3 Talking Points From Tonight’s Episode Of WWE Smackdown – 24th November 2023

The November 24th edition of WWE Smackdown delivered no shortage of excitement and drama, living up to its reputation as the home of top-quality sports entertainment. With Survivor Series right around the corner, the stakes were high and the superstars brought their A-game. The show built seamlessly on existing storylines while also introducing new twists and turns to keep fans hooked. As we recap the highlights, three key talking points stand out from tonight’s action-packed spectacle.

Kevin Owens has been sorely missed since his suspension a few weeks ago. His explosive comeback on Smackdown marked the return of one of WWE’s most dynamic superstars. Owens wasted no time making an impact, pursuing his rival Grayson Waller with vengeance on his mind. Waller was in the middle of another one of his gloating promos when Owens interrupted him, the fury evident on his face. The two exchanged vicious insults before exploding into a brawl that had to be broken up by officials.

The real fireworks went off later when Waller and his ally Austin Theory took on Owens and LA Knight in a thrilling impromptu tag team match. Owens and Knight clicked instantly, combining their grit, technique and charisma to dominate Waller and Theory. The match reached a crescendo when Owens flattened Waller with a devastating Stunner to pick up the win. His return couldn’t have gone better, as he and Knight stood tall to end the segment.

This was a statement return for Owens, who re-established himself as a major player on Smackdown. His red-hot feud with Waller appears far from finished. With Survivor Series drawing near, their rivalry could play a pivotal role in shaping the pay-per-view’s outcome. To top it off, his pairing with LA Knight holds tremendous potential if they continue teaming up. Their similar personalities and fighting spirits could make them a formidable duo to be reckoned with.

Carlito’s unfortunate exit from the Survivor Series lineup after a backstage attack was a real shocker. The cunning Santos Escobar orchestrated the assault, taking out Puerto Rico’s finest wrestler. While the motive behind this sinister attack is still uncertain, the consequences became immediately clear.

Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis made the announcement that Carlito won’t be cleared to compete at Survivor Series. However, the quick-thinking GM revealed Dragon Lee as his last-minute replacement on Team Smackdown. The high-flying superstar makes his debut at just the right moment. Dragon Lee brings sizzle, energy and jaw-dropping aerial attacks that should mesh nicely with Ricochet & Madcap Moss on the squad. His addition throws a new variable into the Men’s WarGames Match, giving Team Smackdown a secret weapon.

While Carlito starts down the unfortunate road to recovery, Dragon Lee has a golden chance to make a stellar first impression in front of the WWE Universe. His breathtaking offense could be the X-factor needed to swing the odds in his team’s favor at Survivor Series. The timing works out perfectly to catapult the new signee into prominence on the main roster.

The Women’s WarGames Match also gained intriguing new layers throughout the show. While Damage CTRL and Belair’s Army traded verbal barbs and a few blows, one superstar, in particular, stole the spotlight – Shotzi.

During a backstage interview, a demented, unbalanced version of Shotzi emerged. With eerie green contacts, messy hair, delusions of grandeur and manic energy, her unsettling new persona shone as she cut an intense promo. Shotzi rambled about her team not understanding her twisted madness. She boldly claimed that “what they did was change me” before letting out one of her deranged cackles. This unhinged presentation was a noticeable departure from the happy-go-lucky Shotzi fans know.

Her disturbing promo set social media ablaze, generating buzz around her new gimmick’s possibilities. Later during an 8-woman tag bout, Shotzi cemented these vibes. She turned violently on her own partners, taking out Aliyah with a ruthless knee strike. Unpredictable and chaotic, this version of Shotzi adds an incredibly intriguing wild card to her WarGames team. If she brings even a fraction of this unhinged energy on Saturday, it could be game-changing.

Between her standout promo and attack on her own partner, Shotzi was undoubtedly one of the show’s highlights. Her new persona has gotten fans invested in what she might do next. Heading into the WarGames Match, she brings loads of momentum along with a heavy dose of crazy. If she’s truly “unhinged”, then all bets are off on what she’s willing to sacrifice for victory. Shotzi could either be the breakout star of WarGames or implode Team Belair from within through her instability.

Beyond Shotzi’s emergence, the 8-woman tag match spotlighted the women’s division as a whole. Allowing Asuka, Becky Lynch and the other competitors extended minutes to showcase their skills was an excellent decision. It underscored the importance of the women’s WarGames showdown at Survivor Series.

With creative new storylines, hard-hitting action and game-changing surprises, tonight’s episode of Smackdown delivered on all fronts as WWE builds towards Survivor Series. Kevin Owens re-took his spot at the top after returning from suspension, ready to pummel Grayson Waller. Carlito’s loss became Dragon Lee’s gain, with the awe-inspiring luchador entering the WarGames Match. Last but not least, Shotzi’s disturbing new persona has added even more intrigue and chaos to the women’s WarGames collision. By spotlighting rising tensions between the men’s and women’s WarGames teams, Smackdown excelled in heightening the stakes for WWE’s exciting upcoming pay-per-view.