4 Ups & 4 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (July 25)

1. Another Night, Another Title Change

SmackDown’s Triple Threat main event was great, but the way that the United States Title has been handled lately is not. We’ve now entered a situation where the belt changes hands whenever it’s defended. At a time when it genuinely feels like a grander prize than the WWE Championship, this isn’t a good thing, and it’s doing nothing for the protagonists.

At Battleground, Kevin Owens became champion after a 16-day reign from AJ Styles, who made no successful defences. Last night, AJ ended Owens’ third US Title run at two days. This means that four of the last five reigns have lasted less than a month, with last night’s outcome suggesting that the wonky Battleground finish may well have been a botch, as was suggested after the event.

This isn’t a situation like the Raw Women’s Championship last year, when Charlotte and Sasha Banks’ hot-shotting helped raise its prestige. Here, the constant title changes feel jarring. They’re giving neither wrestler the opportunity to build any kind of momentum as champion, and until one of them settles down into a lengthy reign, this feud will continue to feel like a disappointment.