10 Ups & 1 Down From Impact Wrestling Slammiversary XVI

Downs...

1. Predictable Hokum

The sole blot on Slammiversary's otherwise immaculate copybook wasn't even that bad, but Su Yung vs. Madison Rayne was a notable step down from everything else on the card.

Their Knockouts Championship bout was passable, but "passable" isn't good enough on a card of this calibre, with much of its trouble coming from predictability. It was abundantly clear that Rayne was here to lose. She was no more than a solid veteran hand brought in to put the new blood over, and that's exactly how the match transpired, with Madison falling to Su in seven minutes.

It was the right outcome, but Yung's zombie bride act is hokey in the extreme. Do we, as viewers, really need to see a corpse-painted grappler shambling to the ring with a horde of undead bridesmaids in 2018? Do we need to see the defeated party stuffed into a coffin while her husband (Josh Mathews) barely shows a shred of concern on commentary? Injured former Knockouts Champion Rosemary works a similar gimmick, but combines it with sublime performance skills, transcending these concerns. Unfortunately, Yung hasn't yet found the balance.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.