On Friday, October 9, WWE brought SmackDown to Lafayette, Louisiana, serving as a precursor to the Money in the Bank event in New Orleans. The broadcast prioirtized character-driven promos and complex storylines over pure athletic spectacle.
Tatum Paxley’s 84-day title reign and the Bliss alliance
Tatum Paxley successfully transitioned from NXT to the main roster by capturing a female tag team championship alongside Alexa Bliss. As reported by the source, Paxley and Bliss secured the victory by defeating the NXT faction known as Fatal Influence. This win marks a significant shift for Paxley, who is now positioned at the center of a high-stakes narrative involving veteran talent.
The championship reign held by Tatum Paxley and Alexa Bliss has already drawn scrutiny due to its 84-day duration with only a single crucial defense. The creative team appears to be leaning into a psychological drama, suggesting that the alliance between Paxley and Bliss might be fragile. By drawing parallels to the historical friction between The Bellas and Paige, WWE is signaling a move toward long-form character development rather than quick title changes.
The Danhausen referee incident that derailed Gunther
WWE's Gunther experienced a frustrating night in Lafayette when his scheduled match against Danhausen failed to even begin. According to the report, the bout was halted after Danhausen seized the referee's arm, resulting in an illegal disqualification that left the audience unsatisfied. Such "broken finishes" can often undermine the perceived fairness of the sport and the competence of the characters involved.
This specific incident involving Gunther and Danhausen highlights a recurring challenge in professional wrestling: balancing scripted chaos with satisfying match conclusions. When a high-profile athlete like Gunther is involved in a non-start, it risks alienating fans who expect a definitive athletic outcome rather than a narrative stall.
Bron Breakker’s momentum loss in the face of WWE management
Bron Breakker continues to be a dominant force on the SmackDown roster, yet his recent storylines may be hindering his upward trajectory.. The report notes that while Breakker's presence on the card remains dominant, the storyline arc repeatedly places him in knockout situations with WWE's two general managers. This pattern of conflict with management may be depleting the momentum he worked to build during his successful run in NXT.
Will the 'Freebird rule' validate the new champions?
Several questions remain regarding how WWE will manage the momentum of its newly crowned champions heading into the Money in the Bank event in New Orleans. It is unclear if the "Freebird rule"—which allows multiple members of a tag team to defend a title—will be implemented to bolster the credibility of Paxley and Bliss. Additionally, the source does not clarify how the tension between Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair will be resolved, leaving fans to wondeer if a full-scale betrayal is imminent.
Comments 0