7 Ups & 1 Down From WWE SmackDown (Dec 11)
The latest episode of SmackDown was a smashing good time for WWE.
Well, WWE's "new" ThunderDome was a bit of a letdown.
It turns out that Tropicana Field's Dome is exactly the same as the Amway Center's Dome, which completely wastes the move to a different venue. Sure, WWE may have fancied it/the residency might've been up in Orlando, but yes - it wasn't outlandish to expect something fresh here.
Does that qualify as a full-blown 'Down' though? Meh, not quite. The uniform look of the ThunderDome set up is annoying, because it exposes the total lack of individuality in WWE's set design these days; it was perhaps foolish to predict a change though, and it's not like SmackDown's surroundings hurt the content of the show at all.
In fact, this was a bloody good episode. The wrestling was only a solid support act for story, but that's excusable considering there's a pay-per-view next weekend. Some also won't like the non-finishes WWE booked. They're given a pass here for the same reason - TLC is more important than clean wins nobody would remember come crunch time anyway.
Here are all the 'Ups' and the erm...solitary 'Down' from a weekly that keeps on killing it...