13 Ups & 3 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (July 23)
6. Victory In Defeat?
Apollo Crews looked good in last night's defeat to Shinsuke Nakamura. A unique athlete blessed with elite agility and power, he showed more than enough Cool Sh*t to guarantee that even though he was intended as a tune-up opponent for the Intercontinental Champion, he didn't look like a massive loser in defeat. Exciting flashes like his apron Moonsault to the floor and the close near-fall off an Angle Slam reminded the audience that Crews is a great highlight reel athlete.
It was an effective match for Nakamura, too, and he came off well, giving Crews just enough offence without sacrificing his own mystique. Coming in at a succinct 8:15, the bout concluded with Nak moving away from the standing Shooting Star Press before hitting a Kinshasa for the victory.
The beatdown continued after the bell, with 'The King Of Strong Style' unleashing a vicious pummelling that concluded with a Kinshasa on the outside. Recent weeks have seen WWE do a good job of making this guy feel dangerous again. It continued last night, and will ideally define his next few months as well.