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

3. Hail To The King

Baron Corbin King
WWE.com

There's an argument to be made that Baron Corbin is the most improved all-round professional wrestler in the world this year.

The King was in tremendous form last night. He was at his obnoxious best as he sauntered down to the ring for his coronation and donned the king's garb, then called himself "the ruler who exemplifies everything it means to be king." Claiming he'd won King of the Ring with honour, the "generous, fair" Corbin was wretched in all the right ways, once again doing a grand job of making anyone watching want to punch him right in his big, stupid face.

Once WWE's foremost recipient of go-away heat, Corbin is now a genuinely effective p*ss-boiler. He has evolved inside the ring and out to become an excellent, potent midcard/upper-midcard heel, and while disagreeing subjectively is absolutely fine, claiming that he isn't good at his job has almost become a contrarian take.

King Corbin's work is no longer an insomnia remedy. The complaints of the past shouldn't be applied to his current work. He's an engaging bully. If he makes you hate him without wanting to change the channel, good. He's a heel.

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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.