How to Better Utilize the “SmackDown Live Top 10” list!

By: Matthew Klink (@klinkmatt on Twitter)

February 10, 2018

Charlotte Flair and AJ Styles pose together as the holders of the top 2 spots on SmackDown Live's Top 10 list.

The SmackDown Live Top 10 was deemed a solution for SmackDown Live’s resident managers and their need for an efficient way to make decisions. What does this mean? Look at the story between Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan. McMahon and Bryan argue on every episode of SmackDown Live (damn you google analytics and you’re need to make me type out ‘SmackDown Live’ to get visitors). To cut down on their disagreements, this list was created to circumvent any issues on opinions, or non-objective decisions, and give our managers a list to select their next ‘number one contender’ (or who to put on TV more often).

Unfortunately, the legitimacy of the notion was ruined on ‘Day one’ of the list. While neither Dolph Ziggler or Baron Corbin appear on this list, both had been entered into qualifying matches for WWE Fastlane’s main event.

So what’s going on? Why do we have this list and is there a chance to save it? Should wrestling fans give more than one more week of thought on this list? Do we know enough after two shows to answer these questions?

To provide my analysis of the list, I’ve dissected each spot and the corresponding superstar and asked myself why they would be on this list and how it helps or hurts the legitimacy of the list going forward.

10. Tye Dillinger

So…this is a tough one to start with. Being that Tye Dillinger is the ‘Perfect 10’, the only way we could see this as legit is if we, as wrestling fans, all simultaneously thought: “Well, would you look at that!? What a ‘coinky dink’?! The Perfect 10, Tye Dillinger is number ‘10’! Could you believe it?!”

No.

This was a mistake…and it definitely fell flat with myself and with the crowd, who simultaneously let a giant groan at the announcement. So off the bat we start to think this won’t be the solution they claimed. There are far more tenured, deserving superstars in the WWE that could have made this list and seeing Tye on the list told me this was something we (as wrestling fans) didn’t need to put too much thought into.

9. Randy Orton

Bringing some legitimacy back to the list is the number ‘9’ spot. At least here we could argue that the WWE Superstars were voting based off of performance and experience. However, this might not be the best place for a guy like Randy to end up. Where, you ask? Why at the number ‘10’ spot of course!

We know Randy is good and even if he was left off the list, we would still know how great he is. Maybe this was an opportunity for the Bludgeon Brothers or Rusev to shine.

8. Becky Lynch

Purely political here. We all know that Becky Lynch is talented, but her injuries and spotty Live appearances make me question this ‘vote’. The Rumble was a great performance for Becky, but is that enough?

I don’t know…maybe I’m overthinking it. It’s obvious that the WWE needed to recognize Becky for what she did to keep the Women’s division afloat for Smackdown and her amazing tenure with NXT. Is it time for the WWE to write Becky’s true comeback to championship glory? Becky deserves more than the opportunities thrown at her (she’s a talented in-ring performer, she’s enthusiastic, she’s good on the mic), but the timing couldn’t be worse for a story driven resurgence. Rousey and Asuka are just too big right now. The grade here is low and feels more like a ‘tipping of the cap’ opposed to being an actual, heartfelt, gesture.

7. The Usos & 6. The New Day

Alright…wtf happened here? The long time champions, The Usos, fall behind the tag team that was soundly defeated back in the fall, the New Day. This should’ve been reversed. The only reason I imagine this happened was due to the New Day deserving more (just like Becky Lynch) and the WWE felt this honor would be enough.

I can’t believe this list would mean that much to the competitors, but then why does it feel like the main reason Becky and The New Day have their spot is to ‘tip the cap’? If the argument was “well…the superstars voted on this list, so…” then we’ll head right back to Tye Dillinger being number ‘10’ and we’ll restart the conversation.

The reason this happened (if they end up using this list properly) was to put the New Day and the Usos back in the ring for WrestleMania. Tag Team wrestling was huge when we allowed the best tag teams to continue to beat each other up PPV after PPV. In what will be a 5-hour night of wrestling, the WWE is sure to include a ‘money’ match (entertainment-wise) in the New Day and the Usos. If this list is how we get there…so be it.

5. Bobby Roode

Alright…another flop here. In an attempt to boost the US Title and Bobby Roode’s current standing, he was placed at number 5. My problem with this (and something I should’ve mentioned with the Usos) is that Champions shouldn’t be on this list. If the list was created to help McMahon and Bryan select main event competitors, then make the list about getting to the top for all NON-Title holders. I’ll get to more of that in a bit.

4. Naomi

Good pick!

If I judge this list on what the WWE says it’s for, this makes sense. Naomi should be at the top of our minds for title contendership. She’s good in the ring and she gets the crowd on their feet with her entrance.

If I judge this list by what the WWE has made me think (by its current structure) …it’s still a good pick. We need reason to keep Naomi looking good and she’d be a great next competitor for the title either for WrestleMania or the nights following.

3. Shinsuke Nakamura

See everything I said about Naomi and double it!

2. Charlotte & 1. AJ Styles
 

Two of the best in the company (I originally typed “The best in the company”, but I’m not sure I’m ready to say that with Charlotte). If you follow my rule of this list being non-title holders, then they wouldn’t be on here. They are already being honored for their skill and the money they bring in, by being champs. Everything I hate about them being on this list has nothing to do with AJ and Charlotte. It has everything to do with what the list SHOULD be about.
 

So let’s talk about that. What should this list be?

Well…first of all, this could have been a way to make the competition more like a sport. Every opportunity a person on this roster gets should be about this list. Money-In-The-Bank spots, Royal Rumble Spots, Survivor Series matches against Raw, and of course, title shots.

Post the list on the WWE website. Generate content every week (or every day) on its implications and get people to interact. Let the fans votes actually be heard, much like the All Star game voting for other Pro-Sports. Make wrestlers petition for opportunities to move up! Have wrestlers battle for spots in 2, 3, 4, or even 10 week long feuds! Make the matches on SmackDown mean something (Heck! Have the matches at Live Events mean something). To make this list…which is about a fake sport…feel legit, you have to write in its legitimacy and you have to make the wrestler’s characters care about the list (not the person, like Rebecca Quin, who might leave your show because they want to do more).

As I said before, the other issue is the inclusion of champions on the list. The list should have ended with Shinsuke. Champions hold titles to show their dominance, greatness, or prestige. The top of the list is your number one contender and each week of SmackDown Live should be a battle to the top of the list.

Shoot! You have an opportunity to hire Chris Jericho as your next manager and have him declare who has made the Top 10!

There are so many ways to use this list and I hope the fact that Ziggler and Corbin are now in the WWE Championship match at Fastlane is not a sign of things to come.

Matthew Klink (@klinkmatt on Twitter)

@BODPodcast for Twitter and Facebook