5 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (3 July - Results & Review)
4. Rey Fenix Gets Another Tidy Showcase
Cards on the table: This writer doesn't like when other companies are slapdashed all over a bigger product willy nilly. He didn't like it when AEW focused on too much CMLL or bled ROH through the core product just because Tony Khan owns it, and he isn't a massive fan of WWE's AAA experimentation as a general rule.
However, Rey Fenix beating El Hijo del Vikingo to retain his AAA Cruiserweight Title did break things up nicely on this week's episode of SmackDown. Also, whilst this guy would be lying through his teeth if he said he's big on Vikingo's style of match, the high-flyer did look good and worked some nice spots before taking the loss. Overall, this was another smart showcase for AAA as a brand and Fenix as a champion.
Of course, these bouts will play before diminishing returns on 2-hour episodes if WWE gets careless, but the definite positive is that Rey is featured and doing what he does best. He could use a bit more spotlight as a character (stick a manager with him if you don't think he can promo - there's no harm in someone else running those plays for him whilst he shines between the ropes), but that doesn't seem to be how the creative team views him right now.
Rey is in that 'US Title Open Challenge' role of working cool matches and nothing else. Fair. It's better than nothing, and the quality of his matches vs. Nathan Frazer and now Vikingo show that Fenix can excel. Wrestling shows need variety, and there's defo no harm in splicing in some Cruiser action like this every now and then.