4 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE SmackDown (20 Sept - Results & Review)

by Jamie Kennedy

1. Cody & Roman’s Cinematic Showdown

Roman Reigns Cody Rhodes Georgia
WWE.com

So, about that "cinematic sequence".

WWE plumped for something a little different than a standard in-ring confrontation between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns. The old rivals met at Georgia Tech's stadium to thrash out their differences. Roman explained that he's lost "everything" because of Cody and Solo Sikoa, then Rhodes wanted assurances that he can rely on Reigns come Bad Blood.

It was a fantastically tense and fun back and forth. The setting was unique but had personal meaning to both men, and their exchange left a rematch for the WWE Title open-ended too. Coming away from the skit, most fans would agree that Rhodes is putting himself in the firing line by trusting someone who's responsible for The Bloodline in the first place.

That'll play into what KO thinks about the suspect deal. He's been the most consistent towards Roman and his family since it started, after all. Bonus points go to WWE for trying out something fresh rather than having Rhodes and Reigns meet in-arena like they've done a million times before.

What did you think of this week's WWE SmackDown? For more like this, check out 10 Next Big Things In Wrestling That Totally Flopped and 10 DUMB WWE Booking Decisions (We Didn't Want To Admit Were GENIUS!)!

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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.