One step forward… two steps back. For the final SmackDown before SummerSlam, I expected a show that had me counting the hours until bell time. Instead, this felt like WWE was simply trying to get everyone to the weekend in one piece. The biggest win of the night was Rey Fenix vs. JD McDonagh. They reminded everyone why the cruiserweight division deserves more TV time and easily put on Match of the Night. The surprise appearance of Haku alongside Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga also gave the tag division some much needed intrigue. That reveal instantly made the new faction feel more legitimate. The ending finally gave us the intensity we were waiting for. Punk and Cody brawling was the right call after weeks of mostly words. Unfortunately, that’s where my praise starts to fade. Giulia getting run through by Lash Legend in just a couple minutes left a lot of fans frustrated. Whether you wanted Lash to win or not, Giulia deserved a more competitive showing. Outside of the final segment, the show rarely felt like WWE’s last chance to sell one of the biggest weekends of the year. Too many promos ran long, some stories still feel cold, and several SummerSlam matches still don’t have the excitement they should. The talent delivered when the bell rang, but the overall pacing and booking made this feel like just another episode of SmackDown instead of a go home show. Grade: C- #W #WWES #SmackDownS #SummerSlamW #WrestlingWrestlingMiles