3 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE SmackDown (April 7)

1. Timing Is Everything

Matt Riddle Solo Sikoa
WWE.com

Right, here's the deal: Matt Riddle seeking revenge on Solo Sikoa for putting him out of action late-last year makes sense. However, Riddle literally just returned on Monday's episode of Raw, then got treated like some comeback surprise by the time SmackDown aired.

Huh?

This booking exposed a major flaw in Raw's planning. It revealed that WWE only booked Riddle's return on Monday because they realised they had nothing else for the flagship. So, creative panicked and thought, 'Oh sh*t - we better give 'em something that feels big time!'.

It's hard to dig that lack of foresight for one of the biggest Raw episodes of the entire year, and it kinda did step on SmackDown's toes. Surely a fired up Riddle marching out to go after Solo would've meant more without that skit with The Miz a few days before it?

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.