11 Ups & 2 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (3 Sept)

Downs...

2. Orton By Numbers

Randy Orton The Revival Kofi Kingston
WWE.com

This column wrote last week that SmackDown was a solid show let down by its two biggest programmes. Depending on your tastes, you might adopt that point of view for this show as well, though the brand's other main storyline at least moved forward.

While structurally sound and well-performed, the Randy Orton vs. Kofi Kingston developments were pretty boring all-round. It began with 'The Viper' coming out to promise he'll be WWE Champion within the fortnight and claim that he'd destroyed The New Day's "power of positivity." Kingston's music hit and he was jumped by The Revival, who took him down to the ring, let Randy stomp down and shout "stupid," before helping their new pal put Kofi down for good after a failed fightback.

WWE couldn't have delivered a more paint-by-numbers segment in this flagging storyline. Yes, the Orton/Revival alliance works, and yes, this should theoretically put more sympathy on Kingston, but functionality without fun is rarely entertaining to watch. Anyone could have come up with this. It was a rare moment of lazy writing on a show full of great moments and as engaging as one of Orton's extended chinlocks.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.