Category: SmackDown

Raw vs Smackdown (Week 2): Brock & Orton Everywhere

by Rob McCarron | Aug 3, 2016

Brock Lesnar and Randy Orton attack each other on Raw and Smackdown, setting them up as the true main eventers for WWE SummerSlam in Week 2 of Raw vs SD!

The WWE Draft Made NXT Stronger…Somehow

by Alex Wendland | Jul 20, 2016

While there’s plenty of things to complain about following the WWE Draft, NXT is not one of those things.

WWE SmackDown (June 2) Review: AJ Styles vs Kofi Kingston

by Ru Gunn | Jun 3, 2016

There’s an atmosphere of excitement on this week’s SmackDown, like we’re on the precipice of something important. Two solid matches grace this show, stories develop, and the existence of Breezango continues to be a joy.

WWE SmackDown (April 21) Results & Review

by Jeff Hawkins | Apr 23, 2016

A SmackDown Review From A Guy Who is Too Tired From Watching Raw And NXT To Watch SmackDown On A Regular Basis…or “SmackDown Review” for short.

WWE SmackDown (April 7) Review

by Ru Gunn | Apr 8, 2016

This SmackDown was fresh and original, with the IC match and main event absolutely worth watching– and new NXT faces, to boot. Sami Zayn reminds us why he’s infinitely more interesting when he’s striving.

WWE SmackDown TV (March 31) Review: WrestleMania is coming!

by Ru Gunn | Apr 1, 2016

This is an awkward SmackDown with three matches jammed in the taping before Monday’s RAW: a length of recording that left the crowd so lethargic they were reduced to trash-chanting over a match with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in it.

WWE SmackDown (March 24) Review

by Ru Gunn | Mar 25, 2016

A surprisingly newsworthy edition of WWE SmackDown with gratifyingly good wrestling and burgeoning emotional storytelling. Strange times indeed.

WWE SmackDown (March 17) Review: AJ Styles vs Kevin Owens

by Ru Gunn | Mar 17, 2016

Another strong showing from WWE SmackDown, jam-packed with singles matches, and a jaw-dropping main event between AJ Styles and Kevin Owens.

WWE SmackDown (March 10): “Kev, You’re Not the Victim…At Least Not Yet.”

by Ru Gunn | Mar 11, 2016

Any show that opens with a confrontation between Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens is worth watching. A much recommended episode of WWE SmackDown, with a genuine feeling of escalating importance as we hurtle toward WrestleMania.

WWE SmackDown (March 3) Dean Ambrose & The Art of Road Blocks

by Ru Gunn | Mar 5, 2016

Some months ago, in another WWE SmackDown review, I talked about the idea of a fictional universe inherently needing a system of checks and balances to keep the powers of its heroes drifting wildly out of control. While WWE continues to lack either checks or balances, the quality of combat on the show continues to improve.

WWE SmackDown (February 25) Review: Jacobean Drama and The Game

by Ru Gunn | Feb 26, 2016

Rarely, and without warning, WWE will descend into a Jacobean revenge tragedy. On WWE SmackDown, our amoral monarch visits, and intriguing midcard plotlines are left to unfold.

WWE SmackDown (February 18) Review: Brock Returns & Fastlane Go-Home

by Ru Gunn | Feb 18, 2016

Some working boots on this week, but a bizarre way to feature the much-hyped Brock Lesnar in the go-home SmackDown for WWE Fastlane 2016.

WWE SmackDown (February 11) Review

by Ru Gunn | Feb 12, 2016

The Jericho/Styles sandwich on this week’s SmackDown betrays a painfully depleted roster and the lurking ghost of “wins and losses don’t matter”: but these things are a lot easier to forgive when the wrestling is actually good.

WWE SmackDown (February 4) Review

by Ru Gunn | Feb 5, 2016

A rare clean finish at the climax of WWE SmackDown: but is love bigger than ego?

WWE SmackDown (January 28) Review

by Ru Gunn | Jan 28, 2016

It’s very rare that I wish I didn’t write about WWE, but weeks like this are tough.

WWE SmackDown (January 21) Review

by Ru Gunn | Jan 22, 2016

Roman Reigns attempts to overcome the odds once again, and we celebrate R-Truth’s birthday on this week’s WWE SmackDown.

WWE SmackDown (January 14) Review

by Ru Gunn | Jan 16, 2016

We’re only on week two of the network change—and SmackDown Saviour Mauro Ranallo—and everything’s already gone a bit topsy-turvy

WWE SmackDown (Jan. 7): Owens vs. Ambrose on USA Network

by Ru Gunn | Jan 7, 2016

It’s WWE SmackDown on the USA Network! Jerry Lawler can barely reliably identify the New Day from each other while newcomer Mauro Ranallo knows that Xavier Woods’ trombone is called Francesca.