10 Ups & 5 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (May 21)

by Andy H Murray

1. Keeping Roman Busy

Shane McMahon Drew McIntyre Roman Reigns
WWE

WWE have handled Roman Reigns' SmackDown run well so far.

Rather than throwing him straight into the WWE Title hunt (which would have absolutely killed his crowd reactions), the company have kept him on the fringes, with 'The Big Dog' battling Shane McMahon and his forces of evil instead. It's going over well, and last night's events leave plenty on the table for Roman.

He'll face Shane at Super Showdown, but will that really be the end of their rivalry? These events are overblown house shows. The beef between Reigns and his boss feels like it could be stretched through summer, so don't expect them to call it quits after Saudi Arabia.

Drew McIntyre awaits, too. Unveiled as Shane's latest charge on Raw, the Scot left Reigns lying last night, nailing him with a Claymore to close the show. Then there's Elias, who may yet be fed to 'The Big Dog' again before the Shane storyline concludes.

That's good booking, and having this many options on the table means Reigns won't run out of steam anytime soon.

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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.