SmackDown Takes a Pit Stop on the Way to SummerSlam....

How’s It Going, Enthusiasts?

It’s still hot in Southern California. It’s definitely summer. The current prime directive is just staying cool. As for the Wrestling World, there’s a lot to consider. A lot of speculation is wafting about all over. Let’s take a brief look and see what we can make of it. 

First off we’ll start off in AEW as there’s some talk about rough chair hit Jack Perry took. Prompted Corey Graves to take to and then not take to Twitter/X to comment against the gratuitous violence. AEW does appear to be more hardcore than WWE and I don’t exactly get it but I do know there is an audience to whom this appeals. I feel it’s too much, though. I always profess that if it takes more than a first aid kit to fix, they went too far. 

We know that injury comes with the territory but it should be unintentional. The point is to play again, maybe even tomorrow and if you go too hard, you can’t play everyday. That’s how I look at it. So, all I’ll say is I hope AEW is keeping the concept of sustainability in mind.  

In other AEW news, it appears that Bryan Danielson/Daniel Bryan contract is up soon. No one appears to expect him to leave AEW but you know that I’d happily welcome him back to WWE but the consensus continues to be to let him do whatever makes him happy so, we’ll see what he decides. 

Also in contract speculation news but in the WWE Universe, there’s talk that CM Punk is renegotiating his contract. Reports are varied but the general theme is that Punks current contract had a short-term stipulation but now that we’re reaching the end of that timeframe, the details of a longer term contract are now up for negotiation. Word is that CM Punk has reconsidered his affiliation. Now that Vince McMahon is no longer running things, WWE is a whole new world. One that Punk doesn’t want to leave, now that he has seen how the other side lives. 

I wouldn’t say that I always knew that Punk would be back but given how AEW presents itself, I was never surprised that he came back. AEW just doesn’t have the chops to contain a personality like Punks. I’ve said it before. WWE has the clout and the history to tell a guy like Punk to shut up. They can honestly check him, something AEW could not and to me, Punk seems like a guy who needs that sort of push back otherwise, he’ll do whatever. 

Regardless, I’m glad he’s accepting reality and settling where he probably fits best. His run has been fun and I think he’s finally being presented as he ought to be. I don’t mind him “raging against the machine” and anybody he doesn’t like for whatever reason. It’s a good time and I’m all for it. 

And so, that brings us to tonight’s SmackDown. Apparently, WWE is on a brief Japan Tour ahead of Summer Slam so what we should be seeing is pre-taped action from last week. We can expect to see Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton team up to take on Bayley and Mia Yim. The male tag teams will have a big ole Gauntlet Match to determine who gets to box DIY for the Tag Team Championships. Looks like Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews are a duo now. And Santos Escobar will see if LA Knight is SummerSlam ready.

You’ll have to watch if you want to fill in all the blanks. The unofficial watch party starts at 8pm PDT. Play along if you got the time and interest. 

See You in a Bit,

-Nicole Alexis (^_~)