11 Ups & 4 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Dec 4)

by Andy H Murray

1. A Most Effective Beatdown

Daniel Bryan AJ Styles
WWE.com

A clean AJ Styles vs. The Miz main event would've been an effective way to close SmackDown, but the company took things to a different level last night, with the WWE Champion demolishing his TLC opponent seconds after he'd secured a decisive victory.

It was excellent. Really, really excellent. Bryan obliterated AJ's knee with chop blocks and leg locks, bludgeoned him around ringside, and refused to stop even when the officials interrupted. Kayfabe ligaments were strained, stretched, and torn as he unleashed hell upon Styles, and Daniel even worked in some microphone time, chastising the 'fickle' audience for not approving, failing to cheer for him, and for 'not loving the new Daniel Bryan,' before making sure AJ's knee was well-and-truly demolished with another focused assault.

The heel turn has been a complete success so far, and TLC gives Bryan and Styles the opportunity to have a classic match. Their previous bouts were great, but hampered by their placement, with the weekly TV format's mid-match commercial breaks taking an inevitable negative toll. That won't be an issue on pay-per-view, where a potential Match Of The Year contender surely awaits.

Can't wait.

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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.