As always, an interesting review with which I agree with some stuff, disagree with others. Overall, I agree it wasn't a great show. I thought last week's episode was better. The wrestling was okay, overall. There was nothing great but no stinker matches, either. But, it was the unfunny Miz/Morrison/Strowman segments and the ad nauseum mentioning of Shorty G. (I like the wrestler, intensely dislike the name) that were off-putting for me. I'm good with the Sheamus / Jeff Hardy storyline, including last week's controversial opening segment. Otis and King Corbin are uninteresting. Styles & Bryan have great chemistry together and Drew Gulak adds another element to the mix. Sonya DeVille and Lacey Evans have had two good matches in a row. Shinsuke Nakamura, Cesaro and Mojo Rawley are an odd trio, especially with Mojo's inclusion. Nakamura and Cesaro are both vastly underutilized talents who can do much more than they're allowed to show. Chad Gable isn't a particularly great fit with the New Day, just an okay one. On the matter of booking the show, that's all about the writers and Vince McMahon. Wrestlers don't decide whom they're facing or when they defend their belts. Again, I get what you're saying about wanting more title matches on television. I would settle for better quality matches on TV, championship or not. I was surprised we had a title switch, with the Boss & Hug connection (as they were once known) winning the ladies tag straps. Expect to hear the phrase 'Bayley 2 Belts' beginning next week. Also, don't be surprised if Alexa Bliss turns on Nikki Cross. Bliss works better as a heel and Cross did cost them their TV match last week. I guess when it comes to my biggest issue in WWE, you got part of it when you asked if it thinks itself as a comedy show like the Big Bang Theory. Yes, I think it does at times -- and nowhere near as funny as BBT. Vince McMahon likes slapstick, gross-out humour, bathroom humour, mocking fat people, food fights, demeaning nicknames and a lot of other stuff that has nothing to do with wrestling. To me it's the worst element of the show. I prefer smarky humour (inside wrestling references) and subtle humour. The Miz/Morrison/Strowman stuff was childish. Otis wearing a half-shirt is puerile Vince humour. Shorty G is Vince again mocking someone who doesn't fit his vision of the ideal wrestler (tall and muscular). That's my viewpoint. Raw had a better show than Smackdown, with only the Street Profits/Viking Raiders nonsense and a weak main event to complain about.
