It’s another Friday, so it brings us yet another SmackDown In A Nutshell. This time around, it’s time to work off the turkey!

At least, for those of us in the states, this would be our post-Thanksgiving hangover edition of SmackDown In A Nutshell.

It also happens to be the first Nutshell for the blue brand after Survivor Series.

And, without a December PPV, it means we won’t likely see too much hype for the Day 1 show just yet.

Of course, we could see WWE go crazy and set up a match already…but with over a month to go, I am willing to bet they don’t do a whole lot just yet.

I mean, after an eventful Survivor Series,  they can afford a little break, right? Though, it could have been crazier...and we did get a new WWE egg…

After all, it’s time to work off the turkey and get back into the groove.

So, let’s not delay too much more, it is time for…

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SmackDown In A Nutshell: It’s Time To Work Off The Turkey

Let’s crack open this Nutshell and work off the turkey in style!

Best Match of the night:

I wanted to say the main event…and I feel like it’s getting it by default.

However, it was not without it’s flaws.

For one, one of the shows bigger stars was not even in the match.

Another reason was the swerve ending. Hardy would have been a feel-good moment.

Having Zayn steal it, in a way we’ve seen used in the Royal Rumble? Maybe it’s me,  but that felt cheap or just pointless.

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And then having thunder stolen by the Lesnar announcement? It was just a bizarre (to me) last few minutes of the show.

Worst match of the night:

Kind of not knocking the match, but the naming and gimmick.

That leftovers throwdown was just a mess.

Then again, I disliked Ridge Holland versus Cesaro…if only because, well, I feel like having Holland win his debut would be the right call.

Star of the Night

I wanted to go with Jeff Hardy, because he very nearly won the Battle Royal.

Except, Sami Zayn went out the middle rope, was completely ignored and then dumped Hardy over the top rope.

Of course, Kayla Braxton stole his thunder by announcing…Lesnar returns next week.

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Spot of the Night:

This one made me smile…

 

Jobber of the Night:

Not sure where to go here…so I will abstain.

Upset of the Night:

Well, when Sheamus told him he didn’t make the match, it’s easy to see why Drew McIntyre was upset…

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

Yes, they really left Drew out of the Battle Royal.

And yes, he really did storm the ring before the match started, in order to show off Angela…

Botch of the night:

Toni Storm fumbled an early line…she’s got a big shot against Charlotte…she cannot do that.

Then again, Sonya Deville did say “Pat, let me ask you a story”….

Commentary of the night:

“Pat, who signs your check?” (Deville)

“I thought the man with the $100 million egg did” (McAfee).

He really is the best announcer they’ve got, isn’t he…

LOL Moment of the night:

The post-Thanksgiving theming went a bit far, no?

A Black Friday “Invitational” Battle Royal to determine the next #1 contender for the Universal Championship? OK, fine.

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But…a Thanksgiving Leftovers Throwdown? I mean, nothing against Rick Boogs or Angel or anyone…but the name and theme are hard not to laugh at.

And then the food gets left there so that Charlotte can hit Toni Storm with a pie? I mean…I don’t know…just makes me laugh…but not necessarily in a ha ha funny kind of way.

More like…LOL this is what WWE thinks we want to see?

Noteworthy Moment:

The consistent teasing of Lesnar’s return continues. Right until the end of the show, when we found out…he’s back next week!

Now, however, Roman Reigns is intimating he could be leaving soon? Saying his exit could happen sooner rather than later?

Interesting to see where that one goes. I mean…he looked thrilled to learn Lesnar is back next week, didn’t he?

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Not as much as Adam Pierce…

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Is WWE giving Xia Li a good setup…or is this a harbinger of things to come?

Yes, she had similar comic vignettes in NXT…but the last time I believe we saw them for someone on the main roster, that Superstar was released soon after.

Overall lowlights:

I feel like the whole Naomi-Sonya Deville angle is dragging at this point. Everyone sees Deville doing what she’s doing, and it makes her a big heel.

And that is fine.

But it’s past time for a payoff. Or, at the very least, for things to escalate a bit beyond where they seem to be stalled.

And…who left Drew out?

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Overall highlights:

Contrasting the Naomi-Deville thing, we’ve got the build to Lesnar’s return.

I will admit, perhaps it is that one payoff interests me (and most) a lot more than the other.

Honestly, I think that’s one piece of it, but another is simply that having Heyman involved means you’ve got one of the better talkers in pro wrestling history pushing things forward.

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That matters, and it makes it fun. Lesnar can drive ratings and keep folks engaged, even without being on the show.

Though, he returns next week…that one will be must-see.

Seems the Beast wants to work off his turkey, too!

After the final bell:

So, the Deville thing is simmering or stalled? And Adam Pearce may be working on his own thing too, because how else is WWE going to explain keeping McIntyre out of the main event?

It will be interesting to see what they do with the current #1 contender, Sami Zayn. As in, heels rarely face heels in big matches, and Zayn does not scream PPV main event for most.

My gut says he is the sacrificial lamb that Lesnar destroys to swipe the title shot from. But it is only my gut.

And my gut needs to work off the turkey from Thanksgiving!

All in all, it was a bit of an unexpected show. Not the greatest in terms of wrestling, but we saw a few angles pushed forward.

And, Lesnar is back next week. Once that happens, all bets are off.

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