11 Ups & 5 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (July 30)

3. Inside The Mind

SmackDown dived "inside the mind of 'The Viper'" last night, with a pre-prepared Randy Orton video package covering his ongoing meta feud with Kofi Kingston.

Orton called back to the match the duo had back in 2009. He said that while this was supposed to be Kingston's big breakout moment, he had already accomplished so, so much by then, and as a multi-time champion, he just had to be himself - a feat that was beyond Kofi. Rather than being real, he claimed Kingston was too focused on "being the fun guy" with his fake Jamaican accent. Until he learns how to stop doing that, he'll never climb to Orton's level.

Fast-forward to the present day and Randy pointing out that if he hadn't injured Ali ahead of Elimination Chamber, the WWE Champion wouldn't even be in this spot. Thus, there could have been no KofiMania without him. "Stupid, stupid, stupid," is what he called Kofi challenging him, and while Kingston can't see it coming, he's going to take the title off of him.

A strong segment in which Orton came off smart, sinister, and almost dead right, it continued what has been a more compelling programme than Kingston vs. Ziggler so far.

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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.