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WWE Smackdown Recap & Reaction (3/21)

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Robert Lentini

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AJ Styles Accepts Shane McMahon’s Challenge

Smackdown kicked off with AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan backstage. Daniel Bryan stated that if it were up to him, Styles would still be fired. AJ was wearing a Wrestlemania 33 shirt and visor. Daniel Bryan informed Styles that Shane McMahon was not at the arena yet. Styles said that it felt like deja vu and headed to the ring to brag about beating up Shane McMahon.

Styles stated that it felt great to punch Shane McMahon in the face. AJ then accepted Shane’s challenge for a match at Wrestlemania 33. Styles claimed that he can do whatever he wants because he is untouchable and Smackdown would fail without him. AJ then said he was heading back to the parking lot to wait for Shane McMahon to arrive again.

Daniel Bryan was shown backstage on the phone with Shane McMahon. Bryan informed Shane that Styles was waiting for him in the parking lot. Daniel Bryan then laughed and said “that will work”. It appears Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan have a plan for AJ Styles tonight.

The Usos Are The New Smackdown Tag Team Champions

American Alpha and The Usos put on one hell of a match. It started out slow but the crowd started to chant “this is awesome!” towards the end of the match. It was looking like American Alpha was going to retain when the hit a double-team Bulldog off the top rope on Jey Uso but Jimmy Uso broke up the pinfall. The match ended with Jimmy pulling Jordan’s leg and he landed crotch first on the middle rope. The referee didn’t notice this and then Jey hit a Superkick on Jordan for the victory.

Reaction: What an underwhelming title run for American Alpha. They were barely on Smackdown when they had the titles. The Usos have barely been featured on Smackdown recently and now they are new Tag Team Champions. The match itself was very entertaining but I honestly wasn’t that invested in it. I think The Usos are a very talented team and their heel turn has worked for them. American Alpha is immensely talented but they have been underutilized on the main roster. The Usos are now the Smackdown Tag Team Champions. Hopefully they will be featured on Smackdown next week.

The Miz & Maryse Show Unveil Unseen Total Bellas Footage

Maryse played both Nikki Bella & Brie Bella. The Miz played John Cena.

Reaction: These segments were okay. Maryse was funny as both the Bella Twins. The Miz essentially portrayed John Cena as a moronic robot. I would have preferred another promo between Maryse, Nikki, Cena and The Miz.

Ambrose To Defend Intercontinental Championship Against Corbin At Wrestlemania

Baron Corbin was placed in a match against Randy Orton by Smackdown GM Daniel Bryan. Corbin controlled the majority of the match. The WWE Universe started to chant “lets go Randy!” as Corbin beat him down. Orton hit Corbin with a Powerslam and followed it up with a DDT while Corbin was hung up between the ropes. Orton went for the RKO but Corbin reversed it into the Deep Six. Dean Ambrose then showed up on top of a forklift and asked Corbin if he was busy. Corbin became distracted and Orton hit the RKO for the victory.

After the match, Dean Ambrose accepted Corbin’s challenge from last week for an Intercontinental Championship match at Wrestlemania 33. Ambrose then hit Corbin with the Dirty Deeds.

Reaction: I am looking forward to the match between Dean Ambrose and Corbin at Wrestlemania 33. Corbin is very talented and Dean Ambrose is already an established star. I don’t see any reason why Corbin shouldn’t win that match and be taken to the next level. The match between Corbin and Orton was very slow, deliberate and ultimately didn’t matter at all.

Bray Wyatt Sends Orton A Message

Renee Young interviewed Randy Orton backstage. Orton stated that he never expected Bray Wyatt to bathe himself in the ashes of Sister Abigail. The lights then went out and when they came back on, Orton was surrounded by people in sheep masks. They beat him down and Bray Wyatt showed up. Wyatt thanked Orton for destroying Sister Abigail because it was his one fatal flaw. Wyatt claimed that he was stronger than ever now and sang “he’s got the whole world in his hands”.

