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

1. Kofi Deserved Better

Brock Lesnar
WWE.com

The complete non-pop Kofi Kingston received when his entrance music hit for last night's main event shows, once again, the hordes of WWE have zoned out from his title reign. This column has argued several times that a change was due. KofiMania was incredible, the Daniel Bryan match ruled, and Kingston has been presented as a fighting champion throughout these past six months, but the WWE Championship reign wasn't half as compelling as the chase. He should have lost to Brock Lesnar last night.

But not like this.

Kingston lasted just nine seconds against 'The Beast Incarnate,' with a single F5 all it took to finish him off. This stinks. Surely WWE could have granted their champion at least a slither on his offence on his way out? Surely they could have let him go out as he reigned? Instead, they squashed him. They snuffed him out with a move that Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins have kicked out of dozens of times between them.

The Samoa Joe/Great Balls of Fire format would've resonated a lot better, with Kofi taking a quick advantage with a lightning-fast flurry of offence before eventually falling to the unstoppable force. Instead, WWE did him dirty.

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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.