The Women of Smackdown Live
Charlotte Flair took on Lana in a very quick and lackluster match. Lana tried to escape early, but a slap to the face enraged Charlotte. She would hit a big boot and then lock in the Figure 8 for the win.
Later in the night, Carmella took on Naomi and the big news would be the return of James Ellsworth. He threw Naomi off the top rope and then Carmella turned the lights out with a kick to the jaw. Ellsworth is back and Carmella is soon to become champion.
What tonight showed me is that Natalya is an easy win for Naomi at SummerSlam, setting up a potential cash-in from Carmella. If it does not happpen at SummerSlam, maybe they will wait until Charlotte regains the championship. There was nothing really great about these two matches and felt like they were fillers in a rather eventful night from the other SummerSlam feuds.
Shane McMahon’s History Haunts Him
Kevin Owens and AJ Styles come out to talk about Shane McMahon and their match at SummerSlam. Kevin brought footage with him, including AJ attacking Shane and throwing him through a car window before WrestleMania. He also showed Shane screwing Stone Cold at Survivor over 15 years ago, which is one of my favorite Shane moments. Shane tries to separate the two as they begin to attack, but gets a Pele Kick to the head. Styles accidentally hits him and Owens walks off laughing.
This was such a good segment with three of the most polarizing guys on Smackdown. Shane is being used perfectly here, possibly setting up a feud with Kevin Owens. AJ Styles, I expect, will retain the championship and then begin to feud with someone else. I really think WWE needs to utilize more “old footage” to tell a deeper and complex story. The history of some wrestlers should be used against them to enhance a feud and enhance meaning in their character. Tonight was a very successful and easy way to remind us of Shane McMahon’s past.
