3 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Sept 16)

1. Where Was Roman?

Logan Paul Heyman
WWE.com

No, it's not a problem that Roman Reigns keeps a part-time schedule these days. SmackDown is absolutely weaker when he's absent, but it's not a problem WWE should worry about. Y'know what is a problem though? WWE kicking off his latest feud without any input from the 'Tribal Chief' himself.

Roman really needed to be there for the kickoff point to Logan Paul's challenge. Everybody else, including Paul Heyman and Sami Zayn, did fine with the material they had. However, it's undeniable that Reigns being in town would've helped sell LP as a bigger deal.

In future, Roman must be present for the start of new stories.

This same writer gave creative a pass for leaving him off the formats during Solo Sikoa's Bloodline introduction last week. They don't get that two weeks in a row - the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion should've been on SmackDown to either confront or dismiss Logan's quest.

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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.