4 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (30 Oct - Results & Review)

So, if the timeless catchphrase 'Raw Is Jericho' will ring true forever, does that mean 'SmackDown Is Danhausen'? Perhaps not, but WWE did turn the blue brand's latest episode into a spooky special in honour of their resident Halloween goblin. That led to the return of the Gingerbread Man and Finn Bálor's 'Demon', but at least the former was a lighthearted nod towards painful moments earlier in the year and nothing else.

You've really got to wonder exactly where Triple H sees Gunther going in 2027. He can bounce back from all of this supernatural silliness, of course, but the 'Ring General' will take some rebuilding.

Elsewhere on this "Very Nice, Very Evil" SmackDown, WWE hit the repeat button on Money In The Bank (and will presumably continue to do so for a while yet) and Chelsea Green worked an unconvincing Women's Title defence vs. Nikki Bella. On a brighter note, another match in the female ranks acted as a neat surprise, and it looks like creative will come through for Blake Monroe after all.

In the main event scene, Sami Zayn retained his WWE Title by beating Trick Williams in an action-packed match which bettered anything they'd done when jousting for the United States belt, and Cody Rhodes kept things purring before his 'Last Man Standing' bout vs. Randy Orton at Crown Jewel.

Speaking of which, the PLE's main hook feels rather lacklustre despite a fun Sami vs. Roman Reigns match, so weekly TV could be a bit up and down in the short term. Here's all the good and bad from Friday fright night!