#LAWTAKE - WWE SMACKDOWN 4/19/24
It’s now time for one of the fastest wrestling programs out of the week - WWE Smackdown. Welcome into the Chad Law #LawTake of this weeks Smackdown, which overall was yet another great Smackdown episode if we’re being real. Lets get to the rundown..
LA Knight and AJ Styles open up Smackdown with their inevitable WrestleMania rematch. For some reason, this match didn’t hit quite like the first one did even though this one had actual stakes. An eye rake and Phenomenal Forearm put Knight away and gives LA the chance to take the WWE Title from Cody at Backlash.
This had me thinking where does LA Knight go for Backlash? Will he face Logan Paul for the US Title or perhaps stay off the card just to purposely fly across the pond and cost AJ Styles the WWE Title. I’m going with the latter for the storytelling ending and a rubber match at the next PPV.
I CANNOT WAIT for this Draft to get underway. Please separate Bianca and the Damage Control faction. Yes, I know her and Jade have to win the Women’s Tag Titles from them but enough is enough with this never ending feud. I can’t wait to see Bianca fight a fresh face.
Dakota Kai is going to be one the prime heels in whatever brand division she ends up on as the year progresses. I’ve been saying this and I will continue to champion it.
Not to be outdone via Raw, Triple H and Nick Aldis introduce the new WWE Tag Team Championships to A-Town Down Under. The cocky, smug heel team got put in their place by Nick Aldis (A-Clown Down Under) after they curved a Triple H handshake.
Those belts are a beauty and are reminiscent of the 2003 Smackdown Tag Titles during the Smackdown Six era and I love it.
Just like on Raw, we were given an extended tag team #1 Contenders match for what should be Backlash in France. This match was slow to start but considering they took up the majority of the bottom first hour, things really picked up.
Street Profits winning was never in doubt for me as they were riding high from the win at WrestleMania. I could see them even winning the belts to be honest. It feels like ages since the Profits had a chance at gold and this was refreshing as it can get.
What becomes of the other teams in the mean time? Revolvoing door matches on television until their time comes to challenge for the belts I am sure.
This weeks Latin American Division match between Santos and Carlito was not enticing. Carlito is not fun to watch wrestle and he never really was despite the apple spitting getting over. I think we are all waiting for his heel turn on Rey eventually because Carlito as a face is cheesy as cheesy gets,
Zelina and Lopez having a one-on-one will be refreshing for the Women’s part of the Latin American division I will say. Will it be a classic? Probably not, but hey it’s something that doesn’t involve Santos/Dragon Lee/Carlito/Rey wrestling each other weekly.
Karrion Kross is so fried since that loss at WrestleMania. Son is 100% going back to NXT in this Draft.
Solo being the unhinged and ruthless voice of the Bloodline is quite the contrast from the meticulously smart Roman Reigns era. Tama Tonga being HIS right hand of destruction is actually awesome to see.
You just KNOW, the violence will ONLY get worse once Jacob Fatu gets involved. The Samoan Werewolf that doesn’t look as clean cut as Tama and Solo is going to shake the shit out of this whole storyline.
Kevin Owens can’t escape the Bloodline no matter what brand he’s on. It’s like he’s in a Jerichoverse but way, way better.
With all these multi-folk matches taking place for #1 contenderships, I feel a US Title 3 or 4-way match happening next week to determine who fights Logan at Backlash.
Nick Aldis threatening Heyman about Tama smashing Kevin Owens rental car via a 1993 Toyota Corolla is just another subtle hint that we will see Nick Aldis make a WWE in-ring debut eventually and I am stoked for this.
Bayley vs Naomi was a very solid babyface vs babyface showing. In order to save either woman from having a definitive win/loss, Tiffany Stratton makes her presence felt and knocks out both women. I smell a Triple Threat at Backlash.
I swear Tiffany is going to be Miss MITB this Summer and I cannot wait!
Minus the Santos/Carlito excursion, this really was a 9.5/10 Smackdown overall.
With an elongated three hour Raw, a two hour NXT show that is filled with developmental matches and storylines a mile a minute that you might either be over already or are are invested in, a two hour Dynamite that at times feels like a quality wrestling comedy show, this is one of the fastest programs in all of wrestling weekly. Thank you WWE.