Welcome to the Smackdown Review for July 17 2018. For both this and Raw, I will go over what the big talking points were, pick the match of the night, and look ahead to the next show
Talking Points
Becky Balboa
The story was not that Becky Lynch beat Mandy Rose. the story is that for the past few weeks, noone has been able to beat the Irish Lass Kicker. Lynch made mention of this and challenged Carmella for her title. Carmella was more focused about getting another Mellabration, but Paige stopped her in her tracks. Carmella would get her party, but only if Carmella beat Lynch next week. If she loses, Lynch gets a shot at the tile at Summerslam. I have no problems with Carmella, she does what she is supposed to do, but Lynch needs to be the champion.
Eulogy
The Miz came out in all black, pallbearers bringing the mask of Kane. The Miz had come not to praise Team Hell No, but to bury them. He started off solemn, but quickly went on a rant. Focusing more on Daniel Bryan, he said that his comeback like his career is over. Bryan had heard enough, attacking Miz from behind and laying out anyone who got in his way. Miz escaped relatively unharmed, but the pure hatred spilled out from both men. There is only one place where this match needs to happen.
Broken
If the quick match at Extreme Rules was because Jeff Hardy was injured, he sure did not look like it in this match. he was flying around the ring and taking shots as if he was perfectly fine. Shinsuke Nakamura has changed completely into a bizarre heel that I continue to want to see more of. Randy Orton, who everyone knew was going to make an appearance, went to another level as he destroyed Hardy. Orton is a heel and a vicious one at that.
Match of the Night
AJ Styles vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas (Styles wins by submission)
A match with virtual no hype and one that started off the show? It might have been filler if not for the two men and one woman involved. Andrade Alms can be put in matches like this and no one questions if he deserves it. Zelina Vega makes ever move on the outside mean something. AJ Styles is in the best shape of his life and his matches are showing it. If Cien and Styles were to meet again, I would prefer sooner then later.
Conclusion
Kofi Kingston lost to Eric Young. Ty Dillinger felt the wraith of Samoa Joe. Aden English wanted to apologize to Rusev, but he only found Lana. Next week, Paige has announced that she will name the challenger for Styles’ championship
