4 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE SmackDown (15 May - Results & Review)

3. Gunther “Overplays His Hand”

Since jumping from Raw to SmackDown, sneering villain Gunther has been messing around making demands of Cody Rhodes and management before signing the contract to wrestle Rhodes at Clash In Italy. Here, Royce Keys came out to sign instead, but Gunther was having none of it. Then, Nick Aldis made that match the main event for SmackDown.

What a neat and tidy twist on the usually lifeless contract signing concept.

It'd be tough to argue against trying something like this, and even being in the mix with guys like Cody and Gunther is a big step up for Keys. Everybody knew he was never winning, but it's still a jump up the card to wrestle someone like the 'Ring General' in a TV headliner. That's way better than slumming it with Solo Sikoa and the MFTs in some lacklustre lower card drama.

Also, why wouldn't somebody try to make a name for themselves by poaching a contract Gunther is refusing to put his name on? If nothing else, Royce bursting out from behind the curtain, staring down a top heel then offering to wrestle for the WWE Title made the belt look cherished and lofty. It should - it's the richest prize in the industry, so everyone should do whatever it takes to hold the thing.

On paper, this segment likely looked kinda throwaway, but it did more for Keys than some may give the promotion credit for. Win or lose, he could only look like a bigger deal by rubbing shoulders with established main event guys.