14 Ups & 2 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Jul 9)

Downs...

2. A Confused Contract Signing

Nikki Cross Bayley
WWE.com

One of the criteria considered when determining whether a SmackDown segment should finish as an Up or Down is how well the live crowd responded to it. Did it get over? Did it get the intended reaction? How loud was said reaction? That kinda thing.

So while your writer enjoyed the Bayley/Nikki Cross contract signing on a subjective level, last night's reactions suggest that their relationship isn't resonating with the wider audience.

The duo spent time bantering back and forth over the table as is custom in these situations. Bayley was reasonable but assertive, while Cross was as naive as ever, refusing to accept the continued suggestion that Alexa Bliss is using her. This fed into the Scot's match with Carmella and while the segment was well-executed, people seem to be having a hard time figuring out how to take the angle.

Alexa and Nikki is one of the best-told stories in WWE today. Unfortunately, Bayley/Nikki is confused, and it feels like people are caught between disliking Nikki as a pseudo heel and feeling sorry for her.

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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.