12 Ups & 3 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Feb 5)

2. Forced Chemistry

A second-hour interview with Kayla Braxton saw Jeff Hardy address Daniel Bryan and the WWE Championship he'd disrespected, promising to make 'The Planet's Champion' shut up in their main event. In came AJ Styles, the brand's supposed top babyface, who posed like a bell-end, adopted a Bryan-like level of sanctimony by bringing up Hardy's "recent history," and provoked Jeff's ire.

Here, WWE tried to force a strained Hardy/Styles relationship apropos of nothing. We get it, they have to make out like the Elimination Chamber participants don't get along, but nothing about this interaction felt natural, especially AJ, who probably shouldn't be interrupting promos and getting preachy with his fellow babyfaces. His appraisal of that Gilette commercial was done with more finesse.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. 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.