3 Ups & 6 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Nov 12)

2. Aliyah’s Performance

Naomi Aliyah Sasha Banks
WWE.com

No, the roll up finish to the opening six-woman tag didn't look great, and all that in-fighting amongst 'Team SmackDown' members is annoying, but Aliyah shone for the first time this week. She certainly didn't look out of place in there with veterans like Natalya and Sasha Banks, which is a huge compliment to her.

Screw the silliness of Survivor Series for a sec, because Aliyah has promise.

This writer also has to eat his words from last week too, or at least some of them. Aliyah is playing this 'happy to be here' gimmick better than expected, and she was able to parlay early backstage giddiness into quite the showing on Friday's episode. That's a good sign, ladies and gents.

Performers typically do well in WWE when they show they can take something naff and make the most of it. Aliyah is doing her able best with Maria's old ditzy characterisation, and that should stand her in good stead going forwards. Seeing Naomi and Sasha put her over post-match was neat too.

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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.