The match ratings and notes will be abbreviated this week, and will return to normal for Smackdown. I apologize for the inconvenience!
Title Picture
The Survivor Series team is with Adam Pearce and cut some of the worst promos in recent memory. The Riddle stuff was miserable. Braun attacks Pearce, who is awesome at his job.
Lashley and Orton both talk to Pearce. We are getting three singles matches tonight. Also Pearce calls Drew McIntyre "McInfart."
Tag Title Match
New Day beats Hurt Business
4.5/10
What on earth was this? A nonsensical rematch with a really weird restart after a double countout. The in ring was good, but what....was....this?
Top Contender Tournament
Riddle defeated Sheamus
8.25/10
Why not switch up the opponents? Either way, they work great together. More than great. Everything gels with these two. They don't need ropes or turnbuckle. This was insane. Go watch this. Afterwards Riddle pitches MVP pizza flavored yogurt, which was amazing.
Asuka & Lana defeated Nia & Shayna
5/10
This was supposed to be a women's title match but Nia & Shayna. Lana takes an ass whipping but Lana gets the roll up. Rematch incoming, I'm sure.
Top Contender Tournament
Keith Lee defeated Lashley
5.75/10
A DQ finish will almost never hit rec'd viewing for me. Why finish it like this? Why isn't Lashley pissed? This was a fun sirloin beef sunsabitches battle. The ring post helicopter from Lashley was AMAZING.
Alexa Bliss defeated Nikki Cross
5.25/10
They killed stuffed frog on the Funhouse, and it was pretty funny. Alexa is in her funhouse gear. She gets her ass whipped and laughs through it. Alexa baits Nikki by pretending she's snapped out of it and wins with Sister Abigail.
Top Contender Tournament
AJ Styles defeated Randy Orton
6/10
Even though this had a FUDGE FINISH with the Fiend, this was an outstanding match. I thought Orton would win this, because WWE just can't help themselves. Instead they went the less predictable route and started a new feud at the same time. Great, PPV main event caliber wrestling out of these two.
Rating Guide
10- Perfect, 9- MOTY Territory, 8- Excellent, 7- Great, 6- Good, 5- Average to above average, 4- Slightly below average, 3 or below: Poor
Each match starts at a 5 and slides up and down based on entertainment, execution, time, environment, reaction and stakes. The ratings are in no way an indication of a "star rating," which is a completely different system. A standard, non-offensive "TV match" lands at a 5. The gap between 5.75-6 is generally the largest, with anything reaching 6 being recommended viewing.
These are opinions, and incredibly inconsistent ones that may change upon a second viewing, or sitting on the match for a period of time. Don't take them too seriously, and have (and share) your own!
