Isenberg Reacts: WWE Smackdown Live “Personal Feuds Ignite Tuesday Night”

September 6, 2017

Baron Corbin is a Cheat Shot Artist

(Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Baron Corbin took on Tye Dillinger with AJ Styles looking on from the commentary table. The heel, as usual, took advantage of a few mistakes from Dillinger. Tye controlled the lone wolf for a while until Corbin was able hit a questionable strike before ending the night with End of Days.

Corbin has been booked so bad recently that this wasn’t the worst thing I have seen. If you want to make Corbin a cheat, go right ahead. It fits perfectly and would easily make him hated more and more with the WWE Universe. As for Dillinger, he will get a shot at Styles next week for the United States Championship and I hope they let that match go at least 15 minutes long. Let this “open” be about what Vince McMahon needs to open his eyes to. The talent is deep, but the scripting isn’t.

WZ 5

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Randy Orton

Via WZ Live Coverage:

Nakamura climbs the turnbuckles looking to fly, but Orton catches him with a huge suplerplex sending them both crashing back to earth. It looks to be over but Shinsuke yells at his opponent to bring it in a defiant display, then fires off with brutal knees to the skull over and over again. He lines up for the Kinshasa but Orton counters with a snap powerslam, picking up a two-count. He sets up for the Hangman’s DDT a second time, and this time it connects. It’s time for the RKO, but Nakamura counters OUT OF NOWHERE into a cross armbar submission! Orton frantically tries to fight out of it but it’s transitioned into a triangle choke. It looks to be over as the Viper is fading, but Randy summons his strength and hoists his opponent into the air, slamming him down hard. Nakamura lands a knee to the back of the neck, then backs up and delivers the Kinshasa. 1…2…3.

WWE gives Shinsuke Nakamura his second win against a man with multiple world championships and a first ballot Hall of Famer. I really enjoyed the match, with Orton an excellent fit for what offense Shinsuke brings to the table. I think WWE, without a doubt, knows that they need to pull the trigger on a Nakamura World Championship by the end of 2017. The buzz for WrestleMania season could be around Nakamura and Styles on the Smackdown Live side. I do think that both men will be a huge part of what they have in store around Survivor Series. The pacing of building Nakamura has picked up since his lame feud with Dolph Ziggler. Go all the way with him.

As for Randy Orton, I think Orton should get an opportunity to become a free agent and work like John Cena does. Let him bounce around a little bit until you see what would be the best spot for him to stick.

WZ 7.5

@JoshIsenberg4 on Twitter. WWE Smackdown Live Rating:

WZ 6

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.