One huge topic that is absolutely imperative to discuss is the fact that Kofi Kingston, although he did win the gauntlet match, he did not defeat Daniel Bryan. Vince McMahon is trying to make it seem as though he does not want Kofi anywhere near the WWE Championship.
I was legitimately distraught after watching SmackDown and it put a damper on my entire night. This is why Vince McMahon is a billionaire though, because he has figured out how to manipulate the energy of people’s emotions on a grand scale.
On a supplemental note, there are two smaller topics I would like to touch on, the first being with the Women’s Tag Team Titles. I’m not so sure anymore if it will be Beth Phoenix and Natalya challenging Sasha Banks and Bayley. It may be The IIconics, which would be an underwhelming match to say the least (I find them more annoying than anything). They did pin the champions so they could always be added to the match at WrestleMania.
The final topic for SmackDown this week is the fact that a ‘Mania match between Ray Mysterio and Samoa Joe was announced, even though WWE was rather quiet about it. I’m not upset about it at all, in fact it may be very quietly one of the best matches on the WrestleMania card.
On the flip side, putting Mysterio in that role eliminates the possibility of a Joe versus Cena match. As long as he is physically able, Cena has to do something at the biggest show of the year. He has already wrestled The Undertaker, so that only leaves one possibility, and that is him somehow working his way into the retirement match at WrestleMania against Kurt Angle. This would make perfect sense because Cena interrupted none other than Kurt Angle on the first episode of SmackDown on which he ever appeared in 2002. Unfortunately, no one wants to see Baron Corbin versus Kurt Angle at WrestleMania.
It will also be very interesting if Vince elects to include Mysterio’s son in the mix for this match by having him accompany his father to the ring. I have not seen Dominic since SummerSlam 2005 when he was included in the storyline of his father’s against Eddie Guerrero.