4 Ups & 3 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Feb 20)

Taking the slow lane to Fastlane.

AJ Styles Baron Corbin
WWE.com

The difference between Raw and SmackDown is day and night at the moment.

Neither are perfect, but while the red brand gambled (and largely succeeded) with an experimental format built around a near two-hour gauntlet match this week, SD stuck to the same trite formulae as always. Such is the problem with lead writer Road Dogg's ailing Tuesday night show.

That isn't to say last night's episode was bad (far from it, in fact), but there was little meat on SmackDown's bones. AJ Styles and his revolving door of WWE Championship contenders continued in their holding pattern, dominating the runtime, though they did deliver a set of enjoyable singles matches. Elsewhere, Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin wrestled The New Day, The Riott Squad clashed with SmackDown's female babyfaces, and Jinder Mahal got all hot and bothered over a top 10 list.

While Raw went all-in on expansive in-ring action, nonsense like this was SmackDown's idea of innovation. The show badly needs a shake-up, as although it still delivers a few fun moments every week, none of it feels essential anymore.

Let's dive into it...

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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.