3 Ups & 5 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Jan 9)

Downs...

5. Skip This Match

Bludgeon Brothers
WWE.com

It's time for WWE to alter their course with The Bludgeon Brothers.

Harper and Rowan have been presented as dominant monsters, which was clearly the company's goal, but we're at a point where the writers are just repeating the exact same squash match every single week. The former Wyatts hit the ring, throw hands at The Ascension or Breezango, continue the beating after the bell, then leave. Though effective at first, this was the seventh time we've seen such a layout from the Bludgeons. It has to stop.

A small, supplemental 'Up' to the performers themselves, whose beatdowns are always effective. Still, they're not going to get over if the company don't start giving them some more substantial material to work with. Their arrival is now likelier to draw sighs than anything else, and they must graduate to wrestling longer, more competitive bouts against stronger opposition if they're going to build the momentum their employers clearly want, which isn't going to happen in these 45-60 second bursts.

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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.