5 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Jan 27)
2. LA Knight
Take a bow, Mr. Knight.
The dude's been making the most of his chance to impress during what was probably supposed to be a routine mini-feud for Bray Wyatt. The best workers out there maximise their minutes though, and that's what LA Knight has done throughout the saga.
He came out as Bray Wyatt's old Hawaiian-shirt wearing gimmick (tiny lantern and all), then cut a strong promo about why Bray, 'Uncle Howdy' and literally anyone who tries can't stop his inevitable rise to the top. It was stirring stuff, and not even yet another 'Howdy' showing could stop this from being an 'Up'.
WWE clearly wanted to get to Royal Rumble before playing that card, and that means both Wyatt and LA have had to tread water a wee bit. They deserve some credit for successfully managing to keep audiences engaged despite that. They really do.