4 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Sep 17)

3. That Fine Opening Tag

The Usos Big E Finn Balor
WWE.com

WWE avoided an unwanted opening promo train by having Big E then Finn Bálor interrupt Roman Reigns quickly. E got to talk, but Bálor was just there for a kickoff tag match with the new WWE Champ against The Usos. Instantly, worries started flooding this fan's brain about either E or Finn taking a fall thanks to Roman's interference.

That didn't happen.

Instead, all four men involved in the match turned in a slick display and produced a great piece of business. The Usos are good enough to suffer defeats without losing all of their credibility with fans, and the double finisher (Big Ending and Coup de Grâce) pinfall was hot. Those Tennessee folks were on their feet for that.

Again, it's a possible downside that the reigning SmackDown Tag-Team Champions lost right before defending the belts at Extreme Rules, but somebody had to lose here. It's better that Jimmy and Jey did than the new WWE Champion or Bálor.

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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.