SmackDown In A Nutshell: Lets Have A Party Before The Clash

It’s the go-home SmackDown in a Nutshell, so lets have a party before the Clash at the Castle!

Why a party before the Clash?

Well, in case you’ve been in a coma for a couple years, this party before the Clash is for Roman Reigns.

As in, he’s been the Universal Champion for two years now. And of course, he’s now got all the gold, at least until Saturday.

Whether he leaves Cardiff with all the gold remains to be seen. But, for tonight, he parties with the WWE Universe.

Actually, it was last Friday…but no biggie.

We might have some final hype, too…but we are pretty much set for the Clash, so let’s have a party.

It is time for…

SmackDown In A Nutshell: Lets Have A Party Before The Clash

Let the party get started and see how this Nutshell unfolds!

Best Match of the night:

It opened the show, and I have to say it was the best of the night.

That is, the Viking Rules match.

Interesting twist on an old concept, execution was strong all around, and it was entertaining.

Closing segment was good too. But I am sticking with the viking match.

Worst match of the night:

While I liked how it went, you could argue that Kross and Gulak was the least good match.

Some interaction, I couldn’t tell if it was just Kross no selling (building up his persona) or just…off.

Crowd Chants of the Night:

No chants, but I have to give folks credit for hanging in for effectively four hours of television tapings.

Star of the Night

Could go Viking Raiders.

Perhaps Kross and Scarlett, mostly because of the promo and the roses.

The Bloodline, the Honorary Uce, Drew McIntyre…sure why not.

And, for what it’s worth…how about the entire roster and announcers…for recording this a week ago and selling it like it was live.

Like, when Drew showed his wounds from “last week”.

Spot of the Night:

Xavier Woods took a nasty bump through two tables.

The Viking Raiders dropped him through those tables via their double power bomb, dubbed Ragnarok.

Jobber of the Night:

Sadly, Drew Gulak.

You knew before it happened that he had zero chance to defeat Karrion Kross. Not tonight…

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

Rousey’s suspension is officially lifted “by WWE HQ”. Adam Pearce did not like it…and he told her as much.

And…Rousey put him in the arm bar for his actions. For his part, it was a really good promo…

I have to wonder, while Pearce has done fine in his authority position…with WWE under new creative leadership, does this start him being written off?

Probably not, but I do wonder.

Also, it was called out all over…he might still be called Butch, but Pete Dunne’s ring gear was spotted on SmackDown.

Are we seeing a return of JBL? Sounded like him…and who else has a set of horns on a limo….

Botch of the night:

Not 100% that this was a botch, but the opening exchange between Karrion Kross and Drew Gulak, when there was the feigned handshake?

Just seemed awkward, like, they didn’t shake, but they didn’t do much of anything.

Non-wrestling, but whoever decided making that stretch BMW a stretch BMW? That was a botch…

LOL Moment of the night:

Sami, with a paisley tux, telling Jimmy and Jey it was “tribal print”.

Noteworthy Moment:

Now, I am clearly having some wishful thinking here…but…

Seeing Hit Row and Street Profits work together against Maximum Male Models and Los Lotharios?

In September?

I mean…that’s a Survivor Series match right there…

Overall lowlights:

That this show was taped last week was understandable. Doesn’t mean I like it.

To be honest, until I scoured Twitter for photos and such for last week’s Nutshell, I was blissfully ignorant to the fact that even last week’s show was not live.

I get it, travel from the United States to Europe is not a short trip. Jet lag is a thing, and it makes a lot of sense to get the roster there ahead of time.

Doesn’t mean I have to like taped shows, or taped shows where you inadvertently get the spoilers last week, while looking for things for…last week’s show.

In a perfect world, I’d love WWE to take this type of opportunity to slot an NXT TakeOver into the Friday slot, or something along those lines.

NXT is largely not involved in Clash at the Castle, so it could work. Just my two cents that no one asked for…

But recalling that time when WWE had to scramble for another SmackDown, when much of the roster was stuck in travel hell after a KSA show…NXT did just fine.

Different roster, sure…but it can be done, and negates the need for taping and such.

Overall highlights:

The Viking Rules match. OK, fine, no rules and falls count anywhere has been done before.

But the viking ship, the water effects on all the video walls, the action was good and the crowd was digging it. Great match for the night.

After the final bell:

For a taped show, it was still satisfying. It hit on all the right notes and points you could ask for.

Some things left to be outside of the Clash-like what and who is next for Ronda Rousey?

But it was a solid show, and I am certainly looking forward to Clash at the Castle.