10 Ups & 7 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Feb 19)

9. At Least They Wrestled Well

Asuka Mandy Rose
WWE.com

A pointless Lacey Evans interference (do something interesting, please) and booking concerns aside, Asuka vs. Mandy Rose was a solid little TV bout largely carried by the more experienced SmackDown Women's Champion, though her opponent wasn't outclassed.

Rose looked good here. Sonya Deville is the more promising 'Fire & Desire' member between the ropes, but Mandy is coming into her own at the same time, with her heat segments and heel work becoming increasingly effective every week. Her moveset is coming together nicely too. That flying knee is low-key one of the most brutal strikes in the division, and her underhook facebuster finisher always looks good. Quietly, slowly, she is becoming a decent prospect, and she's already a level above the Lanas of the world.

Credit to Rose for stepping her game up and Asuka for tying the bout together. We shan't harp on about the conclusion again, though the match wouldn't have been the second-lowest Up without it.

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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.