Levin’s SmackDown Live Review (9/25/18)

I wasn’t sure how WWE was going to make Aiden English an important cog in the Tuesday night machine, but suddenly, the former sidekick of Rusev and Lana is now as important to the SmackDown Live picture as the other storylines that fill the two hours of programming.

Maybe WWE should change the Rusev Day to the Aiden English

English, who was paired with Rusev in an attempt to find a spot for the former tag team specialist as part of the Vaudevillains, took it upon himself to explain his case for his recent attack on his former partner. The message was clear. Rusev was a supreme athlete who lacked direction, was hated by the fans and was going nowhere fast until the two formed a successful union.

“I made you the most beloved superstar in WWE,” he explained when called out by the Bulgarian Brute. “We were destined to be legends.”

But of course, in WWE fashion, jealousy reared its ugly head and Lana is now the reason for English’s heel turn. A tried and true feature of wrestling for decades now becomes the major focal point of a mid-card story. And for some odd reason, it works. And the questions about the “One night in Milwaukee” sets up an angle that will have some mileage as long as fans continue to chant for “Rusev Day”.

There are times when WWE can take a shot in the dark and make it work. The unlikely paring of the Rusev and English now becomes a must-see match with the ravishing Lana in the middle of an apparent love triangle.

Welcome to SmackDown Live and “As the World Turns.”

That’s just for starters as the company moves forward with better storylines than Monday Night Raw. And as I continually peel apart the layers of one show in blue and one show in red, I am convinced one less hour works for the betterment of wrestling fans around the world.

Here are a few other thoughts from Tuesday night.

The Miz def. R-Truth

I love The Miz and Daniel Bryan, but dislike the additional components of this storyline. Now, WWE has taken R-Truth and his new valet Carmella and placed them squarely in the middle of what was “must see” television.

The A-lister beat his former tag team partner, but not before he and Bryan again wage war and write another chapter to what is supposed to be the best feud of the year. This time, Bryan does commentary for this match, which leads to more confrontation.

R-Truth may be an even bigger sideshow than English, and while The Miz stares down Bryan before he gets the win, it means nothing. Let these two get the final match out of the way and move on. I wanted this to be Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat. I didn’t get the supreme encounter we all thought this would become.

Sheamus def. Big E

This is another attempt to showcase singles matches as part of the lead up to the big tag team title confrontation. This time, The Bar member and The New Day’s enforcer pull it off nicely.

While I want WWE to give other tag teams a chance on SmackDown Live, I see the value in this program. Sheamus and Big E pummel each other and pull off a good match. Should WWE ever decide to break up these tag teams, Big E should get another run as a mid-card title contender. Sheamus’s resume speaks for itself.

Asuka and Naomi def. Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville

It’s a union of convenience here with Auska and Naomi that looks rushed and forced. While the two babyface stars get the win, Rose and Deville deserve a better fate.

WWE must figure out what to do with its women’s division on Tuesday nights. Becky Lynch and Charlotte cannot run the show every week.

Tye Dillinger def. Shinsuke Nakamura via DQ

The only way Dillinger is ever going to see a victory in real form over someone like the United States Champion is with interference from none other than Randy Orton.

I have yet to fully grasp the connection between the two sinister heels, but it works and makes for interesting conjecture over what happens next. It’s like Nakamura sets up the opponent and Orton obliterates him. How the storyline comes to an end is a mystery of sorts as there has to be some resolution and connection made at some point.

Becky Lynch def. Lana

Any chance of stopping Lynch’s momentum here would be an insult to the current SmackDown Women’s Champion. This was like a seasoned veteran taking a rookie to the woodshed.

Next, please.

Samoa Joe invaded AJ Styles’ home during their WWE Super Show-Down contract signing

I really don’t like this angle, and wish the two superstars would just wrestle. That said, I see how great the value is in making Joe the most despised heel on WWE’s roster.

The contract signing is interrupted because Samoa Joe shows up at Styles’ home. It’s brilliant, sadistic and scary. It’s Attitude Era all over again. Kevin Sullivan would be proud.

Styles showed more growth as an “actor” pleading for Joe to leave his family alone as the show ended.

At the Super Showdown, Joe must complete the push as he claims the WWE Title.