among the both of them.
Spot of the Night:
No single spot…but plenty to enjoy from Hell In A Cell.
Jobber of the Night:
In a bit of a stunner, I give this one to Angelo Dawkins.
I do think it could be worthwhile. Cute and funny Otis won Money In The Bank last year…on a lark.
Nasty and determined Otis, with the buttons being pushed by Chad Gable? No joke anymore, is he?
Source: custom, WWE on Fox Twitter screenshot
Upset of the Night:
Nothing tonight. Somewhat shorter stack of matches tonight, not as many to choose from…but nothing felt like it was an upset.
Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:
The Hell In A Cell match, for all intents and purposes, delivered better than I expected.
And, in all of that excitement, with Jimmy Uso coming down after…we didn’t get him attacking Roman Reigns.
I was so sure we’d see something setting up an impromptu Jimmy-Roman clash on Sunday…but nope.
Botch of the night:
I have no complaints. Perhaps would have done more post-match to close the show…but it is what it is.
Noteworthy Moment:
The King of Strong Style has a crown in WWE. Shinsuke Nakamura won a battle for King Corbin’s crown, which means…well I don’t know what it means.
Especially if WWE brings back King of the Ring, this one may end up meaning not all that much.
Been screaming into the void about #KOTR for years so time to shoot my shot. This works for people with the rumble so I’ll try it…
IM ANNOUNCING MYSELF AS THE FIRST CONTESTANT IN THE HOPEFULLY EVENTUAL KING OF THE RING TOURNAMENT (let’s see if this sticks)
— Austin #Creed4G4 – Future King of The Ring (@AustinCreedWins) June 17, 2021
But, for now, Shinsuke is a king and he has a crown to prove it. And no, not from Burger King.
Something to ponder: we swapped Reigns-Mysterio for Owens-Zayn, though as best I can tell, the new match won’t be in the Cell.
Which means, instead of two cage matches Sunday, we are down to just one. Card is always subject to change…but I am not expecting another Cell match added now.
Overall lowlights:
I came in to this show with honestly low expectations. The puzzling move to shift a Hell In A Cell match to SmackDown, rather than leaving it for Sunday was a bit of a stunner.
By the end of Sunday’s Hell In A Cell, I may feel that moving it was a good or bad move. For now, all I can say is…it worked out, and it leaves me with nothing really to complain about here.
I mean…one gripe might be that the Alpha Academy/Street Profits feud won’t likely give us a match Sunday. That build, and the Otis transformation, has been excellent.
Source: custom, WWE on Fox Twitter screenshot
So, it will be nice to see this one get settled in the ring…but we may have to wait a little.
Overall highlights:
Top to bottom, a strong show.
Really enjoyed the Hell In A Cell match, even if it should have stayed on Sunday.
Azeez debuted as an actual wrestler…and did not look terrible.
Owens and Zayn, while done quite a bit over the years, always seems to work.
After the final bell:
I’d almost call this an unconventional SmackDown, which thus gives us an unconventional Nutshell.
Having the blue brand Hell In A Cell match on Friday rather than Sunday is a bit puzzling, even if the match was very good.
Truly expected the shift to give us a different second Cell match, but alas, not yet.
All in all, a strong SmackDown In A Nutshell as the blue brand sends us on to Hell In A Cell.
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