13 Ups & 0 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown

5. Tasty Trios Action

Randy Orton Xavier Woods
WWE.com

Opening with a match is an automatic Up itself, but it definitely helps when said match is really, really good.

This was the second time the new Randy Orton/Revival alliance had teamed to face The New Day on SmackDown. Toppling the popular trio at the first time of asking, they were made to let Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods get their win back here, with Kofi scoring the pinfall on Scott Dawson.

A typical New Day six-man in terms of quality, it was also a typical WWE TV match in terms of layout. While never dull, the bulk of the most exciting action was saved for a loaded closing stretch - as things should be. The heels effectively snatched defeat from the jaws of victory here. A notable spot saw Orton grab Kofi's head as he tried to dive, drilling him with a DDT. He then signalled for the RKO but The Revival entered before he could hit it, seemingly setting up for their Shatter Machine/RKO combo, but Big E interrupted. Out went Orton, out went Dash Wilder following Woods' diving elbow, and down went Dawson with Trouble in Paradise.

An effective feud-ender, this match should serve as an exclamation point for two of SmackDown's biggest programmes. Kingston has proven himself the better man, decisively, and while Big E and Xavier lost their Tag Team Championships, they had a compensatory last laugh here.

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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.