2 Ups & 8 Downs From WWE SmackDown (17 April - Results & Review)

4. Trick & Sami Go Over Old Ground

Trick Williams bringing out someone dressed as the Gingerbread Man ("Sami Zayn") was 2019 levels of lame, then Sami Zayn cut a less impressive promo than he did last week. Yep, this was swing and a miss from creative, and they better not try to go the goofy comedy route with Trick once he officially turns babyface. That'll never work.

There wasn’t nearly enough intensity throughout this duelling promo skit. The double turn is coming and should be fun, but even Sami pointed out the flaw in Trick’s plan: He’s running comedy this close to his first ‘Mania but talking about being the future. Are you listening, WWE? Even characters on your own show are tearing into the lack of logic and cohesion you have for some key stars and feuds these days.

At first, your writer thought it might be Lil Yachty as the Gingerbread Man, but he wasn't there for SmackDown. Then, fear kicked in and he figured they were about to do something daft like have Carmelo Hayes join Trick before 'Mania and ruin the double turn fun. Instead, it was just some extra in the costume (as revealed by his neck when Zayn hit his Helluva Kick in the corner and the headpiece nearly popped off).

Overall, Trick and Sami repeated things they'd already been saying during much better segments previously. Doubling down on the Gingerbread Man joke was silly, especially as a parting shot before the United States Title showdown on PLE. That hasn't connected with audiences the way WWE wishes it would.

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