WWE and AEW are on every other night, and for that wrestling fans are grateful. When you put out that much programming, you’re bound to generate some gems. Unfortunately, that production volume is also destined to lead to some blunders. And hey, that’s totally fine, nothing’s perfect (aside from 1993 Curt Hennig tossing a towel), but that’s what makes it so special. You can’t fully appreciate a perfectly landed shooting star press without the occasional botched suplex. Roman Reigns promos in 2024 aren’t as astonishing if you didn’t live through 2015’s sufferin’ succotash. The bad only enhances the good.

But here’s the thing. When we’re relaying information to someone, it’s common to ask: What do you want first, the good or the bad? Yet, I, Pen Shamrock, say we shake that binary thinking and consider things beyond good and bad. Namely, THE UGLY. So let’s put a pin in good and let’s leave bad collecting dust on a shelf while we take a few moments to focus on the ugly. To stare it in its hideous face.

Without further adieu, let’s begin the good, the bad, and the ugly of pro wrestling this past week.

The Ugly

That "Smackdown" segment featuring Kevin Owens

So, this scene was actually responsible for multiple moments with varying degrees of ugly (and none of them are Kevin Owens’ fault).

First, it was ugly because whoever scheduled this had Kevin Owens interrupt Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend, who were making their "Smackdown" debut. There had to have been a better time to do this, no?

Reason number two it was ugly? The Women’s Tag Team Championship match that followed the segment was like three minutes. So, it resulted in suffocating any hint of a big fight feel and the quick match that followed wasn't even worthy of having the titles on the line for.

That said, Kevin Owens killed it in his rampage. Owens' mic being turned off mid-rant made it feel like he was actually a disgruntled employee, frantically going from co-worker to co-worker and asking if they thought he was in the wrong. This ordeal led to Randy Orton getting fed up with Owens’ erratic behavior and hitting him with an ugly (complimentary) forearm to the face.

The Miz without wristbands

Look, I know this is a petty and insignificant gripe, but the Miz wrestled without wristbands and it was a jarring aesthetic. Unsettling, even. Fans, plural, were upset about this. I saw two whole tweets about it.

Maybe it’s my personal inability to process impromptu change and I should unpack in therapy, or maybe, just maybe, the Miz should continue covering his goddamn wrists as he has since 2006.

OK, that's enough negativity and naked wrists. Onto the good.

The Good

Shelton Benjamin had his AEW debut match

It’s a smidge exhausting when talking heads repeatedly harp on an athlete's age and longevity. Like, I get it, LeBron’s in his 21st season and he dunked. That’s cool. Undeniably remarkable, even. But I think we need to start a dialogue about 49-year-old (FORTY-NINE) Shelton Benjamin being in top-tier condition and still putting on quality wrestling matches.

Benjamin overpowered Lio Rush in his AEW debut match and it really isn’t a “you still got it” moment of shock because he’s never lost it and it’s simply what fans expect from the guy. But just because it’s expected doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be appreciated, right?

Naomi pins Nia on Smackdown

Hmm, last "Smackdown" Naomi power-bombed and pinned the champion Nia Jax, and the week prior she beat Ms. Money in the Bank, Tiffany Stratton. Is a Naomi push in the works? It’s worth keeping an eye on her mounting momentum as the bright lights (and the neon glow-in-the-dark lights) continue shining her way.

The Viking War Raiders are back!

Back in 2018, Erik and Ivar debuted as the War Raiders and people loved it. Then He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named changed their gimmick in the most baffling way possible.

But now the duo is back, just as the good lord intended, doing nimble big man things under a moniker that never should've been touched. Yes, a lot of fans wanted an Ivar singles run, but personally I’m happy to see these two back battling for title contendership, free from the shackles of a dumb viking gimmick.

Cody Rhodes and Gunther came face-to-face.

We all know these two are likely to put on an instant classic at Crown Jewel, but seeing them in the ring together ahead of that is special. I have no notes on what’s transpired thus far between the two, but if I had to change something, this bout would take place at a SummerSlam or a WrestleMania and I’d make it a title-for-title match instead of creating some fraudulent, nonsense Crown Jewel Championship.

You don’t see that in other professional sports, right? Like, imagine the UFC having two legends fight for a gimmicky belt? They’d never Be caught Making up Foolish stuff like that.

The Bad

Jimmy Uso lost … again

According to the Internet Wrestling Database, Jimmy Uso has NOT WON A MATCH SINCE SEPTEMBER 2023, when he pinned Karl Anderson on "Smackdown." Yes, he’s been gone since April, but for him to come back and immediately take an L when he’s supposed to be seen as Roman’s No. 1 ally right now?

After losing to Solo Sikoa and subsequently getting jumped by Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga, Jimmy tells Roman, “We need help, Uce,” and I just know Roman has to be like, “We?”

If Jimmy’s gonna kick it with Roman, he needs to kick out at two from time to time.

Are these Brock Lesnar references or much ado about nothing?

Hey man, maybe I’m in denial but this feels like a bad theory (and potentially a bad idea for obvious reasons). If you didn’t catch it on "Raw," Seth Rollins said the word “beast,” then later Cody Rhodes said the word “beast,” then people on Twitter said, “BROCK LESNAR RETURN CONFIRMED.”

Maybe that’s the case. Maybe he’s coming back to do a Gunther feud like some people want. Maybe someone saying “beast” for a third time will make him materialize like Beetlejuice. But what if — try to stay with me for this wild concept — what if “beast” being spoken was … a meaningless coincidence?

A random case of two wrestlers using the same word in a two-hour span that folks are spinning into something more with the force of an F5 tornado.

Nah, that's crazy talk.