SmackDown In A Nutshell: Dallas Is Getting Closer…

It’s the next to last SmackDown In A Nutshell, and Dallas is getting closer.

Metaphorically, anyways. After all, this week’s SmackDown is in Brooklyn, which is not exactly next door to Dallas.

And it wasn’t that long ago that SmackDown was in Birmingham, which for those without a map…is closer to Dallas.

But, this is SmackDown in a Nutshell, not “Travel Logistics 101”.

So, from a scheduling and calendar perspective, Dallas is getting closer. I feel like this show almost becomes the go-home show, since next week is a unique show.

SmackDown will be in Dallas next week, and the Hall of Fame happens as a part of the show…or kind of.

Regardless, that does mean Dallas is getting closer. This is the last show before all the fun for the blue brand heads to the state of Texas.

WrestleMania 38 in Dallas is just a week away, so let’s not delay any more. It’s time for…

SmackDown In A Nutshell: Dallas Is Getting Closer…

Let’s crack open this Nutshell and get this show on the road!

Best Match of the night:

No match tonight. I’ll take the closing segment.

Really, the whole build to it, too.

Worst match of the night:

Angel pinning Ricochet way too fast in a Championship Contender match.

Fluke ending or not, Ricochet is a newly minted IC champ. Let him not be losing non-title matches already, by cheating or any other means.

But he did pull this one off..

Star of the Night

The crowd was hot. Reigns and Lesnar were up to snuff.

Spot of the Night:

Jobber of the Night:

I hate it…but Ricochet.

Or, that Suburban that Lesnar roughed up.

Though, those security guards in the final segment deserve consideration too…

Upset of the Night:

Ricochet, losing not once but twice.

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

The way it was set up, this felt like SmackDown’s go-home, with Reigns and Lesnar doing their thing.

I shall leave it at that.

Botch of the night:

Well, it was announced as Kofi versus Ridge Holland.

And the announcer said “heading to the ring, accompanied by Xavier Woods”…

But only Kofi came out, and then Kofi declared that Xavier was back and facing Ridge Holland.

Soo…there was an oops somewhere.

Also, not sure it was a total botch or something. But it was announced before the break to be Ricochet versus Humberto.

Then we came back from the break and it was Ricochet versus Angel.

LOL Moment of the night:

Cole asked, rhetorically, what mode Roman Reigns was in.

He answered himself with “greatness at a different level”.

And Pat corrected him in great fashion. “It’s on, not at. It’s GOD mode, not GAD”.

Noteworthy Moment:

Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t? Perhaps it shouldn’t be?

But, we will see the Andre The Giant Battle Royal next Friday.

Also, I think it’s notable who was shown to be in it-US Champ Finn Balor-and who was not…guys like Omos, who absolutely should be.

Overall lowlights:

It was an odd SmackDown, in that it just feels next week’s show is the 3rd night of WrestleMania.

This is one reason I’ve not been a fan of either the Friday SmackDown, nor the Saturday PPV (or even 2 day WrestleMania). There isn’t any sort of buffer…

And, with the Hall of Fame on Friday right after SmackDown…and next week also getting the Andre battle royal?

Yea, it’s a confounding thing. So in a lot of ways (read: Brock and Roman) I feel like this was their go-home effort.

That part was fine.

I don’t like the champ (Ricochet) losing non-title matches this soon. A triple threat next week for the title does not bode well…unless he loses and immediately gets a rematch on WrestleMania?

Overall highlights:

Brock.

Roman.

Heyman.

The Brooklyn crowd.

Pat McAfee.

This is why I tune in…

After the final bell:

Not the go-home show yet, but I am going to bet that we do not see the same Lesnar-Reigns fireworks next Friday.

And I wonder if Rousey-Flair finished theirs last week?

Honestly, if I had to guess, I would say MOST of the biggest hype was wrapped tonight, or will be by RAW on Monday.

Because Dallas is getting closer, and time is short.