5 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (May 5)
2. The Crowd
Right, time to shower Puerto Rico with praise.
They were red hot for everything on Friday night, and they kept the energy up where other crowds would've sagged. There's an argument to be made for WWE shaking up the product by playing before more markets they don't visit often, especially with TV. Even the reworked SmackDown aisle way added to the presentation.
SmackDown looked vibrant, alive and altogether dazzling compared to the samey big-tron setups you're accustomed to. In the stands, people cheered, booed and made noise for everyone who strolled through the curtain. That makes one heck of a difference when you're watching back home.
An opening segment involving the LWO and Judgment Day was precisely what San Juan needed to get onboard. Plus, Dominik Mysterio hit a cheap shot on Rey right at the end of the skit, and that got some real heat.
Great crowd, and smart formatting.