5 Ups & 3 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Oct 10)
Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens highlight the blue brand's big rebound.
Hell in a Cell 2017 turned out better than anyone expected. The show's quality lagged in the middle, but it was bookended by two tremendous HIAC matches, with The Usos and New Day delivering a genuine 'Match Of The Year' candidate in the opener, and the Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens clash turning into a wildly enjoyable stunt show.
The biggest talking point, of course, was Sami Zayn's heel turn. 'The Underdog From The Underground' saved his greatest rival's skin by pulling his lifeless body off the announce table as Shane soared from atop the cell. It was a shocking conclusion, and one that demanded an effective follow up on last night's SmackDown. Fortunately, they delivered.
The blue brand's standards have slipped immensely in 2017, but while this show wasn't a complete return to form, it was a strong rebound. WWE effectively followed up on each of the brand's major storylines, and while Zayn and Owens predictably stole the spotlight, Baron Corbin, The Usos, and Shinsuke Nakamura all had big nights. WWE Champion Jinder Mahal was nowhere to be seen, either - always a positive.
The night wasn't devoid of duds, but SmackDown hasn't delivered this level of quality in weeks. Let's take a look at the moments responsible for the turnaround, and those that held it back...