13 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE SmackDown On FOX (Oct 4)

4. The 'Strow & The Fury

Braun Strowman Tyson Fury
WWE.com

Last night's Braun Strowman/Tyson Fury confrontation made major waves in the United Kingdom, with outlets that wouldn't normally touch professional wrestling with a barge pole (The Guardian, Independent, etc.) covering the story. The angle is already an objective success. It has created levels of buzz and generated exposure that wouldn't normally be possible, so no matter what awaits when WWE hand Fury a live microphone on Raw, the programme has already done its job.

The angle almost felt hotter than the Cain Velasquez/Brock Lesnar segment that closed the show, too.

It began during Braun's arbitrary eight-man tag against AJ Styles, Robert Roode, Dolph Ziggler, and Randy Orton. That bout quickly broke down into a daft big move buffet, and Strowman first crossed paths with the heavyweight boxer after charging around the ring, knocking everyone down with shoulder charges. The squared up, teasing conflict. Seconds later, Braun knocked Tyson down by throwing Ziggler towards him, then hit the ring, scored the 1-2-3, and celebrated.

Cue: Fury hoping the barricade as an army of security guards surged around him, keeping him from planting a fist on Strowman's chin. An everything angle born of a nothing match, this was totally worth it.

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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.