7 Ups & 2 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Jan 23)
Ups...
7. KO'd
While AJ Styles defeating Kevin Owens in just over 60 seconds would finish as a Down under most circumstances, last night provided the exception. The runtime suggests a squash, but although the bout wasn't at all competitive, its context makes it acceptable.
KO is reportedly struggling with a back injury. The former 'Prizefighter' has been kept off house shows for a couple of weeks, and will likely take a backseat in the Royal Rumble's handicap match. Thus, having a competitive, back-and-forth fight with the WWE Champion wasn't possible.
The company played it smart, too, with Owens losing due to a kayfabe injury following a missed cannonball splash. This keeps him protected, and ensures that his momentum isn't shot to pieces ahead of the title match. Could WWE have just refrained from booking it in the first place? Absolutely, but KO's ringside presence also allowed his partner, Sami Zayn, to pin Styles later on, which we'll cover in a moment...