3 Ups & 4 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Feb 13)

Ups...

3. A Different Opening

Kevin Owens Sami Zayn Baron Corbin
WWE.com

It's always great when Raw or SmackDown open with something other than the usual revolving door talky-talk segment, so while hopes weren't exactly high for the advertised Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin clash, it was refreshing to see 'The Show-Off' strut out in full wrestling attire to kick last night off.

Corbin's music hit next, but that's when things went haywire. Ambushed by Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, he was left lying backstage, and the dastardly duo soon made their way to ringside. Dolph was their next victim. Like Baron, he put up a fight, but fell to the numbers game, and while 'The Lone Wolf' eventually strode out to rejoin the fray, he was too weakened to prevent Sami and Kev from standing tall.

A smart, well executed segment, this worked perfectly. Had Ziggler and Corbin wrestled, one would have been inserted into their upcoming WWE Title match, and the last thing they'd want is another party entering their Triple Threat. Their decision eventually backfired later in the evening, but why wouldn't they beat the duo down? A surprisingly astute move on an increasingly irrational show.

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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.