3 Ups & 6 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Feb 24)

Downs...

6. The Opening Segment’s Slight Downer

Drew McIntyre Sheamus The Viking Raiders
WWE.com

The opening six-man stuff will earn gushing praise in the 'Ups' section, but something negative did stick out amidst all the fun: The Viking Raiders took another kicking, and it was actually really senseless. Why did Erik and Ivar have to get treated like a pair of 1980s jobbers when it would've been easier to keep them backstage?

They only looked like also-rans.

Drew McIntyre and Sheamus decisively hammered The Raiders on last week's episode, and yours truly reasoned the latter duo would be fine "after a few squash match wins soon". Apparently, WWE thought otherwise. Apparently, it was better that Erik and Ivar ambushed Drew from behind then took another pasting.

The Raiders have become cannon fodder for guys who already have eyes elsewhere, and that's not a good sign. McIntyre and Sheamus rallied to overwhelm them, then turned their attentions back towards GUNTHER and Imperium.

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