3 Ups & 4 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Sept 19)

by Andy H Murray

1. Shane McMahon Keeps It Brief

Shane McMahon
WWE.com

It speaks volumes that the best thing on SmackDown was one of the year’s shortest in-ring talking segments, but here we are.

Last night’s show opened with a brief diatribe from the reinstated Shane McMahon, who was all business after Kevin Owens’ assault on his father last week. The Commissioner noted that he and Vince have had their issues, but they’re family, then promised to retaliate with “great vengeance,” condemning his opponent to “pain, punishment, and Hell In A Cell.”

Aside from sounding like one of Donald Trump’s recent media rants, Shane was strong here, and he kept it brief. These segments often drag on for far too long, but not last night. McMahon made his point, hammered it home, then got out of there, and his brevity is appreciated.

Owens followed up later in the evening. He wasn’t in the building, but joined the show via satellite link, claiming that he didn’t know what had overcame him last week. He apologised for what he did to Vince, then did the same for what he was going to do to Shane at HIAC, rounding off another strong week for a feud that started terribly, but has now evolved into one of SmackDown’s better storylines.

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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.