With a selection of pretty average PPVs now under their belt, the WWE are motoring onwards through the year as we approach their next biggest event; Survivor Series. For this outing, we focus on Smackdown, in the hopes that we see a better performance from the blue than we have seen from the red brand.
CHAD GABLE AND SHELTON BENJAMIN VS THE HYPE BROS (Kickoff)
Smackdown kicks off the proceedings with a tag team match featuring the recently returned Shelton Benjamin. Chad Gable has found himself being a spare part since the WWE split American Alpha and he is in desperate need of a win if he wants to try and keep even an ounce of momentum. Meanwhile, the Hype Bros seem to have their push stop/started more than Bray Wyatt and after Mojo Rawley won the Andre the Giant Battle Royal, he has struggled to keep whatever momentum gained going.
This is really just a nice and easy match to get the crowd going for the main card, and we can expect to see Shelton Benjamin grab the win in order for WWE to justify his return. But is this the start of a new tag team between the two?
WINNER: Benjamin and Gable
THE RETURN OF THE FASHION FILES
Breezango are having the time of their lives doing this ridiculous gimmick, which oddly seems to be working. Both men were at a loss when they were singles wrestlers and to me, it’s obvious The Fashion Files were given to them in the hopes it would bury their career. It has since become one of the funniest segments in WWE, and although it is totally bat shit crazy, I seem to find myself grinning whenever they appear on our screens. The Fashion Files remains a firm fan favourite and with its return at Hell In A Cell, it may set them up for greater things further down the line.
RANDY ORTON VS. RUSEV
 For reasons unknown to the rest of us, Rusev seems to be on Vince McMahon’s hit list at the moment, after suffering a crushing and humiliating defeat to Randal in seconds during their match at Summerslam. This is a shame because Rusev is an extremely talented wrestler and I can still remember the days where he was making Jack Swagger look like a two year old and his outstanding matches with John Cena. Whatever he has done backstage has covered him in so much heat that this could be Vince’s way of trying to force him out of the company.
Randy Orton is currently just doing his thing, strolling to the ring and looking pretty cool doing it. His last 12 months with the company have been reasonably successful, and his performances remain consistent if nothing else.
The outcome of this match depends on whether or not Rusev is still out of favour, but I really am hoping that the match lasts longer than a few seconds. This match has the potential to be the match of the night, but only if creative use their heads.
WINNER: Randy Orton
BOBBY ROODE VS. DOLPH ZIGGLER
Since making the jump from TNA to NXT, Bobby Roode has had a lot of success in the WWE. He held the NXT belt for what seemed like an eternity before his eventual debut on the main roster. There is no denying the fact that he is clearly one of the most talented wrestlers on the roster today, and as he still has a bus full of momentum behind him – WWE will want to keep this going.
Dolph Ziggler seems to have ended up as the man that nobody has any idea what to do with. His push has so far been sidelined and I find myself noticing that he is now being jobbed out to former NXT stars. This is a shame because Ziggler is one of the best performers in the business and can sell absolutely anything, but if the WWE carry on with this direction, then I wouldn’t be surprised if we see the man ask for his release after Wrestlemania.
WINNER: Bobby Roode
UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
AJ STYLES ( C ) VS BARON CORBIN
AJ Styles is arguably one of the best wrestlers in the business today, and since making his debut at the Royal Rumble, he has worked his southern ass to the bone for the WWE, becoming the first TNA wrestler to hold the WWE Championship. Since grabbing his hands on the US gold, he has done an outstanding job in not only bringing the belt back up to scratch, but also making the fans believe the belt means something.
Baron Corbin has had a rough run in the WWE. After receiving a monster push, he has now joined the very small list of failed MITB cash-ins, while gathering a certain amount of heat backstage due to John Cena acting like a child (if you believe the rumours). Corbin is in desperate need of a win, but if he does manage to wrestle the belt off of AJ, then I think it would do his career more harm than good.
WINNER: AJ Styles
SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
THE NEW DAY (C) VS THE USOS
The Smackdown Tag Team Division is poor at the moment, with the belt being passed between a couple of teams on a regular basis.
The New Day still remain over to a certain extent, but their gimmick and the crotch wiggling is really starting to get old. I understand the theory that the WWE are going with here, but the New Day really doesn’t need the titles at the moment.
The Usos heel run has been one of the best things the WWE creative have done over the last few years, with the twin brothers carrying themselves fantastically as heels. The Usos possess some of the finest in-ring ability in the business and really do deserve another shot with the belts, with all their reigns being cut far too short so far.
WINNER: NEW DAY TO RETAIN
WWE SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
NATALYA (C) VS CHARLOTTE FLAIR
Natalya has finally managed to get her hands on championship gold, and I’ll be honest when I say that her run so far as champ has been massively underwhelming. I don’t think I am alone in saying that she has a massive amount of talent, but all WWE want to push is the fact she is Brett Hart’s daughter.
Charlotte Flair, on the other hand, has been a key player in the phenomenal rise of female wrestling. She has easily been the best female champion that the company has seen for years, and I find her thoroughly enjoyable to watch in the ring. But then, the WWE like to mention every so often, that she is the daughter of Ric Flair.
I believe that is where the idea of this match came from. WWE want to try and reinvigorate the once timeless rivalry between Ric Flair and Brett Hart by using their daughters instead. Whether this will work is open to interpretation, but Smackdown need a good Women’s champion.
WINNER: Charlotte
WWE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
JINDER MAHAL (C) VS SHINSUKE NAKAMURA
Jinder Mahal’s rise to the top spot has been one of both amazement and down to the business mind of the WWE. With their brand now pushing into the huge Indian market, it makes sense to put your title on someone with Indian roots (let’s just forget the fact that he is actually Canadian!). I am not overly impressed with either his character, nor his in-ring ability, but I have noticed that he is slowly working his way over with the fans.
Shinsuke Nakamura is a man who spent years building both his character and style of wrestling in New Japan, only to arrive at the WWE with the company having no idea what to do with him. I understand his wrestling style is an acquired taste, but it is painfully obvious to any wrestling fan that he is struggling to try and adapt to the WWE style, which is a great shame.
If Shinsuke Nakamura grabs the belt, then it would be an amazing achievement and will finally provide me with a champion to get behind after Bray Wyatt lost his belt to Randy Orton. But either way we look at this, I highly doubt the WWE will take the belt off Mahal. After all, it’s not best for business!
WINNER: Jinder Mahal
HELL IN A CELL MATCH
SHANE MCMAHON VS. KEVIN OWENS
This feud started with the headbutt that was felt around the wrestling world, and this matchup has many critics divided.
The bottom dollar of the matter is is Shane far too old to be stepping in the ring and performing insane sports? Can we expect a dive from the top of the cell? Shane needs to take a step away from the ring and concentrate on making the blue brand work. However, all the risks aside, I am looking forward to watching the man throw himself around again.
Kevin Owens is up there with AJ Styles as one of the best wrestlers in the company and the Summer of Friendship with Chris Jericho remains one of the greatest ever segments in WWE in recent years. However, after being demolished by Goldberg, Owens has found himself as a bit of a lost puppy, but this match is perfect for him. If he can put on a good match with Shane O’Mac, then that will truly cement his reputation in the months to come.
My call on this match is a little risky, but I truly feel that Shane may need this after losing to The Undertaker and getting his ass handed to him at Survivor series. Plus, I think it is what the fans want to see.
WINNER: Shane McMahon
So who have you guys got?
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