Isenberg Reacts: WWE Smackdown Live “Book Bray Better”

August 10, 2016

Rhyno vs. Heath Slater

Slater tries to secure a contract in a tough battle against Rhyno. Much to my dismay, he loses via a Gore. After a hard fought match, Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon talk about giving him a contract. Slater comes in and says he is too good for Smackdown, storms off and loses that contract. See, I like this because it is comical but not too comical. He tries and tries to become a superstar only to continue to get in his own way. This entertains me, unlike Golden Truth or other garbage from Raw. It does just enough to interest myself and people who have seen Slater in multiple factions and storylines over the years. It is logical and simple booking.

WZ 5

Inserting Bray Wyatt

Bray Wyatt and Erick Rowan were a big part of Smackdown Live, where they challenged Dolph Ziggler and Dean Ambrose to a main event tag team match. The two men doing battle at SummerSlam for the WWE World Championship end up picking up the victory, as Ambrose hits a Suicide Dive onto Bray Wyatt and Dolph Ziggler finishes off Erick Rowan with a Superkick. After the match, Dean Ambrose drops Dolph with his finishing DDT. The Lunatic Fringe leaves with his championship secured in his hands.

I like the ending of Smackdown, making sure Dolph Ziggler understands that he is not a friend of Dean Ambrose. It also continues to push Dean more towards a heel, which is needed. I do not know if it will happen, especially if he goes to face an AJ Styles or John Cena after SummerSlam, but I do like how he is more aggressive and not goofy. One question is glaring to me:

Why in the world would they not put Bray Wyatt in this championship match? What do you have to lose? It makes it more unpredictable, more interesting and unique. Does he need to win? Not necessarily, but I do think Bray needs to be in this match more than Dolph Ziggler. With SummerSlam having Brock/Orton, Seth/Finn, Cena/Styles, Sasha/Charlotte, Rusev/Reigns, why wouldn’t WWE NOT want to give us something away from a one-on-one match? I just do not see any reasoning NOT to have Bray Wyatt involved in this championship match. The best “character” continues to be wasted.

WZ 5.5

@JoshIsenberg4 on Twitter. WWE Smackdown Live Rating:

WZ 5.5

Josh controls most of the creative writing and ideas for the show on a weekly basis, as well as an on-air talent.
Aside from working with WrestleZone, Isenberg began his career in Broadcast Journalism interning at ESPN and worked with CBS Radio for three years. He has also had the opportunity to interview some of the best athletes and performers alive, including Andrew McCutchen, Ben Roethlisberger, Chris Jericho, Billy Gunn, Karl Anderson, Matt Hardy, Steven Strasburg and others.
Currently, Josh Isenberg works for Major League Baseball in their Advanced Media Productions. He grew up in Pittsburgh and went to Point Park University, which is where Chair Shot Reality is filmed each week.
His life outside of his obsession with wrestling include being a savant for Seinfeld, NFL, NBA, MLB and many television shows. He also has an undying love for musicals, which includes many shows he was a part of in high school. Some of his favorite wrestling moments can be linked to such superstars as Edge, The Rock, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels and The Great Khali.

Follow @JoshIsenberg4