4 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Dec 24)

by Jamie Kennedy

1. Another Heyman-Led Masterclass

Paul Heyman
WWE

Before that video aired, Paul went into puppy dog mode without overdoing it.

Backstage or sit-down promos are rarely worth anything in WWE nowadays, but Heyman was on top form during his emotional chat with regular thorn-in-his-side Kayla Braxton. The way he expertly continued putting over Roman Reigns as the best despite being banished from his side was genius.

Every aspiring wrestler/manager/commentator should study this promo inside and out. Heyman's facial expressions (specifically the way they changed to reflect what was being said), general mannerisms and carefully-worded phrasing ensured that this could be promo of the year.

That's high praise when one thinks about the competition. The likes of MJF, Edge and others have produced some belters, but Paul Heyman's skillset was laid bare during SmackDown's Christmas celebrations. This, simply put, was must-see wrestling content.

Take a bow, Heyman.

What did you think of this week's WWE SmackDown? For more like this, check out 10 Shocking WWE House Show Moments You Haven't Seen and WWE 2K22: Predicting The 20 Lowest Rated Superstars!

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Contributor

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.