WWE SMACKDOWN 11/29/24 REVIEW: STRANGE BEDFELLOWS

The November 29th 2024 edition of Friday Night Smackdown was a solid one. This installment of the blue brand featured safe matches that made sense, yet stacked the deck heading into a massive Survivor Series: War Games PLE. 

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Marquee matches throughout the night included Shinsuke Nakamura VS Andrade, Cody Rhodes VS Carmelo Hayes, and the main event in which Jey Uso took on Jacub Fatu. In my mind however, the match of the night goes to Michin VS Piper Niven (w/ Chelsea Green) VS Lash Legend in a triple threat contest during the Women's United States Championship Tournament. 

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The ladies threw caution to the wind, and went high risk. Especially Michin. Michin had several high flying maneuvers including some picture perfect jumping hurricanranas that were absolutely amazing. Lash and  Piper both showed incredible feats of strength throughout in this clash of styles.  Great timing and execution by all involved. Despite some interference from Chelsea Green, Michin is able to pick up the win.  

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Nakamura (with new entrance music) was able to defeat Andrade in a solid matchup as these two guys can put on a five star match at any given time. Post match LA Knight is met with the black mist to the face, setting up their match at Survivor Series. 

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Upping the anti was Cody Rhodes VS Carmelo Hayes. Hayes continues to show why his future is so bright, even trying to take a header during the Cross Rhodes finish. I still say Goldy's was better. 

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Jay and Jacob delivered. Jey Uso who is arguably the hottest star in WWE right now takes a rare L to the Samoan Werewolf Fatu, and I am absolutely okay with this. Let's keep making Fatu an absolute monster. 

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The real storytelling tonight was in a highly produced vignette between CM Punk and Roman Reigns moderated by the Wise Man, Paul Heyman. Heyman essentially gets both parties on the same page, but reluctantly. Punk is willing to do the favor for Heyman, but says he is owed a favor by the Wise Man. This was great storytelling here, as I have famously wanted this match to be a straight up Bloodline Civil War four on four War Games Match. Regardless this planted many seeds and almost made Heyman look even more suspect heading into the match.  

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WWE presents Survivor Series War Games airs on 11/30/2024 at 6pm EST on Peacock