SmackDown In A Nutshell: Crown Jewel Getting Closer

It’s an interesting night for a SmackDown in a Nutshell, especially as Crown Jewel is getting closer.

I say interesting, because, well…it’s October, late October at that.

And if you noticed, SmackDown got bounced to FS1…because, you know…baseball (Go Phillies!).

But, with Crown Jewel getting closer (it’s next weekend), this is going to actually be an interesting night for another reason.

WWE is taping both this week’s and next week’s shows tonight. It is, of course, because they need to send their Superstars to Saudi Arabia, and that is a long trip.

We know Roman Reigns is going to be back on the show. Ronda Rousey does have herself an open challenge, too.

Could that open challenge give us a big return or some other surprise? With Hunter…you never know.

Plus, what is the latest coming at us for Bray Wyatt?

That is what a lot of people want to find out, since he’s been hugely popular since coming back.

So, without further delay, it is time for…

SmackDown In A Nutshell: Crown Jewel Getting Closer

Let’s crack open this Nutshell and get into it!

Best Match of the night:

I’d go with the opening of Sami and Solo against Butch and Ridge.

Plenty entertaining, a bit of vengeance for Sheamus…lots of Bloodline fun too.

And, they likely ran them earlier to get some on an earlier flight. Maybe not…but who knows.

Worst match of the night:

I guess the Rousey match was OK, but it felt off to me. Unless Emma isn’t back for more than a cameo, that felt off too.

Was not a fan of New Day and Maximum Male Models, either.

Star of the Night

I have to go with Uncle Howdy, and all behind it.

Creepy, intriguing, and I don’t know with any degree of confidence who it is. I know I didn’t hear Bo Dallas…

The Bloodline was strong as always.

Also liked the new wrinkle from Shayna Baszler. I would love NXT nasty Baszler back, the woman who was unstoppable at one point even on the main roster.

Spot of the Night:

Nothing too major…but man oh man those chops on Rey were vicious.

I swear, Gunther could use those chops as a finisher.

Also…much more out of Uncle Howdy. I do wonder how long WWE can go with Bray versus…Bray…without wrestling.

So far…it is working.

Jobber of the Night:

Sad to say…but Emma.

More on that later.

Could also go Madcap here.

Upset of the Night:

Nothing really. I mean, Reigns was surely upset about Jey and Sami…

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

Not supremely holy sh@#, but I need to drop them somewhere, and here is that somewhere.

The Brawling Brutes-Butch and Ridge Holland-have themselves a tag title match against The Usos at Crown Jewel.

And, Bianca Belair goes against Bayley in a Last Woman Standing match. Something about that one feels…peculiar.

As in, a match you expect to be brutal (most last man standing matches go nuts), in a place where not that long ago, neither woman could wrestle.

Botch of the night:

Cole called Butch Dunne.

Like, we know he was…and we want him to be again…but…oops.

LOL Moment of the night:

Noteworthy Moment:

Another show, another return. We had heard rumblings she could be on her way back.

And…she was. Ronda Rousey had an open challenge tonight, and it was answered by Emma.

Might not have been the return, or the surprise, that fans wanted…but it gives an ever-growing women’s roster even more depth.

Surprised they had her lose, but then again…she wasn’t going to win the title tonight.

As another one…nice pairing of the musically inclined Shinsuke Nakamura with Hit Row. Feels like we haven’t seen him in a bit.

Overall lowlights:

Not a ton to hate.

New Day feels like they are stuck in a rut. Missing Big E doesn’t help…I almost feel like they either need a new partner…or they need to go away or split for a bit.

Maximum Male Models was barely tolerable with LA Knight. Without him…hard pass.

Overall highlights:

Another good segment to open with The Bloodline, and a bit of a surprise appearance from Reigns.

Uncle Howdy could be someone we expect. It could be someone we don’t.

Regardless, this is incredibly interesting, and it’s engaging. Fans are eating up Wyatt baring his soul, talking about not hiding behind masks and smoke and mirrors…

And then Uncle Howdy is like pulling him back. We have a program without a match, and it was our main event of the night.

That, right there, is confidence in the material and execution…and it did not disappoint.

After the final bell:

In the taped happenings that are going on as I type this, we have a stipulation match between Liv Morgan and Sonya Deville.

If that doesn’t cut the mustard, how about Rey’s title match, also being taped for next week.

Crown Jewel got a couple more matches, and the hits keep coming. With Crown Jewel getting closer by the minute…buckle up!