12 Ups & 2 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Apr 23)

2. Balor & Andrade Shine In Rematch

Andrade Finn Balor
WWE.com

Praise the wrestling gods that Andrade is back on SmackDown, because it means last week's Superstar Shake-Up banger versus Intercontinental Champion Finn Balor didn't go to waste.

That Raw bout was quietly one of the best television matches of 2019. This week's rematch wasn't quite on the same level, but how could it be? The runtime was a couple of minutes shorter and we didn't have the shock factor of 'El Idolo' showing up on what looked like his new home. That doesn't mean it didn't rule, though: it did, and was comfortably the second best thing on SmackDown.

Andrade and Balor are all-action when they hit the ring together. The opening seconds saw the former 'Cien' nail a Tornillo to the outside, leading into a pin attempt and brief grounded period, before the match came back to life. Bombs started dropping soon after. 'Ranas and DDTs came out, Finn hit a spectacular tope, and Andrade's double-knees led to a close two-count. Finally, Balor ended it with the Shotgun Dropkick/Coupe de Grace combination, the adrenaline well and truly pumping by that point.

There's no shame in loser to a champion like Balor, and Andrade looked excellent in defeat. Here's to many more throughout their time on SmackDown.

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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.