Reaction: I am a huge fan of Bray Wyatt. I think he is talented in the ring and is even better with a microphone in his hands.  I believe that he deserves this title run and that the WWE has overlooked him for far too long. Having said that, I am not digging this storyline at all. I am still looking forward to this match at Wrestlemania 33, but I’ve lost interest in whatever they are trying to accomplish here. Bray Wyatt rubbed Sister Abigail’s ashes on his body and is now stronger than ever. Randy Orton is caught off guard by this and that is where we are at now. This feud doesn’t feel like it involves the WWE Championship anymore.

Cena Defeats Fandango, Tyler Breeze Is Made To Look Like A Joke

Fandango came down to the ring with Tyler Breeze dressed up as Nikki Bella. It was incredibly embarrassing for everyone involved. The real Nikki Bella then came down to the ring to hardly any reaction. Fandango then issued John Cena several fashion tickets. Cena then hit the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Nikki Bella then Speared Tyler Breeze. Cena hit the AA on Fandango while Nikki hit the Rack Attack on Tyler Breeze. Cena and Nikki then applied the STF to both Fandango and Tyler Breeze. Fandango tapped out and John Cena won the match.

Reaction: I absolutely hated this segment. Tyler Breeze dressed up like Nikki Bella and then got his ass kicked by Nikki Bella. Tyler Breeze is a great wrestler and he clearly will never be given the chance to do anything on Smackdown. Fandango is going nowhere either. This entire segment was just cringeworthy.

Alexa Bliss Stands Tall

Becky Lynch and Carmella had a quick match that ended in a DQ. Natalya was on commentary and wound up interfering. Natalya attacked Carmella and hit her with a Clothesline. Alexa Bliss and Mickie James then came down to the ring. Becky Lynch tried to Dropkick Carmella but Carmella dragged Ellsworth in the way. The brawl ended with Alexa Bliss standing tall and raising her Smackdown Women’s Championship.

Reaction: Again, where are the storylines here? Everyone is just fighting for the Smackdown Women’s Championship. It is the same thing on Raw. There is nothing to get invested in. There is nobody to get behind and root for.

Shane McMahon came down to the ring while AJ Styles was still waiting for him in the parking lot. A limo pulled up and AJ Styles was ready to attack, but it was Rhyno and Heath Slater that emerged from the vehicle. Renee Young informed AJ Styles that Shane McMahon was waiting for him in the ring.

Shane then called AJ to the ring and Styles was shown walking backstage. Styles grabbed a microphone and claimed to make a mistake by attacking Shane McMahon last week. Styles then apologized for the attack and stated that he lost his mind because he wasn’t main-eventing Wrestlemania 33. AJ Styles then said that he wanted to come in the ring and shake Shane’s hand.

Shane attacked AJ right when he got in the ring. Styles knocked Shane out of the ring and Suplexed him into the barricade. Styles cleared off the announce table, but Shane got back up and connected with a Suplex onto Styles. Shane then propped Styles up on the announce table and climbed to the top turnbuckle. Shane then hit the Elbow Drop off the top rope and the crowd chanted “holy sh**!”. Smackdown went off the air with Shane McMahon standing over Styles and pointing at the Wrestlemania 33 sign.

Reaction: Styles was shown several times throughout the night waiting in the parking lot for Shane McMahon to show up. Daniel Bryan called Shane ahead of time and warned him that Styles was waiting for him. Thus, Shane avoided Styles and called him down to the ring. I like how Shane McMahon has just randomly started showing up to Smackdown incredibly late over the past two weeks. The brawl itself was entertaining. Shane missed a bit with his Elbow Drop but it was still the most exciting moment of the night.

Smackdown has been mediocre at best over the past two weeks. Tonight’s episode felt pretty uneventful for a show that is supposed to be hyping Wrestlemania 33. I will posting some more thoughts this week about this Wrestlemania build this week. I’m trying to think of a Wrestlemania build that has been less exciting than this one. I’m having a hard time coming up with one.

What did you think of this week’s Smackdown? What are your thoughts on this year’s build to Wrestlemania? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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