Isenberg Reacts: WWE Smackdown Live “Fresh Feud, Familiar Faces”

July 27, 2016

Smackdown Live kicks off with the announcement that there will be a six pack challenge to determine who faces Dean Ambrose for the WWE Championship. They announce Bray Wyatt, AJ Styles, John Cena, Baron Corbin and Dolph Ziggler as the first five. The last man will be determined by who wins a Battle Royal, which starts right after.

The Final Four is Kane, Apollo Crews, Zack Ryder and Kalisto. Kane tosses out Kalisto and then Zack Ryder. Apollo Crews ends up tossing Kane out of the ring and becomes the sixth man.

This is NOTHING near what happened on RAW in terms of Smackdown having to give the win to someone new. Later tonight, WWE will have to go with anyone except Baron or Apollo. They just simply are not at the exposure level that Finn Balor. Not that it is the worst thing, but I do like Apollo getting the opportunity to work with some experienced talent like John Cena and AJ Styles. The man can certainly work and I think he was the obvious choice for getting the final spot. Two young guys, two guys who should become world champion one day and two former champions square off. It makes you want to watch later on tonight and see how they book it.

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The Return of Shelton Benjamin

It has been rumored for years that the pending return of Shelton Benjamin would be coming, some saying Royal Rumbles over the past few years. Well, WWE has finally brought him back as a vignette airs with him returning. I have always enjoyed Shelton and I think he could be a guy used in a multitude of ways.

First, he has the credibility of being a previous mid card champion and tag team champion. At this day and age in wrestling, pure wrestlers get over. Yes, he might not be the best talker, but there is a nice spot on this roster for him. Will he be main event material? Maybe he can. He needs to switch up some things about his gimmick. The “Ain’t No Stopping Me Now” is easily recognizable for many fans, but is Shelton a guy that NEEDS that? It is a different era and should be an altered gimmick from the former WWE Superstar. Good to see him come back and deepen the Smackdown roster a bit.

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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.