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

Brock Lesnar, Erick Rowan, and Luke Harper dominate an awesome, angle-heavy show.

by Andy H Murray

Here it is, friends: the fabled 0 Downs episode of SmackDown - a score this column hasn't committed to since July 2018, when The Miz vs. Daniel Bryan was still a thing.

Last night's show was, as the numbers suggest, an outstanding SmackDown following on from a topsy-turvy but tremendously entertaining Raw the night before. The marked improvements in WWE's weekly programming over the past few months can't be ignored. The company and its oft-maligned creative department are pushing forward in the face of increased competition, with this perhaps the best show since Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff came in as Executive Directors.

That Brock bloody Lesnar showed up will dominate most of the headlines, but this was an exciting, varied episode that successfully highlighted everyone from The New Day to Heavy Machinery. A potential new challenger stepped to Bayley, Chad Gable finally showed some backbone as King Corbin's coronation collapsed, Daniel Bryan was volcanic as he confronted former partner Erick Rowan, and the night ended in complete chaos. What's not to like?

Aside from a couple of minor nitpicks (none of which were strong enough to warrant a Down), SmackDown ruled last night. Let's break it down...

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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.