WWE Smackdown Review: 5 Things We Learned from Tonight's Episode (May 4)

Another SmackDown is in the books, and what a wild one it was.

Proving once again that he's a fighting champion, Sheamus successfully defended his World Heavyweight Championship against Daniel Bryan, Damien Sandow finally made his long-awaited debut in front of the live crowd and the WWE Tag Team and Divas Champions were in action as well.

The blue brand looks a lot different these days than it did just a few months ago, and things are continuing to change on Friday nights.

Although the WWE isn't in a great spot with Over the Limit just 16 days away, we can still take plenty away from tonight's show.

Here are five things we learned from the May 4th edition of Friday Night Smackdown.

5. Vickie Guerrero's Stable Is a Joke

Thanks to the creative team, I think it's safe to say that Vickie Guerrero's "stable" is one of the worst stables ever.

At least right now it is.

Just a few months ago, Dolph Ziggler was the No. 1 contender for the WWE Championship while Jack Swagger was the United States Champion.

But now? Ziggler's jobbed to Brodus Clay multiple times, including on Sunday at Extreme Rules, and Swagger lost to Clay on tonight's SmackDown.

"The Funkasaurus" has singlehandedly turned Vickie's clients into the laughingstocks of the WWE, and Ziggler and Swagger are officially two of the worst booked characters on TV.

I don't think it's a stretch to argue that Vickie Guerrero's little two-person faction might be even worse than The Corre.

4. This Tag Team Revival Could Be Legitimate

One of the biggest complaints from Internet wrestling fans is that the WWE has no tag team division.

Well, we can't say that they aren't trying to change that.

We've seen a bit of a tag team rejuvenation over the last several weeks, with the infrequently seen Usos getting a couple of matches, the Primetime Players getting promoted to SmackDown and Kofi Kingston and R-truth reuniting to win the WWE Tag Team Championship.

Now we're seeing A.W. get involved in a storyline to help Epico and Primo back on track, and they scouted tonight as Kingston and Truth took on Hunico and Camacho.

Is the WWE's tag team division now a formidable one? No, not at all.

But the WWE is indeed making strides to improve it, and in recent weeks, it's been at least somewhat interesting to watch, as opposed to being nonexistent.

3. AJ Might Be Turning Heel

Two weeks ago on SmackDown, sweet little AJ went ballistic during her match with Natalya and busted her open in the process.

She followed that up by slapping her good friend Kaitlyn on last week's SmackDown, and then, she did the same on tonight's SmackDown.

I smell a heel turn coming.

It seems as if AJ's relationship with Daniel Bryan has pushed her over the edge, and in a great example of irony, she is doing what Bryan did and is turning heel.

While we can't be certain that that's the plan, the WWE is in desperate need of a heel Diva, and it would make sense to turn AJ since she's actually, you know, talented.

I'm intrigued, WWE. Let's keep it that way.

2. The Injury Bug Is Really Hurting SmackDown

I hadn't really thought about this until recently, but I think it was pretty evident on tonight's SmackDown that the blue brand is being hurt by the absence of a few injured WWE stars.

It's not that SmackDown's current stars are performing badly or anything, and the WWE is clearly trying to fill the void by bringing up guys like Damien Sandow, Ryback and Antonio Cesaro.

It's just that, for the most part, the blue brand's top angles and matches always involve the same people: Big Show, Kane, Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Daniel Bryan, Sheamus, etc.

While I'm fans of a lot of those guys, I think that SmackDown is definitely suffering because of the absence of wrestlers like Sin Cara (he may botch, but the fans like him) and, to a greater extent, Christian and Wade Barrett.

SmackDown isn't going to just die without them, but I think things would be a lot more interesting on the show if they were around and able to prevent us from seeing the same six or seven guys in the show's biggest matches every week.

Plus, maybe if they were back, we would never have to see The Great Khali again.

1. Over the Limit Is Going to Be a Throwaway Pay-Per-View

I hate to say it, but I think Over the Limit is going to tank badly.

Why? Well, it's quite simple, really: It will be the WWE's third pay-per-view in seven weeks.

The WWE already seems to be mailing it in by continuing the awful Kane/Orton and Rhodes/Show feuds, and Over the Limit is likely going to be centered around rushed feuds and matches we've already seen before or don't want to see.

Big Show vs. Cody Rhodes? Already saw it twice. Don't ever want to see it again.

John Laurinaitis vs. John Cena? Gonna be terrible.

Daniel Bryan vs. CM Punk? I'm really excited for this match, but the fact that it's already happened four times on free TV is going to keep people from paying for it.

Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio? Saw it a couple weeks ago, and it isn't particularly intriguing.

I know I'm sounding a little bit pessimistic here, but I think tonight's SmackDown showed why it's never a good idea to have just three weeks between pay-per-views.

Over the Limit is going to be a throwaway show, and that will be reflected in its buy rate. 

Drake Oz is the WWE Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter and ask him any wrestling-related questions (to be answered in the B/R Mailbag) on Formspring.