WWE SmackDown live results (Aug. 28): Updates, grades for tonight's Kevin Owens vs. Gunther vs. Finn Balor contender match
The latest episode of WWE SmackDown featured a controversial triple-threat match between Kevin Owens, Gunther, and Finn Balor that ended in a no-contest. Critics panned the booking decision, noting that the interference by Sami Zayn undermined the stakes of the world title contender match.
Why it matters
Professional wrestling relies on coherent storytelling to maintain audience engagement; poor booking decisions can lead to fan dissatisfaction and loss of viewership.
WWE stayed in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on this Friday — August 28 — for the latest "WWE SmackDown," following up last week's big CM Punk vs. Kevin Owens world title match. To say that this iteration of the show missed the mark would be an understatement.KO'ing the audienceDespite WWE's planned pre-tapings of "SmackDown" for the next two weeks, it still felt like there had to be a significant follow-up to one of the biggest TV matches of the company's year, right?Wrong. Entirely wrong.In one of the absolute stupidest, self-sabotaging booking decisions we've seen in quite some time, WWE booked a triple-threat match — a match type notorious for having a no-DQ element to it — to end via a no-contest. That's right. Make that make sense.All it took for Kevin Owens vs. Gunther vs. Finn Balor to end without a winner was apparently Sami Zayn attacking two referees.
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