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Tonight’s WWE SmackDown: 4 Hits & 2 Misses August 29
With only one more show before Clash in Paris, WWE looked to set up the final dominoes on tonight’s SmackDown. Much of the focus early was on John Cena’s next match in his retirement tour, but there was also attention paid to the Championship picture overall. While Clash was at the forefront, much of the episode was actually setting up future storylines and building on other feud payoffs down the road. We’re here to break down the biggest moments of the night and decide if they were big hits or major misses, so let’s get started with the first segment of the night.
HIT: The John Cena Apology Tour
It’s been quite the year for John Cena, as not only is Cena closing in on the final dates of his WWE farewell tour, but he’s also gone from being a beloved hero to a Champion heel and then back to a beloved babyface in a matter of months. These days, he is squarely in his hero bag, and he got quite the welcome from the crowd in Lyon, France.
Standing in the ring with Cena was his Clash in Paris opponent Logan Paul, who experienced a full crash-out before Cena pretty much owned him on the microphone. Cena knocked Paul down a few pegs, much to the delight of the crowd, but the segment went into elite territory when Cena actually found one of his biggest fans in the audience and apologized to him. That matters because the same young fan found himself getting some venom from Cena during a past heel promo, but Cena took a moment and made it all right, with the crowd celebrating alongside him. Only someone like Cena makes a moment like that, and it worked brilliantly.
HIT: Who Needs a Mask?
While Cena vs Paul received major spotlight, it wasn’t the only battle at Clash to get some attention. WWE finally revealed that it would be the Street Profits facing the Wyatt Sicks at Clash for the WWE Tag Team Championships in a match later in the night, but that wasn’t the only story here.
In the lead-up to that match, Bo Dallas actually appeared in two backstage segments with the Street Profits and the team of The Miz and Carmelo Hayes, and both times Dallas appeared without his Uncle Howdy mask and gear. The thing is, Dallas might have actually come off even more chilling in these segments, and in both cases, you couldn’t help but find him compelling. While I don’t see him ditching the Uncle Howdy look anytime soon, he’s continually proven that he doesn’t need it to be one of SmackDown’s most intriguing figures. More of that please!
MISS: Already In The Red
Whenever someone comes back after an extended time away, it’s important to get them re-established and moving in the right direction when they are back in the mix. That’s especially true of someone like Kiana James, who was away for around a year due to an injury and was sidelined incredibly early in her main roster run.
That’s why it made sense to pair her with someone like Giulia, and so far in backstage segments, the pairing has shown some promise. Unfortunately, tonight’s match didn’t do that partnership any favors, and if anything, it feels like a setback in James’ overall return. A loss would be one thing, but James was rolled up within seconds by Michin, and no after-match beatdown is going to recover that lost steam without some major wins to follow. That said, James’ entrance was fantastic, and Michin getting a win is never a bad thing either.
HIT: The Storm Hits Their Stride
Jade Cargill has rather quietly put together an incredibly strong year, even with being out of action for a month or two. At the moment, she is in the Title mix for the Women’s World Championship, and she looks all the more comfortable and confident with every subsequent segment opposite Tiffany Stratton.
This latest one was evidence of that in action, and while Stratton looked strong as ever as well, this felt like a shift in the story. A lot has been put on Stratton’s undefeated streak this year, and as these exchanges continue, it feels as if we’re truly moving towards a time where Cargill will unseat Stratton and kick off her Championship era. This was another strong outing for both superstars, but Cargill seems poised to hit the ground running soon, and with some gold along for the ride.
HIT: A Championship Moment
The main event of tonight’s WWE SmackDown was for the United States Championship, and the crowd clearly had chosen a favorite. That would be none other than Sami Zayn, but as he has been in the midst of the rollercoaster story of Solo Sikoa, The MFTs, Jimmy Uso, and Jacob Fatu, this seemed poised to end in a disqualification or attack to continue Sikoa’s reign.
That looked to be the case when JC Mateo, Tala Tonga, and Tonga Loa showed up to attack Zayn, and that was followed by some help from Jimmy and Jacob. They actually managed to cancel each other out, and by the end, it was Zayn taking down Sikoa and becoming the new United States Champion. The crowd lost their minds, and you could tell how much this first United States Title win meant to Zayn, making for a hell of a moment to end SmackDown.
MISS: A Missed Opportunity
While it was a huge moment for Zayn, it was also a referendum on Sikoa’s run as Champion. Sikoa’s Title win was shocking but held promise, especially considering how much of a character he’s turned into over the past year and the powerhouse faction he commands. They were dominating SmackDown, and having their leader hold Title gold seemed like a way to further their authority.
That Title never really seemed to add much to this feud outside of key motivation for Zayn. That means it ultimately worked since Zayn has now captured that prize, but for Sikoa, it felt like a missed opportunity to showcase how he has grown as a performer and as a persona overall. Letting Sikoa be the unique mix of lethal and goofy as Champ could have led to a host of awesome moments, but now that it’s over, it feels like it never had a chance to really fly.
Alright, those are our biggest hits and misses of the night, but let us know what you thought of SmackDown in the comments or in the CB forum!
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