Sports

SmackDown In A Nutshell: World Cup Final Is Here!

It’s time for another SmackDown In A Nutshell, and this time around, the World Cup final is here!

No, not the soccer World Cup-though that is getting closer and closer.

This week, it’s the SmackDown World Cup. It should be a hot one too, as Ricochet is up against Santos Escobar.

Will Ligado figure into that decision?

Beyond that…well we have survived WarGames, so it’s anyone’s guess what comes next.

From a premium live event schedule, the company has nearly two months off between Survivor Series and Royal Rumble.

Translation there being…we don’t need to fire up a hype train just yet.

But, most important, the World Cup final is here, so lets get into it!

It is time for…

SmackDown In A Nutshell: World Cup Final Is Here!

source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot

Lets crack this one open!

Best Match of the night:

After witnessing the opening bout, Sami and Sheamus? I was like…no way they can top this.

source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot

And then the main event did. Ricochet and Santos Escobar delivered what might be the best non-PLE main event for WWE all year.

Flip a coin. Either is an acceptable choice, and in a debate such as this…we all win.

Worst match of the night:

Closest to bad would be Baszler and Emma…and I think my big complaint is just the length here.

source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot

Star of the Night

I could go Sheamus and Sami.

But…I am going with Ricochet, plus an honorable mention to Santos Escobar.

source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot

Both Superstars brought the A game this show, and it was a spectacle.

Anyone who’s watched them, especially in NXT, knew they could go. Putting them together in the World Cup final was a brilliant move.

Also, it was a somewhat subtle way to get Ricochet a rematch…and that match should be fun to watch in a couple weeks.

Spot of the Night:

Why not GUNTHER’s new finisher, the Last Symphony.

Or…this exchange.

Jobber of the Night:

Emma is the closest to it, and I really don’t feel strongly about it.

But…she did get dismissed quickly. Tough spot for her, but on the other hand, they need to re-build Baszler badly.

Upset of the Night:

None. Though I bet some heels were upset to see someone return…

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

Maybe it wasn’t this for all of you, but this one made me happy.

Botch of the night:

Nothing that I noticed.

LOL Moment of the night:

Sami is entertaining on so many levels. Can’t single one out tonight, but seriously…he’s on an epic tear and fun to watch.

Noteworthy Moment:

Tegan Nox is back…and it seems like that return buzz only really kicked in recently.

source: @wwe, twitter, screenshot

Karrion Kross seems to have pivoted his attention. Madcap is there…but so is Rey Mysterio.

Not so much noteworthy, but food for thought: it’s been suggested that WWE, that is, Hunter, know when Roman Reigns will lose, and to whom.

Or, at least the “to whom”.

Kross…or Sami Zayn? Or neither?

Also, for whatever reason, on December 2nd, Kofi Kingston became the first to declare for the Rumble.

I don’t hate it, but it is like…2 months away. Also, how some Superstars can just say “I’m in” and others have to qualify?

Happens every year. Might be cool to have some more structured qualifying, but that may never happen.

Overall lowlights:

It could have been notable too, but they’ve once again repackaged Lacy Evans.

I have to wonder if she can find her groove again. She had a bit of one in NXT, then got called up and…well…here we are.

Honestly, almost feel like adding her to Damage Control would have been-or could still be-smart.

Overall highlights:

This was a show that came out of nowhere, sorta.

In the aftermath of WarGames, we didn’t know much of what to expect.

We knew the World Cup final would be here…but that was about it. So, the show opens with a banger, gives us loads in the middle, and caps it off with a bang.

Seriously, I don’t know if the show being “only” 2 hours helps it or what, but this one was solid from start to finish.

After the final bell:

Well, for a show after a big show that had not much hype, this one was a really strong show.

We’ve got a strong IC title match in 2 weeks, so that’s something.

I am going to say this to close. On the heels of yet another female Superstar return, I think it is time for WWE to give fans a women’s US and Intercontinental Championship.

 

John Deegan

Introduced to professional wrestling in the 1980's thanks to Superstars and Saturday Night's Main Event, John's passion for the medium was reborn thanks to ECW in the 90's. A former in-ring "talent" with a career 0-2 record, he finds it more rewarding, and far less painful, to write about wrestling now.

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