4 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE SmackDown (6 June - Results & Review)

Ups...

4. The Promise Of Matches To Come

Seth Rollins Bron Breakker Bronson Reed Solo Sikoa JC Mateo Jacob Fatu
WWE.com

Earlier, it was said that one of Triple H's true creative strengths is laying the foundations for matches people really want to see. He's actually pretty good at it. On Friday, Seth Rollins put rising star Jacob Fatu over as the biggest threat on Solo Sikoa’s side during a practical opening promo segment. WWE teasing killer matches like Fatu vs. Rollins and Fatu vs. Bron Breakker worked.

The latter duo are headliners in the making, and Seth has been a made man for years. Working opposite his stable as a babyface would be a ridiculously great spot for Jacob to be in later on in the year. This was also decent way to kick off the show. Two power-hungry factions (one that’s fresh and one with inner turmoil) went nose to nose, and now fans want to see more from them as rivals.

Side note: It's weirdly pleasing that Solo was in red and Seth was in blue, because that meant WWE didn’t go the lazy ‘Raw vs. SmackDown’ road and have those guys dressed like the brands they’re tied to. Not that this seems to matter at all these days anyway!

There are way worse ideas doing the rounds than Hunter using TV time to gauge fan interest in some enticing matches. Fatu and Breakker would be legitimately fresh, for example. Admittedly, several of the 'Ups' featured here are finer points in the grand scheme of things, but it's smart to hype people up for Jacob's mega-push.

Everybody and their dog knows that's coming soon.

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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.