5 Things Triple H Got Right on WWE SmackDown This Week

Friday Night SmackDown took over the Amica Mutual Pavilion this week as the show emanated from Providence, Rhode Island. Fresh off the European Summer Tour, the excitement was high, and therefore WWE made sure to carry the same momentum forward. The latest episode of the blue brand saw the feuds and storylines shift gears with Night of Champions just two weeks away.

SmackDown has been drowning in criticism lately as the overall quality of the weekly product has dipped. And while last night’s episode didn’t entirely rewrite the script, Triple H still managed to steady the ship. Against a backdrop of heavy scrutiny, The Game put together a decent show packed with high-voltage confrontations and blockbuster matches that kept the audience locked in.

Here are five things Triple H got right on SmackDown this week:

#5. Sami Zayn and Cody Rhodes’ explosive war of words

Sami Zayn’s relationship with Cody Rhodes has become quite acrimonious in recent times. The once-good friends have now become untrustful of each other. That said, the Canadian showed up in the ring this week to address the ongoing situation with the Undisputed WWE Champion. Zayn called out Rhodes, and the two superstars got into a heated exchange. And that was not all.

Things escalated so much that they ended up slapping each other in frustration. The tension reached an absolute fever pitch when Sami Zayn grabbed a steel chair, looking terrifyingly close to unleashing a full-blown assault on Cody Rhodes. It was a breathless moment that left the crowd gasping. Triple H did a brilliant job by teasing their ultimate betrayal, which brilliantly amplified the bad blood between these two stars.

#4. Charlotte Flair marches closer to the Queen of the Ring crown

The WWE Universe witnessed an incredible Queen of the Ring tournament match this week on SmackDown. Charlotte Flair, Sol Ruca, Jade Cargill and Lyra Valkyria collided in a huge Fatal Four-Way match, looking to advance in the tournament. All four women delivered an incredible performance in the ring. However, Flair ultimately emerged victorious as she punched her ticket to the semi-final.

Letting The Queen advance in the Queen of the Ring tournament was the best call. Charlotte Flair is one of the biggest stars in the women’s division and her suffering an early exit in the contest would have killed her momentum. Besides, she is also one of the favorites to win the entire tournament this year. Flair marching closer to the Queen of the Ring crown is therefore the safe bet.

#3. Roman Reigns calls Solo Sikoa back in the Bloodline

One of the most interesting things to happen on SmackDown this week was the Bloodline drama. Jacob Fatu showed up on the blue brand last night with a huge task in hand. He confronted Solo Sikoa in the locker room backstage, carrying a message from Roman Reigns. And the message was simple: Roman wants Sikoa to come back. The Tribal Chief is summoning his former enforcer to reunite the family.

However, Sikoa completely rejected the summons, and instead he dropped some gospels on Fatu, trying to open his eyes. This segment was a masterclass in storytelling as it deepened the Bloodline saga, adding an interesting new twist to it. Triple H did a great job by masterfully navigating the family drama with Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa, proving that there are so many layers yet to unravel within the Bloodline.

#2. Paige and Brie Bella silence Fatal Influence on SmackDown

Paige and Bella suffered a brutal attack backstage at the hands of Fatal Influence last week on SmackDown. However, this week, the duo stepped into the ring against two members of the faction, Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid, looking to teach the newcomers a lesson. The two teams delivered a decent match, but there was ringside chaos that eventually altered the outcome of the bout.

Brie Bella and Paige eventually emerged victorious in this tag team match on SmackDown and that was exactly the right move. They are the current Women’s Tag Team Champions and handing their premature loss in random matches could have dealt a huge blow to their momentum. Therefore, WWE did a brilliant job by ensuring that Paige and Bella retain their credibility.

#1. The Ring General’s masterstroke: Gunther weaponizes Sami Zayn

Gunther is set to face Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship in a rematch next week on SmackDown. Fans were eagerly waiting to see what stipulation he would choose in his match this week. And The Ring General pulled off a masterstroke. He chose Sami Zayn as a Special Guest Referee for his upcoming title match, leaving everyone stunned in surprise.

Gunther did not just pick a stipulation; he strategically dismantled his opponent right before the match even happened. He chose Sami Zayn as the Special Guest Referee at a time when the latter’s relationship with Cody Rhodes was at its most acrimonious state. That was a truly brilliant work and a lot of credit goes to WWE for masterfully factoring everything into it to make things compelling.