7 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Jan 17)

Team Hell YES.

by Jamie Kennedy
Roman Reigns Robert Roode

Last week's SmackDown was notable for Robert Roode's spirited comeback, The Usos wrestling again (oh how the tag-team division missed them) and John Morrison being a super-dick on guest commentary. The Friday night weekly has been fun lately, and appears to have finally found its groove after October's jump to FOX was sullied by the Draft, Survivor Series stuff and Brock Lesnar suddenly bolting to Raw after bringing 'KofiMania' to a screeching halt.

Things have calmed down, the writers have settled and that's why the blue brand continues to have more 'Ups' than 'Downs'.

There is a danger that the upcoming Royal Rumble card will be overstuffed by peripheral treats like Sheamus vs. Shorty G and a rather forced Lacey Evans vs. Bayley title match though, but things are looking up generally. WWE is typically a rosy place during this time of year, and even the most perfunctory episodes of TV seem a little bit brighter when WrestleMania is right around the corner.

So, between comebacks, losing streaks, awkward authority, gimmick match set ups and touching tributes, here's every plus point and negative from SmackDown's latest...

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.