Isenberg Reacts: WWE Smackdown Live “Glorious Debuts and Returns Make Smackdown Live Money”

August 23, 2017

A Glorious Debut

wwe smackdown live — Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Bobby Roode changes everything for Smackdown Live. The former NXT Champion made his debut by defeating Aiden English in his first match on Smackdown Live. Roode, who lost at NXT Takeover on Saturday, will likely be one of the heels that immediately propels himself into a main event angle. With Owens looking to feud with Shane McMahon, that leaves a perfect spot for Bobby Roode to take when facing AJ Styles. This is great and adds main event depth on a show that is lacking on heels. Aside from Jinder and Owens, Smackdown Live is not really confident in the other heels like Rusev or Baron Corbin. Bobby Roode is a huge upgrade to both of those guys and it is going to be very interesting to see how they fit him in.

Tonight was just the beginning of someone’s career in WWE. He battled and got to this spot by continuing to improve his ring work, his speed and his gimmick. He has come a long way from Beer Money (good line, JBL) and at 40 has a solid 8-10 years left in WWE. Let him start with a guy like AJ Styles and then be able to be the man that got him (and others) over in NXT. Thank God for Bobby Roode.

WZ 8

Shelton Benjamin Arrives

It took over a year, but Shelton Benjamin has finally returned to the Smackdown Live brand. Daniel Bryan gave Kurt Angle Jason Jordan and in return picked up Shelton Benjamin. I actually like this. Let’s face it: Chad Gable is an excellent worker but they have so much talent ahead of him that would make him useless by himself. Adding Benjamin gives him more importance, more of a high profile tag team and could really benefit him in the long run. Shelton and Chad are going to be tag team champions by the end of the year and that is the right thing to do. I am very pleased with WWE’s decision here and only adds depth and a veteran to a division that has relied on only two teams for quite some time.

WZ 7.5

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.