Rating The Smackdown Youtube Exclusives | Notsam Wrestling Update
Sam Roberts and Megan Morant break down five WWE SmackDown YouTube exclusive segments that aired after the main show, calling it the "SmackDown Director's Cut." They discuss storylines involving Paige vs. the Bellas, Blake Monroe's title ambitions, a mysterious figure (possibly Hiromu Takahashi) joining Shinsuke Nakamura against the Tongans, and Chelsea Green's character breakthrough moment.
Summary
Sam Roberts hosts a Not Sam Wrestling Update with guest Megan Morant to analyze five different WWE SmackDown storylines that were explored exclusively on YouTube after the live broadcast. Roberts frames these bonus segments as the "SmackDown Director's Cut," emphasizing how they create an entirely separate show experience.
The five segments discussed are: (1) Paige defending herself against Nikki Bella's jealousy, clarifying she helped because she likes Brie, not for Nikki's benefit; (2) Ricky Saints pursuing a Cruiserweight Championship opportunity against Ray Phoenix through an interaction with Fraxium; (3) Blake Monroe requesting her first SmackDown match be for the Women's Championship, shooting for the stars in her debut; (4) Matt Cardona being confronted by Kit Wilson and The Miz, with Cardona expressing concern about Wilson's association with The Miz while planting seeds of discord; and (5) Shinsuke Nakamura revealing a mysterious ally with long hair in silhouette, which Roberts speculates could be Hiromu Takahashi based on the figure's appearance and recent WWE signing rumors.
Roberts expresses particular enthusiasm about the Shinsuke segment, connecting Hiromu Takahashi's global charisma and artistic presentation to Shinsuke's own Michael Jackson-like qualities. He notes MFT now stands for "Mafias and Tongans" under Haku's leadership, and emphasizes how the pairing of Shinsuke and potentially Hiromu would be compelling.
Megan Morant highlights Blake Monroe and JuliaDiaz's interaction as her favorite, expressing hope for an extended series between them rather than a one-off match. She emphasizes Blake's unique combination of glamour and brutality, and discusses how Julia hasn't yet demonstrated her full capabilities in WWE due to lack of proper storyline setup. The conversation explores how this feud could elevate both performers simultaneously.
The discussion also touches on Chelsea Green's promo on SmackDown, which both hosts compare to Becky Lynch's career-defining broken nose moment. They note how Chelsea's clear, authentic delivery transformed her into a "made woman" on the roster and compare the segment's impact to Becky's breakthrough. Roberts observes that Matt Cardona's association with Chelsea elevates his status on SmackDown, potentially setting up victories over Kit Wilson and The Miz that could establish new momentum for Cardona.
About this episode
<p>Listen to Notsam Wrestling LIVE Mon-Thurs from 12-2pm et on WWE Radio - SiriusXM channel 156</p><p><br /></p><p>Sam Roberts talks about the Smackdown segments that became YouTube exclusives</p><p><br /></p><p>To get a Sam Roberts figure - you can order this WWE set from Amazon - http://notsam.com/figure</p><p>With all four figures, you will be able to build your Sam Roberts with both heads!</p><p><br /></p><p>Subscribe to the show YouTube page at YouTube.com/NotsamWrestling</p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>
Key Insights
- Roberts speculates that the silhouetted figure joining Shinsuke Nakamura is likely Hiromu Takahashi based on the figure's long hair and recent WWE signing rumors, seeing this as a more compelling pairing than originally expected Finn Balor
- Megan Morant argues that Blake Monroe vs. Julia Diaz should develop as an extended series rather than a single match to properly showcase Blake's unique blend of glamour and brutality while giving Julia the opportunity to display her full capabilities
- Both hosts characterize Chelsea Green's SmackDown promo as a career-defining breakthrough moment comparable to Becky Lynch's nose-breaking incident, describing it as the moment Chelsea Green's character was truly born
- Roberts contends that Matt Cardona's association with Chelsea Green through their television segment and real relationship immediately elevates his status and credibility on SmackDown's roster hierarchy
- The hosts note that Kit Wilson and The Miz's removal of zombie characterization and subsequent involvement with Matt Cardona signals the preservation and forward momentum of Kit Wilson's character development rather than its abandonment
Topics
Transcript
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