12 Ups & 3 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Feb 12)

2. Bryan & Kingston Light It Up

That the SmackDown gauntlet peaked with its first fall shouldn't be considered a problem. This was an awesome match peppered with variety, without the bloatedness that plagued last year's record-breaking Raw match, and WWE went with the "workrate" portion as Kofi Kingston and Daniel Bryan did battle early on.

It's easy to forget how good Kofi can be in spots like this. He barely works singles matches, and his New Day role means he rotates with Xavier Woods and Big E in tags. Sadly, his Royal Rumble escape spots are often the only real solo spotlight he'll get all year, but contests like last night's with Bryan show that he can be an elite-level WWE-style wrestler when allowed to be, and their clash was excellent.

A well-booked back-and-forth format gave way to shenanigans when Rowan and the rest of The New Day inevitably got involved. E and the former Bludgeon Brother were eventually sent to the back. Rowan returned to throw Kofi into the technical area, but couldn't save his boss from defeat, as Kingston countered the Busaiku Knee Kick into Trouble in Paradise for a shocking pin on the WWE Champion.

Having Bryan eat a fall isn't the problem it'll be made out to be, as the weaselly little coward will get his heat back the next time he opens his mouth anyway. It's a big deal for Kingston, though. He's in the Chamber, but he should probably be entitled to a one-on-one title shot after it as well, though he won't get one.