12 Ups & 4 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (May 28)

4. Kofi Gets Intense

Kofi Kingston
WWE.com

This week's SmackDown opening segment still involved a couple of dudes talking at each other, but at least it was only a couple of dudes. It was nice to see a break from the writer's preferred format of cramming as many upper-midcard/main event performers into this spot as possible.

Kevin Owens kicked things off ahead of his and Kofi Kingston's Money In The Bank rematch. He said that while he was originally going to run an episode of the KO Show, the Oklahoma fans didn't deserve it, and the only thing making his presence worthwhile was knowing he'd get to batter the WWE Champion imminently. He addressed Dolph Ziggler's assault on Kingston and Big E getting laid out backstage this week, then out came the champ.

Kingston was great here. He spoke with intensity and conviction as he pointed the finger at KO, telling him to "stop with all the lies." He then said that even though he wasn't at 100%, Owens would pay for what he'd done to The New Day over the past few months, and he'd leave the building with no doubts as to why Kingston is the WWE Champion.

Strong stuff from the WWE Champion, whose reign continues to be one of the most entertaining things on SmackDown every single week.

Advertisement
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.