4 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE SmackDown (2 Oct - Results & Review)

Ups...

4. Blake Monroe Finally Got There!

Blake Monroe Giulia
WWE.com

Champagne corks were popping off behind the scenes, and someone's face was smashed into a celebration cake in typical WWE style backstage. Presumably. The occasion? Management finally deemed Friday night the right time to give Blake Monroe a proper, fleshed out match on the main roster. Hip hip hooray! Seriously, it's great that Blake is up and running.

Monroe vs. Giulia was nothing particularly special, but at least they had a physical, well-worked match in the end after what’s felt like months of backstage fights, call offs and more. Giulia has her place as a workmanlike babyface, and Blake is a character creative can develop further, so this was perfectly fine. It won’t win any ‘Match Of The Year’ awards, but it got the job done and kickstarted what's been a weak SmackDown run for Monroe thus far.

It feels like a lifetime ago that she debuted in person next to Chelsea Green in a behind the scenes skit. Since then, Blake has had to make do and mend with online exclusives and catering. Meanwhile, Chelsea has capitalised on Rhea Ripley's misfortune to become the brand new Women's Champion. Who saw that coming back then?!

This fan never thought he'd be saying this coming out of Denver either, but...he wouldn't be against seeing Monroe and Giulia tear into one another again. They've got some chemistry between the ropes, and they can make something of this if they're given more TV time to win live crowds over.

For what it was, and given the lacklustre build, this was a win for both women.

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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.