Isenberg Reacts: WWE Backlash “New Champions Show Smackdown Is Excelling”

September 11, 2016

Riding The Momentum

Heath Slater and Rhyno became the first WWE Smackdown Tag Team Champions. WWE did an excellent job at booking this match, giving Heath much of the punishment. He was a vulnerable character, one that all of the fans were cheering for. Later in the match, he got hot and hit a few moves to get the crowd behind him. He was saved by a Gore by Rhyno and they became Tag Team Champions. This was a great usage of social media and what the fans really wanted to see.

Heath Slater is your random, but hot, hand. He has so much talent and this match was much more than something so basic and normal. It also gave Jimmy and Jey much needed heel heat, continuing their transition. The Smackdown brand has plenty of good tag teams that can make for more than just one or two long term feuds. Good stuff and the RIGHT decision tonight at WWE Backlash.

WZ 7.5

WWE World Championship

Thank God. Thank the lord that WWE was smart and consistent. The main event for the WWE World Championship was an excellent match, as Dean Ambrose FINALLY showed up. AJ and Dean put on one hell of a main event, with the winner going to Styles. AJ hit Dean below the belt as the referee was knocked down. Styles Clash and the win for the face that SHOULD run the place. AJ Styles is ridiculously better than almost everyone on the main roster on Smackdown. I love his ability to bring out the best in anyone he faces, from John Cena to Chris Jericho and to Dean Ambrose. I am not going to bash Dean Ambrose tonight because the guy finally showed up on a big stage.

Where does WWE go from here? I can see WWE doing a No Mercy rematch between AJ Styles and Dean Ambrose, with some sort of stipulation involved. This can get another 1-2 months of feuding, with a slow turn from Ambrose being a face and a heel. I am into this feud because WWE finally decided to do what was BEST FOR BUSINESS. AJ Styles is best for Smackdown.

WZ 8

@JoshIsenberg4 on Twitter, WWE Backlash Rating:

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.

Follow @JoshIsenberg4