Boston hosted a captivating night of tag team action on “SmackDown.” As “Clash in Paris” approaches, the storylines intensified, especially focusing on various multi-person matches. We saw everything from the Women’s Tag Team Champions in action to long-time teams reuniting, making it a night filled with excitement.
Let’s dive into some highlights.
First, we need to discuss the “My Family Tree” (MFT) storyline. To be honest, I’m ready for a break from The Bloodline saga. WWE has played that narrative out, and now it feels like they’re just trying to cling to it. The name itself, MFT, seems awkward and unnecessary. It’s a puzzling choice, especially when they refer to its members as “MFTs.” It’s just confusing.
Admittedly, I was skeptical when Sami Zayn’s music hit, but his promo was surprisingly clever. He thanked Solo Sikoa for relieving some pressure off his title chase, even after a Disqualification loss against Rusev. This gives Zayn a chance to target Sikoa’s U.S. Championship, a good move considering his current position in the title scene.
Now, let’s shift the focus to Sikoa himself. He really stole the show. His growth as a wrestler is commendable, and his personality shines through. When Zayn thanked him and he joked about Zayn’s eyes, it was genuinely funny. Many fans believe he is a great fit for a mid-card champion. Hopefully, WWE gives his character the chance it deserves.
In the main event, Zayn scored a clean victory against Sikoa with a Helluva Kick, capping off a night with no interference in matches—a refreshing change! However, it makes it seem clear that Zayn might win that title, possibly at Sikoa’s expense. That’s a mixed bag of feelings.
Then there’s the Women’s U.S. title situation. It’s hard to ignore how stale this storyline feels. There was a potential twist when Giulia’s manager Kiana James tried to join forces with Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton, only for it to fizzle out quickly. It’s frustrating to see so much talent overlooked in the women’s division, especially when some have been competing in the same circles since the title’s inception.
Now for some highlights from “Friday Night Fire”:
Melo Don’t Miz vs. Fraxiom: This match had solid storytelling and ended without a hitch, which is surprising! Carmelo Hayes continues to impress, and I hope he gets a good push soon.
Drew McIntyre: His promo regarding his past actions against Cody Rhodes was concise and engaging, highlighting his frustrations well. He deserves better than just being part of the background.
Street Profits vs. #DIY: This match showcased excellent tag team wrestling. Both teams delivered an exciting performance, despite the typical interference.
R-Truth’s comeback: The way he interacted with Aleister Black felt authentic, snapping him back into character while building up potential future storylines.
On the downside:
Alexa Bliss vs. Piper Niven: While the match had a decent ending, the post-match chaos felt forced and lacked any real substance.
Jade Cargill: Her request for another title shot without effort felt misguided. Adding Nia Jax to the mix just complicates matters further, given their previous lengthy feud.
Commercial Overload: It felt like too much emphasis was placed on commercials throughout the show rather than on storytelling.
Overall, this episode gets a score of 7/10. While there was plenty of good action, some areas felt stale and in need of fresh ideas.
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Sami Zayn, Solo Sikoa, The Bloodline, SmackDown, Carmelo Hayes, Tiffany Stratton
