It’s once again time for SmackDown in a Nutshell, and it’s hard to not notice: the road to Dallas is getting shorter.

Like, in less than a month, it’s WrestleMania.

Oddly enough, as we look at the preview for SmackDown this week…it seems rather unassuming.

No significantly major matches announced. We don’t have any telegraphed confrontation featuring Lesnar and Reigns either.

So, perhaps we get to go into this show with low expectations and be blown away by a good show (we can hope).

Starting with that champion versus champion theme, it’s fair to think there might just be some fallout from their encounter last week at Madison Square Garden.

Will we see more matches set up, or formally made? Perhaps.

Because, the blue brand is running out of time. There aren’t many shows left, and the road to Dallas is getting shorter.

We have a handful of matches set across both nights…but there’s plenty of show left to fill.

So, with the road getting shorter, it’s time to dive in and do our thing. It is time for…

SmackDown In A Nutshell: The Road To Dallas Is Getting Shorter

Let’s crack open this Nutshell and find out!

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Best Match of the night:

Ricochet versus Sami Zayn.

If Zayn wasn’t lining up against Knoxville, I think he still holds the gold.

He is doing some of his best work…and Ricochet and him had a great match tonight.

Worst match of the night:

Can I hate Sheamus and Ridge Holland versus Big E and Kofi?

I think I can.

Nothing against the match on the surface.

But…between WWE renaming Pete Dunne, and then Big E landing on his head and getting hurt?

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Yea, this match was a buzzkill.

Sad thing is, if Ridge can avoid the major botches…this could be a nice new trio…

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Star of the Night

Ricochet. Might as well be Ricochet, defending his title in the main event on SmackDown.

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Spot of the Night:

For all the wrong reasons…

Jobber of the Night:

Whoever it was that took this shot…

Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:

After what happened to Big E, this one almost doesn’t matter.

But, on any other night….

Botch of the night:

It could be an accident, which I would call something not exactly a botch…sorta. I mean, sometimes freak accidents happen and it is not a screw up.

However…

Big E took a terrible bump tonight. Landing on his head, and based on what we are hearing post-SmackDown, he has a broken neck.

This is the downside of pro wrestling-we never know when it’s a work or a shoot, or we are at least always skeptical.

However, this one did not look good, and does not feel like a work.

All we can do is hope it’s not nearly as bad as may be feared, nor as bad as it looked.

Commentary of the night:

Not a line…but…McAfee does McAfee things…

LOL Moment of the night:

Not from the show, but before.

Knoxville posting Zayn’s number for LA to enjoy.

Hopefully (I have to think?) it was a burner number for this stunt…

Noteworthy Moment:

This one is still all about Big E…

OK, not all.

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We know who is challenging Jimmy and Jey. No New Day, no Viking Raiders.

Instead…Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs.

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And…I am OK with this.

Overall lowlights:

Hate seeing an injury like Big E’s.

That hurt far worse than WWE doing another moronic name change and calling Pete Dunne “Butch”.

That is just about as bad as WALTER to Gunther. If you want to add Butch to his name?

Maybe…but Pete Dunne…the Bruiserweight? He didn’t need a tweak.

Like, you have the announce team acknowledging his former name…we all know who he is.

This isn’t 20 years ago, where in OVW or FCW, they could be one name, and when called up, give them a different one.

NXT is watchable, rather easily seen. Pete Dunne’s matches are all over the Network.

It’s insane…and somewhere, guys like Killer Kross, Keith Lee and more are just laughing.

Overall highlights:

Brock was fun. How could you not dig him flinging the belt?


Sami and Ricochet were great.

I love seeing Pete Dunne on SmackDown…I don’t love the name change, or even McAfee acknowledging “you may know him by another name…”

After the final bell:

Yes, the road is getting shorter…but for at least the moment, the road to WrestleMania seems…less important.

I keep saying it, but it’s true.

Once you see that Big E bump…not much else mattered. Yes, the show went on, no issues there.

But it definitely takes wind out of sails, and makes the rest of the show…actually all of the show…seem so much less significant.

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I mean…just a few months ago we were complaining about how badly his title run was handled.

Now…we don’t even know if or when he could wrestle again.

Get well, Big E.

 

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